90
BRITISH POSITION AND PROSPECTS IN CHINA. China, which will compensate for our loss of the United States and of Hindoostan.
China in a remarkable degree seems destined by Divine Providence to be the next great arena for the development of British civilization*. The vast extent of territory favoured by every variety of climate, and yielding almost every vegetable and mineral product; the great length of sea coast with numerous excellent harbours; the large rivers flowing far and deep into the central land; abundance of coal and iron for steam navigation and transit: canals for traffic in all directions; a population numbering, it is said, one-third of the inhabitants of the eartht-industrious, peaceful, skilled in husbandry and various branches
*
The third report of the "Society for diffusing useful knowledge in China,” held at Canton, 20th November, 1837, contains a review of the existing literature of the Chinese, and an enumeration of the "catalogue of works contained in the imperial library at Pekin." It concludes with these remarks :-
A
"From this cursory review which we have taken of Chinese literature, we are enabled to perceive what is the range of existing knowledge in this country. philosophy, which, leaving alone all speculations concerning the origin and future state of man, confines itself wholly to the relations between man and man in this life, occupies one fourth portion. A history and a geography, almost exclusively national, occupy another fourth portion; while the existence of other nations, and the practical lessons to be learned from the rest of mankind, are almost wholly for- gotten. With the exception of agriculture and weaving, the useful arts of life find hardly any place in Chinese literature. Mechanic and chemical sciences are scarcely thought of. Medicine we know to consist, for the most part, of mere quackery. Astronomical and mathematical sciences are chiefly derived from Europeans, and the knowledge of them is confined to a very few persons; while the vagaries of astrology and divination find a place not only in their literature, but also in the arrangements of government. Natural history is regarded only as an adjunct to medical science, if the practice of medicine among the Chinese can be dignified with the name of science. Seeing that so many are the defects of Chinese litera- ture, it becomes our imperative duty to exert our utmost energies to supply their lack of knowledge."
As regards their philosophy, the committee observe-
"Several of the classical works, which form the foundation of this first depart- ment of Chinese literature, have already, by means of translations, been placed within the reach of the European public. From these we are enabled to perceive to how low an elevation in philosophy the most esteemed sages of China have attained."
In the geography of even their own country they are almost as deficient as they are of that of foreign countries. A map of the province of Fokien, which I saw at the viceroy's residence at Foochoo, would have disgraced the New Zealanders, or any other barbarous nation. It had no bearings-no divisional lines-no propor- tions; and that part which we know, the Min river, was entirely incorrect. Yet this map was kept a secret; and our Consul at Foochoo could only procure a copy, by paying a Chinese largely for copying it by stealth. In astronomy, music, sur- gery, medicine, chemistry, military and naval science, fine arts, &c., they are utterly deficient.
+ EXTENT
Geographical Position.
Provinces.
Provincial
Capital.
Area in
square
Miles.
Lat. N.
Long. E.
in Ring and Mow. Mouths Arable area
Mile. square Number of on each Mouths.
† Extent of ChinA PROPER, number of Inhabitants, Arable Area, and Revenues at the end of 1844, exclusive of Tartary, the Dependent Provinces, and the Colonies. (Prepared for me from official documents.)
Total fixed
Revenue
of each
Province.
Land
Taels. in
Taxes and Duties.
Salt.
Sundry.
in the
Provincial MoneyTaels. In kind. Treasury. Send to the Emperor.
Remains
Chih-le
Peking
Sung-UHUS
Shan-se
Ho-pan
Keang-800
Tse-nan-foo
Tae-yuen.foo
Kae-fung-foo
Nanking
39° 54′ 13′′
36 44 24
16°28' 0"
117 07 30
58,949
65,104
-37 53 30
112 30 30
55,268
Gan-bwny
Keang-se
Fo-keen
Chế keang
Hoo-pih
Hoo-nan
Shen-se
Kwang-tung Kan-suh
Sze-choeu
Kwang se
Kwei-choo Yun-nan
Gan-king-foo
Nan-chang-foo
Fuh-choo-foo
Hang-choo-foo
Woo-chang-foo
Chang-sha-foo
Se-gan-foo
San-choo-foo
Ching-too foo
Kwang-choo-foo
Kwei-lin-foo
Yun-nan.foo
we i-yang-foo
≈ 8 5 5 2 2 2 4 2 &
家
117 04 13
22 23
115 48 17
ུ རྩ ུལ
8 2 2 2
2 2 5 %
R &
65,104
27,990,871
28,958,764
14,004,210
23,087,171
37,843,501
473
515
253
657,091-87
970,054-7
1,334,457
437,949
153,272
1,925,658
1,939,941
3,396,165
120,720
70,661
3,930,513
2,730,736
329,586′21 | 2,990,675
507,828
82,944
3,580,647
2,702,285
354
689,884-45 | 3,116,826 | 2,085,282 722,820-36 | 3,164,758
44,950
..
3,420,940
2,441,110
142,817
6,475,690
2.564,728
92,961
774
34,168,059
328,020-93 | 1,174,110
..
1,174,110
776,173
72,176
30,426,999
421
479,207-62 | 1,878,682
5,150
38,593
2,719,488
1,602,431
53,480
39,150
144,770
14,777,410
26,256,784
37,370,098
18,652,507
276
128,270-87 | 1,074,490
85,470
42,630
1,202,590
1,055,109
671
459,787-70 2,914,946
501,034
49,087
2,532,327
2,287,346
317·
566,913-49
312,287.90
1,174,110
..
11,554
1,282,598
776,173
333,543
883,745
..
44,343
924,302
944,422
265,379
10,207,256
252,371-3
1,658,700
697,028
40,623
2,206,351
306,336
265,498
154,008
15,193,135
177,831.3
280,652
39,450
60,787
380,889
1,082,644
72,274
103 10 30
111 16 30
110 13 50
25 06 0
102 51 40
00 08 92
106 36 10
166,800
79,456
78,250
107,969
54,554
21,435,678
19,147,030
7,313,895
5,561,320
93 128
214
459,040-67
631,094
31,782
662,880
**
13,029
328,832-03
84,400-60
1,364,364
47,913
65,220
1,477,497
719,307
-
339,143
416,399
47,150
52,660
$16,149
275,559
--
86,945
31
69,499-80
209,582
227,626
34,256
471,464
188,927
227,626
53,396
5,288,219
1,297,999
367,632,907
287
78
25,681-76
181,268
6,234
24,431
131,938
52,346
13,314
7,054,692-29 30,364,023 | 3,843,930 | 1,005,092
35,018,051
22,022,451 3,289,015 5,569,329
Hong Kong, June 1845.
R. M. MARTIN.
510