British Thrift from the war.
The London
Times, of the 4th June, gives some statistics from the report of the
Commissioners of Customs which are interesting.
It appears that the total of British and Irish exports in 1860, were £135,900,000; in '61, £125,100,000; in '62. £124,100,000.
Thus it appears that the entire decrease in the exports of last year was only, one tenth of that which took place the year before, and this, notwithstanding the
decrease in cotton goods alone. amounted to £10,000,000, or about
fifty millions of dollars! The
Times very truly remarks "a vast progress must have been made in other branches of our export trade to fill up such a chasm and bring up the grand total to within a million of that for 1861." It proceeds to say "such a progress has been realized to an extent and in directions we should hardly have anticipated.
An advance of £2,000,000 in woolen manufactures; of £1,000,000 in iron and iron manufactures; of £1,300,000 in linen manufactures; of £1,200,000 in arms and ammunition, and of £400,000 in
steam engines, accounts for nearly £6,000,000 of this train.
The destination of some of these commodities will readily be guessed, and we are less surprised than the
Commissioners to hear that American orders upon British manufacturers for 1862 exceeded those of 1861 by more than £5,000,000.
Having fallen from £21,500,000 in 1860 to £9,000,000 in 1861, our exports to
America amounted in 1862 to upwards of £14,000,000.
This, too, is in spite of the blockade, and represents our commerce with the
Northern and Pacific ports alone." Thus far the
Times. If we add to this the indirect trade of the
Confederate States, via the
West Indies, and the blockade-running routes, and, further, the ships and munitions for them supplied from English ports, and we have little doubt that the
aggregate export trade of
Great Britain wish the
North American States the last year will be equal to, if not in excess of, that of 1860.
It is quite clear that
England in the aggregate loses little by the war in this country — Her labor is incommoded and made to suffer by transfer from one branch of business to another — the more no doubt because much of it cannot be readily transferred, and some of it not at all; but the increased demand for one kind of industry and in one department of art is compensating her for the falling off in another.
This view of the situation of her industry and commerce growing out of the troubles in this country may well contribute to the composure of the
British Ministry; and their persistence in their policy of indifference.
It is no wonder that they can see no reason yet for recognizing the Southern Confederacy.
The game in which she suffers so little may go on a good while yet without detriment to her!
England has always made money out of the ware.
She is ever ready to clothe and arm the belligerents for gold.
The suspension of hostilities in any country with which she can effect communication, even under the perils of running a blockade, might not be especially beneficial to her. In all the wars of the
European continent in modern times
England has made large profits.
Her position is advantageous for access, and she never puts any obstacle in the way of obtaining from herself needed supplies for the prosecution of foreign wars.
We have no objection to acquiring the means of defence for ourselves from
England.
Indeed, we are glad of the opportunity of getting them from her. But in observing the solemnity and dignity of ministerial bearing in the British Parliament, we may not forget the influence exerted upon ministerial measures by the considerations of trade — the gains of traffic.
The
Shep and the
Mill have full as much to do with British policy as Justice and Honor.
