PORTUGAL. 



691 



The following are the chief articles of im- 

 port and export (value expressed in contos) : 



The following were the gross sums of the 

 budget estimates for the financial year 1878- 

 '79 (value expressed in contos and milreis : 1 

 conto = 1,000 milreis; 1 milreis = $1.08; 5,701 : 

 480 means 5,701 contos and 480 milreis) : 



REVENUE. 



1. Direct taxes 5,645:230 



2. Eegister 2,718 : 440 



8. Indirect taxes. 15,489 : 270 



4. National domain 2,351 : 034 



5. Other receipts 1,199 : 302 



Total 25,403 . 276 



EXPENDITURE. 



1. Interest on home and foreign debt 11,376 : 204 



2. Ministry of Finance 4,753 : 825 



3. " of Foreign Affairs : 287:609 



4. " of the Interior 2,124:208 



5. " of Worship and Justice 594 : 274 



6. " of War 4,139 : 749 



7. " of the Navy and Colonies 1.563 : 554 



8. " of Public Works 8,476:850 



Total 28,321 : 363 



The trade of Portugal in 1875 was as fol- 

 lows (value expressed in contos) : 



The movement of shipping in 1875 was : 



The commercial navy consisted in 1878 of 

 571 vessels, of which 44 were steamers. The 

 total length of railways in operation, in Octo- 

 ber, 1878, was 1,079 kilometres. The aggre- 

 gate length of telegraph lines was 3,711 ; of tel- 

 egraph wires, 8,042 kilometres ; number of sta- 

 tions, 167. The number of dispatches sent in 

 1877 was 686,518. The number of post-offices 

 in September, 1878, was 649, of which 33 were 

 on the islands. The number of inland letters 

 in 1876-77 was 10,470,152; of newspapers, 

 6,021,744; and of printed matter, postal cards, 

 and samples of goods, 137.452. 



The military system is based on the law of 

 June 23, 1864, which has been modified by 

 several decrees of the year 1868, as well as by 

 decrees of October 4, 1869, December 15, 1875, 

 and April 26, 1877. The strength of the army 

 in 1878, on the peace footing, was computed at 

 1,643 officers and 32,231 men; on the war 

 footing, 2,688 officers and 75,336 men. The 

 actual strength of the army on August 31, 1878, 

 was 1,675 officers and 33,821 men. 



The navy in 1878 consisted of 22 steamers 

 of 3,770 horse-power and 121 guns, and 12 

 sailing vessels of 35 guns ; together, 34 vessels, 

 with 156 guns. 



The King opened the Cortes on January 2d. 

 He spoke favorably of the condition of the 

 finances, and of the development of the colonies. 

 Slavery was being vigorously suppressed. Mea- 

 sures would be proposed in connection with 

 primary education, and for the improvement 

 of the telegraph and postal services. Earnest at- 

 tention was called to the proposal for construct- 

 ing a harbor of refuge in the north. The much- 

 needed bridge over the Douro was a great 

 success. The country was in a peaceful state, 

 and was likely to remain so. On January 26th, 

 the Ministry resigned in consequence of a vote 

 of censure passed by the House, and a new one 

 was formed on the 29th, composed as follows : 

 President of the Council and Minister of War, 

 A. M. de Fontes Pereira de Mello ; Finances, A. 

 de Serpa Pimentel ; Interior, Rodrigues Sam- 

 paio ; Justice and Worship, Barjon de Freitas ; 



