the demand, and it is supposed that the cheaper class of goods will disappear in the course of three months. Since the Easter fair the prices of linen have advanced 30 per cent., and are yet far below the standard prices of yarn. The public are of opinion that instead of giving 200 per cent. more for shirting and other cotton goods, which are much inferior and less durable than before, it would be much more economical to pay a few more kreutzers per ell for good substantial linen fabrics. Cotton goods are always in demand, and good yarns find a profitable market. In consequence of the deficiency of the stock the linen manufacturers are unable to meet the demands on them for goods; they have in consequence advanced their prices. The raw materials, flax and hemp, are only a trifle dearer, and still bear no proportion to the prices of yarn; the latter maintain their position in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining American cotton. In consequence of the new importation tariff on the raw materials the sales of fine silks were more active. The markets in the above-named goods were, as a whole, satisfactory. Leather took its usual place in the fair. The most profitable business was done in upper-leather, of which considerable quantities sold rapidly, and at good prices. Light leather and oxskins sold at rather moderate prices. Cowhides (vache leather) of fine quality maintained about the former prices, while inferior kinds were very plentiful, and, according to quality, brought a few dollars per hundred weight less than at the last fair. Brown and black calfskins were in great demand, and higher prices were readily realized. Sheepskins were higher than before, and sustained their prices. throughout.

The following prices were paid for good polished leather of first quality sold in lots of 5 or 6 skins:

American customers were fewer at the fair this year than ever, which finds its explanation in our high tariff and the overstocked state of the American market, which does not justify importations at prices double the usual rates. The few purchases made were of articles of luxury, the buyers being persons who occasionally visited Frankfort, but who had not come for the special purpose of buying. The horse fair which has lately been connected with this fair was attended by results similar to those on former occasions. Sellers as well as buyers were satisfied with their business, and this market may be said to be one of the best ever held. Many dealers have left, and others partly sold out. Some had so many demands for their fine horses that they sent for more during the market. Of the 1,260 horses brought to the market 962 were sold. The most important sales were made in fancy horses, while the sale of working horses was even greater as regards numbers, but their prices did not range so high. The demand for chances in the lottery connected with the market was so great that the committee were obliged to purchase 18 horses, which, together with some other smaller prizes, were valued at 11,400 florins, or about $4,560

The following is an official statement of the traffic of the Frankfort cattle market from May to October, 1864, compared with the same period for the year 1863:

It may be of some interest to know the whole number of patents granted by the governments of all the states belonging to the German Zollverein for new inventions, in order to be able thereby to judge of the inventive genius of the nation. The whole number during the past year amounted to 640, viz: in Saxony, 176; Bavaria, 91; Hanover, 54; Wurtemberg, 85; Prussia, 71; Baden, 33; Hesse Darmstadt, 24; Nassau, 17; Electoral Hesse, 11; Bruuswick, 10; Coburg Gotha, 9; Anhalt, 8; Saxe Weimar, 7; Bamberg, 6; Oldenburg, 4; Altenburg, 4; Frankfort, 8; Schwarzburg Sondershausen, 3; Schwarzburg Rudolstadt, 2; Saxe Meiningen, 2; Luxemburg, 2; Lippe, 2; Waldeck, 1; Hesse Homburg, none. Of course these 640 patents do not represent so many new inventions, but are for the most part patents granted in the smaller states for inventions which had already been patented in other parts. Such instances are, however, less frequent than might be supposed. On a rough calculation, there are about 60 patents which may be regarded as such, the validity of which extends beyond three German states.

The following is an official statement of the coinings which have taken place at the mint of Frankfort since the conclusion of the mint treaty of the 25th of August, 1837, up to the end of 1863; from which it appears that the total amount coined during that period amounted, exclusive of 1,786 gold ducats, to f. 21,844,904 11, or $8,737,960.

Amount of coin produced at the mint of Frankfort since the treaty of coinage of August 15, 1837, to the end of 1863.

