COMPARATIVE PRICES OF STAPLE ARTICLES IN THE N. Y. MARKETS. The prices are taken from the market reports on the first day of January in each year, from 1865 to 1869, inclusive.

PRICES OF AMERICAN GOLD IN N. Y. FROM JAN., 1862, TO JAN., 1869.

1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868.

January
February

par.

102 104 143

155

168

June

103 109 140

148

189

251

105 134 160 151 160 197 234 136 1444 132 137 133 142 1024 1044 153 172 157 161 196 218 135 101 102 139 171 159 1694 148 201 125 101 102 146 159 166 187 144 160 125 190 128 145 125 1351 147 137

July.

109 120 123

145

138 146 147 140 144 146 142 145 143 229 144 149 145 260 145 148 137 244 144 148 131 Extra State.

1404 135 1404 1394 144 136 1334 140 137 1411 129 132 142 137 1404 141 134 138 139 1404 1674 136 138 139 141 1511 138 1404 140 145 152 1391 142 143 146 147 141 146 141 145 1548 140 145 1334 1404 1484 137 141 132 137 141 1321 137 134 186

PART III.

FOREIGN STATES.

I. AMERICA.

1. AREA-POPULATION-DISCOVERY-ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT STATES-
EXTENT AND POPULATION OF THE INDEPENDENT STATES AND OF THE
EUROPEAN POSSESSIONS-LANGUAGES.

THE total area of America is estimated at 15,480,000 square miles; the population at 81,400,000. Among the large divisions of the world, America is the second in point of extent, being preceded by Asia. In point of population, it occupies the fourth place; but its population increases more rapidly than that of any other division of the world.

America became first known to the Europeans in the tenth century, when Icelanders visited Greenland and other parts of the east coast. Greenland had for some time a Catholic bishop, but subsequently the connection with Europe ceased. The opening of America to the Christian civilization of Europe properly dates from Columbus, who landed in the West Indies in 1492.

All the American territory remained subject to the rule of European Powers until 1776, when the United States declared their independence. Their example was at the close of the last century followed by Hayti, and at the beginning of the present century by nearly the whole of Central and South America. (See special dates below at the head of each American country). The territory of the Independent American States is rapidly increasing. In 1867 the large Russian Possessions were purchased by the United States. In the same year two of the three Danish Islands in the West Indies were purchased by the United States, but this latter purchase has not yet (December 1868), been ratified by Congress.

We give below a tabular exhibition of the Independent American States, and a list of the European possessions. The independent American territory embraces about 11,000,000 square miles, or a little over two-thirds of the whole area of America, against about 4,500,000 square miles still subject to European rule. Of the latter over 3,600,000 square miles are English possessions. We have included in the European possessions, Greenland, though in fact, the Danish rule extends only over a very small portion. The total population of the independent American States may be estimated at 74,000,000; while the European possessions contain about 7,000,000.

The English language is predominant in the United States, and in the British possessions, embracing a territory containing more than 39,000,000 of people. The Spanish language prevails in Mexico, the republics of Central and South America, the republic of San Domingo and the Spanish possessions,

The

including in all a territory containing about 28,500,000 inhabitants. Portuguese language prevails in Brazil which has a population of nearly 12,000,000. French is the language of Hayti and of the French possessions, which together have a population of about 900,000. French also is the language of the majority of the population in the province of Quebec in the dominion of Canada, but the official language of the whole Dominion is English. The number of the German-speaking population in the United States is estimated at from four to five millions; there is also a large German population in Brazil, but no where is German recognized as an official language, and in the course of time it must give way to the national language. The native languages, the number of which is estimated at 600, are still understood by about 12,000,000 people; but they gradually disappear before the advance of education and civilization. In point of area, the English language now prevails in a territory exceeeding 7,000,000 square miles; the Spanish language in a territory of over 4,000,000 square miles; and the Portuguese in a territory of over 3,000,000 square miles.

Christianity prevails in every country of America, though in most countries of North and South America there are still uncivilized and pagan natives. In the United States, and the British and Dutch Possessions, Protestantism prevails, while Roman Catholicism is the religion in all the other countries. (See the tables of "Religious Statistics.")

INDEPENDENT AMERICAN STATES.

