Years. IMPORTS AND SHIPPING OF MALTA. Great Britain. British Colonies. North America. United States. Foreign States. Total. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. f No. Tons. Men. :::: 363326 780 62126 657278 1357 116021 353015 889 69443 572921 1553 130112 301058 880 67657 469367 1527 120617 311792 591 61924 512849 988 119586 375186 708 87556 562630 1192 161168 10396 414670 953 85726 600703 1742 168053 17521 3807 348444 1034 82371 541233 1901 162621 19021 6637 329126 988 70591 522624 1792 153199 16790 6177 376381 1045 107143 551132 1844 181209 19608 1520 380287 1310 158596 506131 1448 181025 16359 2547 343688 813 123395 503444 954 144928 10592 1849 369633 1581 131892 591666 1723 154921 17638 4117 400503 977 159885 570382 1151 187159 12421 3418 342295 1825 178329 685531 1963 199500 19636 From elsewhere, 1828, 37,9147.; 1829. 20,5547.; 1830, 25,020.; 1831, 15,776.; 1832, 28,2957.; 1833, 39,8157.; List of vessels of all Nations which have entered the Ports of Malta during the year 1834: Quarantine harbour, above 30 tons, English 249, Foreign 287; under 30 tons, English 16; tonnage 86,012. Great harbour, above 30 tons, English 186, Foreign 457; under 30 tons, English 377, Foreign 247; tonnage, 76,089; total number of vessels, 1,819. Return of the number of vessels, &c. belonging to Malta and Gozo, in January, 1835 number of vessels belonging to Malta, 250 tons and upwards, 15; 100 to 250 tons, 67; 20 to 100 tons, 25; 20 tons and under, 40; total number of vessels, 147; total number of tons, 16,868; of which were built in Malta, 250 tons and upwards, 9; 100 to 250 tons, 42; 20 to 100 tons, 17; 20 tons and under, 40; total number of vessels, 108; total number of tons, 10,434; crews of the above, 1,522; number of boats of all descriptions, belonging to Malta, 906; number of boats, belonging to Gozo, 97; total, 1003: number of men employed, 2,817. 1027 83212 393707 1842 155657 18379 982 68368 428670 1726 143142 16073 1014 101093 384120 1765 168566 18755 1459 174143 319810 1508 181031 16552 1517 152338 364377 1605 168773 16936 1664 155198 403377 1740 168798 18844 1164 185445 336612 1232 197673 13230 2007 202491 380942 2083 216267|20922 chairs, &c. are annually exported to the Ionian Isles, Greece, and other places. XIII. Coins. [B.B.1836.] Gold: none in circulation, Silver: British crown, half-crown, shilling and sixpenny pieces, Spanish pillared dollar, dollar of the South American States, Sicilian dollar and half-crown pieces, Maltese dollar, half-dollar, two scudi, one scudo, six, four, two, and one tari pieces. Copper: British penny, halfpenny, farthing and grain pieces, the latter of the value of one-third of a farthing. The Spanish dollar was declared a legal tender at the rate of four shillings and fourpence sterling, by proclamation of the 11th October, 1825; issued in consequence of an order of the King in council bearing date the 23rd of March 1825. The dollar of Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chili, and Rio Plata, was made current at the rate of four shillings and four pence sterling, by proclamation of the 27th May, 1834, issued in consequence of instructions to that effect contained in a despatch from his Majesty's principal Secretary of State, dated 5th April, 1834. The Sicilian dollar which formerly passed current at the same rate as the Malta dollar, namely at two scudi and a half of Malta, continues to pass, since the introduction of the British silver money into these possessions, at a proportioned sterling rate. The scudo being equivalent to one shilling and eight pence sterling. The Sicilian dollar consequently passes for 48. 2d. 12th of a penny; the Sicilian half dollar, 2s. 1d.; the Malta dollar, 4s. 2d.; half dollar, 2s. 1d.; two scudi piece, 38. 