3-10 071 fke jSFarltlinp Ccvimerce of Bengal. 



the exports by sea. Was I, therefore, to rate the whole 

 annual export*; of Bengal, by sea and land, at four niillious 

 and a half of pounds sterling, I should, in my own opi- 

 nion, form a moderate estiniate of their valnc. 



Imperfect as the materials are from which I have drawn 

 my compulation of the export trade of Ben2;al, I am sorry 

 to confess, that I am without any guide whatsoever to di- 

 rect me in forminii' the most distant idea of the amount of 

 imports. Had I even access to the records of the custom- 

 house, thev would afford very unsatisfactory grounds from 

 which any conclusions could be drawn. 



The company's imports pav no duty. Some of the fo- 

 reign ships discharge their cargoes at Serampore, which of 

 course pay no duty to the company, and do not appear on 

 the books of the custom-house ; and smuggling is a plant 

 which rears its head in every climate. 1 shall not, there- 

 fore, hazard any estimates on this head, for all that I could 

 offer would be only vague conjecture. Since the abolition 

 of government customs, no duties have been levied at Cal- 

 cutta on exports. Foreign and inland imports pay four per 

 cent, ad valorem, with an exception to indigo, and to silk 

 and cotton piece goods of the produce of the country; the 

 former paying no duty, and the latter only two per cent. 

 The duties on liquors are fixed at so much per dozen, or 

 gallon. A new regulation, I am informed, is about to take 

 place, which frees inland imports from all duty, and im- 

 poses two and a half per cent, on all imports by sea, and 

 the same on exports. This regulation will increase the port 

 duties, without being unfavourable to the trade of the coun- 

 try, inasmuch as the whole consumption of inland produce 

 in Calcutta is thereby liberated ; for we cannot estimate the 

 impost on goods exported, including even the advanced 

 price, or the profits of the mtermediate merchant, who buys 

 from the manufacturer or inland trader, and sells to the 

 foreign exportci at a sum equal to the amoimt of the present 

 duties on mland imports into Calcutta, which comprehend 

 as well the consumption of the place as the exports there- 

 from . 



Provided the different articles of import and export be 

 precisely cnum-.-rated at the custom-house, and this source 

 of information is acces,-il)le, the regulation will afford to 

 future speculators on this subject some better data than wt: 

 possess for estimating the amount of the trade of Bengal. 



The imports of Bengal may be classed under the same 

 general heads into which wt have divided the exports. From 

 Europe she receives nictais of a}l sorts, wrought and un- 



wrought;, 



