798
Hong to purchase himself, a considerable portion of the cargo which he received. It was usual, in. | deed, until, within the last eight or ten years for the Flong not only to purchase somewhat exten- sively of the import cargo, but also to sell largely on his own account, teas, the price of which was settled by contract of the East India Company. These contracts embraced a large portion of the feas. The samples of these teas came to Cauton in September, and the boxes arrived afterwards. But since the expiration of the charter of the East India Company, in 1834, it has been customary to wait until the teas arrived in market when they are offered for sale to general competition, and the tea trade has thus fallen into the hands of private mer- phants.
Previous to the late treaty, the port charges, it appears, were excessive, but since that time they have been somewhat diminished. Besides the post charges which were comprised under the general term of "cumsha and measure.net," there were also charge for inward and outward pilotage, and the "linguist" and "compradors' fees, amounting to between six hundred and a thousand dollars on a ship of five or six hundred tons. The next duty, after engaing a "security" merchant and a linguist, was, to enter into a bond that the ship entering the port did not contain opium, and that should it be discovered, the party offending would await legal trial and punishment. This bond was signed by the captain in duplicate, one copy being presented to the governor and the other to the "hoppo." When the hood was thus duly given, permission was granted to upload, and "chopboats were des- patched by the Hong merchantel to receive the cargo, accompanied by the linguist, or his clerks. and officers from the "hoppo's" office, in order to see that the proceedings were transacted in dew from of law. The system of barter, was, moreover, not uncommon in the early trade to China, but for many years past, it would seem, that payments in cash, or a credit of from sixty to ninety days, has been customary in the more recent commerce with the empire.
|
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
not without success, when we view the present extent of the British commerce, which is now carried on with that nation. It is seen by the returns from its ports, that much the greater part of its commerce is now carried on in British ships.
We would now direct our attention to the trade own country with China. Among the of our principal articles of export from that empire, have been teas, nankins, China-ware and silks. A very considerable trade has been, moreover, prosecuted with that nation, in the article of tankins, and in 1820 we exported 3,135,000 pieces; but this species of importation gradually declined, so that now there is scarcely a single piece brought into the country. A large quantity of Lowell sheetings and drillings is exported by us to China and being re dyed, is carried from the empire to the Pacific ocean. So, also, in the article of Ching-ware, u con iderable quantity was formerly imported, hot at present only a fancy set occasionally finds its way into our own ports. In the artice of si ks, the change of our trade, with China, has been very decided. From 1822 to 1827, the imports of silk ranged from 372,000 to 144,000 pieces, and it has been somewhat diminished to the present time. By silks are included all those materials of which silks make the fabric; and one reason, perhaps, of the former large importations by us, was the fact, that the great bulk of the silks, thus brough into the country, were crapes and pongees, to as sume the form of handkerchiefs, not only for our own use, but also for re-exportation. Sugar also was exported from China to this country in con- siderable quantity, it having reached the average omount of 4,500,000 pounds for a series of years, between 1817 and 1821, and the amount has been gradually diminished, with occasional exceptions, to the present time. We have also exported in American vessels from China, camphor, cassia ligne, raw silk, sweetmeats, vermillion and mat- ting, with numerous other articls of minor value. At the present time, however, the principal articles of export from the empire are tea, cassia and mat- ting. Canton crapes being passed by, and China silks being forgotten, if we except the white, the scarlet, and the black.
of British long cloths and domestics, exported by Americaus, from 1832, to 1938.
Picces,
**
Pieces.
In 1631-33, of long cloths, . 61,953 Domestica,.. 20,156
1533-31
..131,160 1831.95,
71,629 . 120,04 1,600
1835.30, 1837.38,
61)
CANTON PRICES CURRENT. 19TH MAY, 1845. IMPORTS-DUTY PAID..
32,743 53,331 Ale (best brands) 12,000 Amber : 117,000 | Betel Nut
Cochineal Copper, sheathing
S.Am. Cordage, European COTTON, Bombay,
sh. ps. T's.
819 0 per bhd
24 0 * O 20 0 8 0
0
bol.
per picul
5 CE
8.16 0 10 50 4 60
O per eatly
0.
