-

In conducting an intercourse with the Chinese, — a people whose institutions and habits aiffer so very widely from those of Europeans, it is essential that due circumspection should be used, and that nothing should be done by any one to give them reasonable grounds of offence. The experience of the Americans, and of the other foreigners, besides the English, resorting to Canton, shows, we think, pretty clearly, that the amount of danger from the circumstances just adverted to is not very considerable. It is right, however, as already stated, that effectual measures should be taken for preventing any interruption to the trade from the ignorance or misconduct of any individual. To accomplish this object, there are provisions in the act opening the trade, enabling his Majesty to appoint superintendents of the trade to China, who are to be authorised to issue regulations in regard to it, to which all individuals engaged therein are to be obliged to submit. These regulations will, no doubt, be framed so as to prevent any just offence being given to the natives, without unnecessarily interfering with the free action of the traders. There is one very questionable clause in the act that which authorises the imposition of a tonnage duty on the shipping employed in the trade, for defraying the cost of the establishments in China. We subjoin a full abstract of this important statute.

ACT 3 & 4 WILL. 4. c. 93. FOR REGulating the TraDE TO CHINA AND INDIA. Repeal of the Act 4 Geo. 4. c. 80. &c. - Having stated that it is expedient that the trade to China should be opened to all classes of his Majesty's subjects, it is enacted, that the act 4 Geo. 4. c. 80. should be repealed, except such parts thereof as relate to Asiatic sailors, Lascars, being natives of the territories under the government of the East India Company; and except also as to such voyages and adventures as shall have been actually commenced under the authority of the said act; and as tr any suits and proceedings which may have been commenced, and shall be depending on the 22d day of April, 1834; and from and after the said 22d day of April, 1834, the enactments herein-after contained shall come into operation. 1.

Repeal of Prohibitions upon the Importation of Tea and Goods from China, imposed by 6 Geo. 4. c. 107. and 6 Geo. 4. c. 114. So much of the act 6 Geo. 4. c. 107, intituled "An Act for the general Regulation of the Customs," as prohibits the importation of tea, unless from the place of its growth, and by the East India Company, and into the port of London; and also so much of the said act as prohibits the importation into the United Kingdom of goods from China, unless by the East India Company, and into the port of London; and also so much of the said act as requires that the manifests of ships departing from places in China shall be authenticated by the chief supercargo of the East India Company; and also that so much of the act 6 Geo. 4. c. 114., intituled "An Act to regulate the Trade of the British Possessions abroad," as prohibits the importation of tea into any of the British possessions in America, and into the island of Mauritius, except from the United Kingdom, or from some other British possessions in America, and unless by the East India Company, or with their licence; shall be, from and after the 22d day of April, 1834, repealed; and thenceforth (notwithstanding any provision, enactment, &c. to the contrary) it shall be lawful for any of his Majesty's subjects to carry on trade with any countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope to the Streights of Magellan. - § 2.

List of Persons on board any Ship arriving in India to be delivered to Officers of Customs. - The person in command of any ship or vessel arriving at any place in the possession of or under the government of the said Company shall make out, sign, and deliver to the principal officer of the customs, or other person lawfully authorised, a true and perfect list, specifying the names, capacities, and descriptions of all persons who shall have been on board such ship or vessel at the time of its arrival; and if any person having the command of such ship or vessel shall not make out, sign, and deliver such list, he shall forfeit 1007, half to such person or persons as shall inform or sue for the same, and the other half to the Company; and if the Company shall inform or sue for the same, then the whole penalty shall belong to the Company. — § 3. Penallies how recoverable. The penalties and forfeitures aforesaid to be recoverable by action of debt, bill, &c. in any court of record in the United Kingdom, or in India, or elsewhere, to which jurisdiction shall be afterwards given. - §4.

