TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 



195 



ment to 33,912 persons, who received for their labour wages to the anaount of 

 ^1,975,917. 



When the magnitude of these figures, and the value which they bear on the sociaL 

 and economical condition of this great mining and manufacturing district, are calmly 

 considered, it will not be difficult to arrive at one of the main sources of the lately 

 greatly increased wealth of Glasgow and its vicinity, or to account for one of the 

 chief causes of attraction to the industrious mechanics and labourers from all parts 

 of the country, which have already rendered the united counties of Lanark, Ayr, 

 Renfrew, and Dunbarton, one of the most thickly peopled and well-conditioned 

 portions of Great Britain. 



JTie Effect of the War, m Russia and England, upon the principal articles 

 of Russian produce. By Richard Valpy. 



This paper is limited to the consideration of the articles commonly known as 

 Baltic produce, in which the two countries have traded principally with each other. 

 These articles are few in number, and comprise tallow, flax, hemp, linseed, and 

 bristles. In ordinary times the chief proportion of the total exports are sent to 

 England. It also happens that the principal articles which we are in the habit of 

 importing from the Baltic ports of Russia, constitute our chief supply of such 

 articles. 



The following Table shows the relative importance of England and Russia to each 

 other, in the demand and supply of these articles : — 



On the average, therefore, of the three years 1850-52, the large proportion of 

 from one-half to three-fourths of the total of such exports from Russia went to 

 England, and of the total of such imports into England the like proportion came 

 from Russia. 



In 1853, under the influence of political events, there was a large increase of our 

 imports of Russian produce, especially from Russia itself; but in 1854, whilst our 

 total imports of such articles, with the exception of tallow and bristles, were well 

 maintained, our supplies from Russia materially diminished. 



In 1853, the increase of our total imports of the articles above alluded to over the 

 -average of 1850-52 ranged from Oi to 49 per cent., and of our imports from 

 Russia from 12 to 65 per cent. In 1854 our total imports of tallow, bristles, and 

 flax decreased 36, 16 and 12 per cent, respectively, whilst hemp and linseed were in- 

 creased by 6 and 22 per cent. But upon all these articles imported from Russia in 

 1854 there was a decrease of from 13 to 54 per cent. As far, therefore, as the 

 Russian trade with England is concerned, the blockade of the Baltic ports in 1854 

 may be said to have stopped one-half of the usual Russian exports ; although in 

 1853 Russia sent to England considerably more produce, the total exports of 

 produce to all countries were not correspondingly increased. 



The next Table shows the total imports into the United Kingdom, and the imports 

 from Russia, on the triennial average, and in each of the years 1853 and 1854. 



13* 