0 per picul
}
8 0 4
112 0
9 0
per
F* 0 0
.0
*
像
**
.ខ
0
To
50"
5 9
7 4
0.4
7 5
2.50
3 10 per picco
3.10
place in the demand for
Yarn, Nos. 16 to 21 26
0
Nos. 18 to 32 28
0
* 29 Q
Nos. 3 to 42 32
0
4.93 0 >>
2
The exportation of our own manufactured goods, Canvas-Eng, and
Scotch has, however, gradually increased; for in 1842, and the early part of 1843, there were shipped more than 500,000 pieces of American cottons for the Chinese market. The opening of four new parts to British ships, by the late treaty with Eng land, induced the belief that new and proportiona. tely extensive markets would be open to foreign- fabrics; and, in consequence of the conviction, shipments were made from the British ports, of plain cotton gonils, exceeding those of the preced- ing year, more than 23,000,000 of yards and of colored entren goods, more than 5,000,000 of yardla The result of those shipments, from Great Britain and the United States was, that the markets of China became glutted, and in October, of 1843, the prices of the goods in Canton were below the cost of their manufacture in Lowell and Manches ter.
More recent advices, give us the information, however, that the stocks are diminishing, In order to exhibit a general view of the American trade with the empire for a series of years, we give the following tables.
VALUE OF IMPORTS INTO CHINA, BY AMERICAN
VESSELS.
Amount
pa bilis and
kadze.
1804-05, 34 10.159 2,002,000 6 3,818 | 18-5-06, 49 12,480 4,176,000 1,150,338 1806.07, 37 11,998 2,895,0.0 982,362 1807.08, 33 8,865 3,032,009 908,009 30,000 409,850 1808.09, 8 2,215 1809-10, 47 12,512 4,723,000 1,021,603 1810-11, 16 4,708 2,130,000 568,800 1811-12, 25 7.506 1,876,003 1,956,810 1812-13,8 1,816 616,000 $37,000
1813.15, 2,854
1815-16, 30 10,208 1,922,000 605,300 1816-17, 28 13,096.4,545,000 1,064,600
1817-18, 39, 14.325 5,601,000 1,175,828 1818-19, 47 16,377 7,369,000-2,507,208
1919.20, 43 13,143 6,259,300 1,926.5.0 1820-21, 26 8,663 2,652,508 1,375,500 1821-22, 48 15,597 5,125,000-3,071,735 1822-23 40 14,557 6,242,540 2,046,5.19 1923.21, 34 13,069 4,090,000 2,219,127 1824-25, 43 16,262 6,524,500 2,337,515 185-26, 42 16,131 5,725,000 2,051,301 1826-27, 26 0,566 1,811,168 2,42,419 1997-98, 29 14,000 2,640,300 2,754,597 1828-29, 27 8,613 1,365,300 2,642,345 1629 30 31 11,670 1,123,614 3,187,638 1836-31, 247,986 1-3,655 4,039,921 1891-39, 34 1832-33, 50 1833-34, 47. 1897-38, ...
Bills alone
Adze.
Total
site st
uniports.
¿ Madras Bengal COTTON GOODS. White Shirtings,
Grey ditto ditto. 2. Go ++ Some improvement has taken White Shirt ngs
Chintz Furniture Nominal METALS. Tin, Banca Straits Iron, Nail
Hoop Bar
4.
Steel
Tin plates
Lead Pig
#27.50 per picul
0.4 3 50 per picco
19 0
« 18750 por picul
15 50 * 16 h
**
2 60 por picul
2 30
16
{} 0
4
D
+
2 20
210'
.0 0
54
0
5. 50
0
+1
0. per box
7 50
If
4.80
*
5
0 per picul
44 0 . 139
0 0
#710
O per chest
0
• 0
0
r
"690
16 0
0 0
!!
产
σε
0
3,555,818 Quicksilver
3,877,362 3,20,090 479,850 5,741,600
5,326,358 OPIUM,Patoa, new, 700 0
La old, 0 Bennies, new, 680 0
2,898,800
3,132,810
1,453,000
441,500
c+
16
4+
JG.
old,
Malwa,new good 710 0 4720
Turkey . 430 10 530 0 per picul
Since the arrival of the WATER WITen the speculative demand has in a great measure subsided and for sonio days 2,427,500
past, prices have liad a tendency to fall, 5,609,600 7,076,823 Pepper
9.339,350
6
5 80 41 0. 0
9,876.208 Rice, cargo quality
4C 1.80
2
0
24
8,185 800
Rattans, Baujermassan 2 40
3 10
4,035,000. 8.199,741
Sandalwood, Malabar
5. 0
G 13
.0
ff
"Timor, &S. 8, Isl. 4
0.
K
7
0
4 25
1.00
45.
