THE ARMS TRADE OF BELGIUM. 
151 
arms were imported en franchise provisoire, under the law of 1846, and 
when exported were not included among Belgian produce. The old 
duty of 7*20 per cent, ad valorem was repealed by the Franco-Belgian 
Treaty, and a large importation of foreign arms has since taken place. 
These imports were in — 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1,903,870 
1,602,995 
1,025,625 
1,135,372 
which of course became confounded with Belgian produce, and when 
exported could not be distinguished from it. This will partly account 
for the exceptionally large exports of 1862. The decrease of exports of 
1864 is probably more apparent than real, considering that the manu- 
facture of barrels has increased so largely. The records of exports are 
not so ample as might be wished, the value alone, and not the quantities 
being stated. This will be partially remedied in future by recording 
the gross weight of exports, as in France. 
Comparative Statement of the Small Fire- Arms exported from Belgium , 
Great Britain, and France during the last Eight Years. 
Value m £ Sterling. 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1S64 
Belgium . 
Gt. Brit. : 
Number . 
Value £ . 
France : 
Kilo-r. . 
Value £ . 
415,536 
396,960 
400,116 
475,676 
716,184 
919,293 
765,176 
654,352 
299,243 
409,789 
223,718 
325,543 
171,529 
168, S97 
271948 
358,847 
315,509 
515,61 
702,254 
1,573,706 
439,122 
856,009 
260,986 
344,47 i 
224,863 
123,464 
237,15: 
121,880 
460,276 
243,824 
476,032 
280,948 
1,397,496 
760,648 
1,101,984 
596,796 
929,309 
522,532 
473,906 
280,024 
This table includes guns and pistols, excepting in the English return 
for 1857, wherein pistols are not included. The numbers of fire-arms 
exported are recorded in England alone. The weights and values are 
recorded in France. In Belgium the values alone. 
In attempting a comparison like the above, the want of exact and 
uniform data is seriously felt. In Belgium there is no record whatever 
of the quantity of arms exported. In England and France the quan- 
tities are recorded, but on such different principles as^o baffle all 
attempts at comparison. The three statistics agree in showing a great 
and sudden increase of exports in 1861, caused no doubt by the 
American demand. The exports reached their climax in 1862, and 
have receded ever since. Belgium is certainly gaining upon her two 
rivals, having exported last year a greater value of arms than England 
and France united. Where they all go to cannot be ascertained. The 
official returns afford no index of their ultimate destination. The great 
bulk are cleared for France and England, but evidently only for transit 
