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 Causes of its decline.—Revenues.—Imports and exports.—Average commercial returns for one year from Vera Craz, Tampico, Matamoras, San Bias, and Mazatlan.—Statement of charges on foreign shipping.—Example of tonnage duty.

commerce of this country has been decreasing for the last twenty years—a result attributable to continual revolutionary disturbances, the decrease of the wealth of the people, and the pecuniary embarrassments to which most of the inhabitants have been subjected, by the non-payment of government loans, and by unfortunate investments.

In 1832 and 1833, the revenue of the custom-house amounted to about 12,000,000 dollars, per annum; in 1839, on account of the French blockade, it fell to nearly 3,000,000 dollars; in 1840, it rose again to 7,000,000 dollars; and