So far as regards the British trade, although there may appear to be a diminution in the _value_ of our exports to the River Plate, as compared with what they were in the years immediately preceding the war between Buenos Ayres and Brazil, it will nevertheless be found upon analysis that there has been a large increase in the _quantity_, especially of our most important manufactures, viz., the cottons, the _quantity_ of which now sent to the River Plate is double what it was in 1825, though the total declared _value_ has only increased in the proportion of from about 350,000_l._ to 400,000_l._, the apparent discrepancy being accounted for by the greatly reduced rate at which we can now afford to sell these goods; in the linens there is also an increase; in the woollens there is, on the other hand, a slight falling off; the silk goods sent out have varied very little in value, but their amount was never of any importance. The following is an account, taken from the custom-house returns, of the average _quantities_ of these several descriptions of goods sent to the River Plate in the four years from 1822 to 1825, inclusive, compared with the last four years from 1834 to 1837, inclusive:-- Average Quantity Average Quantity from 1822 to 1825, from 1834 to 1837, inclusive. inclusive. Cottons, yards 10,811,762 18,151,764 Linens, do. 996,467 1,176,941 Woollens {pieces 40,705 30,428 {yards 139,037 100,183 Silks, value £16,612 £15,047 Upon the whole, the River Plate has been decidedly the most important of all the markets which have been opened to us for the sale of British manufactures in Spanish America. It takes off a much larger quantity of them than either Mexico, Columbia, or Peru; and although it would appear on the face of the official returns that of late years an equal or rather larger amount has been sent to Chile, the truth is, that a considerable part of those shipments were in reality destined for the southern ports of Peru, and the west coast of Mexico. A comparative account of our exports to all those several countries during the last nine years will be found with the other returns of trade in the Appendix, and will show the relative and aggregate amount of British produce and manufactures taken by the new states during that period. The average yearly value of them sent to the River Plate in the last five years amounted to £680,000. EXPORTS.