Three Superintendents of the China Trade to be appointed. Whereas it is expedient for the objects of trade and amicable intercourse with the dominions of the emperor of China, that provision be made for the establishment of a British authority in them; be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for his Majesty, by any commission or warrant under his royal sign manual, to appoint 3 superintendents of the trade of his Majesty's subjects to and from the said dominions, for the purpose of protecting and promoting such trade, and to appoint such officers to assist them in the execution of their duties, and to grant such salaries to such superintendents and officers, as his Majesty shall from time to time deem expedient.-5. His Majesty may issue Orders and Commissions to have force in China. It shall be lawful for his Majesty, by any such order or commission as to his Majesty in council shall appear expedient and salutary, to give to the said superintendents, or any of them, powers and authorities over and in respect of the trade and commerce of his Majesty's subjects within any part of the said dominions; and to issue directions and regulations touching the said trade and commerce, and for the government of his Majesty's subjects within the said dominions; and to impose penalties, forfeitures, or imprisonments, for the breach of any such directions or regulations, to be enforced in such manner as in the said order shall be specified; and to create a court of justice with criminal and admiralty jurisdiction for the trial of offences committed by his Majesty's subjects within the said dominions, and the ports and havens thereof, and on the high scJS within 100 miles of the coast of China; and to appoint one of the superintendents herein-before men. tioned to be the officer to hold such court, and other officers for executing the process thereof; and to grant such salaries to such officers as may appear reasonable. — § 6.

Superintendents, &c. not to accept Gifts. No superintendent or commissioner appointed under this act shall accept in regard to the discharge of his duties any gift, gratuity, or reward, other than the salar granted to him as aforesaid, or be engaged in any trade or traffic for his own benefit, or for the benefit of any other person or persons. - § 7.

A Tonnage Duty to be imposed, to defray the Expense of Establishments in China. It shall be lawful for his Majesty in council, by any order or orders to be issued from time to time, to impose, and to empower such persons as his Majesty in council shall think fit to collect and levy from or on account of any ship of vessel belonging to any of the subjects of his Majesty entering any port or place where the said superintendents or any of them shall be stationed, such duty on tonnage and goods as shall from time to time be specified in such order or orders, not exceeding in respect of tonnage the sum of 5s. for every ton, and not exceeding in respect of goods the sum of 10s. for every 100. of the value of the same, the fund arising from the collection of which duties shall be appropriated, in such manner as his Majesty shall direct, towards defraying the expenses of the establishments by this act authorised within the said dominions: provided always, that every order in council issued by authority of this act shall be published in the London Gazette; and that every such order in council, and the amount of expense incurred, and of duties raised under this act, shall be annually laid before both houses of parliament. — § 8. Limitation of Actions. The next and last clause contains the usual provisions as to the limitation of actions, &c. - § 9.

R

American Trade with China. The American intercourse with China commenced shortly after the termination of the revolutionary war, and speedily became one of the most valuable branches of the trade of the United States.

We have obtained from the United States the subjoined account of the American trade at Canton in 1831-32. This interesting document exhibits in detail the quantity and value of each article imported by the Americans into Canton, and of those exported; the latter are divided according to their destination. Statement of the American Import and Export Trade at the Port of Canton, during the Season of 1831-32

It results from this statement, that the American trade at Canton, in 1831-32, amounted to about 12,000,000 dollars, being equal to three fourths of that carried on at Canton during the same year on account of the East India Company. It is of importance to observe that the dealings of the Americans are principally carried on with the outside merchants. Captain Coffin, and other American gentlemen examined by the late committee of the House of Commons on the China trade, speak in strong terms of the facility and expedition with which business may be conducted at Canton.

The following statement shows the amount of the American trade from 1829-30 to 1831-32, according to the returns furnished to parliament by the East India Company. An Account of the Value of Imports into, and Exports from, the Port of Canton by the Subjects of the United States of America, in the Years 1829-30 to 1831-32.

1831-32

2,383,685

667,252

Bills of exchange negotiated by the Americans in 1829-30, 393,650 dollars; ditto in 1830-31, 1,168,500 dollars; ditto in 1831-32, 2,480,871 dollars. — (Parl. Paper, No. 229. Sess. 1833, p. 13.)

