174 ON THE TRADE OP MARSEILLES. 



Bend the wines of Provence and Languedoc to England. In 1859, the 

 exportation amounted to 55,350 gallons, in 1860 to 461,025 gallons ; 

 but in 1861 it fell again to 137,300 gallons. They assert that it was 

 intended by the new treaty that the wines and agricultural produce of 

 France should be sent to England in large quantities, in exchange for 

 the favours granted to the English manufacturers. They state that it 

 is surprising that a cask of Bordeaux wine, worth 40Z., should be im- 

 ported into England at a lower duty than a cask of Languedoc wine, 

 worth only 41. The fact is that the wines shipped at this port, though 

 infinitely cheaper than those of Bordeaux and Champagne, are so 

 charged with alcohol, that they cannot be sent to England under the 

 tariff, as it stands at present, owing to the alcoholic test by which it 

 regulates the duties. 



It is not likely, however, that the wines from this part of France will 

 ever be largely consumed in England, unless much greater care is be- 

 stowed upon their preparation. The adulteration and mixing of wines 

 is largely carried on in these parts, and is mostly effected by ignorant 

 persons, who labour, unfortunately, under the belief that the consumers 

 in England have no knowledge of wines, and that the national taste is 

 fixed upon fiery port and sherry. It is no uncommon thing to see rows 

 of casks of wine on the quays at Marseilles, marked " facon Porto," 

 being filled up, in broad daylight, with American corn brandy, and then 

 put on board ship for England. 



Until these false notions are laid aside here, and some modification 

 of the tariff is made in England, it is not likely that any great exporta- 

 tion of wine can take place from Marseilles for the United Kingdom. 

 There is an unlimited supply of good wholesome wine to be had in this 

 part of France, which could safely be sent to England in its natural 

 state, and at very cheap rates. 



The great development of the trade of Marseilles, during the last 

 few years, has naturally led to a large increase of its population, and to 

 a rapid rise in the value of all sorts of property both in the town and 

 the surrounding districts. The working classes have generally found 

 their labour highly remunerative, and the agriculturists in these parts 

 are all thriving. 



The large quantities of coal and lignite brought into Marseilles last 

 year, from the different mines in the neigbourhood, gave ample occupa- 

 tion to the mining population during the year. The quarries in this 

 district afforded abundant supplies of fine building stone, and they are 

 every day becoming more available through the increasing railroad 

 facilities. Considerable quantities of fine Boman cement were prepared 

 in the neighbourhood, much of which was exported. 



Soap is the most important manufacture at Marseilles, and there 

 were fifty-two soap-works in full activity during the year, two-thirds of 

 which produced the finest quality of soap, exclusively, to the value of 

 nearly 2,000,000Z. sterling. About 400,000/. worth of inferior qualities 



