The Post Office in the year 1887 carried 42,000,465 letters and postcards, and 4,392,018 newspapers, 3,819,344 samples and printed matter. There are 774 post-offices. The State Telegraphs in 1888 carried 1,469,812 messages, of which 590,858 were internal, 945,824 international, 33,130 official. The total length of telegraph lines at the end of 1888 was 3,674 English miles (2,700 belonging to the State), and the length of wires 10,280 English miles. At the same date there were 364 telegraph offices, of which 161 belonged to the State, and 199 to railway companies. Money and Credit. In 1886 there were 523 savings-banks; value of deposits 377,647,960 kroner; number of depositors, 696,578. In 1888 (July 31) the National Bank at Copenhagen had total assets valued at 132,052,245 kroner, including bullion 22,589,170, specie 33,726,314; and liabilities 129,515,060 kroner, including notes 80 millions; capital 27 millions, current accounts 15,282,137. Money, Weights, and Measures. The money, weights, and measures of Denmark, and the British equi valents, are as follows: MONEY. Under a law which came into force on January 1, 1875, the decimal system of currency was introduced in Denmark, the unit being the Krone, or crown, divided into 100 öre. Average rate of exchange, 18. 1d. or about 18 Kroner to 11. sterling. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. " Tonde, or Barrel of Grain and = 1.102 avoirdupois, or about 100 lbs. to the cwt. 2 tons. Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 1. OF DENMARK IN GREAT BRITAIN. Envoy and Minister.-Baron Christian Frederik von Falbe, accredited June 28, 1880. Secretary of Legation.-Count Reventlow. There are Consuls at London (C.G.), Belfast, Edinburgh (C.G.), Hull (C.G.), Liverpool, Auckland (N.Z.). Bombay, Brisbane, Calcutta, Cape Town, Halifax (N.S.), Hong Kong, Kingston (Jamaica), Madeira, Malta, Melbourne, Montreal, Singapore, Sydney, Wellington (N.Z.). 2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN DENMARK. Envoy and Minister.-Hugh Guion MacDonell, K.C.M.G., appointed Envoy Feb. 1, 1888. Secretary.-Willian E. Goschen. There are Consuls at Copenhagen, Reikjavik (Iceland), St. Thomas (West Indies). Colonies. The colonial possessions of Denmark consist of the following territories in Europe and America. The area and population are given after the census return of February 1. 1880. The possessions in the West Indies alone are of any commercial importance. The inhabitants, mostly free negroes, are engaged in the cultivation of the sugar cane, exporting annually from 12 to 16 million pounds of raw sugar, besides 1 million gallons of rum. The value of the total exports from St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John to Denmark was 1,584,832 kroner in 1883 and 317,000 kroner in 1887; imports from Denmark 365,557 kroner in 1883, 341,000 in 1887. Exports from the Danish West Indies to the United Kingdom amounted to 38,3997. in 1884, 16,8787. in 1885, 14,0517. in 1886, 24,6607. in 1887, 14,2277. in 1888; and that of the imports of British produce into these islands to 156,1237. in 1884, 110,9807. in 1885, 95,0247. in 1886. 98,9967. in 1887, 83,8487. in 1888. The chief article of export is unrefined sugar, valued at 98,7557. in 1882, 4,8027. in 1886, 5,3067. in 1887, 13,570l. in 1888; while the British imports are mainly cotton goods, of the value of 2,8841., and coals, 8,8547., in 1888. The imports from Greenland to Denmark amounted to 539,000 kroner in 1887, and exports to Denmark to 472,000 kroner. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Denmark. 1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Kongelig Dansk Hof og Statscalender. Kjöbenhavn, 1889. Sammendrag a statistiske Oplysninger. No. 10. 8. Kjobenhavn, 1889. Statistisk Tabelvaerk. Fjerde Raekke. Litra D. Nr. 9, b. Kongerigets Vare-Indförsel og Udförsel samt den indenlandske Frembringelse af Braendeviin og Roesakker i Aaret 1887. Udgivet af det Statistiske Bureau.-Litra D. Nr. 8, a. Kongerigets Handels-Flaade og Skibsfart i Aaret 1888. 4. Kjöbenhavn, 1889. Folkemengden i Kongeriget Danmark den 1ste Februar, 1880. Kjöbenhavn, 1883. Report on the Trade of Denmark, in No. 471; on the Agriculture of Denmark, in No. 597, of 'Diplomatic and Consular Reports.' London, 1889. Report on the Trade of Denmark in No. 639 of Diplomatic and Consular Reports. London, 1890. Trade of Denmark with the United Kingdom, in 'Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the year 1888.' Imp. 4. London, 1889. 