183
that he had made the Census on a
stricter and more
befined system.
intimate
Indging from very revsonal bservation I should guess that the number of the people was neither greater
nor less, and at rate no conclusion can be
any
drawn
from
the
seeming numerical
reficiency of the present Census
prejudicial to the Colony
It is in fact a matter highest congratulation to this
of
the
Government that while trade at other ports on the China Coast during the part
has been notoriously year unsatisfaction that of the British Colony has had
an even and
successful flow.
In the last mouth of the year. (December) a petition for certain festival privileges, presented to "the Government by the (reative) body of Compradors and head-business- men, contained these words:-
"Houghong is at this time
"krosperous land, which is
a
owing " indeed to the rower and virtues of
"Great Britain - Plenty abound and "the people
are
thriving taking pleasure " in their business, while they live "in security - all this arises from "your happy protection."
I may be pardoned for saying that Sir Stercules Robinson has
284
as