THE TRADE OF PLYMOUTH. 389 
very convenient form, for the information and guidance of those 
whose business it is to study the markets of the world. The 
Custom House officers of the present day show a zeal to promote 
trade, as far as it is possible in the exercise of their office of 
collecting and protecting the revenue, which deserves high com- 
mendation at the hands of every merchant, and is a conspicuous 
instance of the, I believe, unequalled merit of the civil service of 
this country. If at any future time trade could be altogether 
freed from fiscal duties levied on goods, in my opinion a very 
vicious and indirectly expensive method of taxation, it would be of 
infinite advantage to trade that a sufficient duty should be re- 
tained, however small it might be, to pay the expenses of a Custom 
House establishment for the sake of the statistics to be obtained 
thereby. 
The figures and facts which I am now going to place before you 
are taken from the annual statements of trade and navigation 
prepared at the statistical office of the Customs, and at the office 
of the Registrar-General of shipping; also from information that 
I have obtained through the kindness of Mr. Stephen Bourne, at 
the head of the statistical office of the Customs, whose acquaintance 
I made last year in the Economical Section of the British Associa- 
tion, of which he was a leading member; and from information 
obtained for me by Mr. Brent, at the head of one of the depart- 
ments of the Custom House here, our very efficient secretary, who 
has spared no pains in the matter. 
Beginning with the import trade as the most considerable, I will 
first give the figures and then explain their significance, which 
will consist in the comparison that they will afford— 
1st. Between Plymouth trade as it is now and as it has been in 
previous years, enabling us to see the progress that we make. 
2nd. Between Plymouth trade and that of other ports, enabling 
us to see what rank we take in the trade of the nation. 
The value in money of the Imports into Plymouth from foreign 
nations and British possessions abroad has been, since 1872, before 
which date such statistics were not given— 
In 1872 ween, £1,885, 794 
1873 ae RST L '817582'949 
18 74aen tee atone go P61,247;1148 
1975, Lae ae ne oh, 61,462,459 
18760 ee ee 1483,307 
is77@ 9 eee, £1,726,074 
VOL. VI. 226 