2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. Baggesen (A.), Den Danske Stat i Aaret 1860. Fremstillet geographisk og statistisk, tillige fra et militairt Standpunkt. 2 vols. 8. Kjöbenhavn, 1860-63) Bath, Kongeriget Danmark, en historisk-topografisk Beskrivelse. 2 vols. Copenhagen, 1882-85. Falbe Hansen (V) and Schorling (Wm.). Danmark's Statistik. 8. Kjöbenhavn, 1878-79. National ökonomisk Tidsskrift, 1889. Kjöbenhavn, 1889. (5. C.), Denmark and Iceland. 8vo. London, 1861. Petersen (C. P. N.). Løve og andre offentlige Kundgjørelser, &c., vedkommende Landvae. senet i Kongeriget Danmark. 8. Kjöbenhavn, 1865. Trip (J. P.), Statistisk-topographisk Beskrivelse af Kongeriget Danmark. 2nd ed. 4 vols. 8. Kjöbenhavn, 1872-78. ECUADOR. (REPÚBLICA DEL ECUADOR.) Constitution and Government. THE Republic of Ecuador was constituted May 11, 1830, in consequence of a civil war which separated the members of the Central American Free State founded by Simon Bolivar on the ruins of the Spanish colony and Kingdom of New Granada. Its geographical position is ill-defined owing to boundary disputes with Colombia and Peru, which are still pending. By its Constitution, dating 1830-with modifications in 1835, 1843, 1861, 1869, 1883-the executive is vested in a President, elected for the term of four years, while the legislative power is given to a Congress of two Houses, the first consisting of two senators for each province (chosen for four years, one-half retiring every two years), and the second of deputies, one deputy for every 30,000 inhabitants (chosen for two years), both elected by adults who can read and write, and are Roman Catholics. The Congress has to assemble on June 10 of every year at Quito, the capital and seat of the Government, without being summoned by the Government. The nomination of the President takes place, in an indirect manner, by 900 electors, returned by the people for the purpose. The electors appoint, together with the head of the executive, a Vice-President, who, in certain cases, may be called upon by Congress to succeed him before his term of office has come to an end. The Vice-President also fills the functions of President of Council of State. President of the Republic.-Señor Antonio Flores, elected June 30, 1888. The President, who receives a salary of 12,000 sucrés a year, theoretically exercises his functions through a cabinet of four ministers, who, together with himself, are responsible, individually and collectively, to the Congress, and who, with other seven members, form a Council of State. Each minister receives a salary of 2,880 sucrés a year. Two designados or substitutes are elected to replace the President if necessary. There is, according to the Constitution, no power of veto with the President, nor can he dissolve, shorten, or prorogue the sittings of Congress. By the terms of the Constitution hereditary rights or privileges of rank and race are not allowed to exist within the territory of the Republic; but most of the Indians are virtually in bondage. Area and Population. The area of Ecuador is 118,630 square miles, divided into 17 provinces with 1,004,651 inhabitants, according to the census of 1885. There is besides an unknown number of uncivilised Indians. It has been estimated that of the total population, in round numbers, 100,000 are whites of Spanish descent, 300,000 mixed, and 600,000 pure Indians. Included in the above statement are the Galapagos, or Tortoise Islands, with an area of 2,950 English square miles, and a population of 204. The capital of the Republic, Quito, has a population of about 50,000, including Indians, &c., Guayaquil 40,000, Cuenca 30,000, Riobamba 18,000, Latacunga 15,000. Religion and Instruction. The religion of the Republic, according to the Constitution, is the Roman Catholic, to the exclusion of every other. Primary education is gratuitous and obligatory. There is a university at Quito, and university bodies in Cuenca and Guayaquil. There are 37 secondary schools and 805 primary schools, with, according to official statistics, 60,000 pupils. There is a scientific institution in Quito, with 11 professors and 50 students. There are a