CHAP. XXIV. TRADE WITH ASIA. 197 



With the exception of a short period after the 

 peace of Amiens, the trade of Europe with India 

 and China during twenty-two years, from 1788 to 

 1810, was almost an exclusive operation of the 

 English ; at least the direct trade of the rest of 

 the world by sea did not amount to a third part of 

 the whole. In those years the treasure exported 

 by the East India Company on their own account, 

 as well as on account of the private trade, was fifty- 

 four million two hundred and twelve thousand 

 eight hundred and seventy-nine ounces of silver 

 coin, chiefly dollars, and five million five hundred 

 and eighteen thousand two hundred and one ounces 

 of silver bullion, with six thousand and five ounces 

 of foreign gold coin 1 . The value of this would, 

 taking the silver at five shillings and the gold at 

 seventy-five shillings per ounce, be nearly fifteen 

 millions sterling, or six hundred and thirty-five 

 thousand nine hundred pounds on the annual 

 average. Now supposing the United States of 

 America, the Danes, Swedes, and Portuguese to- 

 gether exported about half as much and there is 

 good reason to deem such supposition approaching 

 nearly to truth we conclude the export of silver 

 and gold in the period referred to to have been at 

 the rate of one million sterling annually. If we allow 

 the accuracy of Humboldt's statements as to the 

 other channels by which gold and silver passed from 



1 See Appendix, No. 9, to the Bullion Report of 1810. 



