the trade at once became direct with China. Our Ships go naturally to the accessible points of supply and demand, and to those the native naturally brings his produce.
Our Ships have no inducement to wait at Hongkong instead of proceeding to the Ports for their cargo, any more than United States Merchant men have at Scilly or the Isle of Wight, when Liverpool is their destination.
When Sir J. Davis declared in 1841 that Hongkong would supersede Canton, he probably counteracted the influence of our long insecurity of position at that City; but the active and passive influence of the Americans was overlooked. They dwell with all Classes of Chinese on terms of distinctness from us, and are open to them; while the natives of Canton are hesitant to expose their precious cargoes in their own craft to the risk of pirates; their value being considerably enhanced to the purchaser by the heavy junk freight to be added to it.
No native trader, in short, who can find a dealer at his own door would ever encounter the various risks to be run in coming to the Colony; and this remark applies to Chusan or any settlement we might possess.
Hongkong is socially, politically, and commercially ...
Meantime, the necessities of trade oblige us to be wherever they are, and in the last few years much of our trade has passed into their hands. At this moment it is our interest to draw trade from Canton hither; but they choose to support Canton, they force us to support it, against the interest of the Colony. This shews the necessity of weighing well the disturbing effect of American jealousy or interest on any arrangement which may be made.
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