Trade of Portuguese, Spaniards, &c. at Canton. — Respecting the extent of the Portuguese, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, and Dutch trades, we have no data to lay before the reader on which reliance could be placed; but they are inconsiderable and fluctuating, compared with the branches already described. The Dutch trade is probably the largest; but even with the assistance of protecting duties in Holland, the Dutch are unable to withstand the enterprise and activity of the Americans. The Portuguese trade, particularly that with the possessions of Portugal on the continent of India, was considerable during the war, but has since greatly declined. A nation of more spirit than the Portuguese would, with the advantage they enjoy in the possession of the convenient station of Macao, be able to carry on the Chinese trade with superior success. There is a considerable intercourse, carried on in Spanish ships, between Canton and Manilla. The Philippine Islands afford many commodities in demand in the Chinese markets; and the Spaniards are the only European people allowed openly to trade with the busy and commercial port of Amoy, in the province of Fokien; unfortunately, however, they are deficient in the skill and enterprise required fully to avail themselves of these advantages. It appears from the official accounts, published by the French government, that in 1831, only 2 ships, of the burden of 585 tons, cleared out from French ports for China. This, we believe, is principally to be ascribed to the trifling extent to which the great article of Chinese produce, tea, is consumed in France.

Trade with the Indian Islands, &c. In his evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons, Mr. Crawfurd gave the following instructive details with respect to the native foreign trade of China:

Native Foreign Trade of China.-"The principal part of the junk trade is carried on by the four contiguous provinces of Canton, Fokien, Chekiang, and Kiannan.

"No foreign trade is permitted with the island of Formosa; and I have no means of describing the extent of the traffic which may be conducted between China, Corea, and the Leechew Islands. The following are the countries with which China carries on a trade in junks: viz. Japan, the Philippines, the Soo-loo Islands, Celebes, the Moluccas, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Singapore, Rhio, the east coast of the Malayan peninsula, Siam, Cochin China, Cambodia, and Tonquin. The ports of China at which this trade is conducted are Canton, Tchao-tcheou, Nomhong, Hoeitcheon, Suheng, Kongmoon, Chang. lim, and Hainan, in the province of Canton; Amoy and Chinchew, in the province of Fokien; Ningpo and The following Siang-hai, in the province of Chekiang; and Soutcheon, in the province of Kiannan. may be looked upon as an approximation to the number of junks carrying on trade with the different places already enumerated; viz.

Sumatra

Junks.
20

Singapore 8, Rhio 1

Junks.
9

13

East coast of Malay peninsula

15

Cochin China

20

9

20

-Total 222.

"This statement does not include a great number of small junks belonging to the island of Hainan, which carry on trade with Tonquin, Cochin China, Cambodia, Siam, and Singapore. Those for Siam amount yearly to about 50, and for the Cochin Chinese dominions to about 43; these alone would bring the total number of vessels carrying on a direct trade between China and foreign countries to 307. The trade with Japan is confined to the port of Ningpo, in Chekiang, and expressly limited to 10 vessels; but as the distance from Nangasaki is a voyage of no more than 4 days, it is performed twice a year. "With the exception of this branch of trade, the foreign intercourse of the two provinces Chekiang and Kiannan, which are famous for the production of raw silk, teas, and nankeens, is confined to the Philip pine Islands, Tonquin, Cochin China, Cambodia, and Siam; and none of this class of vessels, that I am aware of, have ever found their way to the western parts of the Indian Archipelago. The number of these trading with Siam is 24, all of considerable size; those trading with the Cochin Chinese dominions 16, also of considerable size; and those trading with the Philippines 5; making in all 45, of which the average burden does not fall short of 17,000 tons. I am the more particular in describing this branch of the Chinese commerce, as we do not ourselves at present partake of it, and as we possess no direct means of obtaining information in regard to it. All the junks carrying on this trade with Siam are owned in the latter country and not in China; and I am not sure how far it may not also be so in the other cases, I do not doubt but that a similar commerce will, in the event of a free trade, extend to Singapore; and that through this channel may eventually be obtained the green teas of Kiannan, and the raw silks of Chekiang.

