range of audibility of various sizes of cannon and charges of powder, conducted in March, under the superintendence of Master-Gunner FINLAY. The discharges began at half-past 10 A. M., and were continued every hour till half-past 3 P. M. The first three shots of the six were fired from a twenty-four-pounder, close to the flagstaff on the Half-Moon Battery, and pointing in the direction of the Calton-hill, in order, as far as possible, to embrace equally within the range of its sound both the Old and New Town. The last three shots, beginning at half-past 1, were fired from an iron eighteen-pounder, on the Forewall Battery, five or six guns to the north of the flagstaff, but pointing nearly in the same direction as the other. The first shot from the twenty-four-pounder, with a charge of 6 lbs. of powder, was not only audible over the whole city, but, we learn, was distinctly heard by a gentlemen standing at the gate of Dalkeith Palace. The charge of the second shot, at half-past 11, was increased to 8 lbs., and the report in this case is stated to have been heard by another gentleman at Gallowshall-toll, in the vicinity of Dalkeith. It was also heard by numerous gentlemen in their own houses, at the extreme north of the New Town and at Newington, as well as by people in Leith, and it was the opinion of the gunners that it would likewise be easily heard in Burnt Island. In the third shot the 6 lbs. charge was reverted to. In the discharges from the eighteen-pounder only 4 lbs. of powder was used. The reports were sharp and clear, within a moderate distance; in some quarters of the city they were either heard very indistinctly or not heard at all. Probably the experiments made will suffice to decide as to the position and calibre of the gun to be used and the weight of the charge. Arrangements are, in the mean time, being made for connecting the gun with the Royal Observatory, on the Calton-hill, and the time-ball on NELSON'S Monument, by means of an electric wire, and for preparing the mechanism by which it is to be fired. Already an electric wire (by means of which constant communication is kept up between the Edinburgh Royal Observatory and that at Greenwich) has been carried over the side of the Calton-hill to the North British Railway, and an estimate is being prepared by the Electric Telegraph Company as to the expense of carrying an insulated wire from this point over the house-tops to the Castle. It is anticipated that every thing will be in working order within, at most, a month from this time, and that daily thereafter the inhabitants in every quarter of the city will be enabled, without leaving their houses, or the avocations in which they may chance to be engaged, to set their clocks and watches according to the correct Greenwich time. It is calculated that the annual cost of the audible time-signal will be altogether about £40. The sum already collected (chiefly through the exertions of Mr. HEWAT and other members of the Chamber of Commerce) is about £200, but as this will only carry on operations for a few years, and as government has not as yet bound itself to do more than grant the use of the gun, additional subscriptions are evidently desirable.

NIGHT SIGNALS.

The London Times of a late date remarks: Official instructions were recently received at Woolwich from the Lords of the Admiralty by Commodore Superintendent, the Hon. J. R. DRUMMOND, stating that the board had been

pleased to adopt as the authenticated night-signals of Her Majesty's ships of war for future use, WARD's patent signal telegraph lanterns, and that an order had been issued for a full supply, in sets, for the newly-appointed Rear-Admiral SMART's division of the Channel fleet, to be executed forthwith. Considerable pains have been taken by various members of the board, and also by Commodore DRUMMOND, during the past year, in investigating and improving the new signals, and bringing them to their present state of perfection; and all who have witnessed the series of experiments which has been carried out, and the progressive alterations introduced from time to time, are unanimous in their decision that no other change can add to their utility and value.

MARINE INSURANCE.

The following official despatch from the United States consul at Hamburg to the Department of State furnishes some interesting details respecting the practice of underwriters at that port:

"The premium charged on first class A No. 1 vessels is 7 per cent. per annum; but underwriters here would refuse to take, at this rate, any American (United States) vessel, because they know that there are few hands on board who are thorough sailors, many of them never having been to sea before, and even their captains very often knowing nothing of seamanship, leaving the whole command in reality to the masters.

"Hamburg masters, as well as mates, have to undergo very strict examination before they are allowed to take command. The same is true of Denmark, Sweden and Prussia; their vessels are consequently considered by Hamburg underwriters just as good risks.

"The premium from Hamburg to New-York and home is, in the summer season, two per cent., and rises in the winter to three and a half per cent. All losses are paid in full; there is no deduction made of total loss. If total loss, the amount insured is paid within two months after the underwriter receives notice of the damage. On the cargo (hulk of the vessel) the adjuster of averages, a sworn city officer, deducts onethird for use, which is taken to be the betterment of the vessel.

"Any average, either particular or general, must rise to three per cent. to be recoverable; but Hamburg underwriters are bound to pay any foreign statement, correct, according to the laws of the port of destination. This is a great advantage to the insured over the English policies, which recognise only the statement made according to their own laws.

