Thus curiously leaving specie out of the calculation, the apparent balance was in favor of the United States by $8,676,620. It is probable, however, that the produce exported did not realize those invoice values, although American produce was better sustained abroad than were foreign manufactures in this market. If we now compare the specie movement of the two years, we have results as follows:-

Thus as the balance on merchandise was for 1857 $54,604,582 against the country, and we exported net $56,675,123, there was still a balance of $2,070,541 due the United States at the close of the year, without taking into account the profits on produce shipped that year, and which must have been large, since cotton and other produce rose through the year.

GENERAL STATISTICS OF JAPAN.

Japan, properly speaking, is a large island empire in the North Pacific, off the coast of China, consisting of an archipelago, comprising three large, mountainous, and volcanic islands-Niphon, Kiusiu, and Sikok—and an immense number of smaller islands. Of these lesser islands the principal are Sado, Tsousima, Awadsi, Tanegasima, Yki, Yakesima, and Osima, with the groups Okisima, Gotusimo, and Kosikisim, forming Japan proper; and the large island of Yesso, north of Typhon, and separated from it by the Straits of Tsugar, or Matsmai, with the south half the island of Tarakai, Krafta or Saghalin, and the larger and more southern Kurile Islands, forming a dependency called the principality Matsumae. The Bonin-Sima and Lew-Chew also form dependencies. The following summary gives the extent of the Japanese Empire, including all these dependencies:-Area of Japan proper, 116,405 square miles; area of dependencies, 43,312 square miles; total, 163,717.

The population is variously estimated at from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000; the mean of the two estimates being, perhaps, nearer the truth.

The principal or more important towns of the Empire are :—

On Niphon-Yedo, (or Jeddo,) Mijako, (or Kio,) &c.

On Kiusiu-Nangasaki, Saga, Korkurn.

On Sikok-Simoda, Kotsi, Takamutsi, &c.

On Yesso-Hokodadi, Matsumae, &c.

The interior of the country is unknown to foreigners; but it is represented to be in many parts, sterile-agriculture being compulsory, and under a system of sumptuary laws long known to exist in Japan.

The natural productions of this vast Empire are various and valuable. Its mineral riches include gold, silver, and copper; sulphur and nitre abound; coal is found in the greatest abundance; and precious stones, including sapphires, agates, jasper, cornelians, and even diamonds, are obtained in different parts of Japan.

The mulberry tree grows in the greatest perfection, and dispenses food to myriads of silk worms. Cloths, stuffs, cordage, &c., are manufactured from the paper tree, (Kadsi.) The varnish tree, (cerusi,) yields a milky juice, employed in varnishing articles an art which has attained to such perfection in Japan, that the English language has adopted the name of the Empire itself to signify the highest perfection in the art of varnishing. Besides these, there are numerous other valuable trees indigenous to Japan, among which may be classed the bay tree, the camphor tree, the fig tree, the cypress tree, all of which are made subservient to the wants and luxuries of the Japanese; and should commercial intercourse ever be freely opened with that Empire, could be made available in supplying most valuable export staples.

Hemp, cotton, rice, and every variety of cereals, some of them abounding with superior farina, are extensively and successfully cultivated. Rice is the principal food of the natives, and that raised in Japan is said to be the best grown in all Asia.

The silks, muslins, and cotton goods are manufactured with superior skill. Indeed, in several branches of handicraft the Japanese have no rivals. This is especially true as respects their ingenious and elegant carving in wood, ivory, pearl, and fish-bone.

By the laws of Japan, all intercourse is forbidden between the Japanese and foreigners, though for a long period of time the Chinese have been permitted to carry on a limited trade at Nangasaki. The number of junks engaged in the trade yearly is limited to four. The trade consists in the exchange of broadcloths and woolen stuffs for lacquered wares, copper, and other produce, and manufactures.

The Dutch have been also permitted to send two vessels annually to this port for purposes of trade. The merchandise imported by the Dutch consists chiefly of wax, spices, ivory, iron bars, quicksilver, glassware, musk, sapan wood, sugar, piece goods, and woolens, which they exchange for copper, camphor, silks, and lacquered goods, wax, pitch, wheat, and Japanese manufactures.

RECIPROCITY.

At a meeting of the New York Chamber of Commerce, held in November, the committee appointed to report upon the working of the Canadian Reciprocity Treaty submitted majority and minority reports, the latter of which, presented by Royal Phelps, was finally adopted by the Chamber.

In it they say:-Your committee look upon the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada as one of the most important commercial treaties ever made by our government. The following statistics, taken from official documents, will give the Chamber some idea of the enormous increase in the trade of the two countries since the treaty has been in operation :

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.

AMERICAN TREATY WITH CHINA.

