off from Chusan, had we chosen that beautiful island instead of this barren rock — for the following reasons has to be given.
And there.— how far would the Chinese trade be benefited by bringing the Hongkong (or Chusan) or the English trader by encouraging him to do so? It is plain enough that the produce of China could not possibly be laid down at Chusan (or Chusan) without being enhanced by a heavy junk's freight, and in courting all the sea-risk and pirate risk of an unprotected voyage — equally obnoxious on the passage homeward. The fact that the native trader must encounter these risks, will for ever prevent him from sending his junk to Hongkong (or Chusan) freighted with any of his more valuable produce, as long as he finds a buyer at his own doors, who lays down the exchange stuffs for him in safety).
On the other hand this fact that the produce of China laid-down at Hongkong (or Chusan) becomes enhanced in cost beyond the figure at which it could be bought at the doors of the districts in which it was grown, have ever prevented our own merchants from fostering such a trade in either settlement — Yet such was equally the position of things within the last eight years, while Sir Henry Pottinger was dwelling upon the great Export trade of eastern Asia, while Sir John Davis was assuring us that our settlement must speedily supersede Canton – Sir John Davis must have founded his opinion that Hongkong was destined to supersede Canton on the grounds that the trade must one day be driven down to it by the force of some crisis at the City - at least these are the strongest grounds on which he...