Of the total quantity imported in 1892, 513,405,793 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 1890:

England and Wales 6,180 50,211,216 722,406 35,166 38,653 72,517 461,751 250,165 357,848 500,404 858,252 Scotland

Ireland

Total of the United
Kingdom

747 2,413,735 71,471 2,915 3,862 10,532 104,343 32,939 46,386 108,205 154,591 263 1,016,111 28,612 2,477 3,426 5,647 44,514 15,724 23,848 47,940 71,788

7,190 53,641,062 822,489 40,558 45,941 86,968 610,608 298,828 428,082 656,549 1,084,631

With regard to the material manufactured, the factories were distributed as follows:-cotton 2,538, wool 1,793, shoddy 125, worsted 753, flax 375, hemp 105, jute 116, hair 42, cocoanut fibre 24, silk 623, lace 403, hosiery 257, elastic 54.

Of the spindles, 48,409,733 were spinning or throwing spindles and 5,321,329 doubling spindles.

Of the total number of persons employed there were 40,558 male, 45,941 female children, working half time. There were 88,696 males between thirteen and eighteen years of age, and 610,608 females over thirteen.

Comparing the return of 1890 with that of 1885, we find a decrease in the number of factories of 275, but an increase in the number of spindles of 560,950, and an increase of power-looms of 48,785. There is an increase in the whole number of persons employed of 49,720.

Females

Total

The following information is furnished by Mr. Thomas Ellison, of Liverpool :

A century ago the value of cotton, woollen, and linen yarns and piecegoods produced in Great Britain and Ireland was about 22,000,0007.—say, woollen 17,000,000l., linen 4,000,000l., and cotton 1,000,0007. Of recent years the value has been about 170,000,000l.-say, cotton 100,000,000Z., Woollen 50,000,000l., and linen 20,000,000%. 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 :—

The following table gives the principal variations in the movements since 1860. Figures in millions of lbs., yards, and pounds sterling.

Commerce.

The United Kingdom is a free trading country, the only imports on which customs duties are levied being chicory, cocoa, coffee, dried fruits, spirits, tea, tobacco, and wine-spirits, tobacco, tea, and wine yielding the bulk of the entire levies. In 1892 duty was levied on goods of the value of 29,898,3447. out of a total of 423,793,8827. 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 ten years :

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 ten years:

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 trade, 90-5 per cent. falls to the share of England and Wales; 8.1 per cent. to Scotland; 1.4 per cent. to Ireland.

The following table gives the total value of the imports of foreign and colonial merchandise, and of the exports of British produce and manufactures from and to foreign countries and British possessions in the years 1891 and 1892: