COPPER, Statistics of.—Copper ores may be imported into Great Britain for smelting, from any country, and under any flag. On arrival of the cargo at Swansea or elsewhere, a bond is given at the Custom-house, which binds the party to return the quantity of copper which the lot of ores shall be ascertained to contain, into bond within a limited period, or pay thereon the duty as foreign copper, which is 27l. per ton. The cargo of ore is then weighed out by the custom-house officer, and samples are taken which are sent to two assay-masters in Cornwall, the highest produce of the two being entered as that of the cargo. This fixes the quantity of copper that must be exported under the bond.

The copper produced from foreign ores must then find a market, as cake or pig copper, in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, &c. At Calcutta, it is subject to a duty of 6 per cent.; and at Bombay, to a duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem.

The export of British unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, and to the United States of America, was formerly inconsiderable. These countries drew the bulk of their supplies either from the north of Europe, or direct from South America in pig copper. In point of fact, the copper derived from the import of foreign ores for smelting, has produced for itself a new market, as the following table, taken from the official returns will show.

Export of unwrought copper from Great Britain to all parts, except Asia:—

Years ending Jan. 5th.1830881tons.
—1831857—
—18321326—
—18332471—
—18342523—
—18353267—
—18364083—
—18372546—

In the last year, that ended with 5th January, 1838, the export of unwrought copper was about 5000 tons.

Let any candid and practical man consider attentively this table, and compare it with the import of foreign ores for the same period, and with the gradual advance in the value of copper; and then let him, if he can, avoid the conclusion that the admission of foreign ores for smelting was a great boon conferred upon the British copper mines, for it made this country what it now is, the regulator and distributor of the copper produce of the world—the country to which all others consuming and not producing copper, must look for a regular, certain, and economical supply. We want the admission merely under proper and safe regulations, of foreign copper for refining, to draw to this country the whole supply of copper for the world, by which prices would be regulated and maintained, and our copper-mining interests put beyond the reach of successful rivalry.

This country did not furnish any supply of unwrought copper to the continent of Europe, or to the United States of America, which was worthy of notice, before the year 1830; in fact, previous to that time, we imported considerable quantities of foreign copper for re-exportation to India. It is easy to explain how the produce of foreign ores, being prohibited from export in any other shape, has, in fact, opened for itself a new debouché, and this is illustrated by the table, showing the growth of the export of unwrought copper from 1830. To prove that this is not merely a simultaneous advance in the export of all sorts of copper, a corrected table is subjoined from the official returns, comprising the whole export, and divided so as to illustrate the operation of the copper produce of foreign ores upon our foreign copper trade.

Copper exported:—

Years endingWrought.Unwrought.Total.
To all parts.To India.To all parts.To all parts.
Tons.Tons.Tons.Tons.
5th January,1825----960
1826---- 1⁄2
1827----130
1828----1329
1829----1079
1830532718012682 8,009
1831617223173150 9,322
1832517124233714 8,885
1833585523124569 10,424
1834541717694019 9,436
1835478721045283 10,072
1836594819935935 11,883
1837610515883909 10,014[17]