he could have founded it
I offer Your Excellency the
following reason
why
the
be pealged.
idea never
Can'
It has always been the studious policy of the Americans in China to exhibit themselves to the Chinese Government and people as a perfectly independent and commanding nation—in no one end or interest connected with the British, but forming in themselves great Western Tower which centuries ago threw off our yoke in the open field. Your Excellency can hardly fail to be aware with what earnestness and perseverance these notions have been impressed upon the Chinese mind—upon every grade from the High Commissioner down to the patient of the American hospitals. You must have observed how studiously they hold themselves aloof from all possible connexion with us—their Minister resides at Macao—their ships of war resort to its waters as their proper roadstead;
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their people frequent it as a sort of league of their own in China—and nothing is left undone to impress this Government with the conviction that the Americans have no one interest in common with the British in China. It follows as a matter of course that they will never settle at Hongkong. They clove Canton for old associations sake—for the splendid fortunes there made by their citizens—and will studiously uphold it as the Centre of their trade in the south of China. Now I need not remind Your Excellency that the necessities of the trade are such, that where the Americans are, there we must be also; and that we cannot afford to give them one inch of vantage in the keen competition that exists between us. It is surprising how much of the English business has passed into their hands of late.