time the revenue from these will be large. The following will show the receipts since January 1st:

CASH DUTIES RECEIVED AT NEW-YORK, 1858-1861.

Total, 11 months, $24,455,834.. $35,990,850.. $34,855,018.. $19,380,133 Included in the receipts for duties during the last month were $126,536 35 in Treasury notes, making $8,336,007 55 paid in those notes at this custom-house since the beginning of the current year. We have received this year, from California and from Europe, over sixty-eight millions of gold and silver, viz. :

The Board of Fire Insurance Companies, at a meeting held on the 12th December, appointed a special committee of five to investigate and report upon the nature of petroleum or rock-oil, earth oils, benzine, benzole and naphtha, and the oils refined from petroleum and coal-oil, with a rate of insurance upon these articles. The committee, consisting of Messrs. D. A. HEALD, of the Home Insurance Company; GEORGE T. HOPE, Continental Insurance Company; E. A. STANSBURY, Metropolitan Insurance Company; HENRY A. OAKLEY, Howard Insurance Company; J. L. DOUGLASS, Merchants' Insurance Company, made their report yesterday. The report states that petroleum, rock-oil, or earth-oil, as it is generally received in its crude and unrefined state, is largely charged with volatile matter, highly inflammable in its nature, and evolved to some extent at the usual temperature of the atmosphere, and much more freely by an increased degree of heat.

The first article in the present No. (on the MASON and SLIDELL affair) was written and finished before the actual demand on the part of Great Britain, or the reply thereto by Secretary SEWARD, was made known to the public. The article, therefore, will stand as a brief confirmation of the views of our government.

THE BOOK TRADE,

THE "Great Rebellion" has given rise to ample historical materials for the future. The future, as well as the cotemporary reader of the history of the United States, must consult the works of to-day if he desires to make himself familiar with the events which gave rise to the rebellion, and to the events which have followed it. L The Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, &c. Edited by FRANK MOORE, author of the "Diary of the American Revolution:" with an Introductory Address on the causes of the Struggle, and the Great Issues before the Country, by EDWARD EVERETT. New-York: G. P. PUTNAM, Publisher.

This valuable work has already reached the completion of the first volume, containing pp. 428 and pp. 156. The plan of the Rebellion Record contemplates a record of every event connected with the political and military management of the war. A narrative of each battle, and of every movement of the year: including the correspondence, speeches, &c., of official and prominent individuals.

The second part (156 pp.) contains rumors, incidents, &c., extracted from the daily journals of the time. The first volume contains eleven portraits, viz.: President LINCOLN, JEFFERSON DAVIS, Governor SPRAGUE, Secretary CAMERON, Generals ANDERSON, BUTLER, DIX, FREMONT, MCCLELLAN, LYON and Scorr; also seven maps. The subsequent parts of this elaborate work bring the history down to the month of August, with portraits of Generals BANKS, BEAUREGARD, WOOL, LANDER, POLK and Commodore STRINGHAM, "The Rebellion Record" is published weekly and monthly. Weekly Numbers at 10 cents; Monthly Parts, Illustrated, 50 cents. The Illustrations for the Weekly Nos. will be published in two Nos. at 30 cents each, making the price for Weekly and Monthly editions the same, viz., $3 for each vol. of 24 Nos., and 2 Nos. of Illustrations, or 6 Monthly parts.

II. The Southern Rebellion and the War for the Union: a History of the Rise and Progress of the Rebellion, and Consecutive Narrative of Events and Incidents, from the first stages of the Treason against the Republic. New-York: JOHN D. TORREY. This work differs from Mr. MOORE's in being a connected history, arranged according to the exact order of the events. It possesses great value as a text-book for dates of important events, and furnishing materials for future history and historians. It is fortunate that the times, so pregnant with events which will concern generations and centuries to come, find thus early their reliable record, giving to the cotemporary reader, and to our successors, a consecutive view of the greatest rebellion that the world has yet known.

We commend the work to the support and favor of every lover of his country's rights and interests. It is published weekly, at 10 cents, semi-monthly, at 20 cents, and in monthly parts, at 40 cents.

III. JENKINS' Vest-Pocket Lexicon: an English Dictionary of all except Familiar Words. Philadelphia: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & Co. 1861.

This is a new idea, well conceived and well executed. In a volume of 563 pages, small enough for the vest pocket, are contained the principal scientific and technological terms, and the titles of foreign moneys, weights and measures. "Omitting what everybody knows, and containing what everybody wants to know, and cannot readily find." To the general reader this vade mecum will furnish information which he may in vain look for in the elaborate encyclopedias and dictionaries of the day. For instance, the terms used in Architecture, Astronomy, Natural History, Ship-Building, Chemistry, &c., are here briefly given, in the smallest possible com

pass.

IV. A Memoir of the Hon. NATHAN APPLETON, LL. D., prepared agreeably to a resolution of the Massachusetts Historical Society. By ROBERT C. WINTHROP. With a portrait, an introduction and an appendix. 8vo., pp. 78. JOHN WILSON & SON, Boston.