For Frankfort specially the past year has been remarkable for many changes of great importance favorable to the progress of its commercial and industrial relations.

On the 2d of February last the usury laws hitherto in force in this city were repealed, as I specially reported on that occasion, when I transmitted a translation of the new law in relation to interest. The law of the "free exercise of a trade, profession, or business," respecting which I reported more fully in my last annual report, went into operation on the 1st of May last, and has produced important results for the local and social intercourse of Frankfort. Before, the city was surrounded by walls and ditches, and was furnished with gates, which were closed at night, and the rural and city populations were in consequence so entirely separated from each other that there existed an excise duty on all articles imported from the outer district of Frankfort territory into the city proper. This antiquated system has now been abolished; walls and gates have been removed, and the excise officers placed at the frontiers of the Frankfort territory. This step of real progress has led to some more important advances in political and social matters. Formerly, for instance, all the citizens of this little republic were not entitled to equal rights and privileges. The full right of citizenship was only enjoyed by the Christian citizens residing in the city itself. The rural population, as well as the Jews, were subject to all the duties of citizens, without enjoying equal rights. The restriction hitherto existing with regard to the rights of citizens of the Jewish religion and the citizens of the rural community are abolished. The law will take effect on the 7th of this month. The citizens of Frankfort are still divided into three classes, the first including all the members of the senate; the nobility who do not occupy themselves with any kind of business which would entitle them to votes under any of the other heads; the learned of all classes or faculties, under which head come all the public officers and clergy, the notaries included; all those citizens, not belonging to the rank of the learned, who are appointed to public offices either by the senate or according to constitutional dispensation of the same, or those who are appointed "representatives of the city," and who receive an annual salary or emolument out of the state funds; military officers, of all ranks;

land-owners; those citizens registered as living on their property; the schoolteachers, teachers of languages, and teachers of other sciences; and all artists whose business has not been included in the above-named classes. To the second division belong all business people, without distinction; bankers; wholesale and retail dealers; hotel-keepers; book-keepers and clerks; the sworn brokers; the store-keepers, and all landlords who do not carry on a business belonging to any of the classes hitherto named; those servants and persons in office, not belonging to the learned professions, who are not included in the first division, and who, through other avocations, belong to the second division. To the third division belong those whose business has hitherto been incorporated as a guild; those persons in office, and servants, not belonging to the learned professions, who are not included in the first division, and by avocation belong to the third division; all citizens, not enumerated in the former divisions, who carry on any legal or other business here. Upon any votings or elections the citizens have to vote according to these three classes, so that the majority of the votes of each class and the majority of the two classes are decisive as to the result of the election. It is singular that although all citizens have been made equal with regard to religious profession and residence, there should still exist a difference as to the pursuit of business or the possession of wealth. In an industrial point of view Frankfort last year made an important step in advance, in originating and opening, on the 4th of July last, a so-called "exhibition of fine arts and industry," which remained open two months. This exhibition was so far different from the "world exhibitions" held at New York, Paris, and London, that it was a mere local undertaking that is to say, only those articles were admitted for exhibition that were the products of the industry of Frankfort citizens, or of such persons residing in the city and who were engaged in business there.

The artistic branch of the exhibition was rendered very interesting by the fact that the productions of Frankfort artists from the earliest to the present time were so exhibited that the spectators were enabled to take in at one view the history of the fine arts in Frankfort. The articles exhibited were divided into seven groups. The first comprehended the metallurgic products and chemical objects; the second, provisions and kindred objects, (confectionery, wine, liquors, oil, tobacco, and cigars;) third, clothing materials and articles made of the same, leather products and textures and similar articles of dress; fourth, tools, instruments and machines, wood, stone, hardwares, &c.; fifth, polygraphy and its auxiliary branches, printing, paper-making, type foundry, engraving, &c., stylography; sixth, scientific horticulture, porcelain painting, photography, plastic and galvanic copying, &c.; seventh, groups of sculpture, plastic drawing, &c.

