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1040 THE LEADE B.__ [No. ffi ' 5, Qc lQg...
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THE XANG-TSZE-KIANG AND ITS PORTS. Havin...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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-« Quantities Febsus Value. The Actual D...
and these are a better criterion of the employment of the people than the value , though this may be the better criterion of the profit of the merchant and manufacturer . We do not conceal from ourselves , nor hide from our readers , that this greater relative quantity than value of our exports tends to the advantage of the foreign buyer . He gets more for his money , but that relative advantage will speedily induce him to enlarge his consumption and his purchases , and his increased demand will restore the equilibrium of price .
So far as the returns inform \ is of consumption , they tend , to confirm the statement that trade is far better in reality than it appears by only looking at pounds , shillings , and pence . The consumption of wine , timberj and provisions has fallen off in 1858 ; the consumption of coffee , of foreign corn , of sugar , tallow , tea , & c , has increased . The falling off in wine and timber may indicate a slackness in building and a reduction in the means of the middle classes : but the increase in the consumption of the
other articles is a sure sign of the comparative wellbeing of the multitude . In these facts we see reason to conclude that trade is now , and has been for several months past , conducted on sound principles , while the enlarged imports of many articles , including the large increase of bullion in the Bank , have extended its sure foundations and prepared for a larger structure than has yet been reared . We shall watch the progress with great interest , particularl y in relation to India and China , with both of which trade has of late rapidly extended ;
1040 The Leade B.__ [No. Ffi ' 5, Qc Lqg...
1040 THE LEADE B . __ [ No . ffi ' 5 , Qc lQggR _ 2 _ 1856 .
The Xang-Tsze-Kiang And Its Ports. Havin...
THE XANG-TSZE-KIANG AND ITS PORTS . Having called attention in our last to the five seaboard ports opened to foreign trade by the Treaty of Tien-tsin , we hasten to fulfil the pledge to make the rich ports of the Yang-tsze-kiang a separate theme . 3 y this time , all our readers are quite familiar with the name of this great river ; and most of them can with ease point-it out on any plain map .
By the Treaty of 1842 , one port at the mouth of the Yang-tsze was thrown open to foreign trade , namely , Shanghai , which has been rising ever since in the mercantile scale both of foreigners and natives . The recent engagements , however , promise Jto give our trading craft permission to sail 500 miles up the river , and to open four additional ports along this route . From information we have received on authority that we cannot question— " upon the point touching the navigation of . the Yang-tsze , the Chinese Commissioners made a dead pause ; but a hint from Lord Elffin , that there might be fewer
scruples if lie went with his coadjutor Baron Gros to Pe-king , at once brought the Chinese Commissioners to terms . " This opposition was to be expected , for said Commissioners know too well that if foreigners and foreign goods are admitted up the Yang-tsze , they must say good-bye for ever to the Protectionist system of Chinese Toryism . As the grand inlet , indeed the highway , into the interior of China , the paramount importance of the " Ocean Child" ( as its name signifies ) cannot be exaggerated , _ . . _ .... .
It rises in the mountains of Thibet , enters China at the province of Yun-nan , the richest metallurgical ' division of the whole empire ; passes between one half of the other and the most fertile provinces o £ the " Middle Kingdom , " and , after a tremenaous sweeb , it pours its tawny liquid contents into the " Yellow Sea . " The traveller that would visit Central China and see its various districts , towns , and peoples , right up in the interior , must follow the route of this " Girdle oJ ^ China , " as it is also called . Let him do so , and he will see every form and fashion of the " Chinese as they are . " The mercantile adventurer may also judge what a flue promising field is thus opened before him , and , to aid him in his calculations , we ask his further attention to the following facts .