In addition to Mr. WINTHROP's Memoir, this pamphlet contains the proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society on the occasion of the death of this distinguished gentleman. Also the remarks of JOHN A. LOWELL, J. T. STEVENSON, EDWARD EVERETT and ex-Governor LINCOLN, with the proceedings and resolutions of the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company, the Merrimac Manufacturing Company, the Boston Banks, the Stark Mills Corporation and the American Antiquarian Society. V. Carthage and her Remains: being an account of the Excavations and Researches on the Site of the Phænician Metropolis in Africa, and other adjacent places. Conducted under the auspices of Her Britannic Majesty's Government. By Dr. N. DAVIS, F. R. G. S. With illustrations. 8vo., pp. 504. HARPER & BROTHERS. Dr. DAVIS attempts to identify Carthage with the Tarshish of the sacred writers. There are in the volume thirty-three superior illustrations to represent Carthage, its harbors, cape, ruins, the port of Utica, &c. From the whole nature and extent of the ruins, it is clear that Utica was a city of great importance. Utica, at one time the ally of Carthage, became noted for "her uniform faithlessness, her treachery and her perfidy," and through her treachery contributed to the fall of Carthage; and thus became, with the aid of Rome, the metropolis of Africa. Was it not DIDO who once, with a willow in her hand, bade

"her love

To come again to Carthage?"

VI. Medical Jurisprudence. By ALFRED SWAINE TAYLOR, M. D., F. R. S., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; Hon. M. D. Univ. St. Andrews; Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Chemistry in Guy's Hospital. Fifth American, from the seventh and revised London edition. Edited, with additions, by EDWARD HARTSHORN, M. D., one of the Surgeons to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Philadelphia: BlancharD & LEA, 1861. 8vo., pp. 714. Medical works rarely come under our criticism; yet we very much doubt whether merchants and scientific physicians would not both alike be benefited by a more extensive acquaintance with the scientific researches of each other. However this may be in general, there can be no question that an extensive acquaintance with the subject-matter of TAYLOR's Medical Jurisprudence would be of immense advantage to the mercantile community. Few books have better proven their utility than the one under consideration. "The sixth and seventh editions of this work having been published in London since the issue of the last American edition, have enabled the (American) author to bestow on it two careful revisions. The well-known ability and industry of Dr. TAYLOR are sufficient guarantee that he has made full use of these opportunities to introduce in them the latest results of legal and scientific investigations." Whatever the safeguards of judicial enactments, almost daily occurrences make us painfully aware of the necessity of more extended information on the means of detecting criminal causes of disease and death. In the work before us, scientific medicine is disentangled from the web with which worldly caprice, credulity and empiricism are ever seeking to invest it, and lucidly applied to the construction, elucidation and administration of the laws for the protection of human society and life. To this end, poisons, wounds, infanticide, criminal abortions, concealment of birth, legitimacy, paternity, &c., &c., drowning, hanging, strangulation, lightning, cold, starvation, and finally insanity, are all clearly treated in their medicolegal bearings, with an ability which commends the book to all persons who desire information on the subjects treated of. Suicidal mania, and the bearings of suicide on life insurance, are especially worthy of the attention of life insurance companies and their patrons. The "getting up" of the book is worthy of the matter-handsome and well printed, with a full table of contents and a copious index.

Messrs. ROBERT CARTER & BROS., No. 530 Broadway, have issued quite a number of interesting volumes for young readers. Among these are-1. English Yeomen, a highly entertaining volume. 2. Pride and his Prisoners. By the authoress of "Claremont Tales," with numerous engravings. 3. HARRY DANGERFIELD, the Poacher. By the same authoress. 4. The Chief's Daughter; or, Day-break in Britain. By the same authoress.

1

Messrs. CARLTON & PORTER, 200 Mulberry-street, have issued the following interesting volumes, in sets, with copious illustrations, neatly bound and put up in paper cases, of eight or ten volumes:

1st set. Auntie Ray's Little Library. Containing ten volumes. Archie's Fourth of July; Lottie and Jennie; The Fish-hooks; Grace, and her Money-Box; Old Granny Tift; Eva and the Fairy Tale; Lucy and Bell; Bessie and her Lamb; Winnie and his Pets; Frank and Joey.

2. Aunt Alice's Library. Containing ten volumes. "Lion" and the Lamb; Miss Alice's Story; Little Frisky; Getting Rich; Hard things are good for folks; My Little Sister; Stick to it; Arthur's visit to Grandpa's; What made little Mollie so happy; The Little Prayer.

3. Cousin Anna's Library. Containing eight pocket volumes. Tom, the Oyster Boy; Willie and Clara; Freddy's fifth Birthday; Two boys side by side; My first Sunday School; Sunday Evening Readings; Coney and Andy; Harry Perry.

4. Meadowside Stories. Beautifully illustrated; eight volumes. Meadowside; Sally Grafton; The Book; Faithful Lina; Katie and her Mother; Victor; Good Daughters; Anton, the Peasant Boy.

