The Board of Trade returns for 1895 have been published
daring the past week, and show that owing to the revival of trade in the second half of the year, the twelvemonth must on the whole be counted a prosperous one. Our exports have increased by over 81 millions sterling, and our imports by over 41 millions, though these figures do not include the December returns, which, owing to the revival belonging to the close of the year, are specially important. The Railway Traffic returns also give indications of the renewed pro- sperity. They show an advance of more than 11 millions over 1894, or an advance of 4 per cent.,—the whole of the increase being, however, in the last six months of the year. The first quarter of 1895, indeed, showed a decline of 5 per cent. in the receipts. These figures, taken in conjunction with the Revenue returns, are undoubtedly very promising. There is practically no other country in the world at the present moment which can show both a large surplus and an expansion of trade.
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