Along its whole length of 3000 miles it is calculated that 100 , 000 , 000 inhabitants live , and its banks are occupied by numerous towns and villages , and in many parts by largo populous cities ; and thousands of junks are to bo seen sailing up and down its waters , carrying the produce of one part of the country to another , Mn route on both sides , numerous affluents and largo tributaries , join it , most of which drain enormous territories lying north and south of the great river , and lead up to cities and towns of various consequence . At 400 miles from the river mouth the tides are perceptible , and
in 1 S 4 . 2 , the British fleet ; with two or three line-ofbattle ships , anchored off Nan-king , the ancient capital or the empire , at a distance of 250 miles from the coast . So that we may safely conclude that the commercial signification of the opening of this artery into Central China cannot be slfght ; aud here we quote the opinion of Mr . Pliny Miles , of the United States , expressed last spring at a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society : —
Perhaps in civilised and commercial countries there are no two rivers so nearly alike as the Yang-tsekiang and the Mississipp i * But there is this difference , that , while one has a population of 100 , 000 , 000 on its banks , the other has not more than 10 or 12 , 000 , 000 . Now , when we come to consider the immense number of steamers running on the Mississippi , to supply the wants of those 10 , 000 , 000 , we can form some idea of the enormous number of vessels there must be on the Yang-tsekiang to supply the wants of that vast population of 100 , 000 , 000 or more . The Mississippi aud its tributaries have in constant employment more than 1000 steamers , and many of these of very large size . But , to confine ourselves to particulars of the newly opened ports on the banks of Yangtsze . The first named is Chin-kiang . This place stands on the southern bank of the river , about 200 miles from the sea , and 50 east # f Nan-king . It was known to Englishmen visiting those waters in 1 S 40-42 , as the Mantchoo garrison , with which our troops had a stiff brush prior to their occupation of Nan-king . Since then , it has been made the stronghold of the Tai-ping insurgents , from which fortunately these piratical hordes were driven about eighteen months ago . But that Mantchoos and Taipingites both made it a fortress , sufficiently indicates ' the importance which the natives attach to the city . This necessarily arises froni the fact that , at Chin-kiang , the grand canal of the empire forms a junction . On the south bank is the inlet to the south line of the Imperial Canal , that runs one hundred and fifty miles past Soo-cho \ v ,- as far as Hang-chow ; and on the opposite bank there is the mouth of the northern line , that extends up to , Tien-tsin . The traffic on these two branches is enormous ; not to say that the Government supplies are chiefly forwarded by these internal channels . If we take our position here , then , we have the key into the country , north , south , and west ; and to retain it will be enough to secure a peaceful alliance with a throne whose chief supplies in money and goods mainly pass by this port . It is officially arranged that " above Chin-kiang we are to have three more ports , as far as Han-kow . " This Han-kow is 250 miles further up the river , and is made , it would appear , the furthest boundary to which British vessels are " to be permitted to trade . " Nor should we grumble at this provision . It is quite five hundred miles from the sea , " where the river has a breadth of from two to three miles , and depth of water amply sufficient for vessels of from 300 to 400 tons . " Beyond this we do not know exactly the depth of the river ; but as Capt . Collinson , R . N ., remarks , " reasoning from analogy we can prognosticate that steamers will go more than 1200 miles above . " At present , however , the arrangement is that " British vessels" are not to proceed beyond this reach ; and it may be just as well , considering that from and above this there is such a reticulation of streams and affluents , which only an experienced hand could thread through . Apart from which , it is to be remembered that the treaty provides that " British subjects may travel for pleasure or trade into all parts of the interior , " and may also " hire boats for transport of goods and passengers ; " so that if an enterprising Englishman likes , ho may go up to the sources of the lang-tszc-kiang in native boats " for trade " as well as " for pleasure . " But , to return to Han-kow , wo are firmly of opinion that our merchants will bo perfeotly satisfied if they can reach as far as this port . The Chindse themselves say that , in the interior of their oountry , they have four famous marts , viz . —Fatshan , in the neighbourhood of Canton , not long ago tmtisli lorcos oiner
