The first number of a quarterly serial, form. ing a kind of statistical abstract of the trade of the United States, and comprising in addition returns relating to immigration and shipping, besides some particulars of the trade of other countries—has been recently issued from the United States Bureau of Sta Formerly the trade returns of the States issued monthly, and there is perhaps some disadvantage in publishing them only once quarter; but this may be in some measure compensated for by greater completeness and botter basis for comparisons. The tables for the year ended Juno 30tb, 1877, and for the eleven preceding years, which arealsocoraprised in the report, reveal the fact that, between
fell off no less than $187,000,000. Last trade 1873 and 1876, the total imports of the States year, however, there was a slight recovery, which was continued for the first quarter of the current year. 'The exports of domestic produce and manufactures have shown remark. able steadiness over the same period, but di not reach last year the values of 1874, 't' average export of the last four yeara wi $22,000,000 higher thaw for the four yea 1865 to 1868, #o that the trade of the States is in this direction making very considerable progress. A certain portion of this progress is, moreover, in manufactured articles, the exports of cotton having been smaller in value the last few years than they were ten years ago, The exports of grain if we except Indi corn, have also been fess uniformly excess recently than might have been supposed, and gold and silver bullion fell off considerably in 1876 and 1877. On the other band, such articles are copper and brass manufactures, fire-arms, cotton fabrics, and leather an leather goods, all show a more or lose marked regret, especially since 1873, when the trade depression ect in. Yet this growth is by no means uniform and in such article machinery, steel cutlery, sewing machines, and agricultural implements, with others of the like kind, in which superiority of invention was supposed to have given the States the market over all competitors, the figures are of afitfal kind. In some instances there is even marked decline, and the exports of unenumerate manufactured articles cannot be to have made any real progress since 1865,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.