4,311,282
4,223,176
5,394,97 Long Ells, scarlet
well assorted. 4.038.865
Camlets, English
Dutch
8 30
24
8.40
20 0
6,315,127 Saltpetre. 8,062,045. WOOLLENS. 7,776,301
Spanish Stripes 4,243,6/1
ᎨᎥ
737,932,180,571 2,457,181 5,695,307 Medium Cloth 670,519 4,120,659 2,007,936 8,10,114 Ladies --1,029,178 3,656,390 5,202,048 9,587,501 672,350 3,142,000 1,370,785 5,191,111
The linguist was one of the most prominent actors in the foreign trade of China, and it may not be uninteresting here to consider his character. He was a sort of public servant, being the runner," The tea trade being one of the most prominent as he has been called between the office of the enterprises connected with the Chinese empire, hoppo, the foreign merchant, and the long mer- deserves, perhaps, a more particular description. chant, bearing the burdens and encountering the This plant has now extended itself into general use complaints, of all three, in case any thing went in our own country, and it is from China that we wrong. He was always ready to act as the agent derive the entire amount of this valuable. product. for these three parties, providing a consideration The subjoined tables exhibit the exports of tea, was granted to him, and was the slave of each, from China, in American vessels from 1804 to Without honesty, he was expected to utter filsc-1820, and also the imports of tea into the United hoods for his masters. and was admitted on all sides States from 1821 to 1829. It may be remarked, to be a thorough and unscrupulous rogue, Tho | however, in further explanation of the last table, entire trading population of China, has in fact, that in, consequence of anticipated troubles grow established a character for knavery which we trusting out of the China war with Great Britain, may be improved by a more frequent connection there were exported in 1840, by the Americans, with nations in which a higher code of morality 250,000 chests, of which quantity 200,000 were It appears that when there is a large amount of prevails. This remark, however, will not apply green; 108.000 cheats only were exported in tonnage in the port of Canton, the ten merchants to the ilong merchants, for they have been found 1840.41. a part of which time Canton river wes are usually firm in their demands, and the sales as a body uniformly honorable, intelligent, accurate blockaded during 1841-49, there were 155,080 | are ready, inasmuch as there is great anxiety to accountants, punctual to their contracts, and us chests, and during the year following, there were procure cargoes, and to return flist with freight. respectable in their characters as the merchants of 175,000. Wo here exhibit the amount of the ex When, however, there are but few ships, the ther- chants are anxions to sell, and the prices are law; any country, seeming to prize highly a good re- ports of the principal staple, tea, in American ves-
sels during the periods stated.
importation is more moderate, anditisattended with putation.
1804-5,..51,145 | 41,844
Season, Chests of black. Ch'sts ofgren-Total ch'sts Eb
greater profit. In 1840, as has been seen, a large, 95,980 7.070, 120
quantity of tea was exported from Chino, in Ame- 1805-6,54,770 69,086 122,856 0,830,480 rican vessels, and the prices here were kept up by 110,527 9,402,200 the blockade of the Canton river, and the appre 1800-7, 41,265 77,262 1807-8, .. 92,052 39,629 70,691 5,051,480 hensions of a short supply for IS10-11, from the 1808 9,. 3,033 16,496 19.529 1,562,320 hostile attitude of Great Britain toward China 1809-10, 52,049 03,263 115,311 0.226880 during a short time succeeding. 1810-11, 1811-12,
"The early foreign trade with Canton, it appears has been considerable. Mr. Samuel Shaw, who first sailed to that port in the Empress of China, to which we have alluded, states that in 1787-8, there were the following ships with their cargoes in the port of Canton, besides twenty-four country ships, five English ships, and one American brig called the "Eleonora," within the vicinity of Macao. English, 28, with 500.38 piculs of ginseng, Dutch,
5, with Swedes, 2, with
Danes,
French.
2, with 3, with Prussian, 1, with Tuscan, 1, with
American, 1, with'
!!
24.05
19.51
9.48
- 115.99
3.69
11
52.18
726.28 piculs.
43 ships to pass the cape.
31 country slips bound back to India,
4,072 29,622 5,977 37 734
32 604 2.615,520.
43,711 9,496,880
1812-13,
8,776 9,184
1313-15,
9,911 8,450 1915-16, 52.926 43.614
+
Alum
Aunisced Camplior
Cassia
4.
G 0
1 10 per yord
0 0 per proce 8.60
44.22 0
23 0 4.30 0
袋
"yard'
1.80
t
2 5 par vard
1 20.
1 30
EXPORTS—Cy. Buard.
Buds China Routa Galangal Musk Rhubarb
SILK.
