156 | Miscellaneous, 
1865 ; the amount for the present year being 41,608,254 lbs., 
against 29,643,122 lbs.in1865,an increase of nearly 12,000,000 lbs. ; 
this does not, however, represent a corresponding increase in 
actual consumption, as the clearances during the month of May, 
1865, were almost nominal, in consequence of the reduction of 
the duty to 6d. per lb., which was announced in April, having 
been postponed till the 1st of June of that year. As compared 
with the corresponding five months in 1864, it is not so con- 
siderable, being little more than four millions in excess, and this 
probably represents fairly enough the increase that has resulted 
from the reduction. Since 1864 there has been a slight but 
gradual decrease: in our exports, which are, in round numbers, 
represented by 13,000,000, £1,000,000, 10,000,000 lbs., during 
the five months of the years 1864, 1865, 1866 respectively. <A 
somewhat similar decrease is apparent in our imports, which may 
be taken as 58,000,000, 57,000,000, and 56,000 000 lbs., during 
the first five months of the years 1864, 1865, 1866. With regard 
to sugar, It appears by the same returns that the increase in the 
imports for the five months ended 31st of May last, as compared 
with the corresponding period of 1865, consists chiefly of the 
finer qualities. This is so far satisfactory as indicating that the 
alteration in the duties, made two years ago, was a step in the 
right direction, besides being a proof of the injurious influence 
the scale exercised on the quality of our imports; but the differ- 
ence between the past and present state of things is purely one 
of detail, and the principle stands condemned, notwithstanding 
that its evil effects have, to a certain extent, been mitigated. 
The decrease in exports of raw sugar is extremely large, the 
figures being, for the present year, 7,566 tons, against 14,479 tons 
for the corresponding period of 1865 ; and the decrease in the 
deliveries for home consumption is even larger, the figures being 
199,116 tons against 208,850 tons. As regards the stock of raw 
sugar in the United Kingdom, on the 31st of May last, a large 
increase is shown for every quality, with the exception of No. 1, 
or that equalled to white clayed, which shows a small decrease as 
compared with 1865. ‘The total increase for the present year in 
the stock amounts to 36,043 tons.—“ Journal of the Society of 
Arts.” 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
‘Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip’ for September. No. XXI. Hard- 
wicke, Piccadilly. 
‘The Artizan’ for August and September. Offices: 19 Salisbury 
treet. 
‘The Canadian Naturalist ’ for December, 1865. London: Baillie.er 