"Besides the junks now described, there is another numerous class, which may be denominated the colonial shipping of the Chinese. Wherever the Chinese are settled in any numbers, junks of this description are to be found; such as in Java, Sumatra, the Straits of Malacca, &c. ; but the largest commerce of this description is conducted from the Cochin Chinese dominions, especially from Siam, where the number was estimated to me at 200. Several junks of this description from the latter country come annually to Singapore, of which the burden is not less than from 300 to 400 tons

"The junks which trade between China and the adjacent countries are some of them owned and built in China; but a considerable number also in the latter countries, particularly in Siam and Cochin China. Of those carrying on the Siamese trade, indeed, no less than 81 out of the 89, of considerable size, were represented to me as being built and owned in Siam. The small junks, however, carrying on the trade of Hainan, are all built and owned in China.

"The junks, whether colonial or trading direct with China, vary in burden from 2,000 piculs to 15,000, or carry dead weight from 120 to 900 tons. Of those of the last size I have only seen 3 or 4, and these were at Siam, and the same which were commonly employed in carrying a mission and tribute yearly from Siam

to Canton. Of the whole of the large class of junks, I should think the average burden will not be over. rated at 300 tons each, which would make the total tonnage employed in the native foreign trade of China between 60,000 and 70,000 tons, exclusive of the small junks of Hainan, which, estimated at 150 tons each, would make in all about 80,000 tons.

"The junks built in China are usually constructed of fir and other inferior woods. When they arrive in Cambodia, Siam, and the Malayan islands, they commonly furnish themselves with masts, rudders, and wooden anchors, of the superior timber of these countries. The junks built in Siam are a superior class of vessels, the planks and upper works being invariably teak. The cost of ship-building is highest at the port of Amoy in Fokien, and lowest in Siam. At these places, and at Chang-lim in Canton, the cost of a junk of 8,000 piculs, or 476 tons burden, was stated to me, by several commanders of junks, to be as follows:

At Siam
Chang-lim
Amoy ·

7,400 dollars. 16,000

21,000

A junk of the size just named has commonly a crew of 90 hands, consisting of the following officers, besides the crew; a commander, a pilot, an accountant, a captain of the helm, a captain of the anchor, and a captain of the hold. The commander receives no pay, but has the advantage of the cabin accommodation for passengers, reckoned on the voyage between Canton and Singapore worth 150 Spanish dollars. He is also the agent of the owners, and receives a commission, commonly of 10 per cent, on the profits of such share of the adventure, generally a considerable one, in which they are concerned. The pilot receives for the voyage 200 dollars of wages, and 50 piculs of freight out and home. The helmsman has 15 piculs of freight and no wages. The captains of the anchor and the hold have 9 piculs of freight each; and the seamen 7 piculs each. None of these have any wages. The officers and seamen of the colonial junks are differently rewarded. In a Siamese junk, for example, trading between the Siamese capital and Singapore, of 6,000 piculs burden, the commander and pilot had each 100 dollars for the voyage, with 12 piculs of freight apiece. The accountant and helmsman had half of this allowance, and each seaman had 13 dollars, with 5 piculs of freight.

"In construction and outfit, Chinese junks are clumsy and awkward in the extreme. The Chinese are quite unacquainted with navigation, saving the knowledge of the compass: notwithstanding this, as their pilots are expert, their voyages short, and as they hardly ever sail except at the height of the monsoons, when a fair and steady 7 or 8 knots' breeze carries them directly from port to port, the sea risk is very small. During 13 years' acquaintance with this branch of trade, I can recollect hearing of but 4 shipwrecks; and in all these instances the crews were saved.

