In the fifth place, if the general state of our exports, and of the importation of the raw material, from which they are prepared, is considered, it will not appear surprising that the principal marts of manufacturing industry should be in so deplorable a situation. The declared value of the exports of our manufactures, for nine months, ending October 10, in each of the following years, have stood thus, according to Lord John Russell's statement:-- 1845. 1846. 1847. First nine months of year, £41,732,143 £40,008,874 £39,975,207 Single month of October, 5,323,553 5,477,389 4,665,409[9] This decline is of itself sufficiently alarming, the more especially when coming in the wake of the great free trade change, from which so great an extension of our exports was predicted. Here is a decline of exports in two years of three millions, which in last October had swelled to a decrease of NEARLY A MILLION in a single month. But from the following Table it appears that this falling off, considerable as it is, exhibits but a small portion of the general decline of manufacturing industry in the nation; and that the stoppage of industry for the home market is much more serious. RAW MATERIAL IMPORTED, JAN. 5 TO OCT. 10. | | 1845. | 1846. | 1847. | | | | | | | Flax, cwt., | 1,048,390 | 744,861 | 732,034 | | Hemp, | 624,866 | 588,034 | 465,220 | | Silk, raw, lbs. | 2,865,605 | 3,429,260 | 3,051,015 | | Do. thrown, | 311,413 | 293,402 | 200,719 | | Do. Waste, cwt. | 11,288 | 6,173 | 7,279 | | Cotton Wool, cwt. | 5,495,799 | 3,866,089 | 3,423,061 | | Sheep's Wool, lbs. | 57,308,477 | 51,058,209 | 43,348,336 |