Both the imports and exports of the preceding table include those of the Balearic Islands, but not of the Canary Islands and other possessions of Spain. The principal article of import from Spain into the United Kingdom is wine, the annual value of which varies from 1,500,000l. to near 2,500,000l. The chief exports of the United Kingdom to Spain are linen yarn and linens, averaging in value 650,000l. per annum; iron, wrought and unwrought, averaging 600,000l.; and coals, averaging 225,000l. per annum.

The mineral as well as the agricultural riches of Spain are very great, but neither of these two sources of national wealth are as yet developed. Much progress, however, has become manifest within the last ten years. In the year 1863, there were 1,991 mines worked in Spain, which produced the following quantities of metals and minerals :

The material progress of Spain in the course of about ten years is indicated, to some extent, by the growth of a system of railways, the more important to the kingdom as there was formerly a great want even of ordinary roads. The subjoined tabular statement gives the length of railways opened for traffic in Spain, at the end of each year, from 1855 to 1863 :—

The total revenue derived from railways, in the year 1863, amounted to 2,549,1137., or 1,1441. per English mile. În the same year, the number of travellers over these railways was 10,548,277; very nearly one-half the revenue was derived from them, and the other half from the transport of cattle and merchandise.

The whole of the Spanish railways belong to the private companies, but which nearly all have obtained guarantees, or subvention, from the government. All the principal railways have been conceded to private individuals or companies with large subventions. These concessions, when a 'subvention' is attached to them, are given by public adjudications. Any one who has made the stipulated deposit of 'caution money,' may apply for a concession in sealed tenders, which are opened and read in public on the day of adjudication, and whoever offers to make the railway with the lowest subvention, becomes legally entitled to the concession. The subventions are paid by instalments during the construction of the work, in bonds or obligation, bearing 6 per cent. interest, at their market value of the day.

The issue of these obligations commenced in February, 1854; and the rates of interest which they bear ranges from 3 to 8 per cent. The actual sum derived from the obligations negotiated was 23,345,3137. The periods prescribed for redemption of the obligations negotiated, ranges from 1850 to 1961, and of the whole number negotiated (2,337,922), 23,163 had been redeemed on June 30, 1864; but of this small number it appears that 3,871 were never brought into circulation.

The total amount of capital raised for railways on June 30, 1864, was as follows:

About one-half of this railway capital is believed to be in the hands of French holders.

The common roads of Spain are constructed by the Government, the funds being obtained by the issue of another class of 6 per cent. bonds, called 'obligaciones de carretèras.'

The merchant navy of the kingdom consisted, on January 1, 1863, of the following vessels :

The commercial navy has been declining in recent years, both in number of vessels and tonnage. In 1860, there were 6,715 sailing vessels, of 449,436 tons burthen. But the steamers, in 1860, only

numbered 68, of 13,369 tons burthen.

Colonies.

The Colonial possessions of Spain, formerly embracing nearly the whole of America, are reduced at present to the following islands, with a small strip of territory in Northern Africa :

:

The population of the African possessions is estimated at 15,000; of the colonies in America at 2,066,000; and in Oceania at 2,860,000 inhabitants. If these estimates be correct, the whole population of the Spanish colonies would amount to about 5,000,000 inhabitants, mostly coloured men.

The most important of the Spanish colonial possessions are those in America, Cuba taking the first rank. The census of Cuba of 1775, gave a population of 170,370; that of 1791, 272,140; that of 1817, gave 551,998, and that of 1827, 704,487: namely, 311,051 whites; free coloured, 106,494; slaves, 286,942. The census of the years 1846 and 1862, gave the following results :—

The numbers given in the census of 1862 are exclusive of the army and navy and other transient population, but inclusive 34,050 Chinese, of whom there were none, or scarcely any, in 1846.

The number of slaves who obtained their liberty, either by purchase or by gift of their masters, was :—

Many slaves besides are liberated every year by private document, and many children of slaves are registered as free, their liberty being obtained by gift of the masters, or by payment of 25 dollars before birth. Of the slaves, negroes, 275,382 were males, and only 150,139 females; total slaves, 436,495. The excess of free over slave population amounted to 134,634. The cultivated lands under sugar, coffee, tobacco, and gardens, were estimated, in 1858, at 54,000 caballerias, or 1,728,000 acres. There were 1,238 sugar estates, employing 138,701 persons; 1,838 coffee plantations, with 114,760 persons; and 42,549 farms, with 393,993 persons. Total, 647,454 agricultural labourers. In 1760, the produce of coffee and sugar together, in Cuba, amounted only to about 5,000,000 lbs. Forty years afterwards, this was increased to above 40,000,000 lbs. In 1820, the exports increased to above 100,000,000 lbs. In 1858, the export of these two articles was, sugar, 812,129 boxes; coffee, 1,260,920 arrobas.

The following is a statement of the increase of production :—

Cuba is divided into three provinces, the SE. and central being the richest and most populous, and containing 22 cities and towns, and 204 villages and hamlets. Chief towns, Havana, Santiago, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Santa Maria, and Trinidad. The commercial prosperity of Cuba has been of late years on the increase.

The government of the island is vested in a captain-general, who is supreme military commandant and civil governor of one of the provinces. There is a governor of the other provinces, who has independent civil power, responsible only to the Court of Spain. There is a military garrison of several battalions, and a marine force of 4 frigates, 15 steam-ships, and 32 small craft.