During the space of five years, ending in 1805, the average amount of exports front Canada to Gruat Bri tain and British settlements, according to Gray, was 767,7051. 178. 3d. Sterling, and were conveyed in 193 vessels, equal to 33,996 tons. They consisted chiefly of wheat and other kinds of grain; beef, pork, and lish of various sorts ; timber in the form of planks, staves, masts, oars, Ste.; pot and pearl ashes ; flax-seed, apples, and essence of spruce ; butter and tallow, soap, beer, and castoreum ; horses, cattle, and hides ; stoves, ma nufactured at Trois Rivieres ; vessels, built at Quebec ; and furs and pcltry, equal in value to more than one third of the whole.
The imports from Britain and British settlements, which pay duty, amounted to 204,105/. 17s. Gd. consist ing principally of wines, spirits, sugar, molasses, salt, coffee, tobacco, cards; while those which pay no duty are calculated to have nearly equalled the difference be tween the above sum and the value of the exports, namely, 563,6001. consisting chiefly of cloths, linens, muslins, silks, furniture, tools, hardware, crockery, coals.
In consequence of the late improvements of the coun try, and the embargo on the American trade, the com merce of Canada has recently increased in a very aston ishing degree. The unusual and growing demand for its productions, especially since the year 1808, has great ly increased the price of every article; and hence a con siderable portion of the exports, such as timber, staves, pot and pearl ashes, and provisions of every description, have, in spite of the embargo-law, found their way across the boundary line of the United States into Canada, and been shipped for Europe and the West Indies with great advantage to the Canadian merchants. In 1806, the tonnage of the shipping employed in the trade of the colony amounted to 33,996; in 1807, to 42,293 ; in 1808, to 70,275; in 1810, to 143,893 ; and in 1811, to 223,762. The following tables, from Lambert, will afford a clearer view of the progressive and amazing increase of this commerce since the year 1754.
A more complete view of the principal articles, which compose this growing and valuable commerce, may be afforded by the following lists of Exports and Imports for the years 1810 and 1811, which we have received from the most authentic sources, and which furnish more recent information on tic subject, than can be found in the latest publications on Canada.
Besides the trade, which Canada maintains with Bri tain and her dependencies, a very considerable is carried on with the American states. legai ( c an nul of this trade is by St John's, on the liver of CI • in plain, where there is a custom-house for its regul..tion and the imports by this course, in lifo6, amount, to 75,54G/. I I*. Gd. consisting principally of teas, choi plate, coffee, tobacco, spirits, butter, fish, pork ; leather, s ors, and boots; stockings, mahogany, pot-. sh, hogsheads, and hops : but, by other channels, cotto.is, silks, cambries, and groceries, are annually smuggled into the country, to the amount of 100,00of. Thc )( ports, by this communication, arc more correctly Icimi.11: and amounted, during. the same year, to 66,5861. 88. 2d. consisting chiefly of hides, salt, lisp, and espei of f n s.
Ever since the year 1796, the Anterica.,s bact been permitted, under authority of the 3d article of :\Ir treaty, to import into Canada, East intli goods, groce ries, and several other commodities, duty free ; ano as. by a variety of advantages attending a neutral flag, they are able to transport East India articles into America, and thence into Canada, much cheaper than can be done by British merchants, they have gained almost exclusive possession of this branch of trade in the colony. The money sent out of Canada to the United States in pay ment of their goods, besides creating a greater scarcity of specie, which lowers the rate of exchange, occasions an increase of price upon every article of Canada pro duce, and thus enables the American to undersell the Canadian merchant in Europe, as he does the European in Canada.* Besides restricting the American trader from such privileges, there arc many obvious reasons for securing to the British North American colonies the exclusive right of supplying the West India islands with lumber, fish, bread, flour, &c. for which they at present depend so entirely upon the United States.
The provinces of Canada, especially if encouraged by bounties from the British government, as the Americans are by theirs, could soon be enabled to furnish the West Indies with sufficient quantities of all these articles, so as to preclude them completely from suffering any great inconvenience from American embargoes and non-inter course acts.