of May the secretary for foreign affairs laid three
papers on the table of the house of commons, which were of considerable
importance. The first of these papers was a treaty of commerce with the
independent states of Rio de la Plata; the second, a treaty concluded
with Russia, settling the disputed claims which had existed between
the two countries with regard to territories on the north-west coast of
America, and to certain rights of trade and navigation in the Pacific
Ocean; and the third was a treaty between Great Britain and Sweden,
having for its object the abolition of the slave-trade, as carried on
under the flag of either nation. The effectual measure of visitation and
detention was, with a manly policy, adopted by both powers; so that the
cruisers of either under certain limitations, were permitted to stop,
and bring in for adjudication, slave-vessels trading under their
respective colours.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

On the 28th of February the chancellor of the exchequer gave an
exposition of the financial situation of the country, and of the
pecuniary arrangements for the year. From his statement it appeared
that, notwithstanding the reductions made in taxation during the last
session, the finances continued to improve. There was a surplus, he
said, of L1,437,774; and he proceeded to show that the receipts of the
customs, though about one million pounds sterling had been taken off
some of the articles it comprised, had been equal to those of former
years. He asked:--"What are the causes which have produced this result?
The proximate cause, doubtless, is the increased capacity of the people
of this country to consume the produce of other countries, aided and
invigorated by the reciprocal facility which our consumption of foreign
articles gives to other nations in the extended use of the products
of our own industry. That increase may arise in some degree from the
demonstrated tendency of population to increase; but, independently
of that cause, there is a principle in the constitution of social man,
which leads nations to open their arms to each other, and to establish
new and closer connexions by ministering to mutual convenience; a
principle which creates new wants, stimulates new desires, seeks for new
enjoyments, and, by the beneficence of Providence, contributes to the
general happiness of mankind." The chancellor of the exchequer next
stated that the produce of the excise and of stamps had been gre