“The Tariff of foreign importations contains 1326 articles
alphabetically arranged:—­

800 to pay a duty of 15 per cent in Spanish vessels,
230 " " 20 "
80 " " 25 "
55 " " 10 "
26 " " 30 "
3 " " 36 "
2 " " 24 "
2 " " 45 "
about 50 from 1 to 8 per cent, and the rest free of duty.

“The preceding articles imported in foreign vessels are subject
to an increased duty, at the following rates:—­

1150 articles at the rate of 1/8 more,
80      "           "      1/4 more,
10      "           "      1/2 more.

    “There is, besides, a duty of ‘consumo,’ principally at the
    rate of 1/8 of the respective duties, and in some very few
    cases at the rate of 1/4 and 1/2.

“Thus the duty of 15 per cent levied, if the importation is by a Spanish vessel, will be increased by the ‘consumo’ to 20 per cent.  And the duty of 20 per cent on the same articles, in foreign vessels, will be augmented to 27 per cent.

“The duty of 20 per cent will be about 27 in Spanish vessels, and in foreign vessels, on the same articles, 36 per cent.  The duty of 25 per cent, will in the whole be 33 per cent by Spanish, and by foreign vessels 44 per cent.

    “The duty on articles, amounting to seventy-three, imported
    from America, vary from 1 to 15 per cent, with double the duty
    if in foreign vessels.

“The articles of importation from Asia are—­sixty-nine from the Phillipines at 1 to 5 per cent duty, and thirty-six from China at 5 to 25 per cent duty, and can only be imported in Spanish ships.

    “The articles of export are fourteen, with duties at 1 to 80
    per cent, with one-third increase if by foreign vessels.

“There are eighty-six articles of importation prohibited, amongst which are wrought iron, tobacco, spirits, quicksilver, ready-made clothing, corn, salt, hats, soap, wax, wools, leather, vessels under 400 tons, &c. &c. &c.

    “There are eleven articles of exportation prohibited, amongst
    which are hides, skins, and timber for naval purposes.”

Such a tariff contrasts strangely with that of this country, in which 10 per cent is the basis of duty adopted for importations of foreign manufactures, and 5 per cent for foreign raw products.

Can we wonder that, with such a tariff, legitimate imports are of so small account, and that the smuggler intervenes to redress the enormously disproportionate balance, and administer to the wants of the community?  Can we wonder that the powers of native production should be so bound down, and territorial revenue so comparatively diminutive, when exchanges are so hampered by fiscal and protective rapacity?  Canga Arguelles, the first Spanish financier and statistician of his