Pine boards and planks 80014 at 60s. per hundred Oak plank Handspikes 796 at 20s. each 12537 at 7s 6d per dozen 7068 00 17502 11 8 3 16 6 12 6 84 76 10 - 47 6 56 36 Castorum 2753 lbs. 8 796 00 391 15 7 81 12 0 2680 0 0 7200 547 15 0 15 13 0 1481 0 0 396 17 0 201 0 0 19 10 0 850 00 1560 12 6 547 1 0 52449 10 0 1101 4 0 2000 00 1630 0 0 50 00 7960 () 4728 00 1982 10 0 299692 197 Expences on 180 vessels, pilotage, port charges, &c. at 2001. each There are annually built at Quebec a certain number of vessels on British account, and on British capital; say about 1500 tons, at 101. per ton, exclusive of sails and rigging 15000 00 Furs and Peltries exported from Canada for Britain, on an average of three years ending 1805. Martin £ s. d. 263088 13 8 The expence of the military establishment in Canada, drawn for by the paymaster general, and paymas- 150000 767705 17 3 Total exports to Britain and British establishments All exports are to be considered as á remittance in payment of imports; and as the military expences are paid by England for articles consumed by British soldiers, and have nearly the effect of exportation, the above sum of 150000l. is classed under this head. During last year there were cleared out at the Customhouse of Que bec 193 vessels, measuring 33996 tons, navigated by 1601 men. The imports of Canada from Britain and British establishments are not so easily ascertained as the exports, because no account is kept at the Customhouse of goods which do not pay duty. The goods which pay duty were on an average of five years as follows: It is to be presumed that the dry goods imported, for which no duties are paid, and of which no account is kept at the customhouse, amount to the difference between the above sum and the value of the exports, viz. about 563,600l.-Indeed, it is not improbable that the imports exceed the exports and remittances, for it is very well known, that many of the goods imported are never paid for, the importers becoming insolvent. Besides the preceding imports, goods of a variety of kinds are annually sent to Canada (as I have formerly mentioned) by the British government as a present to the Indians. When these goods are delivered to the proper officer, bills are drawn for the amount in favour of the shipper; but, as the province gives nothing in return for these goods, the bills drawn in payment cannot be considered as a remittance from Canada, for which the province ought to take credit. The Indians give nothing in return for which they are not amply paid. In fact, it is a present, and like all other presents must go to the debit of profit and loss at home. Did the Indians live a settled life, and employ themselves in agri 1 culture, and in increasing the useful property of the province, the presents might be considered as a salary, and, like all other salaries and army pay, would be compensated to Britain by labour or services, and the province might take credit for the amount, because in the accomplishment of their duty, their salary is spent in the purchase of various articles of food, which if not consumed in that way might increase the exportations of the province: but this is not the case. The Indian kills his game, eats the carcass, and sells the skin to the merchant, who pays him for it as much as if he had received no present from government. That government should continue annually to distribute presents to the Indians, is a measure, the expediency of which is very much doubted. They are given with the view of conciliating the affections of the Indian tribes, and securing them in our interests. It is thought that their own interest will teach them that we are their best friends, so long as we take their furs and 'peltries, and give more for them than they can get elsewhere; when this ceases to be the case, the presents will not have great 1 |