"Hamburg laws and customs, as to insurance, are looked upon as the best, and for this reason the greater part of Northern Europe, viz., Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Lubeck, Prussia, and even Russia, have adopted the major part of them, and many parties and companies in these countries sign their policies according to the Hamburg customs.' The underwriters of Hamburg sign their policies according to the 'recognised condition of the Hamburg insurances on maritime risks.' *

* **

*

"The insurance business done in Hamburg is very considerable; seven hundred and fifty millions of marcs banco are insured annually. Two great advantages to the insured, contained in the Hamburg policies, not to be found in the English, are to be noted: First. The former cover the cargo from land to land, while the latter only cover from port to port. Second. The Hamburg policies cover losses arising from the negligence

or misdemeanors of the captain and crew, even when the destruction is caused by premeditated malice. Deeming this subject one of very great interest, and it being very desirable that the cause of the higher position held by Hamburg and Northern Europe vessels should be made known, the whole system of management here established for the masters, mates and sailors has been the object of a laborious examination on the part of government commissioners."

POSTAL STATISTICS.

POST OFFICE REVENUE BY STATES, 1859--1860.

WE have compiled from authentic sources the following tables, giving interesting facts respecting the postal operations of the government during the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1860:

Letter
Postage.

Maine,.... $ 13,673

Newspaper Total Compensation Total Excess of Postage. Receipts. to Postmasters. Expenses. Expenditures. $13,526.. $166,671 $ 76,858 $199,205.. $32,534 10,663 111,076 .. 54,117

Free States.

109,411

Vermont,.

Total,...$660,448 $418,516 $5,879,559 $1,762,321 $7,233,777 $2,109,014

..

24,560

S. C.,....

Letter

CONFEDERATE STATES OR GULF SLAVE STATES.

Excess of

Newspaper Total Compensation Total Postage. Postage. Receipts. to Postmasters. Expenses. Expenditures. $10,714.. $8,584 $113,675.. $32,419 .. $245,035 ..$ 140,409

Georgia,

7,786 18,310..

183,120 .

65,103
14,046 ..

348,865 165,744

195,536 167,218

Alabama,.

7,206

14,746

148,471 ..

53,280..

..

The largest amounts received for registered letters wereNew-York, $2,947; from Pennsylvania, $2,240; Ohio, $1,971; Illinois, $1,424; Massachusetts, $1,197; Virginia, $1,063. These are the only States which paid over one thousand dollars. The whole receipts from this source from the United States was only $25,038.

Total receipts for the United States,....$6,698,005

THE NEW-YORK POST OFFICE-UP-TOWN STATIONS.

Seven outside offices, or "stations," are now attached to our city post office. These stations are all established under the authority of the government, and at each of them the letters are received and sent seven times each day to the general post office. The following is a complete list of these sub-offices:

Station "A.," 129 Spring-street.

Station "B.," 439 Grand-street.

Station "C.," corner of Troy and Fourth streets.

Station "D.," 12 Bible House, Eighth-street.

Station "E.," 368 Eighth Avenue.

Station "F.," 408 Third Avenue.

Station "G.," 1,259 Broadway.

At each station stamps and stamped envelopes can be obtained, as well

as all information in regard to postal matters.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW.

I. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. II. PROPORTION OF THE AMERICAN TRADE TO THE WHOLE. III. RATE OF INTEREST. IV. FINANCES OF ENGLAND. V. MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON. VI. GENERAL BANKRUPT LAW IN ENGLAND. VII. FRAUDULENT TRADE MARKS. VIII. EXTENSION OF ADMIRALTY COURT JURISDICTION.

LONDON, March 16th, 1861.

THE rate of interest still rules very high, and we have the prospects of much renewed discussion on the bank charter, and its effects on the issue of notes and general accommodation. Proposals are already coming forward for providing for the increased exigencies of trade, either by enlarging the power of issue of the bank, say to £20,000,000, instead of £14,000,000, without gold, or by creating some kind of inconvertible currency on the deposit of Consols, say to the extent of twice the amount. As this subject is likely to interest you, I will be glad to give you every information on the various schemes proposed.

The finances of this country are not in a satisfactory condition. The expenditure continues very large, and the revenue will show some deficiency both in the customs and excise, especially in spirits, cigars, &c. The condition of the working classes has not been so good this year, partly in consequence of the bad harvest, and partly by reason of the severe winter and of the state of politics. As inquiry is about to be instituted on the mode of assessing the income tax, with a view to the removal of some of its worst features. All kinds of income at present pay the same. A person receiving £100 from the government funds, a person gaining £100 in the shape of salary for services, and a person receiving £100 from annuities, or from profits of trade, or rent of houses, all pay the same, though there is a great difference in the value of these different incomes.

The Chamber of Commerce of Manchester is seriously engaged in promoting the cultivation of cotton in India and an association has been formed in that town, besides the Cotton Supply Association. The aims of this new association are to invest capital in India, in the cultivation of cotton under European superintendence. The hope is moreover entertained, that the Indian government may be enabled to complete the many canals and railways which have been projected, and so diminish materially the cost of bringing cotton from the interior to the seaports. The Leeds and Bradford Chambers of Commerce are also intent upon the extension of cultivation of wool and alpacca in different colonies.

The monthly accounts of the Board of Trade for the year 1860 have been published, and they contain information of interest. The trade of the United Kingdom in the last three years has been as follows: