Of the total quantity imported in 1888, 427,974,038 lbs. came from Australasia. The following tabular statement gives a summary of the statistics of textile factories in each of the three divisions of the United Kingdom in 1885. (For details, see the YEARBook for 1888, p. 283.) Of the spindles, 47,831,885 were spinning and 5,256,969 doubling. Of the total number of persons employed there were 43,308 male, 48,303 female children, working half time. There were 81,871 males between thirteen and eighteen years of age, and 580,905 females over thirteen. Of the persons employed in the three kingdoms, the proportion of males was 39 per cent., and of females 61 per cent. In England alone it was, males 41 per cent., females 59 per cent.; in Scotland, males 30 per cent., females 70 per cent. ; in Ireland, males 31 per cent., females 69 per cent. Comparing the return of 1885 with that of 1879, we find an increase in the number of factories of 360, but a decrease in the number of spindles of 13,704, and an increase of power-looms of 48,000. There is a decrease in the number of children employed of 18,934,and of the whole number of persons employed of 58,715. The following information is furnished by Mr. Thomas Ellison, of Liverpool : A century ago the value of cotton, woollen, and linen yarns and piece goods produced in Great Britain and Ireland was about 22,000,0007.—say, woollen 17,000,0007., linen 4,000,000l., and cotton 1,000,000l. Of recent years the value has been about 170,000,000l.-say, cotton 100,000,000Z., woollen 50,000,000l., and linen 20,000,000l. The total amount of capital employed is about 200,000,0007., and at least 5,000,000 people-men, women, and children-are dependent upon these industries for their livelihood. Moreover, one half of the value of British and Irish products exported consists of textiles. The progress made by each branch is shown in the subjoined statement of the weight of raw material used and the value of yarns and goods exported : 2 49.000 15.041 6.119 70-060 1859-1861 1,022.5 260.4 212.0 1,494.9 The following table gives the principal variations in the movements since 1860, showing the influence of the cotton famine incidental to the American war, and displaying the gradual return to the ante-war position. Figures in millions of lbs., yards, and pounds sterling. The United Kingdom is a free trading country, the only imports on which customs duties are levied being chicory, cocoa, coffee, dried fruits, plate, spirits, tea, tobacco, and wine-spirits, tobacco, tea, and wine yielding the bulk of the entire levies. In 1888 duty was levied on goods of the value of 27,775,8941. out of a total of 387,635,743/. imports, or about 7 per cent. of the total imports. The declared value of the imports and exports of merchandise of the United Kingdom was as follows during the ten years from 1880 to 1889 : Year 1880 411,229,565 £ 223,060,446 £ £ The following table exhibits the average share, per head of population of the United Kingdom, in the imports, the exports of British produce, and the total, during the ten years 1880 to 1889: The share of each division of the United Kingdom in the trade of the country is shown in the following table in thousands of pounds (sterling) :— Thus it will be seen that of the total to the share of England and Wales; 7 2 per cent. to Ireland. trade, 90 per cent. falls per cent. to Scotland; The following table gives the total value of the imports of |