-0 ú per carty
» 600 per picul
$ 1.75 to. 2
o per picul
-16
10 0 0 0
622 0 10 (*** 11
0
0
17 018
0
250
2 40
4
0
0
"
90 0
20 U
Tantlee
450
0 9/70 n
Taysanm
350.
0 +3×3 ง
Canton
80
0 $350
G
74
TEA.
Conged L'aper Souchong, Orange Pekeo,
13
0.23 0
17
04 21
0
26
0 " 38 0
17
h
M 23 #
tine scented
40
0
4.46
10
0
28 0
43
- 95
0
28
080
ย
*
.18
0 **36 0
40 0 #13 0
4
37
0 "80
เ
Twankay
As it regards the opium trade, it would scein that 17,960 1,436 800 it is conducted in much the same mode as it was The 18,367 1,469,360 previous to the late war with Great Britain. 98,540 7,723,200 | subject of opium is not even alhieded to in the late 1818-17, 52,259 65,137 117.896 9.301,980 treaty, and although, the agents of the British go- 1817-18, 43,570 77303 121.263 9,701,040 vernment profess to exclude it from the ports re- 1818-19, 57,741 02,692 150,441 12,035,230 cently opened, there appears, to be an implied con- 1819-20,50,161 75,323 131,478 10.519.160 sent on the part of the Chinese authorities, to its The following were the imports into the United admission. Opiam is now raised in large amount by the East India Company, and full cargoes are States:---
shipped to China. Thus the Chinese have not gained a single point by their resistance, and this pernicious drog is still carrying its thousands EXPORT OF TEAS TO GREAT BRITAIN FROM 30TH
Scaun.
[
Val.`in dolls. ¡Season. +khs. Val. in dolis. 1891, 4973.463 1,32,0991834, 9, 96.81 2.783.488 123, 6,636,705 1858,9621833, 14,837,436 5-483.088
1823, 8,208,195 2,350,550į1831, 16,267 652 6.211,028
4 Portugues, at Macao, bound to Lisbon. 1824. 8,919,810 2795,683 (833, 13,103,455 4,517.775 throughout the empire to untimely graves
1825, 10,178,927 3.725.675|1838, 16 347 311 5331.496 Total, 78, and one more expected from 1825, 10,072.899 8.740.4151837, 16,242,122 5.893,20 England, and one from Bombay. And in 1788-1827, 5.868.828 1.711.1651838,14,411 387 3.404,363 1828, 7,619,305 2.413,0021839, 9,296.679 2.413.283 9, be informs us that were 43 to pass the cape, 1829, 6,595,035 2,045 615
1830, 8591.799 2,421,711 rotal,195,106,125 61,957,315
viz:-
English, Swedes, Danes, French, Dutch,
21 Spanish,
2 American, -
2 | Portuguese,
-
]
4
Total
21831, 5,177,557 1,416,045
4
43
Hyson Young Hyson Hyson Skin Chunpowder Imperial
JUNE 1844 TO DATE
Green,
11.301 929 Ba
Black,
37.537.827 "
Total
48.839.755 lbs. In 95
The negotiation of the late treaty, will place the commerce of China upon a new footing By the British treaty, the new system of trade was to commence on the 27th of July, 1843, and four new ports, as we have already seen, have been opened. Ships including the Thoms. Worthington wailed The increase of the consumption of teas and silks direct from Shanghai to London. in our own country, it is believed by those who are practically acquainted with the China tradr, will most directly cause the increase of our trade
COTTON REPORT. Canton, April 30th, 1845.
do.
700 3.293. Deliveries. Stock. 14.401 90.204
3.816
7 095
1.420
34.961
12731 74.201
PRICES OF BULLION. Sycee Silver, large, 4 per cent, premium. Spanish Dollars, Ferdinand, par
Carolus, 10 per cent. Republican ditto, 3 to 4 per cent discount.
closed.
EXCHANGE.
Our exports to Cauton cons'st mainly of Ame 7rican cotton goods, American lead, ginseng, specie
and bills of credit on London. Giriseng, a valued with that nation, and enable us to find a market Twist product of the western states, has been, for a long there for a large amount of domestic goods. At A brief account of the trade in tea, which has time-a prominent staple of export to China, and first, we inust expect the ordinary results of glut Bombay Bales, long been one of the principal staples of China, Turkey opium has been sold in the Chinese by the ted markets and overtrading; for when an empire Bengal
Americans, in small quantities, so also has quick- of such vast commercial resources as that of China | Madras do. may be of some value. As early as 1784, the co- sumption of tea by Great Britain and its depen-silver, as well as a considerable amount of lead. is first opened, the enterprises of commercial men dencies, was about 14,000,000 pounds. Three years inconsiderable portion of the export trade.
