Page:Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol 2.djvu/127

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CHARACTER OF IMPORTS.
101
Imports from Mexico. Exports to Mexico.
For year ending 30th Sept., 1839 3,500,707 2,164,097
""" 1840 4,175,001 2,515,341
""" 1841 3,484,957 2,036,620
""" 1842 1,996,694 1,534,233
Last quarter of '42 and first
two quarters of 1843 2,782,406 1,471,937
For year ending 30th June, 1844 2,387,002 1,794,833
""" 1845 1,702,936 1,152,331
"war year," 1846 1,836,621 1,531,180
"war year," 1847 481,749 238,004
""" 1848 1,581,247 4,054,452

By this table, covering the commerce between the United States and Mexico for nineteen years, we observe that from having a trade worth, in imports and exports, about nineteen millions and a half, in 1835, it is now reduced, in years undisturbed by war or the results of war, to not more than two millions and a half or three millions. As commerce usually regulates itself, in spite of personal or national prejudices, this fact is doubtless attributable to the lower rates at which European manufacturers and producers are enabled to afford their merchandise in the Mexican market. Nevertheless, we doubt not that the trade might be improved considerably by certain modifications of the tariff, especially upon the article of cotton, which as will be seen in our notices of the manufacturing establishments of Mexico is largely demanded from abroad in consequence of the failure from personal causes to produce an adequate supply within that republic.

The Imports of Mexico consist chiefly of the following articles:

Linens; five-eighths of which are received from Germany, while three-eighths are of Irish, Dutch, French and North American manufacture. The German linens are chiefly obtained from Silesia, and the finest kinds are in great demand.

Cotton goods are imported largely from England, the United States and France.

The importation of the best qualities of silks reaches annually about one million of dollars in value, and they are the productions of France and Germany; about three-fourths of the trade, in this article, belonging exclusively to France.

For her Woollen fabrics Mexico relies upon England and France, though Germany participates in the importation of some qualities.

Ornamental Wares, Millinery or articles of personal and fashionable luxury are obtained from France.