CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2] — Page 293

the

population, chiefly native, the transfer

part of the coasting trade from Pints of Marcos

"Mazas and Canton, which is greatly assisted by the Steamers

running from

hence. Further the circumstance of this being the place from whence pass and where arrive the migrant Ships for and from Australia, California, Havanna, &c., and the large shipments of goods to those places on Chinese and other account. It is therefore much to be

regretted that the unreasonable and unjustifiable measures adopted

both in California and Australia have, for the present, greatly diminished immigration and, consequently, trade thither. In California, one may judge by the papers,

there is no doubt, they will see their errors, and

soon the laws impairing

288

erroneous

theory torpes on Chinese will be repealed. The law passed in Melbourne, which received the Royal Assent, created general surprise here, the more so because, (to say nothing of the erroneous opinions which have been industriously circulated in the Colony of Victoria by either ignorant or designing persons)—it is supposed to be contrary to the spirit of existing Treaties with China: Whilst no diplomatic authorities employ all their weight and ingenuity to dissuade from using the privilege of interfering with the interior of this vast Empire, a British Colony, instead of setting a good example, affords the Chinese Authorities the very opportunity (although they may never avail themselves of it), of resisting the efforts of Government by "referring to this identical legislation !

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