In the following table we give a list of all the independent American States, their area and population, ruler, title and year of accession of the rulers, and form of government.

1. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

Capital, Buenos Ayres. Area, 826,828 square miles. Population, 1,465,000. History. Discovery of the country on the River Plata, 1515; Foundation of Buenos Ayres, 1535; Establishment of the Vice-kingdom of Buenos Ayres (or Rio de la Plata), 1777; Beginning of the war for Independence, 1810; Declaration of Independence, 1816; Presidency of Rosas, 1895; Banishment of Rosas, 1852; Presidency of Mitre, 1862-1868; Sarmiento elected President, 1868. In 1866 it was estimated that there were in the country 70,000 Italians, 32,000 Spaniards, 32,000 Englishmen, 25,000 Frenchmen, 5,000 Germans and natives of the United States. The immigration of the year 1866 was estimated at 13,000, of whom 31 per cent. were Italians, 21 French, 10 English, 7 Swiss and Spaniards, 2 Germans. The immigration during the first three months of 1868 was 9,493, chiefly from Germany and Italy.

Government. President, DOMINGO F. SARMIENTO; Vice President, ADOLFO ALSINA. By the Constitution of May 15, 1853, the President and Vice President are elected for six years. The present incumbents were elected in 1868 for the term 1868-1874. The Senate consists of 28 members, two from each state. The House of Representatives numbers 54 Deputies.

Finances. The revenue is almost wholly derived from custom house duties, averaging from 15 to 20 per cent. In 1866, according to the message of President Mitre, the revenue was 9,763,830 pesos, 5 pesos fuertes-1 £-$4.84. The public debt, at the beginning of 1867, amounted to 82,483,710 pesos. The paper currency is greatly depreciated, 25 paper pesos being equal to 1 pesos fuerte. The budget of Buenos Ayres amounts to about 2,000,000 pesos.

Army and Navy. The army consists of about 10,700 men, exclusive of the militia and national guard. In the war against Paraguay the Republic was to contribute from 30,000 to 40,000 men, but in 1867 the Argentine force never exceeded 8,000 men. The navy comprises seven steamers and ten sailing vessels.

Commerce. The imports of the port of Buenos Ayres, in 1865, amounted to £5,207,043, exports to £4,413,358. The most important countries for the commerce of Buenos Ayres, are France, England, Brazil, and the United States. The chief articles of export are wool (46 per cent.) and hides, (34 per cent.); chief articles of import breadstuffs, beverages, cotton and woolen manufactures. In 1867, 621 miles of railroad were either open or projected. Nearly the whole of the capital had been subscribed in England.

2. BOLIVIA.

Capital, Chuquisaca. Area, 535,769 square miles. Population, 1,987,352.

History. Declaration of Independence, 1825; the name of Bolivia assumed Aug. 11, 1825. The frontier of the Republic is not yet regulated. A treaty with Chili, of Aug. 10, 1866, fixes 24° S. Lat., as the boundary line between these two Republics. In 1868, a treaty was concluded between Bolivia and Brazil, recognizing the claims of Brazil to most of the territory which has heretofore been disputed between Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

Government. President, MARiano Melgarejo. The President is elected for a term of four years. The army consists of about 2,000 men, exclusive of the national guard. The revenue, in 1864, amounted to 2,471,000, the expenditures to 2,433,000 pesos. The Republic has no public debt. The value of the annual imports is about 5,570,000 pesos.

3. BRAZIL.

Capital, Rio Janeiro. Area, 3,231,047 square miles. Population, 11,780,000. History. Discovered by Pedro Alvarez Cabral, in 1500; beginning of colonization by the Portuguese, 1531; foundation of the city of Bahia, 1549; conquest of Bahia (1624), and gradually of one-half of the fourteen provinces of which Brazil consisted at that time, by the Dutch; evacuation by the Dutch, 1654; formal retrocession of Brazil to Portugal, 1661; constituted a kingdom by King John VI. of Portugal, in 1815; declaration of Independence, 1822; constitution adopted, 1825.

The number of slaveholders is about 40,000. The law for the suppression of the slave trade was fully carried out in 1850. There were in 1861, 55 colonies of German and Swiss settlers, chiefly in the province of Rio Grande do Sul, inhabited by 33,970 foreigners. Since then immigration has considerably increased.

