CHAP. XXIV.
TRADE WITH ASIA.
m
With the exception of a short period after thepeace of Amiens, the trade of Europe with India and China during twenty-two years, from 1788to1810, was almost an exclusive operation of theEnglish ; at least the direct trade of the rest ofthe world by sea did not amount to a third part ofthe whole. In those years the treasure exportedby the East India Company on their own account,as well as on account of the private trade, was fifty-four million two hundred and twelve thousandeight hundred and seventy-nine ounces of silvercoin, chiefly dollars, and five million five hundredand eighteen thousand two hundred and one ouncesof silver bullion, with six thousand and five ouncesof foreign gold coin 1 . The value of this would,taking the silver at five shillings and the gold atseventy-five shillings per ounce, be nearly fifteenmillions sterling, or six hundred and thirty-fivethousand nine hundred pounds on the annualaverage. Now supposing the United States ofAmerica, the Danes, Swedes, and Portuguese to-gether exported about half as much—and there isgood reason to deem such supposition approachingnearly to truth—we conclude the export of silverand gold in the period referred to to have been atthe rate of one million sterling annually. If we allowthe accuracy of Humboldt ’s statements as to theother channels by which gold and silver passed from