Statistics. 
The preceding table was first published by Mi% George Chal- 
mers, in his ‘ comparative strength of the British empire,’ p. 207* 
which extended to 1784. The subsequent years have been filled up 
from the later panegyrists of the British commercial system, 
Rose, M‘ Arthur, Brinsted, and the common periodical publications 
of the day. McArthur supplies the facts to 1800. The books are 
before me, but I take the table, to save time, from Walsh’s Re» 
view, vol. 1. The exports and imports of some of the subsequent 
years, will be found among the other tables I shall present to the 
reader. 
The above statements are the values of exported goods as offi- 
cially delivered in, on entry, by the exporting merchant. But a cus- 
tom-house entry has long been a proverbial expression. It has been 
the great aim of the British ministers since the American war, 
which ended in 1783, to swell as much as they can, the apparent 
amount of the commerce of the country. Hence for about fifteen 
or twenty years past, Mr. Irving the Inspector-general of the Cus- 
toms, has discovered that the value of the goods exported, was up- 
wards of one third more than the entered value upon which the 
duties and drawbacks were calculated. As to the infejfence witl\ 
respect to the exporting merchant, no one thinks of it or regards 
it. The calculations of Mr, Irving, are made,. I believe from a 
comparison of Custom-house entries, with the actual amount of 
East India sales, and with the Convoy duty ; and are to a considera- 
ble degree well founded ; but whether to the extent he reports, I 
know not, as I do not possess the necessary documents to ascer- 
tain the fact. The practice is certainly a very inexpedient one ; 
for it throws great uncertainty on the value of the custom-house 
documents, and it not only opens a door to double invoices for dif- 
ferent purposes, but almost renders them necessary. 
The three following tables will illustrate this difference of sup- 
posed actual value, from the value declared at the custom-house. 
The first I copy from Mr. Irving’s return of April 4, 1803, the 
second from his return to the house of comn^ons, on May 16, 1811, 
ordered to be printed 18 Feb. 1812. The third table is from the 
Monthly Magazine of July 1812, p. 593. 
