general convenience of trade. The Governor cannot therefore appreciate the reasons of a reluctance in any quarter to secure here and elsewhere a mere details of similar improvement in conducting the business, because if such an improvement would really make this place "the great Emporium of the East," it seems to follow that withholding it could only operate to the disadvantage of trade generally by preventing its natural growth in the manner and in the direction where otherwise it would develop itself. That development would probably be in this direction if not kept back by restrictions which in the gross must injure Chinese interests though in detail they may appear for a brief period adverse to the interests of a few local Monopolies.
It seems and of Ports like Canton which are deficient in natural advantages. Sir Rutherford Alcock's observation therefore practically intended to suggest that Canton's inherent disadvantages should be compensated by impeding...