From Baltimore,

per Dutch galley Fosca Helena:

272 hogsheads tobacco and staves. per Dutch brig Maelstrom:

390 hogsheads tobacco and staves.

From Boston, per Italian brig Concettino:

1,336 barrels petroleum.

per Dutch bark Vereeniging:
1,584 barrels flour.

25 casks bread.

10 do. tallow.

275 barrels beef and pork.

11,520 pieces pipe and hogshead staves.
29 barrels honey.

57 do. palm oil.
60 boxes soap.
5 do. tobacco.
225 barrels herring.
25 do. salmon.
21 boxes lobsters.

7 do. sundries.

From New York, per Dutch brig Susanna:

710 barrels flour.

60 do. ashes.

5 hogsheads tobacco.

500 boxes extract of logwood.
100 barrels lard and staves.

per schooner Peterdina Martina:
150 bags cocoa.

130 barrels beef.

1,040 oars.

1,260 pipe staves.

50 hogsheads tobacco. 100 barrels pot ashes.

13 do wax.

PARAMARIBO-H. SAWYER, Consul.

FEBRUARY 13, 1864.

I beg to inform you of the manner by which the recently emancipated negroes are kept at work, and so far with success, considering all circumstances. On the first of July, 1863, the slaves of this colony, about 37,000, (thirty-seven thousand,) were proclaimed free, with the proviso that they should" be under the surveillance of the government for the term of ten years;" that is, they were obliged to make a contract with their former owners for a term of months, and, on the expiration of the time specified in the agreement, they should renew the same, or with other planters, at their option.

At first they all objected to the contract, and wished to commence work on their own account, by taking a small piece of land and live in a state of independence, or, in other words, laziness.

Men-of-war steamers were sent up the rivers near the plantations; the negroes were called before the magistrate, ("of which there is one in each division,") and had their choice either to abide by the law, "which was explained to them," or at once be taken from the plantations and sent to the government estates.

Nearly all have contracted and remain on the same plantations, with but few exceptions.

The stipulations of the contract are that wages are paid for the amount of work performed, there being a tariff. A common field hand can earn from one to two guilders per diem; and, at the cheap rate of clothing and provisions, they can lay up one-half of their wages.

The laborer has a book, duly signed by himself and the planter before the magistrate, and, in case a dispute should arise between them, it is settled before that officer. If the planter should violate the stipulations of the contract, he is liable to a heavy fine; and, on the other hand, if the laborer does not fulfil his part thereof, he or she is punished by being sent to the chain gang, or on government works.

The planter finds horses and medical attendance gratis.

If the United States government should decide to send destitute negroes here, they would probably be obliged to come under the same regulations, which is certainly all that could be desired, and is beneficial to both planter and laborer, and also prevents vagabondage.

If a planter hires a laborer otherwise than by the aforementioned manner he is subject to a heavy fine.

The only trouble at the moment is, the negroes do not work regular, as the amount of wages earned in three days provides for all wants during the rest of the week.

I understand that a treaty has been concluded between the Netherlands and the United States government relating to the immigration of the free colored people of the United States to this colony.

I beg to make one or two remarks, knowing the state of the colony well at the moment.

There are many planters here who could employ thousands of the immigrants and pay them well for their work, but there are others who would willingly take them trusting to their crop for the payment of their wages, they not having the means otherwise; and, in case of the failure of the crop, the hands would be destitute. I beg to suggest that it would be the safest way to have the planters individually give security to the government for the payment of their wages before they are sent here.

I have been a resident of this colony now nearly fifteen years, and can say that I am well acquainted with the standing of nearly, if not quite all, of the planters here. As I before informed you, I will attend to the interests of the emigrants here if required by the United States government.

As some one must bear the expense of passage, &c., I think it could be so arranged that the planters would pay the same, and afterwards be allowed to deduct it from the wages gradually.

The enclosed tables show what this colony has produced in former years, and could now, with emigrants and labor-saving implements, produce double the quantity.

The great drawback on business of all kinds in this colony is, that there is nothing in the shape of a bank, and all affairs here are carried on in hard currency, (the Dutch guilder,) which is gradually leaving the colony in the shape of remittances to Holland.

Exportations from Surinam from 1771 to 1774, inclusive.

Exportations from Surinam from 1859 to 1862, inclusive.

Am't. 123, 179, 936 1, 419, 039 1,991, 483 2, 120, 607 2,941, 940 625, 004 $5, 181, 253 23

Annually..

1,295, 313 30

OCTOBER 10, 1864.

In accordance with instructions, I have the honor to submit a recapitulation of the trade of this port with the United States for the year ended September 30, 1864:

SHIPMENTS.

