Export trade from an improved form of barrow, were introduced by the English navvies. This state of things was not likely to continue. The brilliant genius of the French nation, and their superior theoretical instruction, ensured success to their mechanical industry so soon as the introduction of the iron roads created a continuous and growing demand for railway material. The low point from which mechanical industry took its rise makes the relative progress appear more considerable than with us, although, in point of fact, the actual increase in the trade of the United Kingdom is incomparably greater than that of any European country. The following comparative figures, relating to the France and export trade from France and England, are taken from the Statistical Abstract:' England. The declared values of the exports of the United Kingdom are given in pounds sterling. 2,064,004 2,594,996 2,927,617 3,255,685 2,631,333 1,939,117 2,018,864 3,902,037 5,606,116 7,092,312 6,535,229 6,427,314 5,271,309 4,704,004 446,159 plates ,, hoops, sheet and boiler 2,399,203 2,900,625 3,588,364 26,124,134 | 35,996,167 37,731,239 | 31,190,256 25,747,271 20,737,410 20,113,915 672,696 656,262 399,522 245,381 102,837 95,977 100,788 3,673,734 10,418,852 9,638,236 5,453,836 3,700,105 3,868,106 692,470 769,927 780,037 731,148 752,278 The crisis in Belgium. Belgian competition: its extent. Belgium has passed through a crisis in the iron and coal trade, not less serious than that experienced in Germany. According to Professor Neumann-Spellart, 55 per cent. of the furnaces in the United Kingdom were in blast, as against 33 per cent. in Belgium. The shares of Cockerill & Company, the largest and most successful establishment in the country, were quoted at 1,550 francs in 1873 and 700 francs in 1876. Comparing 1875-6 and 1877, we find a great reduction in the export of iron, and the business actually transacted has been done at unremunerative prices. Our recent experiences prove that, for the cheaper descriptions of manufactured iron, Belgian is more formidable than French competition. According to Mr. Saville Lumley: Of the total amount of manufactured iron exported, 25,889 tons were imported by Great Britain, an increase of 9,579 tons on 1876. The exports to Great Britain consisted, as before, of merchant iron-girders and beams, accounting for 18,000 tons, while 1,495 tons were sent in the shape of plates and sheets, and 1,900 tons were iron rails.' In 1877 Belgium imported 81,300 tons of pig-iron from Great Britain, and sent back in return 52,661 tons of merchant iron. English firms, who are themselves iron manufacturers, have used Belgian girders in the erection of new fitting shops, paying 10s. per ton less than for English iron. This was actually done, according to a statement in the Engineer,' by the 'Bowling' Company. A comparison, however, of the exports of the two countries would be sufficient to show that the success achieved by the Belgian manufacturers in certain special branches can have produced no sensible effect on the industry of the United Kingdom as a whole. The total value of the exports of iron and steel from Belgium in 1874 was 60,353,000 francs; the value of British exports of iron and steel for the same year was 31,190,000l. In 1876 the Belgian exports had fallen to 45,789,000 francs; those of the United Kingdom to 20,737,000l. The following figures are from Messrs. Fallows' circular: from 1872-7. Belgian industry has suffered severely from the Exports general depression, the falling off having been quite as Belgium, conspicuous in the trade carried on with our own country as in other branches. The Belgian exportations of iron, as officially reported, were as follows:- of the there. The following remarks on the iron trade are taken Progress from Mr. Saville Lumley's report: During the Franco- depression German war, the iron trade in Belgium was excessively brisk; but when that war ceased, and those countries G Trade of 1876 com 1873. began to make for themselves, the stocks accumulated, and from that time to the present over-production has made itself felt. By the end of 1876, only 31 furnaces were in blast, 11 fresh ones having been blown out during the year. The value of pig-iron produced has fallen from 2,809,9297. in 1873, to 1,325,7247. in 1876. Nearly all the native iron ore is obtained from the province of Namur; and the output fell from 628,151 tons in 1865 to 175,799 in 1876. The production of manufactured iron in 1876 was 369,560 tons, a decrease of 66,680 tons from that of the previous year, and the value of this iron was 2,677,1927., or 1,000,000l. less. In Liége, the principal place for iron rails, the rail trade has decreased from 25 per cent. of the total production to 8 per cent.; but of course the displacement of iron rails by steel has much to do with this. Of wrought iron, 17,576 tons were produced in 1876, of the value of 229,5201., being a decrease of 2,864 tons and 79,473l. as compared with 1875.' Further information on the same subject is conpared with tained in the subjoined extract from the 'Glasgow Herald: 'The iron industry of Belgium, bad in 1875, became worse in 1876. The numbers of blast furnaces, foundries, and ironworks were further reduced, while both the quantity and value of pig-iron, castings, rod, bar, and railway iron, and general hardware, declined in still larger proportion. But the altered position of the trade in 1876 will be better understood by a comparision between the results of that year and those of 1873. In the latter the production of pig-iron was 607,373 tons, and the value 2,809,9291.; whereas in 1876 the |