exports; and they would perhaps nearly balance, but for the
large shipments of wheat to this country, which contribute to swell the
exports.

In 1842, 174 British ships entered, tonnage 44,428,
sailed 176 tonnage, L.44,929
Total value of imports by them, 185,870
Of which, from the United Kingdom, 184,370
The remainder by 64 British vessels entering from
Leghorn, Turkey,
Algiers, Amsterdam, mostly in ballast.
Total average of exports, 784,865
Of which, to the United Kingdom, 776,995
The remainder to the countries above named.
1841, Total imports by British ships, 147,950
Do. exports do. 590,570
1840, Total imports by British ships, 130,660
Do. exports do. 859,090

The commerce of St Petersburg is stated, for 1812, imports and exports
together, at the value of 97,795,415 silver rubles. And of 1147 foreign
vessels which left that port and Cronstadt with cargoes, more or less,
515 were British, of 117,793 tonnage--being a rather considerably less
number than in either 1840 or 1841.

The present is the proper occasion to remark upon and explain the system
of official valuation pursued in Russia, by which it will be observed
how the real value, both of imports and exports, is swelled, probably
with a view to the vain display of a greater commerce than is really
carried on. As the system is nearly the same for both imports and
exports, it cannot, of course, materially interfere with, or impeach the
accuracy of the general balance-sheet. It is desirable, however, that
the facts should be fairly represented, for the guidance of those who
may be in the habit of consulting and comparing the official documents
of different countries; and they will serve moreover to explain, in some
degree, the extraordinary discrepancies which have been found betwixt
the declared values of British products and manufactures exported to
Russia, as published in the Board of Trade tables, and the same exports
as exhibited in Russian customhouse returns.

In calculating the annual value of importations, it is the rule in the
Russian customhouses to add the duties paid on the entry of goods to
their original value. This practice in Russia, where the duti