Nearly all the shipments to and from the United States for the past year have been made under foreign flags, although the cargoes were owned by American parties.

The value of imports, consisting of provisions, have amounted to $439,514 75. The value of exports, $551,199 95. Aggregate tonnage 8,1918 tons.

PLANTATIONS.

The plantations have now been carried on more than one year by paid labor, and at the high rates of sugar they have paid their way; but as a general thing have given no profit, the rates of wages being about forty cents, American currency, per diem, the laborers furnishing their own provisions.

The great difficulty experienced by the planters at present is that the hands will not work regularly.

The revenue from the estates thus far since the emancipation, which took place the first of July, 1863, is from the cane planted previously, which requires from fifteen to eighteen months to ripen. The ensuing twelve months will decide whether free labor will warrant the continuing the culture of sugar. The general opinion of planters is that it will not; and in consequence many of them will change the culture to that of cocoa, which requires but very little labor after the tree becomes two years old.

COFFEE.

The coffee estates are nearly all abandoned or changed into cocoa plantations.

IMMIGRANTS.

About 500 immigrants have arrived here from Barbadoes during the past year, and were at once employed on the estates.

GOLD MINING.

The gold mines discovered some four years since have so far not been properly worked, or at least merely prospected, and, of course, the result of these researches cannot be given. However, a small company has recently been formed, and about 30 laborers are now engaged working them. They left town for the mines on the 25th of September. Undoubtedly these mines will prove as lucrative as those of Cayenne and Demarara, which are on each side of this colony, and the same range of mountains runs through the three. These mines are about 150 miles up the Surinam river and are quite easy of access by water. I have sent to the United States some specimens of the gold, which proves to be very pure.

VALATA, OR GUTTA PERCHA.

for cov

This is a sort of gum which oozes from the valata, or balla tree, and resembles very much the gutta percha when dried. I have forwarded to the New York Gutta Percha Company samples of the same to experiment upon ering telegraphic marine cables. The colony abounds with these trees, and the wood is used for building purposes. It is tapped the same as the maple for sugar, and the pine for turpentine, without any injury to the tree, as the gum comes only from the bark.

IMPORT DUTIES.

The import duties are quite low, being about 3 per cent. on the appraised value here. This appraisement here, however, leads to a great deal of trouble to the importers, as the market fluctuates to such a degree that nearly every cargo has a different valuation affixed, and the original invoice is not accepted by the custom-house authorities. The government also retains the right to take all cargoes at 12 per cent. above the invoice price, and the importer is not allowed to make any correction after he has once cleared his cargo in, or to make a so-called port entry in case of omissions, as in the United States.

A CUSTOM-HOUSE REGULATION.

If it shall be found that any goods have been left out of the clearance, (entering,) and that such leaving out did happen by omission or neglect, which must appear clearly, the master or commander shall pay a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, in the discretion of the judge. But if any duties are due on such goods, or if they are prohibited from being imported, they shall be confiscated; and in case it should appear that they were left out with intent to escape the payment of duties in, or on exportation of the same, or in fraud of the prohibitory laws, the ship and cargo are to be confiscated.

This law is certainly very extraordinary, and does by no means agree with our treaty on the reciprocity of navigation and commerce with the Netherlands.

FREE LABOR FROM THE UNITED STATES.

The planters here are greatly disappointed that the proposed convention between the United States and the Netherlands, relating to the immigration of free colored people from the United States to this colony, was not ratified. As I have already stated in my former reports, they would have had good care, ample employment, and fair wages. Two thousand could at once be employed. This colony remains perfectly healthy, and the quarantine laws are observed very rigidly.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Government is about building a fine wharf near the warehouses, in order that vessels may discharge and take in their cargoes instead of lightering, as at present.

BATAVIA-M. P. PELS, Vice-Consul.

DECEMBER 31, 1863.

Statement showing the description, quantity, where produced, and value of exports from Batavia during the quarter ended December 31, 1863.

During the year ending September 30, 1864, the business between Java and the United States has somewhat revived, and at present the imports and exports are approaching to what they were before the war. As yet, however, American bottoms are not in favor, and owners are obliged either to load on their own account or employ their vessels in making short coasting voyages. The tables which accompany this report show the course of trade, and also the proportion which is in the hands of private merchants and government under the name of the Dutch Trading Company.

In regard to the internal affairs of Java there is but little to report. A railroad was commenced at Samarang a few months ago which is to extend into the interior, but not enough progress has been made to have any influence as yet. This is the first railroad in the island, or in the Dutch possessions in the east; and its commencement is regarded as a sign that a more improving policy will prevail in the future in the development of these islands.