The trade in furs to China formerly constituted no will be naturally directed to that particular point,
Total, From and produce such results. We now pay for about Constant included. afterward, namely, in 1787-8, there were exported from China by British ships 21.407066 pounds net, the northwest coast of America, the for trade was 12 000,000 of pounds of teas, some hundreds of carried on with great profit, and large quantities thousands of dollars of silks, mating, cassia, and and we may judge somewhat of the enormous in-
were shipped in our own vessels, by the way of other articles of less value, by our domestic goods, crease of the tea trade in China, from the fact that during the year 1834, the last year of the existence the Pacific ocean.
The seal trade of the Pacific lead, ginseng and other minor exports. That an of the India company, there were 23,369,600 aleo, formerly found large and profitable markets important change has already come over the prog pounds of black tea, and 4,977 600 pounds of green in China but this, like many other staples of ex-pects of the Chinese empire, there is but little tea exported to Great Britain by that company, port, has become very much diminished. We sub doubt The Hong monopoly has been abolished, besides 3,870,000 pounds on private account, mak- join a table, however, showing the amount of this and so have the Consoo charges. The use of Bills on Londonat 6 months sight, 48.34. ; Treasury ing a total of 33.218,090 pounds. During the years trade for a series of years, which is much greater our own domestic products being introduced into 1833-34, the total British trade to Chira was valu- thau at the present time. The table exhibits the the five ports, will probably open new markets for ed to 823,176,793, while the value of the bullian quantity of furs carried to China by the way of the their sale. Their more iramediate contact with Navy Bills, 4s. 21 to 43. ad. per Mexican dollars, exported from China at the same time was $6,217, Pacific ocean, mainly in American ship.
the nations of our own time, will probably work Court of Directors accepted Bills, urp scarce, $20. There were at that period between 13,000, 18015, 11,003 181,6
Sea-orters. Sex-skine. Beavers.
some change in the manners of the people, and holders asking 223 Rs. per $100. 8,756 61,000 nutrias.
FREIGHTS. 009 pounds of cotton exported to the empire by the
their modes of thought, and in the consequent 1995-6, .. 17,415 140,297 34,400 company, and a large quantity by private traders, | 1805-7, - 14,531 261,40 23,368
demands of their commerce. The guns of a Brit- To London or Liverpool, £ 4. @ 4-19 per ton of G9 making the total amount, 54,557,500 pounds, relu. | 1807s, .. 16,647 109,00 11,750 and land-otters. ish fleet. although we conceive unjustly. have f; tonnage scHTCE.
1,914 ed at about. 86,500,000, besides 17,600 chests of 1508.9
31,500
3.400 5,110
hattered in the walls of their cities chinks, through To Amoy, 6 per ton of 40 feet 1809.30... 11,0:0
20,00 15,000 opium, which were carried to China, and sold for
which will stream the light of Christianity and To ports north of Amoy, 7 088 18:011.- 9200 45.00 14.200 15,000 $11,613,000. From these date, we may from some
modern civilization. According to the present ISI1-12, 11,503 173,000 20,4:00 12,000 estimate of the amount of the early China trade, as
condition of the China trade, oor exports must well as that which has been carried on during a
1812-13, . $,922 1,9,cro 320 beavers, 7,000 Paddles. balance our inports from that nation. The sur more resent period.
Without entering into a panicular description plus fords of the Celestial Empire, now wem to of minor articles of trade with China, ne would be required to pay for the opium which is cultivat allude especially to the progress which is makinged under the auspices of the East India Company, by our countrymen in the export to that hasten of and shipped to its ports. Were this trade abolish American cotton goods; 56,178 peers of British, substancint blessings would fow down open | long cloths, were carried to China by the Ameri- that extraordinary people, and cur own ectamente, ens in IS 2, and only 10,531 pieces of domestics. with that nation, would be placed upon a. restr We subjoia a table showing the number of pieves prosperous bed4.
It appears that the establishment of an extensive trade with the empire of China has long been a favorite object with the British government. From the year 1637, the date of the first record of the East India Company, at Caulon, down to the present time, numerous embassies have been sent to the Imperial Government, and it would seemn
and 115,000 metrie,
Ships Looking at Whaingon, India, Qween Mab, Hesperu,
London..
Edited, Printed and Published by Soun Carr, At The Friend of China and Honghony Gazette, Printing Ofice. Qenza's BoxD; Vieronta,. Honagong 1985.