of so unexpected a commercial calamity, prevented the most cautious and experienced from guarding against the ruin which awaited them. They had all their funds locked up, either in ships already built and rigged, in ships on the stocks, or else in timber. It became necessary, at whatever sacrifice, to finish and send to England the vessels then in progress of building, or submit to lose all the money they had expended. In most instances, it would have been wise to have done so. The trade and industry of the province has gradually overcome nearly all these losses, and greater resources must continue to develope their benefits, in the same ratio its population and properly directed industry increases. The imports, during the year 1832, after correcting various miscalculations in some portions of the returns from the port of St. Andrew's, including the whole Foreign States (fish) £678,806 £611,025 £341,317 67,942 51,695 32,427 Elsewhere 4,215 7,120 £504,716 The apparent balance of about 105,000l. against the colony is paid for, by charges and commissions on shipments, advances on account of freight in the form of supplies to ships, sailors, and labourers, in new vessels sold in England, the proceeds of which go to the credit of the importers of goods from England, and in dollars paid to the Americans for the balance of trade in their favour. The account of imports includes all charges. The number of vessels entered and cleared, during the year 1831, according to the customs' returns, The above statements do not exactly tally with the returns, as I have discovered various errors in the entries of coasting vessels, the same vessel being frequently enumerated twice; and I hope my calculation will be found near the truth. The number of saw-mills in the colony, and their lowest estimated value, will appear from the following Total 229 103,835,000 £232,030 £260,706 St. John, New Brunswick, Dec. 7. 1831. During the year ending December, 1832, several new mills have been finished, and are in operation. In many of the mills circular saws, for extra work, have been introduced. In the county of St. John, the fixed capital, wharfs, houses, stores, booms, oxen, &c., belonging to the lumber trade, including also about fifty vessels employed in carrying the lumber to places of shipment, is estimated at more than £100,000 The moveable capital annually employed in the payment of wages, &c., to the persons engaged, which includes those who navigate the lumber draggers, and the men (mostly emigrants) em ployed in piling and removing deals, &c. Fixed capital in King's County, exclusive of mills Moveable capital as above 120,000 80,000 60,000 County of Gloster, fixed capital, exclusive of mills 100,000 Brought forward £ 515,000 Westmoreland County, fixed capital, exclusive of of mills, in wharfs, &c.; and exclusive of houses and real property, valued at £300,000, belonging to persons carrying on the lumber trade 58,750 County Charlotte, fixed, at the ledge, at St. An £940,750 Total fixed capital at present in mills, including those built since the estimate of the year ending Dec. 1831 238,000 The above calculations I have drawn up, with great care, from the various returns sent me from the province. It is difficult to ascertain the quantity of gypsum exported. A confusion appears in the returns made from the port of St. Andrew's, and a great portion is imported for re-exportation, from Nova Scotia. The whole quantity of gypsum is about 10,000 tons; value 5000l. Grindstones form another commodity of export; in value about 30,000l. The average annual exports of timber and lumber, for the years 1830, 1831, 1832, equal - 221,470 tons, value £180,000 Square timber 10,210 58,214 Shingles Handspikes 12,410 4,281 40 Oars Trenails Lathwood Masts and spars Grindstones and plaster Balance of exports The balance of exports consists of the value of dry and pickled fish, about 36,000l. Cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry, a little agricultural produce, hides, horns, butter, cheese, lard, furs, which, with the gypsum, grindstones, and timber, form the articles of export actually belonging to the colony. The remaining exports consist of West India produce, received in return for lumber and fish, and British manufactures re-exported. |