Price of Tea in China.—Bohea, which cannot be purchased in China at less than eight-pence half-penny, may be obtained at Antwerp for 7-3/4d.; in France for 6-1/2d.; and at Hamburg for 5d.! Congou, of which the Canton price is from 11d. to 1s. per lb., may be bought in France at 10-1/2d., and at Hamburg from 8-1/4d. to 10-1/4d.! Canton price for Hyson, 1s. 9-3/4d.; French price 1s. 8-1/2d. Young Hyson costs in Canton about 1s. 8-1/2d. per lb., and only one half that sum at Hamburg!! The Chinese cannot afford to sell Twankay at less than 11d. per lb.; but the American speculators enable the good people of Hamburg to drink it at seven-pence farthing! Souchong, a good quality tea, sells at Hamburg for five-pence per lb., which is the same price as the vilest Bohea costs in the Hamburg market, and is only one-half the price of Bohea in Canton.
Cost of a pound of Seven Shilling Tea.—Take a pound of Congou for instance, according to the evidence of Mr. Mills, a tea broker, before the House of Lords:
One pound of good Congou,
put up at the East India
Company's sales at --------------- 1 8
Buyers purposely and for
their own advantage raise it ----- 0 9
----
Purchasing price by the Brokers --- 2 5
Duty levied by the Crown ----------------- 2 5
Retailer's profit, brokerage, &c. -------- 2 2
----
Shop price 7 0
Thus it will be seen, the tea that the Company offers for sale to the consumer at 1s. 8d., or at the utmost say 2s., is enhanced to 7s. before it finds its way to the drinker's breakfast table.
Coffee-Shops.—There are 3,000 coffee shops in London, in which are daily consumed 2,000 lbs. of tea and 15,000 lbs. of coffee. The consumption of coffee in these establishments has increased as follows:—In 1829, 1,978,600 lbs. In 1830, 2,251,300 lbs. In 1831, 2,899,870. Of tea the increase has only been, during the same periods, 239,700 lbs.—249,400 lbs.—263,000 lbs.
FOX-HUNTING.
The following are the items of expenses, laid down by Colonel Cooke, in his "Observations on Fox-hunting," published a few years since. The calculation supposes a four-times-a-week country; but it is generally below the mark; we should say, at least one-half:—
Fourteen horses ................................. £700
Hounds' food, for fifty couples .................. 275
Firing ............................................ 50
Taxes ............................................ 120
Two whippers-in, and feeder ...................... 210
Earth stopping .................................... 80
Saddlery ......................................... 100
Farriery, shoeing, and medicine .................. 100
Young hounds purchased, and expenses at walks..... 100
Casualties ....................................... 200
Huntsman's wages and his horses .................. 300
-----
£2235