18 MADEIRA. 
PROGRESS OF POPULATION IN 1835. 
Legitimate births, male 1807 
Illegitimate " " 222 
2029 
Legitimate births, female 1868 
Illegitimate " " 205 
2073 
4102 
Deaths, male 1383 
" female 1368 
2751 
Excess of births , . . 1351 
Marriages .... 1065 
The revenue of the island is stated to be about $210,000 per 
annum. That portion which is derived from the customs, is about 
one half, or $110,000. The remainder is from taxes and tithes. The 
latter are now collected by the government, who pay salaries to the 
priesthood. The inhabitants are liable to pay tax for the mainte- 
nance of the small naval force kept on the station. The expenses of 
the government of Madeira, including the support of the military 
garrison, is about $150,000, leaving a surplus to the government of 
about $50,000 or $60,000. 
There are about five thousand proprietors of the soil, of whom no 
more than six hundred and fifty live on their rents; and there are 
about four hundred who receive government salaries. 
Mendicants are numerous, and one is much tormented with them 
from the very moment of landing. It is surprising to find them so 
importunate in so fine an island, and where the necessaries of life 
ought to abound. 
Wine is the staple commodity: the produce during the year 1837 
was 14,150 pipes. The export the year previous to our visit 
amounted to 8,435 pipes, of which about 3,800 pipes, valued at 
$793,000, went to the United States. The imports only amounted 
to $105,000, in staves, rice and oil. The 5,700 pipes that remain, 
include the home consumption, and what is stored for refining. 
Wine in Madeira is generally the engrossing topic, and the in- 
habitants are much alive and justly jealous of their reputation for 
it. An amusing excitement existed during our visit. A London 
