330 MEXICO. The effects of it in that year, have been already shown. The trade of Alvarado and Veracruz, rose from Six to Six- teen miUions and a half of dollars, (16,7745587,) while that with Tampico, which employed alone 5000 tons of American shipping, must have raised the total amount of the Imports and Exports of the year, to something very near the former average of 21,545,606 dollars. The progress made since that time it is impossible exactly to define, for, although it would appear by the produce of the Custom-houses to be very considerable, (the . receipts of the ten first months of the year 1826, having exceeded those of the whole of 1824, by three millions of dollars,) this may be said to demonstrate an improvement in the system of col- lecting the duties payable on foreign goods, rather than an increase in the amount of the goods themselves. When com- bined, however, with the number of vessels employed in the Mexican Trade, it affords a fair standard for regulating our opinions, and, as such, I shall state here the result of my enquiries.* Dollars. In 1824, the Customs produced, during the whole year, 4,351,218 In eight months of 1825, . . . 4,842,354 In ten months of 1826, . . . . 7,043,237 In 1823, the number of vessels which cleared, within the province of Veracruz, was, as follows :
- According to the official monthly statements, published by the Re-
ceiver-General of the Custom-house (Aduana) in the Veracruz paper, the Custom-house dues for June, July, and August, (three of the worst months of the year for trade, on account of the climate, rain, &c.) amounted to 1^200,000 dollars.
