FINANCES AND TRADE OF CANADA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 18 5 5. BY WILLIAM CAYLEY, Esq. INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF CANADA. London: JAMES RIDGWAY, No 169, PICCADILLY. 1855. FINANCES AND TRADE. 66 6 "THAT operation which, in the case of a private trader, is "called taking stock,' is not unbecoming to the dignity or "unsuited to the interests of a nation. It is customary and "convenient at certain periods, to look into the several sources "of our public income, and the several branches of our public expenditure; to compare them with similar heads of revenue "and disbursement in former years; and to survey the move"ments of trade of banking, and of other pecuniary interests "which admit of being expressed in numbers."— Preface to Finances and Trade of the United Kingdom, at the beginning of the year 1852. By Sir G. C. LEWIS. THE operation which has been so justly commended as becoming the dignity, and not unsuited turn of the more prominent statistics of ee may yet be found to have its use: doption of reciprocal freedom of trade e United States of America and the -th American Provinces, offering fresh co enterprise, and " inaugurating," in ge of Lord Elgin, "a new era in the al history of Canada," appears to fitting opportunity for " taking stock," ng moment, before entering upon a ded sphere of action, to review our I trade, and our social condition. table submitted, is a return of the ne and expenditure for the year 1854, e in which it is annually laid before the Parliament. |