comparatively trifling sum, and certainly at a much cheaper rate than he could hire a shop, however small, for the purpose. From their facts, I hope it will be apparent that under the present system, "a wholesome competition to reduce and regulate prices does exist."
Any direct interference on the part of the Government with the Markets, with the Salt Weighing, or other branch of the Revenue, I strongly deprecate; for the Government would not only lose at least one of its revenue, but it would be constantly brought, by the instruments it would be compelled to employ, into immediate, constant, and most odious collision with the Chinese inhabitants, which would, I am satisfied, do more to throw discredit on the local Government than any act that it could possibly commit.
I do not clearly understand why Mr. Strachan is introduced, or what that instance is intended to elucidate; but it appears somewhat singular that Mr. Strachan should propose to build a Market at all, as by the terms of his lease for the land on which he intended to erect the Markets, it is particularly stipulated, as it is in all other Leases, that "inter alia," a Market shall be constructed...
Mr. Campbell appears, in conclusion, to consider that there is no desire to render the Chinese as independent as possible of all interference on the part of Government Officers, no Office for the...