COMMERCE.
The trade of Turkey, including that of Egypt and the Danubian
Principalities, amounted, in 1852, to
Imports, £11,828,300 Sterling.
Exports, 10,644,450 Sterling.
The Osmanlis, having no commercial marine except their own few
coasters--the whole foreign, and great part of the internal trade,
is carried on by 35,000 foreign vessels; whose aggregate tonnage
amounts to 5,000,000 annually, and they are admitted to her ports at
small charges.
The tariff of Turkey is but nominal; being only three per cent. on
all exports, and two per cent. additional as consumptive duty--making
altogether, five per cent. on their value.
This free-trade principle, is not, however, purely from liberal
motives, but the result of foreign compulsion, and their own ignorance
of political economy. For, in their anxiety to counterbalance the
deficiencies of the treasury, caused by unjust treaties extorted
from them by foreign powers, they have imposed a duty of no less
than thirteen per cent. on all their produce or exports, so that,
when the governmental tithe upon the raw material, the various other
direct and indirect taxes on the same, and the onerous export duty
are together taken into consideration, the cost of the produce is,
in effect, raised to about 30 or 35 per cent. above its original value.
Apart from this, if sheet iron, which is imported from England,
and upon which the usual duty of 5 per cent. is already levied, be
manufactured into stove pipes, or any other form, it is considered
as home produce, and a new duty of 13 per cent. collected thereon!
The tariff is regulated every seven years, and the value of the
different articles is determined by a commission of merchants
representing the different nations, each of whom endeavors to maintain
his own interest. One of these gentlemen exultingly boasted, that
his own fortune was made, as he had succeeded in establishing a low
valuation on a certain article in which he dealt very largely.
America has hitherto had no representative in this body, though her
commerce has, especially of late, been rapidly increasing with this
part of the world. It has only been through ignorance of the country
and its resources, that American enterprise has made so little progress
in the East, or been confined to the interposition of English and
other houses.
Does this country present no inducements to the mercantile
community? Let the following table of Exports and Imports speak
for itself.
EXPORTS. IMPORTS.
Corn. Silk goods.
Beans, peas, etc. Cotton goods.
Wool. Woollen stuffs.
Raw silk. Linen.
Opium. Haberdashery.
Otto of roses, and other perfumes. Hardware.
Angora hair. Watches and clocks.
Coffee (Mocha). Jewelry.
Canary seed. Sugar.
Linseed. Coffee, pepper, and spices.
Do. oil. Iron and nails.
Rice. Coal.
Yellow berries. Stone ware.
Boxwood. Logwood.
Madder root. Rum and wines.
Tallow. Fancy goods.
Valonea. Cochineal.
Gall nuts. Tanned hides.
Fruits. Glass ware.
Drugs. Furniture.
Soap. Drugs and medicines.
Olives and olive oil. Butter.
Sponges. Kaviar.
Tobacco. Tar.
Cotton. Ropes.
Sesame. Cordage.
Meerschaum. Chains.
Carpets. Corn.
Copper. Stoves.
Hides and skins. Nicknacks.
Bones. Machinery, etc.
Confections. Furs.
Helva. Crockery.
Shawls. Indigo.
Oriental manufactures. Dye stuffs.
Leeches. Paints.
Rags. Mirrors.
Cordials. Millinery.
Cymbals. Musical instruments, etc.
Lumber. Leather.
Embroideries. Boots and shoes.
Hemp and Flax. Lead.
Salt. Paper.
Mastic. Do. hangings.
Chibouks, Nargilles, and amber Tea.
mouthpieces. Books.
Carriages.
India rubber.
Mahogany and rose-wood.
If, then, such is the variety of items, more than sufficient to
command the attention of any mercantile community, it is somewhat
astonishing that the Americans should not have been attracted to the
advantages to be derived from an interchange of commerce, so jealous
as they are of commercial supremacy.
The territory is immense, teeming with undeveloped resources;
the population over 35 millions of souls to be supplied with the
necessities, and many of the superfluities of life. England and France
have fought for the freedom of this commerce, America may spread her
sails unstained by the blood of her citizens, and be wafted into ports,
where treasures and profit are in greater profusion than either in
China or Japan.
War having ceased, and so many new and salutary reforms soon to
be introduced, commerce and all the arts of peace and prosperity
will flourish with renewed vigor upon the Turkish soil. Internal
improvements are already projected and in progress, demanding the
genius and ingenuity of foreign climes. While then, England and France
are eagerly watching every opening, shall America remain blindfolded
and indifferent?--a country so productive of men of the rarest energy
and perseverance, so full of the brightest Yankee notions, and the
most curious and useful specimens of mechanical art and manufactures!