naval and a military school, commercial schools, and technical schools. Justice and Crime. In Ecuador there are courts for each: (1) parish; (2) canton; (3) province; (4) district; and (5) an Appeal and Supreme Court. The President and members of Congress are subject to the jurisdiction of the Congress. There are four superior courts in different centres, 152 provincial criminal courts, municipal courts, and 656 parochial justices. During the last five years (1884-88) there have been on an average 759 persons convicted of serious offences in the Republic. In the one penitentiary of the Republic there were (1889) 162 persons, of whom 68 were women, 94 men. The police force is very loosely organised, and there are no statistics available. Finance. The revenue for 1885 was officially stated to be 2,524,175 sucrés, and the expenditure 3,929,934 sucrés. The revenue was increased by loans and supplementary credits to 4,043,204 sucrés. The net revenue in 1886 was 2,939,802 sucrés, besides 1,785,189 sucrés from loans; total, 4,724,991 sucrés; and expenditure, 4,674,713 sucrés. The revenue for 1887 was 4,479.004 sucrés, and expenditure 4,428,597 sucrés, leaving an apparent surplus of 50,407 sucrés. More than one-half of the revenue is derived from customs duties on imports at the port of Guayaquil, the amount received from this source in 1887 being 2,856,241 sucrés. Next to the customs are the tithes levied on produce of all kinds by the State on behalf of the Church, which allows the State one-third of the produce. No definitive figures are available since 1887, but the estimated revenue for the years 1889-90 is 4,252,522 sucrés, and the expenditure for each year is estimated at 4,379,056 sucrés, with an addition of 50,180 sucrés in 1890 for Congress expenses. The liabilities of the Republic are made up of a foreign debt of 9,120,000 sucrés (1,824,0007.) contracted in England in 1885, and internal liabilities amounting to 4,820,648 sucrés, including arrears of interest. To the foreign debt must (May 1889) be added 392,1607., the unpaid interest for twentyone years. Defence. In 1884 the National Convention determined that the standing army should consist of 1,600 men, but an official statement places the number of men in 1889 at 3,000. There is one brigade of fortress artillery, and one of field artillery, 4 battalions of infantry, 2 columns of light infantry, and one regiment of cavalry. There is a small navy of 3 steamers and 2 steamboats, and at Galapagos 30 soldiers are stationed. There is 1 transport, I third-class gunboat, and 1 third-class cruiser, with 100 men. Commerce. The exports from Ecuador were valued at 4,915,120 sucrés in 1885, but advanced to 6,565,000 sucrés in 1886, and 10,119,488 sucrés in 1887. The chief export is cocoa, valued at over 5,000,000 sucrés in 1887; india-rubber, 240,000 sucrés; hides, 300,000 sucrés; coffee, 420,000 sucrés; vegetable ivory, precious metals, cinchona, &c. The estimated value of the imports in 1887 was 11,462,523 sucrés. It is, however, difficult to obtain recent and reliable information with reference to the trade of Ecuador. The exports from Guayaquil alone in 1887 amounted to 8,987,286 sucrés, and in 1888 to 8,580,306 sucrés. The foreign commerce of Ecuador is largely with the United Kingdom, and centres in Guayaquil. The total value of the exports of Ecuador to Great Britain, and of the imports of British produce into Ecuador, was as follows in the five years 1884 to 1888, according to the Board of Trade returns: Exports to Great Britain 218,609 150,990 225,754 219,062 132,360 Imports of British produce 385,960 129,428 254,962 378,633 365,622 The chief articles of export from Ecuador to Great Britain consist of cocoa, of the value of 98,5617. in 1885, 193,9757. in 1886, 155,2097. in 1887, 93,7157. in 1888; Peruvian bark has declined from 100,3467. in 1882 to 8,8807. in 1888. Of the imports of British produce into Ecuador, cotton goods, to the value of 202,6581., formed the principal article in 1888. Shipping and Navigation. The following is the movement of national and foreign shipping at the port of Guayaquil in 1888, which may be considered to include about the whole of the national vessels engaged in trade, except river-craft and very small coasting vessels, which are not entered in the register of the captain of the port:— |