Reigning Sovereign and Family. Pedro II. was born Dec. 2, 1825; succeeded to the throne on the abdication of his father, Pedro L. April 7, 1831; declared of age, July 23, 1840; crowned, July 18, 1841; married Sept. 4, 1843, to Theresa, daughter of the late king Francis I. of the Two Sicilies. Children: 1. Crown Princess Isabel, born July 29, 1846; married Oct. 15, 1864, to Prince Louis of Orleans, Count of Eu. 2. Princess Leopoldina, born July 13, 1847; married December 15, 1864, to Prince Augustus of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; son, Prince Pedro, born March 19, 1866.

Government. Emperor, PEDRO II. The Legislative Assembly consists of a Senate and House of Deputies. Senators are appointed for life, by the Emperor, from three candidates chosen by electoral meetings specially convened for this purpose. A Senator must be forty years of age, a native born Brazilian, a Roman Catholic and possessed of an annual income of 800 milreis. The members of the House of Deputies are chosen by indirect election; every 200 voters choose an elector, and a number of the latter nominate the deputy. A voter must have an income of 100 milreis, an elector of 200 milreis, a deputy of 400 milreis. The deputy must be a native Roman Catholic. Voters are compelled to vote, under a penalty. The salary of a Senator is 3,600 milreis, of a deputy 2,400 milreis. The annual session of the Legislative Assembly commences May 3. The Chamber of Deputies has the initiative in the assessment of taxes, in matters concerning the army and navy, and in the choice of a sovereign, in case the throne should become vacant. The Senate has to take cognizance of offences committed by members of the Imperial family, and by Senators and Deputies, if committed during the session. It also convenes the Legislative Assembly, should the Emperor fail to do so, two months after the period fixed by law.

The Ministry is divided into seven departments: 1. Finance; 2. Foreign Affairs; 3. Interior; 4. Justice; 5. War; 6. Marine; 7. Public Works, Agriculture and Commerce. The Council of State consists of 12 ordinary and 12 extraordinary members, all appointed by the Emperor for life. Each Province has a President appointed by the central Government, and a provincial assembly.

A new (conservative) Ministry was formed in July, 1868. President, Viscount Itaborahy: Foreign affairs, Paranhos; War, Baron Muritiba; Agriculture, Senhor Antao; Marine, Baron Cotigipe; Empire, Paulino Soares de Souza; Justice, J. M. Alencar.

Finances. The revenue during the financial years 1859 to 1866, was as follows:

The estimates for the year 1868-69, were: Expenditures, 67,742,627 milreis; receipts, 59,000,000 milreis; probable deficit, 8.742,627 milreis. The foreign debt in June 1867, amounted to £15,458,200; the internal funded debt, March 31, 1867, to 106,350,600 milreis. The total amount of paper currency in circulation was estimated, in June 1867, at 107,021,950 milreis.

Army and Navy. The Brazilian army, in 1867, numbered 74,318 men; consisting of Special Corps, 25,844 men; 1st Army Corps in the field. 33,078 men; 2d Army Corps in the field, 15,396 men. The armed navy consisted, in 1867, of 12 ironclads (exclusive of 4 in course of construction); 46 steamers, and 11 sailing vessels. The number of sailors and marines was according to the navy estimates for 1867-68, 14,909 men.

Commerce. The value of imports and exports in the financial years from 1864 to 1866, was as follows:

Exports. .141,100,000 milreis. ..157,000,000

Exports.
.$8,335,000

.14,980,000 ..15,600,000

4. CENTRAL AMERICA.

History. Landing of Columbus on the east coast, 1502; invasion by the Spaniards, 1594; declaration of independence, 1821; establishment of the Republic of the United States of Central America, 1823; dissolution of the Union, 1839-since which time the five republics of Guatemala, San Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica have been independent of each other. The idea of a restoration of a Central American confederation has still many friends.

Squier, (in" The States of Central America," New York, 1858), estimated the total population of Central America at 2,114,000; of whom 1,195,000 were Indians, 800,000 of mixed descent, 100,000 whites, and 19,000 negroes.