ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 136, 18 November 1846, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Prospects of' Cheap and Good Food —Amongst the matters of present exciting interest, nothing is more important or displays more the character of the commercial enterprise of the day than the steps now taking, for insuring a future supply of food. Within a very few days there has been a rivalry between the American and Norwegian meichants in ice, turkeys, and capons, many of which have arrived in a state fit for the domestic table. Within the last three years nearly 500,000 pine apples have been imported from the West Indies; turtle in abundance ; and even preserved apricots from Port Phillip in Australia. The measures of the proposed tariff have in many instances been anticipated by intelligent speculators in the 6ity, and reciprocated by agriculturists abroad. One intelligent firm in Monument Yard alone have added, within the last two years, many luxuries and necessaries to the table, including pine apples and turtle from the Bahamas ; new potatoes from the Azores; salmon from Labrador, imported by the Hudson's Bay Company; pork and bacon from Lisbon ; preserved meats from Australia ; hops, smoked beef, and tongues from the United States, &c. The most extraordinary results, however, perhaps from anticipated free trade, have been in the importation of American cheese. The potatoes introduced as novelties from the Azores last spring have now become almost absolute necessaries, as they are the chief source on which a future healthy crop can be looked forward to. The Horticultural Society has not been behind in anticipating the future wants of the community, by introducing several new sorts of food. Two new articles in farinaceous food have been added recently in the importation of yams and bananas. In connexion with these statements, it is a matter of notoriety, that the want of Irish beef and pork for ships' provisions is such, and has been so for months, th&t the ships could not leave port without a foreign supply.—Morning Chronicle.

Foreign Boots, Shoes, Stockings, and Thrown Silk. —The number of pairs of men's boots imported into this country in 1841, was 4821: in 1842, 8358; in 1843, 12,220; in 1844, 13,261; in 1845, 14,387. Nine-tenths of these come, of course, from France. The number of pairs of men's shoes imported in the same five years was 14,454 : women's boots, ditto, 20,843. The number of pairs of boots and shoes of all sorts collectively imported was —in 1841, 39,867; in 1842, 55,360; in 1843,74,773; in 1844, . 85,059 ;in 1845, 82,302. The following is the import of foreign cotton stockings and socks;: —ln Ig4l, 7413 pairs; in 1842, 9250; in 1843, 7761; in 1844, 14,331; in 1845, 8055. Quantity of thrown silk imported in 1841, 266,651 lbs; in 1842, 363,524 lbs; in 1843,333,602 lbs; in 1844, 405,927 lbs ;in 1845, 541,787 lbs. The quantities of foreign silk hose and gloves, and cotton gloves, Were also moved for, hut these are included in " silk manufactures not particularly enumeiated," and " cotton manufactures wholly or in part made up, not otherwise charged with duty.

American Tobacco. — The state of Virginia Jproduces the greatest quantity of tobacco. In 1840 it yielded 75,347*106 lb., and its tobacco is the, best throughout the union. In the same yearthe following states produced the greatest quantities: — Kentucky, 53,43(5,909 lb. ; Tennessee, 29,550,432 lb. ; Maryland, 24,816,012 lb. ; North Carolina, 1 ! 6i772,352 lb. ; Missouri, 9,067,913 lb. ; then Ohio. 5,942,275 lb., and Indiana, 1,850,306 lb. The produce of the other states is trifling. In general, the tobacco crops in all parts of the union, has amounted to 3 19,1 63,3 19 lb., or 1 82,636 chests, of 1 200lb. each. Calculating the average price of every

chest at 81 dols. 5 cents., it follows that the total prorluction of tobacco in the United States yields a value of 14,802,617 dols. 80 cents. The average annual exportation in the 10 years ended in 1840 amounted to 95,775 chests, so that the annual consumption in the United Stales themselves, may be computed at 86,800 chests. In 1841, 147,828 chests were exported, the value being 12,576,703 dols. In 1843, there were exported to England, 21,029 chests, valued at 1,260,565 dols. ; to the Hanse Towns, 24,504, valued at 1,024,851 dols.; to Holland, 19,519, valued at 816,469 dols. ; to France, 11,406 valued at 932,335 dols. ; to Spain, 339, valued at 18,099 dols. ; to Gibraltar, 4771, valued at 149,142 dols. ; to Austria, 968, valued at 72,748 dols. ; and to various countries not named, 11,897, valued at 624,712 dols. Total, 94,454 chests, valued at 4,650,979 dols. The exportation of tobacco from the United States has nearly doubled since 1821. A particularly remarkable increase has taken place in the exports to Holland and Germany, while those to Great Britain have not increased to any remarkable extent during the same period, although its population increased by 7,000,000 between 1821 and 1840. The consumption of tobacco in England has generally decreased in a direct ratio with the increase of the duty. — Giornale del Lloyd Austriaco.