40 FALLING-OFF IN ITS TRADE. 



in the trade of this part of the province is shown by the 

 official returns of exports and imports from the port of 

 St John, for the three years ending in December 1848. 

 These are as follows : — 



Imports, 

 Exports, 



Thus the exports have been regularly diminishing 

 during these years, and consequently, though not imme- 

 diately, the imports also. And, as affecting the trade 

 with the mother country, it is an important fact that, of 

 the total decrease in 1848, compared with 1847, no less 

 than £336,100 were in the imports from Great Britain. 

 Of this sum the diminution in the importation of — 



Manufactures of cotton, woollen, linen, and silk, was £157,421 



Iron, wrought and unwrought, .... 46,267 



Copper, . . . . . . . . 9,319 



Hardware, 22,951 



Leather manufactures, ..... 1,923 



Cordage, twine, and canvass, .... 47,044 



Tea, 6,975 



Thus,^all our home industrial interests are concerned 

 in the prosperity of our colonial possessions, and we help 

 our own pockets when we contribute to their material 

 advancement. 



Another way in which this falling off in the exports 

 and imports of St John had affected, not only the city, 

 but the province in general, and had made people fretful 

 and uneasy, besides embarrassing the Government, was 

 the great reduction it caused in the revenue, a large por- 

 tion of which is derived from the duties levied at the 

 custom-houses, and from a small export-duty on timber. 

 Thus, in the three years I have mentioned — ■ 



