In order to afford some idea of the increase which has of late years taken place in the quantity of paper manufactured and consumed in this country, I would call attention to a consideration of the following statistics:—In the five years, 1830 to 1834, the quantity of paper manufactured in this country averaged 70,988,131 lbs. per annum; in the five years, 1849 to 1853, the average annual quantity produced rose to 151,234,175 lbs. During the first period, the excise duty was 3d. per lb. on first class or writing papers, and l½d. per lb. on second class; during the second period, a uniform duty of 1½d. per lb, was levied on all kinds of paper. This reduction of duty, on first class papers, will not alone serve to account for the great increase in the quantity manufactured: for in the year 1853, the production amounted to 177,683,000 lbs., being above 23,000,000 lbs., or 10,000 tons more than in the preceding year, and 36,000 tons over the production of 1834. Nor has there been any such great increase in the quantity of paper exported; it is the home demand which has absorbed most of the additional quantity manufactured. Three causes amongst others have doubtless operated to render this increased manufacture of paper necessary. 1. The great extension of the home and export trade, causing an increased demand for packing papers. 2. The immense circulation attained by the periodical literature of the country of late years, thus requiring a larger supply ...