SHIPPING. The import and export trade of France with its colonies and foreign powers, employed steam and sail vessels in 29,132 voyages, which is 10 per cent more than in 1848, and 4 per cent less than the average of five years. The measurement of the shipping was 3,317,000 tons, or 5 per cent more than in 1848, and 9 per cent less than the average of five years.

Of these 29,132 voyages, 14,364 were under the national flag, while in 1848 the number of these was only 13,194. This is 1,170 more in 1849, or 9 per cent. The share of the foreign flag has increased 11 per cent.

Comparing the details, we notice an increase of 10 per cent on 1848, and a falling off from the average of five years, in the maritime intercourse between France and her colonies. The number of voyages of French ships in navigation open to competition has increased at the rate of 11 and 18 per cent for European powers, and 19 and 25 per cent for countries out of Europe. This increase, comparing with the average of five years, is a gain of the French over the foreign marine, which has lost in nearly the same proportion. This is shown by the following table:

We have nearly the same results, taking tonnage as the basis of comparison. Of the aggregate shipping business, the share of the French flag, which, as regards privileged navigation, had fallen from 12 to a little less than 11 per cent, has made this up in the foreign trade, so that, of the whole, 38 per cent falls to the French flag. This is 1 per cent more than in 1848, and more than 7 per cent more than the average of five years.

Steam navigation, taken by itself, includes (counting vessels with cargo only) 5,536 voyages, and 782,000 tons, against 5,548 voyages, and 807,000 tons in 1848. Of the aggregate, the share of the French flag is 32 per cent, that of the foreign flag 68 per cent. As regards tonnage, the share of the national marine is 38 per cent; that of the foreign flag again falls to 62. The corresponding figures for 1848 were 34 against 66, and 39 to 61. On an average of five years, the share of the national flag was only 29 and 34 per cent.

From the above it appears that, in open navigation, the French flag, which was gaining in 1848, in its struggle with the foreign flag, made still further progress in 1849. The principal powers with which there has been an increase of maritime intercourse are Russia, the German Union, the Hanseatic Towns, Belgium, the Roman States, and a majority of the other countries on the Mediterranean. In the navigation between France and Great Britain, excluding Malta, the Ionian Islands, and Gibraltar, the share of the French flag was 428,000 tons, or 35 per cent. Duirng the five preceding years, the proportion was but 33, 21, 20, 18 and 15 per cent.

In the maritime intercourse with the United States, the share of France was but 1 per cent more than in 1848, or 13 per cent to 12 per cent, or 322,000 tons to 263,000 tons.

The share of the French flag, in the intercourse with the twelve countries with which it has been most active during the year 1849, were as follows:

These ten countries are placed in the order of importance with respect to the aggregate of the maritime intercourse of France with foreign powers.

Art. III. COMMERCIAL CITIES AND TOWNS OF THE UNITED STATES.

NUMBER XXIII.

THE TRADE AND COMMERCE OF ST. LOUIS IN 1850.

TOBACCO MARKET-HEMP-LEAD-BREADSTUFFS-OATS-CASTOR BEANS-FLAXSEED-BRAN-HAYPOTATOES HIDES-TALLOW-BALE ROPE-WHISKY-BEEF-PORK-LARD-BACON AND BULK MEAT -BUTTER-CHESSE-SALT-SUGAR-COFFEE-MOLASSES-SHIPPING AND TONNAGE PORT OF ST. LOUIS STEAMBOATS, BARGES, ETC.-ARRIVALS OF STEAMBOATS AT ST. LOUIS-NAME AND TONNAGE OF STEAMBOATS-LUMBER TRADE-WHEAT AND FLOUR TRADE-RECEIPT OF PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF PRODUCE AT ST. LOUIS.

In an article which we prepared and published in the Merchants' Magaazine for August, 1846, (vol. xv., pages 162-171,) we gave a brief his torical sketch of the early history of St. Louis, its progress in wealth and population, as well as all those facts connected with its commercial resources and advantages, including, of course, its location, shops, buildings, shipping, imports, manufactures, &c., that distinguish a great commercial and industrial town. The remark that we then made, in regard to the rapid progress of our Western States and cities, has lost none of its force; and it is as difficult now, as it was then, to preserve, in the pages of a monthly journal, the mere record of that progress. A year or two in the history of the great west exhibits a growth almost equal to that of a century in the cities and kingdoms of the Old World.*

