14f
15
162
interests.
8.
The Opium Ordinance has fortunately tended in an opposite direction and will make us all the better friends with China if carried out in perfect good faith, I think I can assure you that this is being done.
9.
As you know, I have asked our Minister at Peking whether it would not be possible to induce the Chinese Government to revise the tariff of 1858 so as to include lekin and all other dues and not press hardly on the trade in any particular article. By an equitable distribution of duty, there need be no loss whatever to China; on the contrary, she would probably be the gainer, whilst our Merchants would know for certain the price at which an article reaches the consumer and be spared many heavy losses. An attempt is, I hear, being made...