visited by the ; ana me mree lying in the plain of the Yang-tsjse-kiang , —Choosoon , on the banks of the Yellow river ; King-tihchin , the ohief porcelain manufactory of the empire , situated in the Kiang-seo province ; and the last but not , least is this same Haivkow , This is in the united " province called Hookwang , and stretches for some miles on the south bank of the " Oooan Child , " in N . hvt . 30 ° , and 33 . long . 114 . ° . Here three cities lie close togother , called Woo-chauff , Han-yang , and Hau-kow . Both
banks at this point are packed with a bust linntrading population , amounting before the late re ' bellion to five millions of people . The traffic is said by native merchants to be enormous , and ( ha t it is so , is fully confirmed b y some foreign travellers who have visited Han-kow in disguise . We have spoken of two of the opened ports of the river Yang-tsze — Chin-kiang and Han-kow . But what of the other two ? Here we are in tln & dark , and there is no use in speculating , as Article 10 of the Tien-tsin Treaty provides that their selection shall be " as the British Minister , after consulting witfe the Chinese Secretary of State , shail determine . " We are , therefore , to bide their time . There is , however , a serious item in this 10 th Article of the Treaty , which naturally will awaken anxiety and suspense . We italicise the
quotation : — British merchant ships are to be allowed to trade up the great fiver ( Yang-tsze ) , but , in the present duturbtd state of the Upper and Loioer Valley , no port is to he opened for trade with the exception of Chin-kiang , ¦ w hich is to be opened in a year from the signature of the treaty . Chin-kiang , then , is to be open to our British vessels and trade within twelve months ; but the other rich and commercial towns on the banks of
the Yang-tsze above this arc to welcome foreign merchants only on the evacuation of the banks of the river by the rebels . The wisdom of this arrangement is ' not to be questioned , for there would be no benefit , in mixing ourselves up with the squabbles of the nation , or exposing our countrymen to the atrocious iusurgents that lurk about there . But the anxiety we feel is lest a crafty official o r a wily monarch should arise to use this as a dodge to check us and keep us out for aye . It was a like manoeuvre that Keying and his successors adopted at Canton , the working of which at last led to the Canton quarrel .
Even Sir Henry Pottmgcr , cautious , sagacious , and dexterous as he was in diplomacy , was outdone by Ke-ying and his crew who , with apparent artlessiiess , begged that—while the city . of Can * on came under . Treaty provisions that its twites should be thrown open to foreign visitors and resideiits—a short reprieve of two years might be granted on the ground that the feelings of the inhabitants and tbjLvillagers bein < r' very much irritated against the English / the English would find it uncomfortable , perhaps unsafe , to traverse the streets or pass through the gateways of Canton . The request was granted—the Chinese commissioner undertaking on
his part to improve the interim in soothing and quieting the minds of the populace . The two years expired . But the sage commissioner regretted he had not been successful , nnd begged for two years more of grace . Granted—but without effect ; except to confirm the hostilii v of the Canton natives , and to make their officials crow over the " stupid English . " We believe that our British plenipotentiaries m China have by this time learnt not to trust to the to in to his
word of a Chinese mandarin , nor give polite dodges . But there is no question that , if a Chinese Secretary of State can by art , cunning , or courtesy , excuse the fulfilment of this part ot t he treaty , on the ground that the rebcb are in the vicinity of Han-kow , or prowling along the banks of the river , ho will do it , in order to prevent the British vessels going up as far as Hau-kow . However , it is cause of gratitude that we have obtained terms so advantageous both to us and to tli « mnnirn nf CA \\ nn - and whatever stratagem niny
be tried by tho defeated party to evade tlictr engagements , wo , as a nation , shull fulfil ours , ana wo have tho power to keep them to theirs . We trust that the marauders , under tho I »» -l'int > flag , will soon bo expelled from those borecrs . This will not only benefit our foreign lvalue , but , from what wo know of the character and praci . ices of those vagabonds , it will be a blessing to the penceful and industrious inhabitants of tho Ynng-two P The presence of such piratical hordes has , for jho last five years , been a curse to tho noh and busing oitics wo have above named ; and they leave w town without traces of their waste , pluiuwi , « pillage . But as soou as our merchant vosBob uou the ports above Chiu-kiang , we doubt not that tno people , tho commerce , aud tho prosperity ol uiowj
localities will revive . ,. ( ., on " Take our goods thoro-cahcocs , woolloiis , no glass , & o .-and speedily the native mere mnto JW gather round to see ; and oai the Canton morohft ^ in his English brogue , would say , Can etc ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 24, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02101858/page/24/
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