228 7
damaging directly the trade of other Foreign Powerò; of course, indirect
damage
is inevitable
from
the
present critical state of affairs,
and the prolonged tension and
5.
neertainty in commercial matters.
The Viceroy of Canton
has already issued a notification
that all Frenchmen must leave
are not
many
his province. They in number, and will probably take refuge at Hongkong from.
Canton and the other Ports. The
"Pearl" or Canton river has for
some
some months past, been
so
strongly blocked (as I reported
time ago)
1as to be practically
as
some time inaccessible to a hostile squadron
English, German, and American gunboats are protecting the European settlements at Canton and the other Treaty, Ports.
6.
may
take this
opportunity of mentioning that there is much speculation here
respecting the resent announcement:
that the Russian
quadron in
waters of China will be
re-inforced
the