4d.; one scudo, 1s. 8d.; six tari piece, 10d.; The value of the cottons manufactured in Malta is upwards of 118,000l. Black silk stuff is also made. Ship building is on the increase, the Maltese being good carpenters: the timber employed is chiefly from the Adriatic. About 50,000,000 of segars are annually made, and find a market in every port of the Mediterranean. Stone for paving and building, is quarried and exported in considerable quantities to Constantinople, the Black Sea, Egypt, &c. There are manufactories on a small scale of soap, leather, maccaroni, iron bedsteads, &c. The Maltese jewellers are remarkable for the elegance of their gold fillagree-four do., 64d.; two do., 34d.; one do., 1d. work, neck chains, &c. Salt is prepared in large quantities by exposing sea-water in the cavities of the rocks to solar evaporation. As ship builders, the Maltese are highly prized. Large quantities of sofas, The introduction of British money into these possessions has not hitherto produced, among the commercial body or inhabitants generally any alteration of keeping their accounts, and of making sales, con tracts, &c., which are continued as formerly in Maltese currency, namely, scudi, tari, and grains; 20 grains are equal to 1 tari, 12 tari to 1 scudi, equal to 18. 8d. sterling. The government departments (since the 25th December, 1825) keep their accounts and conduct their cash transactions in sterling, in the same manner as in England. As Mahommedans, not having means of ransom. Course of exchange.—[B. B. 1836.] The Committee of Merchants declare a rate of exchange with England twice a week founded on the actual transactions during the intervening days. The commissary in pursuance of his instructions from the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, grants bills on their Lordships, at the rate of 1001. in exchange for every 1017. 108. tendered to him in British silver money, and advertises for supplies in other than Bri-ing the share of the proprietors of pawns, in as much tish specie, when he has occasion so to do. The average rate of the commercial exchange during the last year has been 50 13-100th pence per dollar of exchange of 4s. 2d. The following are the average rates of exchange with the principal ports of the Mediterranean; upon Sicily, 108. 4d. sterling per ounce of 24 dollar; Naples, 38. 5d. st. per ducat of 100 grains; Leghorn, 48. 2d. st. per gold dollar; Geneva, 8d. st. per lira mori banco, and 94d. st. per lira nuova; Trieste, 28. Id. st. per florin; Marseilles, 94d. st. per franc. Amount of Coin in circulation.—[B.B. 1836.] Silver and copper, may be estimated at about 150,000l. sterling. Amount of paper currency in circulation; the only paper currency in circulation consists of the notes of two separate banks, (established en comundite) not amounting to 20,000l. sterling; they are not received by the government departments, and are issued more for the convenience of the commercial body, than with a view of profit. These banks are considered very solid, and are conducted in a safe and regular manner. as the advance they received on that security, never exceeded one-half or two-thirds of the value of the articles pawned. It is needless to state that not a shilling of this sum, was repaid by the French government, after the restoration of their legitimate monarchs. When the British forces took possession of La Vallette, in September, 1800, it was one of the first cares of the head of the government to see this useful institution resume its operations. Accordingly a new board was elected, and about 4,0007, advanced to them (without interest) from the local treasury. A loan was opened to which individuals did not hesitate to contribute, when they were assured that the institution considered itself bound to pay the old loan, though forming part of the amount carried away by the French; and that in the mean time interest would be paid on it. The Monte, possessing landed property to a much greater amount, could never refuse such an act of justice. Happily the cessation of slavery, having put an end to the old charge for ransoms, enabled the institution to devote its revenues to the payment of interest on the old loan, to the extinction of part of the capital, to the improvement of its property, and for the last 13 years to assign a subsidy of 5007. per annum to the House of Industry. In 1836, 16,9431. was received on pawns, and 17,3101. lent on do.; 2641. was restored surplus on the sale of pawns. There is another "Monte di Pietà" at Gozo, established by the late Sir Alexander Ball, about 33 years ago; but its operations are extremely limited, in as much as it possesses no funds of its own worth mentioning, and has no other capital at its disposal but 1,200 dollars, borrowed from the Monte di Pietà e Redenzionè of