Coffee and Sugar Monthly Circular. By H. E. MORING, New-York. Mr. MORING has, for some years, published a monthly circular for private circulation, showing the imports, stock and distribution of Coffee and Sugar in Europe and the United States. He has now commenced the work in a more permanent form, to be issued on the fourth day of each month, at a moderate annual subscription. We extract some of the tables for our present No., pp. 44-47. Those merchants who are interested in these articles should order the monthly circular direct from Mr. MORING.

Steel Plate Engravings.-J. C. BUTTRE, 48 Franklin-street, New-York, has published the following thirty Portraits, beautifully engraved on steel, and printed on plate paper, 10 x 12 inches: Army Portraits. Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT; Maj. Gen. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN; Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS; Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL; Maj. Gen. J. C. FREMONT; Brig. Gen. F. SIEGEL; Col. E. E. ELLSWORTH; Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER; Maj. Gen. Joux A. Dix; Brig, Gen. NATH. LYON; Brig. Gen. ROBERT ANDERSON; Governor SPRAGUE, of Rhode Island; SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War; Brig. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS; Brig. Gen. J. K. F. MANSFIELD; Brig. Gen. IRWIN MCDOWELL; Brig. Gen. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE; Maj. Gen. LOUIS BLENKER; Brig. Gen. S. P. HEINTZELMAN; Brig. Gen. LANDER; Col. JAMES A. MULLIGAN; Col. MICHAEL CORCORAN; Col. RUSH C. HAWKINS; Col. THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER; Col. HENRY WILSON, of Massachusetts; Major SLEMMER; Maj. Gen. DAVID HUNTER; Brig. Gen. MCCALL; Col. E. D. BAKER; Maj. Gen. HENRY W. HALLECK,

Newspaper Statistics of Great Britain.-From the "Newspaper Press Directory for 1861" we extract the following on the present position of the newspaper press: There are now published in the United Kingdom 1,102 newspapers, distributed as follows: England, 791; Wales, 28: Scotland, 138; Ireland, 132; British Isles, 13. Of these, there are-39 daily papers published in England, 8 in Scotland, 12 in Ireland, and 2 in the British Isles. On reference to preceding editions of this useful Directory, we find the following interesting facts, viz.: that in 1821 there were published in the United Kingdom 267 journals; in 1831, 295; in 1841, 472; and in 1851, 563; but in 1861 there are now established and circulated 1,102 papers, showing that an extraordinary impulse has been given to every description of newspaper enterprise. The magazines now in course of publication, including the quarterly reviews, number 481, of which no less than 207 are of a decidedly religious character. Among these, the Church of England has its special organs; and the Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, Baptists, Independents and other Christian communities, are fully represented in this branch of literature.-Lit. Gazette.

The rapid rise of the newspaper press of Paris will be best appreciated if we tabularize the number of stamps issued, as has been already done for the British

THE

MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE

AND

COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

Established July, 1839.

EDITED BY

I. SMITH HOMANS, (SECRETARY OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK,) AND WILLIAM B. DANA, ATTORNEY AT LAW.

I. INTERNATIONAL LAW vs. THE TRENT AND SAN JACINTO.-Facts as to Sailing and Arrest of Messrs. MASON and SLIDELL-Principles more Satisfactory Authority than Precedents-Natural Justice the Foundation of International Law— The Right of Self-Defence and the Duty of Neutrals not to benefit either Belligerent naturally flow from it-The subject of Contraband of War a necessary conclusionThe Right of Visit and Search, in time of War, clearly follows-The act of the Captain of the TRENT in allowing Messrs. MASON and SLIDELL to take passage on his vessel a gross violation of the above principles-Still their removal by Captain WILKES was wrong-We must deliver them up to England if she properly demands it of us-We owe it to ourselves not to allow such a case to stand as a PrecedentEngland should be called upon to make reparation for the act of the Captain of the TRENT in allowing these Commissioners to take passage on his vessel, &c.,.................. II. SURVEY OF THE ISTHMUS OF DARIEN.-Report by E. CULLEN, M. D., M. R. C. S. E.,........ 14

III. THE COMMERCIAL PROGRESS OF FOUR CENTURIES.-Chronological Sketch of the Leading Commercial Events of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteeenth and Nineteenth Centuries,..

IV. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND BOARDS OF TRADE.-1. Memorial of the New-York Chamber of Commerce on Steam Vessels from California to China. 2. Memorial on Coinage at New-York. 8. Rail-Road from New-York to Washington. 4. The Nautical School. 5. Memorial for Government Vessels to protect American Commerce,....

1

17

34

V. THE COFFEE AND SUGAR TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES.-Monthly Circular, showing the Stock, Receipts and Consumption of Coffee and Sugar at the principal ports of the United States of America and Europe, December, 1858-1861, 44 VI. STATISTICS OF POPULATION.-1. Emigration. 2. Irish Census of 1861. 3. Population of the United Kingdom. 4. Drinking and Pauperism in Ireland. 5. Employment of Women. 6. Effeet of Emigration and of War. 7. Cities of the Missouri River,...

48