"The construction and rigging of a Chinese junk may be looked upon as her proper registry, and they are a very effectual one; for the least deviation from them would subject her at once to foreign charges and foreign duties, and to all kinds of suspicion. The colonial junks, which are of a more commodious form and outfit, if visiting China, are subjected to the same duties as foreign vessels. Junks built in Siam, or any other adjacent country, if constructed and fitted out after the customary model, are admitted to trade to China upon the same terms as those built and owned in the country. If any part of the crew consist of Siamese, Cochin Chinese, or other foreigners, the latter are admitted only at the port of Canton; and if found in any other part of China, would be seized and taken up by the police exactly in the same manner as if they were Europeans. The native trade of China conducted with foreign countries is not a clandestine commerce, unacknowledged by the Chinese laws, but has in every case at least the express sanction of the viceroy or governor of the province, who, on petition, decides the number of junks that shall be allowed to engage in it; and even enumerates the articles which it shall be legal to export and import. At every port, also, where such a foreign trade is sanctioned, there is a hong or body of security merchants as at Canton; a fact which shows clearly enough that this institution is parcel of the laws or customs of China, and not a peculiar restraint imposed upon the intercourse with Europeans.

"The Chinese junks properly constructed pay no measurement duty, and no cumshaw or present; duties, however, are paid upon goods exported and imported, which seem to differ at the different provinces. They are highest at Amoy, and lowest in the island of Hainan. The Chinese traders of Siam informed me that they carried on the fairest and easiest trade, subject to the fewest restrictions, in the ports of Ningpo and Siang-hai in Chekiang, and Soutcheon in Kiannan. Great dexterity seems every where to be exercised by the Chinese in evading the duties. One practice, which is very often followed, will afford a good example of this. The coasting trade of China is nearly free from all duties and other imposts. The merchant takes advantage of this; and intending in reality to proceed to Siam or Cochin China, for example, clears a junk out for the island of Hainan, and thus avoids the payment of duties. When she returns she will lie 4 or 5 days off the mouth of the port, until a regular bargain be made with the Custom-house officers for the reduction of duties. The threat held out in such cases is to proceed to another port, and thus deprive the public officers of their customary perquisites. I was assured of the frequency of this practice by Chinese merchants of Cochin China, as well as by several commanders of junks at Singapore. From the last-named persons I had another fact of some consequence, as connected with the Chinese trade; viz. that a good many of the junks, carrying on trade with foreign ports to the westward of China, often proceeded on voyages to the northward in the same season. In this manner they stated that about 20 considerable junks, besides a great many small ones, proceeded annually from Canton to Souchong, one of the capitals of Kiannan, and in wealth and commerce the rival of Canton, where they sold about 200 chests of opium at an advance of 50 per cent. beyond the Canton prices. Another place where the Canton junks, to the number of 5 or 6, repair annually, is Chinchew, in the province of Canton, within the Gulf of Pecheley, or Yellow Sea, and as far north as the 37th degree or Latitude."-(Appendix, Report of 1830, p. 298.)

Sometimes 40, 50,

A Chinese ship or junk is seldom the property of one individual. or even 100 different merchants purchase a vessel, and divide her into as many different compartments as there are partners; so that each knows his own particular part in the ship, which he is at liberty to fit up and secure as he pleases. The bulk-heads, by which these divisions are formed, consist of stout planks, so well caulked as to be completely water-tight. A ship thus formed may strike on a rock, and yet sustain no serious injury; a leak springing in one division of the hold will not be attended with any damage to articles placed in another; and, from her firmness, she is qualified to resist a more than ordinary shock. A considerable loss of stowage is, of course, sustained; but the Chinese exports generally contain a considerable value in small bulk. It is only the very largest class of junks that have so many owners; but even in the smallest class the number is very considerable.

Population of China. The most conflicting accounts have been given of the population of the Chinese empire. According to the statement of the Chinese authorities, it was found, by a census taken in 1813, to amount, for China Proper, to 367,821,000! Vast as this number must certainly appear, it does not, taking the prodigious extent of

CANVAS.

245 territory over which it is spread into account, give more than 268 individuals to a It is said -a density inferior to that of several European countries. square mile, that the inhabitants are in the practice of under-rating their numbers in their returns to government. (Companion to Anglo-Chinese Calendar, p. 156.) We are, however, wholly without the means of coming to any positive conclusion as to the degree of credit to be attached to this census.

Price Current.-A perusal of the subjoined Price Current, published at Canton, the 1st of December, 1832, will give the reader a tolerable notion of the various articles and their prices in the Canton market, at the very height of the shipping season.