Malta, at the interest of 3 per cent. The Monte di Pietà of Malta was established in the year 1597, and like all institutions of the sort, in other parts of Europe, particularly at Rome, with the object of affording pecuniary relief to the distressed at reasonable interest, thereby preventing them from having recourse to usurious contracts. Any sum of money, however small, is advanced to the applicants on the security of property given in pawn, such as gold, silver, and other precious articles, or wearing apparel, whether worn or new. The period of the loan is for 3 years on pawns of the first description, and never more than two on those of the latter, renewable at the option of the parties, who are also at liberty to redeem their pawns, at any time within the period, on payment of interest in proportion. The rate of interest now charged is 6 per cent per annum. The unclaimed pawns at the expiration of the period, are sold by public auction and the residue of the proceeds, after deducting the same due to the institution, is payable to the person producing the respective ticket. Of the accommodation thus afforded by the "Monte" not unfrequently persons in better circumstances, have availed themselves for any momentary exigency, and in this way considerable sums have been Cantarot 20 100 250 3000 12000 24000 48000 96000 1725000 advanced. Till the year 1787, the operations of this institution were conducted by means of money borrowed at a moderate rate of interest, and by funds acquired by donations, &c. But the grand master Rohan authorized the consolidation of the funds of the Monte di Pictà with those of the Monte de Redenzionè, another institution equally national, founded in the year 1607, by private donations and bequests, for the philanthropic object, of rescuing from slavery, any of the natives who might fall into the hands of per annum. Weights, 1.- - For gold, silver, pearls, precious stones, &c. Cocci Trapesa 18 Sedicesimo 2 36 2 4 72 2 Oneia 8 16 Quarta 4 8 144 32 376 6012 293 498 1167 482 396 448 326 24 60 7481 1261 bushls. bushls. bushls. bushl. bhls. cwt. cwts. cwt. tornas. 7560 11734 614 338 1406 22861 2893 3040 3808 9513 386 23 2274 70156 62 12932 5896 6174 13072 189 14 290 6041 965 9088 294 9025 1882 9753 3307 47 10312 18898 77 2753 89 4481 15514 1953 2387 80 2016 246030 98 1090 359 23026 7450 20057 465 8 2909 13342 108 30523 98 5284 3623 6497 2441 47 1417 7621 97 3925 2922 858 4292 331 21 792 15086 67 1910 2126 2520 4331 984 24 625 46879 109 1496 1418 175 3125 62500 1 15403 740 3339 5457 9636 3686 103332 83038 119765 18285 1082 30267 488317 2014 110071 3 6 40 10 40806 .. 500 Grand total 4832 6078 12264 4952 112845 167568 122828 24199 1106 49467 510932 2014 151377 Nature of Produce and price of each in sterling money.-Wheat, per bushel, from 38. 94d. to 5s. 0d.; meschiato, from 28. 31d. to 3s. 94d.; barley, from 18. 8 d. to 2s. 9id.; beans, from 18. 8d. to 3s. 2d.; sesamum, from 5s. Old. to 6s. 5id.; cotton, per cwt., from 16s. 1d. to 17. 5s. 8d.; cumin seed, from 8s. to 17. 10s. 8d.; vegetables, from 58. 44d. to 3s. 6d. ; forage, per serna, from 10d. to 2s. 7d. Manufactures, Mines, Fisheries, &c. in 1836. [B. B.] -In private houses in the four cities and the various casals of Malta and Gozo.-Cotton sail cloth, value 28,000l.; nankeen, table cloths, counterpanes, blue and striped cloth for shirts, trousers, &c. 64,000l.; cotton yarn, spun by hand, 38,000l.; Malta stone, wrought into vases, flower pots, &c. 1,000l.; wrought gold and silver, 14,000l.; six ships built in the colony, 592 tons burthens, 2,0831.; total, 147,0331. There are stone quarries in every part of the island. The cotton used is the growth of the island. The cotton cloths are chiefly of a coarse quality, for the use of the inhabitants and for exportation. The stone for paving and building is exported in considerable quantities to Constantinople, the Black Sea, Egypt, &c. The intrinsic value of the metals is included in the value of wrought gold and silver. The Maltese are good shipwrights, and ship-building is much increased of late years. The timber is chiefly from the Adriatic. one season of the year (viz. from August to October) great quantities of a particular kind of fish are taken, something resembling the dolphin, called here lam |