other inhabitants of southern climes. With the exception of the Gibraltar natives and the Maltese, they reside outside this fortress, in the surrounding villages in Spanish jurisdiction, but are permitted, through the indulgence of the British authorities, to enter and work in the coal trade at this port under temporary day permits; at least 1,200 of this class of laborers are constantly employed in this work, and, although free to purchase the necessaries of life wherever they choose, it is more than probable that they are somewhat subjected to some conditions by their respective foremen, who, holding exclusive privilege of hiring them, have, doubtless, the means of obliging them to patronize certain drinking establishments for some private benefit to themselves. These laborers are paid immediately after they finish their work, by their respective foremen, in copper coins.

Being generally burdened with a numerous family to maintain, they can hardly earn sufficient to meet their most pressing necessities; it is therefore rare for any of them to succeed in laying up anything for old age or sickness. This circumstance induces those Gibraltar natives, who reside here, to seek employment in the Government works, and in the local colonial service, in which occupation they receive regular wages, and at times, when serving for a certain number of years with a goodconduct badge, succeed in retiring with a pension. The difficulty of entering such employment becomes greater every year, as the number of applicants increases.

The civil hospital of Gibraltar is the only establishment affording relief to the sick, poor, and indigent. This it does, to a limited extent, besides a gratuitous issue of medicines. Accidental injuries are promptly attended to without any formal application for admission. There is no extensive provision made for the aged, infirm, and disabled, most of whom are dependent upon private charity.

A private asylum exists, which was founded in 1850 by the trustees of the late Mr. John Gavino, an old Italian resident, who was United States consul at Gibraltar in 1804. He bequeathed the whole of his large and valuable property for charitable purposes, and this interesting monument of his piety and benevolence maintains about thirty aged pauper men and women, besides twenty orphan children.

Education in Gibraltar is well attended to. The Government allows a grant from the local revenue equivalent to the amount subscribed by voluntary contributions. All religious denominations here, Episcopalian, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Hebrew, have their schools, both male and female, and all are under Government inspection.

In addition to the foregoing there are numerous private schools for the education of the better classes, besides an infant school, where children are admitted from the age of four years, and which is said to be of great benefit to the poorer classes of mothers in relieving them from the cares and anxieties incident to the management and superintendence of helpless children.

With very few exceptions female labor is limited to the ordinary household duties or as domestic servants, therefore there are no opportunities offered females to engage in industrial pursuits like in manufacturing and large commercial towns beyond cigarette and cigar making, as already mentioned.

As regards those females who are employed in millinery shops and such kind of occupation, being generally relatives of the proprietors of these establishments, they have no fixed wages, but are treated as members of the family.

I return herewith the tabular forms which accompanied the circular. Most of them are filled up, while the others, being inapplicable to Gibraltar for the information required, remain in blank. HORATIO J. SPRAGUE,

III. FOUNDRIES, MACHINE-SHOPS, AND IRON WORKS.

Wages paid per week of fifty-four hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in

VII. SHIP-YARDS AND SHIP-BUILDING.

Wages paid per week of fifty-six hours in ship-yards (wood ship-building) in Gibraltar.

Wages paid per month to seamen (officers and men)—distinguishing between ocean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam-in Gibraltar.

Wages paid per week of seventy-six hours in stores, wholesale or retail, to mates, in

Occupations.

Gibraltar.

Lowest. Highest. Average.

$15.00

Counterman

Assistant.

Boy...

Assistant

Storeman

15.00

X. HOUSEHOLD WAGES IN TOWNS AND CITIES.

Wages paid per month or year to household servants (towns and cities) in Gibraltar.

XII. CORPORATION EMPLOYÉS.

Wages paid per week of forty-two hours to the corporation employés in the city of Gibraltar.

Wages paid per month of one hundred and eighty-two hours to employés in Government departments and offices-exclusive of tradesmen and laborers-in Gibraltar.

Wages paid by the week of fifty hours to the trades and laborers in Government employ in

Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, pressmen,

proof-readers, &c.) in Gibraltar.

PORTUGAL.

LISBON.

REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL FRANCIS.

The wages of labor and the cost of living largely illustrate the social and material situation of a people.

In Portugal the favoring advantages of a genial climate must be taken into account as an important factor. The cost for necessary clothing and fuel is much less than in the colder climates.

RATES OF WAGES.

But wages here are very low in comparison with the earnings of work people in the United States or England. I subjoin a list of the average wages in various occupations.

Except as otherwise noted, laborers receiving the wages named find themselves.

CLASSIFICATION AND HOURS OF LABOR.

The hours of labor may be stated as from sunrise to sunset, with two hours allowed for meals and rest. Small as is the daily pay, it is circumscribed still more by the numerous holidays, embracing, with Sundays, not less than sixty-seven days of the year, when work is to a great extent suspended. It may be said to the credit of the Portuguese working classes that as a rule they are temperate and industrious. Wages being so low, all the members of a laboring man's family capable of service must necessarily contribute to its support by diligent and often