We annex the entire treaty made between this government and China :PREAMBLE. The preamble declares that the President of the United States and the Emperor of China, being desirous of renewing the obligations of friendship between the two countries, and of establishing fixed rules for regulating the intercourse of their citizens, have named, on the one side, William B. Reed, Plenipotentiary of the United States, and on the other, Kweiliang and Hwas-hana, Imperial Commissioners, and that said ministers have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE 1. There shall be permanent peace between the United States of America on the one part, and the Chinese Empire on the other, and between their people respectively. They shall not insult or oppress each other for trifling causes; and if any other nation should have differences with the Chinese Empire, or act injudiciously towards them, the United States will exert their good offices to bring about an amicable adjustment of such differences.

ART. 2. To perfect this friendship it is agreed that, upon its ratification, this treaty shall be kept for safe preservation. The original treaty, as ratified by the President and Senate of the United States, shall be deposited at Pekin, in custody of the Privy Council; as ratified by the Emperor of China, it shall be deposited at Washington, in custody of the Secretary of State.

ART. 3. In order that the people of the two countries may know and obey the provisions of the treaty, the United States agree, upon its ratification by the President and Senate, to publish and proclaim the same through the journals in which the laws of the United States are published and proclaimed; and the emperor on his part, agrees to direct its publication at the capital of the Empire, and by the governors of the provinces.

ART. 4. In order to perpetuate their friendship, the minister or representative of the United States in China, shall have the right to correspond on terms of equality and in the form of mutual communication with the Privy Council at the capital, or with the Governors-General of two Kwangs;-and whenever he desires to communicate with the Privy Council, he may send his communication through either of the governors or by the general post, as he may prefer. His letters may be sealed, and the seal shall be respected; and his letters when received shall be considered and acknowledged promptly and respectfully.

ART. 5. The minister of the United States, whenever he has important business making it necessary, may visit and sojourn at the capital and confer with the members of the Privy Council, or with other officers who shall be deputed for that purpose. Such visits shall not exceed one in each year, nor shall they be attended with any unnecessary delay. He may go by land or by way of the mouth of the Peiho, but he shall not bring any ships-of-war of the United States into that river. He shall inform the government of his arrival in the river, that they may provide boats for his service. Such visits shall not be made on trivial occasions or for trifling reasons. The Board of Rites will give all necessary directions for his accommodation, and will provide him a furnished residence, but he shall defray his own expenses, and his suite shall not exceed twenty persons in all, exclusive of Chinese servants, none of whom shall be engaged in trade.

ART. 6. If the Emperor of China shall hereafter enter into any treaty engagements, permitting the representatives of any other nation to reside permanently at the capital, then the representative of the United States shall, without any further negotiation or discussion, have the same privilege.

ART. 7. The superior authorities of the United States and China, in corresponding together, shall do so in terms of equality and in the form of mutual

communication. The consuls, and the local officers, civil and military, in corresponding together, shall likewise employ the style and form of mutual communication. When inferior officers of one government address superior officers of the other, they shall do so in the style and form of memorial. Private individuals, in addressing superior officers, shall employ the style of petition. In no case shall any terms or style be suffered which shall be offensive or disrespectful to either party. And it is agreed that no present, under any pretext or form whatever, shall ever be demanded of the United States by China, or of China by the United States.

ART. 8. All personal intercourse and interviews between the minister of the United States and the officers of the Chinese Empire shall be held at the official residences of those officers, or at the temporary residence of the minister of the United States, nor shall any pretexts or excuses be urged for declining such interviews. All intercourse upon current matters shall be by correspondence.

ART. 9. Whenever ships-of-war of the United States, in cruising upon the coast for the protection of the commerce of their country, shall arrive at any of the ports of China, the commanders of said ships, and the superior local authorities of the government, shall hold intercourse together in terms of equality and courtesy; and the said ships-of-war shall enjoy all suitable facilities on the part of the Chinese government for the purchase of provisions, procuring water, and making necessary repairs. And in case merchant vessels shall be wrecked and plundered, or captured and pillaged by pirates, the national vessels of the United States may pursue the pirates, and shall deliver them, if taken, to the Chinese government for trial and punishment according to the Chinese laws.

ART. 10. The government of the United States may appoint consuls or other officers, for the protection of trade at each of the ports opened to commerce, who shall be duly recognized as such by the officers of the Chinese government, and shall hold official intercourse and correspondence with them, either personally or in writing, and in the style of mutual communication. If disrespectfully treated or aggrieved in any way by the local authorities, said officers shall have the right to make representations of the same to the superior officers of the Chinese gov ernment, who shall see that full inquiry and strict justice be had in the premises. The consuls shall avoid all acts of unnecessary offence to, or collision with, the officers and people of China. Upon the arrival of any consul, the minister of the United States shall give notice of the same to the government, in order that he may be properly recognized.