Bees' wax

Betel nut

Birds' nests

Camphor, Barus

Cloves, Molucca

Mauritius

Cochineal, Europe, garbled

Copper, South America

at Lintin for exportation
Japan

ungarbled

CANTON, 1st of

December, 1832.
Tin, Banca

Straits', 1st quality

Woollens, broad-cloth

Sp. drs. 8 to 14 per catty.

8 to 15

36 50

Camlets, English, 55 yds. by 30 ins. 14 15 per piece.
Dutch, 40 do. by 28 do. 26

28

do. broad, 40 do. by 33 do. 26 - 28

1117

Long-ells

7

Scarlet cuttings

80 to 90 per picul.

1111

Cassia (shipped outside), 9: at

do.

12

13

buds (new)

15

China root

Cubebs

none.

Dragon's blood

80 to 100

Sp. drs. 24 to

per piece.

Longcloths 40 do.

Muslins

20 do.

3

2

Cambrics 12 do.

Monteith's bandannoes, scarlet

blue, &c.

Galangal

Gamboge

Glass beads
Hartall

Lead, white

red

Cotton yarn, No. 16. to 20.

Mother-of-pearl shells

No. 20. to 30.

42

Musk

No. 30. to 40.

38

Nankeens, Company's 1st

75 to 85

16-22

12 - 13

Cow bezoar

No. 40. to 70.

30 ·

not wanted.

2d, 1st sort

52

per catty.

2d do.

47 to 48

25 to 26 per picul.

3d,

38-40

Cutch, Pegu

4

small

none.

Ebony, Mauritius

3 ·

blue Nankin, small (93 yds. 12

Ceylon

2. 24

large, (10) do. 13 do.)

85 to 90

Elephants' teeth, 1st, 5 to 8 to a picul

90

Canton

2d, 12 to 15

do.

80

Oil of cassia

3d, 18 to 25

do.

70

Rhubarb

cuttings

70

Fishmaws

50 to 70

Flints

cts. 50

Sp. drs. 1 to 14

70 - 80

80 - 85

24 $24

Silk, raw, Nankin, Taysaam

Tsatlee

- 250

No. 3.

-225 to 230

No. 4.

140

Iron bar, 1 to 3 inch

Sp. drs. 90

red,inch and under

3

No. 5. 2

70

2 to 21

63

42

none.

Pingfa

5-2 to 5-6
6.2 to 6-4

4 to 18

none.

Sugar candy, Chinchew

Olibanum, garbled, 10: ungarbled

Opium, Patna (nominal)

5 to 6

Canton, 1st sort
2d do.

Sp. drs. 11
taels

6-6

Benares

do.

- 950

825 825

Turkey do.

- 800

per chest.

Tea, Bohea

12 to 15

Congou

Campoy

Souchong

1

Smalts, (for a small supply)

7 to 8 14 15 58 60

2- 34

- 2.30

none.

8 to 9 10

- 16

147
1-80 to 2

per picul.

45 to 50

5.

44 cts. 70 Sp. drs. 20

64
64

42

5

per cwt.

5 to 6 per picul.
34 to 4

32

6

Bengal Co.'s 207 Sicca rupees, per 100 Sp. drs., 30 days' sight - 35 per catty. Private bills 210 Bombay - per box.

do.
218 Bombay rupees

do.

do.

CANVAS (Fr. Toile à voile; Ger. Segeltuch; It. Canevazza, Lona; Rus. Parussnoe volotno, Parussina; Sp. Lona), unbleached cloth of hemp or flax, chiefly used for sails for shipping. Masters of ships are required to make entry of all foreign-made sails and cordage, not being standing or running rigging, in use on board their respective Sails in actual use, and fit and necessary for such ship, ships, under a penalty of 1007.

are imported free; but when otherwise disposed of, they are liable to an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. — - (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 56.) It had been the practice for a considerable period to grant bounties on the exportation of canvas or sail-cloth; these, however

R 3

38

- 60

18 - 20

55-70

26-35

45 50

64

- 66

30

- 32

20

21

20

- 22

20

22