182 



the supply will keep pace with the demand, we 

 might have doubts ; but experience warrants our 

 concluding that it will. The average quantity of 

 tea exported annually from China in the nine 

 years ending 1780, was 18,838,140 Ibs. of which 

 England and her dependencies took 13,338,140 Ibs., 

 Great Britain alone of this amount consuming some- 

 thing short of 6,000,000 Ibs. The annual exportations 

 from China now, are about 150,000,000 Ibs. And 

 of this supply, England takes the enormous quantity 

 of 100,000,000 Ibs., or possibly a little more.* China, 

 has hitherto complied with the increased and yearly 

 increasing demand upon her for this article; bat 

 it must be recollected that we have a very dan- 

 gerous rival to compete with, in the demand for 

 the home consumption of 300,000,000 inveterate 

 tea-totallers in that quarter. It may be very fairly 

 doubted if, under the circumstances, the China 

 market will be able to bear a further strain ; and 

 if such be true and it will be admitted that the 

 large quantity of very inferior teas which now 

 reach. Europe from this source give color to the 

 suspicion it is to India alone that Europe, America, 

 and the British colonies, will be able to look, to 

 make up the complement of their demand. 



"The deliveries of the month (May 1862) have again been 

 excessaive, say 8J millions ; and the exports are already 5| mil- 

 lions over last year. (Circular of Messers W. J. and H. Thompson. 

 Louden 10th June 1862.) 