ART. 11. All citizens of the United States in China, peaceably attending to their affairs, being placed on a common footing of amity and good will with the subjects of China, shall receive and enjoy for themselves and their property the protection of the local authorities, who shall defend them from insult or injury of any sort on the part of the Chinese. If their dwelling or property be threatened or attacked by mobs, incendiaries, or other violent and lawless persons, the local officer, on requisition of the consul, will immediately dispatch a military force to disperse the rioters, and will apprehend the guilty individuals. Subjects of China, who may be guilty of such violence, shall be punished according to the laws of China, and citizens of the United States who may injure the persons or property of the subjects of China, shall be punished by the consuls of the United States according to the laws of their own country. Arrests for such injuries may be made by either party.

ART. 12. Citizens of the United States residing or sojourning at any of the ports open to foreign commerce, shall enjoy all proper accommodation in obtain ing houses or places of business, or in hiring sites on which to construct houses and places of business, and also hospitals, churches, and cemeteries. The parties shall fix the rent by mutual agreement, and the local authorities shall not interfere, but all legal fees for necessary papers shall be paid. The merchants shall not unreasonably insist on particular spots, and the cemetries shall be protected from desecration by the authorities of China. At places where ships are permitted to come, the citizens of the United States, merchants, seamen, and others, sojourning there, may pass and repass in the immediate neighborhood,

but they shall not go into the country or neighboring villages, or to the public marts for the purpose of disposing of goods unlawfully, and defrauding the

revenue.

ART. 13. If any vessel of the United States shall be wrecked or stranded on the coast of China, and be subject to plunder or other damage, the proper officers of the government, on receiving information of the fact, will immediately adopt measures for their relief and security, and the persons on board shall receive friendly treatment and be enabled at once to repair to the most convenient of the free ports, and shall enjoy all facilities for obtaining supplies of provisions and water. If any merchant vessel of the United States in Chinese waters shall be plundered by robbers or pirates, the Chinese local authorities, civil and military, on receiving information thereof, will arrest the said robbers and pirates, and punish them according to law, and will cause all the property which can be recovered to be placed in the hands of the nearest consul, or other officer of the United States, to be by him restored to the true owner. If it should happen that the robbers should not be apprehended, the Chinese government will not make indemnity for the goods lost. But if it be proved that the local authorities were in collusion with the robbers or pirates, then proper representations of that fact shall be made to the superior authorities, in order that they may memorialize the throne, and the guilty officers shall be punished and their property confiscated. ART. 14. The citizens of the United States are permitted to frequent the ports of Canton, Chau-thau, or Swau-tou, in Kwangtun; Amoy, Fuhchau, Taiwan in Formosa, in the province of Fuh-kien; Ningpo, in the province of Cheh-kieng; and Shanghae, in Kiang-Su; and any other ports that may be opened to the commerce of other nations, and to reside with their families, and trade there, and to proceed at pleasure with their vessels and merchandise to and from any foreign port, and either of the said ports, to any other of them. But said vessels shall not carry on a clandestine and fraudulent trade with other ports or along the coast. Any vessel under the American flag which shall violate this provision shall be seized, and with her cargo shall be subject to confiscation to the Chinese government; and any citizen of the United States who shall trade in contraband articles of merchandise, in violation of this provision, shall be dealt with by the Chinese authorities, and shall not be entitled to the countenance or protection of the government of the United States. And the United States shall take measures to prevent the American flag from being thus abused.

ART. 15. The citizens of the United States may export from, and import to, any of the designated ports which are open to commerce, all merchandise which is not prohibited-the tariff of duties to be paid by them being the same as that agreed to by the treaty of Whanghia, except as the same may be modified by treaties with other nations. But it is agreed that they shall in no case be subject to other or higher duties than are or shall be required of the most favored

nation.

ART. 16. Tonnage duties shall be paid upon merchant vessels at the rate of four mace (forty cents) per ton, if said vessel be over one hundred and fifty tons burden; and one mace per ton if they are of the burden of one hundred and fifty tons or under, according to the amount of her tonnage, as specified in her register lodged with the consul. And if any vessel which, having anchored at one of the said ports and there paid tonnage duty, should have occasion to go to any other of the said ports, to complete the disposal of her cargo, the consul shall report the same to the Commissioner of Customs, who. on the departure of said vessel, will note in port clearance that the tonnage duties have been paid, and report the same to the other Custom-houses; and on entering another port the said vessel will only pay duty there on her cargo, but shall not be subject to tonnage duty a second time. And the government shall take measures for erecting light-houses, placing buoys, &c., the expenses to be defrayed out of the tonnage dues.

ART. 17. Citizens of the United States, for their vessels bound in, shall be allowed to engage pilots, who will take said vessels into port, and when the lawful duties have been paid they may engage pilots to leave port. It shall also be