The senate had appointed a special committee to award prizes, &c.

A few words must also be said on another branch of industry, which had its origin in our country, and has lately become of great importance in Frankfort. I mean the manufacture and sale of American machines. The past year was very favorable to the expert of many articles of American manufacture, but especially machinery, which found an ever-increasing sale in Germany. The great American sewing-machine manufacturers send great quantities of their machines to Germany, partly in exchange for other commodities and partly to extend their business. Heretofore the American houses established themselves in Hamburg only, and had agents in other parts of Germany; but in that year they came here also, in which they acted very wisely, Frankfort being the great metropolis of southern Germany and the centre of many populous cities, through which business can easily be transacted with the whole of southern Germany. Business has also been much facilitated by the German steam navigation between Bremen, Hamburg, and New York. The freight from New York to Bremen or Hamburg comes almost as cheap as to Liverpool, on account of

the high warehouse expenses there, so that the entire freight from Liverpool to the German ports is saved, which, of course, is in some degree prejudicial to the trade of England.

The American machines are also imitated here, and although these imitations are not equal to the real American ones, still the American manufacturers ought to take care that they do not lose the market by the much cheaper price of the German machines.

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The business is extending here in the same degree as in the United States. As formerly the spinning wheel, so will shortly the sewing machine be seen in every house. It may be calculated on with certainty that in the next ten years from 300,000 to 400,000 machines will be sold in Germany and Austria. Therefore, there is here a large field open for speculation where machines are only made by small mechanics who are not supplied with the proper machinery for their work, and where no large factories are in existence yet.

The house of Wirth & Sountag, here, who has established the said permanent exhibition of machines, have, as stated already in my last annual report, through the medium of Messrs. Lee & Co., also introduced the steam fire-engine of the Amoskeag company of New York and Manchester. The engine has been tried on several occasions and found to work excellently, but, on account of its very large size, not yet found a purchaser. Although the success for the whole of Germany has not been so great as might be expected, still the construction of steam fire-engines in Munich, Chemnitz, Hanover, and Hamburg demonstrate that the time is not far distant when they will become very general also in Germany. It is generally acknowledged by all authorities that the American machines are the best of all. Mr. Maffei, the celebrated manufacturer of Munich, for instance, has already taken the American engines as model for his own.

One kind of machines, which has been introduced here this summer by the same firm of Wirth & Sountag, and which has given universal satisfaction, is the grass-mowing and reaping machines of McCormick, Wood & Allen. The said gentlemen, in order to bring the machines into notice, lent several for mowing trials to farmers and others, and have thereby sold many. It may be calculated on with confidence that an important business in these machines will be done here next year. The success of the American washing machines has not been so favorable, and their sale has been very limited. Those, however, who have made a trial with these machines are very well satisfied with them, and there is no doubt but they will, by degrees, become very much used. The same thing may also be said with respect to other American household machinery. It is, therefore, desirable that the American machine-manufacturers should not fail to send specimens of their machines to the exhibitions which are so common in this part of the world. Among other places, there have been such exhibitions at Hoechst, for the Duchy of Nassau; at Okarben, Offenbach, Gross-Gerau, and Gaualgesheim, for the Grand Duchy of Hesse; and the machines which were exhibited partly by industrial and agricultural societies and partly by private individuals were nearly all sold. It is very desirable that in all exhibitions there should be specimens of our American agricultural, household, and wood-cutting machinery, especially of the last-named kind, which is very much in demand, as there is so much building going on that there are scarcely sufficient workmen to be found. A builder here has, in consequence of this, fitted up his workshop with machinery. For the industrial department, good wood-cutting and working machines, small hand machines as well as large ones to be worked by steam power, are much wanted, and a good market might be opened in the sale of them with all south Germany. But the German mechanics cannot be induced to try a machine they have not seen previously. To meet this difficulty the industrial societies have therefore begun to make experiments with the machines, and then buy the same for the resale. Manufacturers