The Missouri Republican-one of the most able and influential journals in St. Louis, the commercial capital of the State-has been in the habit of preparing and publishing, for several years past, an annual statement of the trade and commerce of St. Louis. In accordance with this custom, we find in that journal for January 1, 1851, a clear and comprehensive review of the markets for the year commencing January 1, and ending December 31, 1850. This review, which we have concluded to publish entire, exhibits a healthfulness in trade that must be truly gratifying to our mercantile friends in St. Louis. It shows, moreover, an increased business in the principal staple products of that region of our country, and a considerable augmentation of prices, which is of course equally gratifying to the producing and business classes. The statistics (we are assured by the editors of the Republican) are made up from the most reliable information, and in facts and figures are strictly correct.

For statistics of the trade and commerce of St. Louis, in different years, our readers are referred to the Merchants' Magazine, vol. xv., pages 162-171; vol. xvil., pages 167-173; vol. xx., pages 437-439; vol. xxii., pages 426-428.

TOBACCO. This article is classed among the most important agricultural productions of our State, and since 1838 has attracted considerable attention for export. While the receipts of 1850 fall short 609 hhds., compared with the receipts of the previous year, they still slightly exceed the receipts of 1848. There are two warehouses in this city, at which all tobacco received and intended for sale in this market are disposed of, and from these we are enabled, at the close of each season, to give satisfactory statements of the amount received, sold, &c. These warehouses are now entirely bare of the article, and of the old crop there is none to come forward. We can safely state, therefore, that the growth of 1849 has been entirely exhausted during the past year-a fact evincing the activity of the market. Below we annex a statement of the receipts during each month, and a comparative statement of the previous year :

As the range of quality is very great, from common lugs to superior manufacturing, we find the range in figures also wide. As our monthly prices are predicated on actual sales only, it might seem that at periods not remote from each other, the higher qualities fluctuate materially in price. The latter supposition, however, would be erroneous, as the difference, particularly in the higher figures, depends almost entirely on the quality of tobacco sold. Thus, the highest price given for superior manufacturing was in November; yet the same samples would have commanded the same, or nearly the same prices, at any time throughout the year.

HEMP. Receipts of Hemp during the past year, greatly exceed those of any year since 1847, when they reached over 72,222 bales-a circumstance, however, measurably owing to the non-reception, during the preceding year, of the crop due, the receipts of 1846 having been less than 34,000 bales. The market throughout 1849 was marked by more firmness than during the past year, and the rates were higher, having ranged between $120 and $126, varying little from January to December. At the close of 1849, the stock in store was 893 bales. The stock in store and on sale at the close of 1850, is about 2,000 bales. The market during January was inactive at the figures of the previous year, and declined in February to $90 a $105 per ton. The ruling rates for the balance of the year were $80 to $95.

Below we give the imports by the river for the past six years :—

$80 to $90

80 to

86

75 to 90

85 to 93

83 to 92

85 to

95

47,270 46,290

60,862

LEAD. The production of this article has been gradually declining since 1845; receipts, per rivers, since that time, having fallen off from 750,877 pigs, to 573,502 pigs. In the meantime the demand for home consumption has materially increased, and very little has been exported. In consequence of this decline in production, prices have gone up, and during the two last years have ranged much higher than for many years previous. For the greater part of the past year, the price of upper mines lead has been over $4 25, and the market closes firm at $4 37 to $4 40 per 100 lbs.

MONTHLY RECEIPTS PER RIVERS, UPPER AND LOWER MINES, INCLUSIVE.

ACTUAL PRODUCT OF UPPER MINES FOR THE TWO LAST YEARS.

567,946 pigs, or 37,589,728 pounds.

In 1850....

WHEAT. Receipts of this article, during the year just closed, have slightly exceeded those of last year, but fall short of those of '46, '47 and '48. The last year has doubtless been a better wheat year than '49, but, owing to a generally entertained opinion that the articles must advance, farmers and shippers held back until threatened by closing navigation. This will account for the heavy receipts during November, compared with other months of the year.

FLOUR. Receipts of flour, per rivers, fall slightly short of those of 1849. For the first six months of 1850, the market was moderately active at figures ranging above those of '49, but after the appearance of the new crop of wheat, this article declined, and the market has since been unsettled, sales being mainly for consumption and coast orders. At the close there is a manifest decline from the figures of the early part of December, and choice country brands will scarcely command over $4 25, excepting some favorite brands for family use.