A CLASSIFIED AND ANALYSED SUMMARY OF PUBLIC BILLS, STATUTES,

ACCOUNTS AND PAPERS, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES AND OF COMMISSIONERS, AND OF SESSIONAL

PAPERS GENERALLY, OF

THE HOUSES OF LORDS AND COMMONS.

EDITED BY

DR. LEONE LEVI, F.S.A., F.S.S.,

OF LINCOLN'S INN, BARRISTER-AT-LAW; PROFESSOR OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF COMMERCE

AT KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON; DOCTOR OF ECONOMICAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES OF THE

66

UNIVERSITY OF TUBINGEN, WURTEMBERG; AND AUTHOR OF COMMERCIAL
LAW OF THE WORLD," "MANUAL OF MERCANTILE LAW," ETC.

SMITH,

VOL. XIII.

LONDON:

ELDER & CO.,
CO., 65, CORNHILL.

PREFACE.

THE current of public affairs flows onward with an uninterrupted activity, and events succeed each other, both at home and abroad, which are as remarkable for their wide-spread and permanent influence as they are striking for the rapidity of their commencement and consummation.

Under the first of our several classes of subjects, that comprising papers on " "Finance, Commerce, and Agriculture," we have, as usual, the Accounts of the Trade of the United Kingdom, increasing, as it does, at an enormous pace with all nations. The Report of the Commissioners of Patents shows the great progress of inventions, and gives some idea of the Museum intended to be erected as an historical and educational institution, for public benefit and instruction. The Commissioners of Customs, having a direct connection with our Foreign Commerce, are able in their Annual Report to furnish the best and most practical comment on the course of Trade, and on the effect of any reduction or imposition of duties on our Imports. A singular evidence is afforded by such a report of the growing resources of this country, and of the skill with which our finances are managed, in the fact that whilst the Tariff has undergone a complete change, the number of articles subject to duty, from several hundreds having been reduced to about a dozen, the revenue from that source now is greater than ever. The Report of the Inland