38
port,
advantages offered by a free
the Colony
Colony would have less thriving condition. This will be evident from a comparison of what it is now with what it was prior to the outbreak of previous hostilities at Canton in 1856, which contributed to the Colony's prosperity, which the Chinese Authorities doubtless view with a feeling of jealousy. Hence their attempt to ingeniously intercept the trade of the Colony,
and
Your Excellency's knowledge and experience of the character of the Chinese, will bear out that statement, they will strain every nerve to evade payment of full duties on any article of merchandise, more especially on such as are comparatively valuable and heavily taxed like Opium. We confess we are unable to see that there will be any great, if there be any impediment in their way to do so, if the native authorities introduce measures, which have a tendency to cripple rather than to encourage