Enclosure
(1.) A article stated to be contributed by a long resident Englishman in Hong Kong.
Englishmen ought to give to every people their due. They have not done this in the case of France, whose rightful claims have been overlooked. Englishmen appear to be unwilling to accept as sincere flattery the imitation of their policy by the French. Yet France has done almost as much in twenty-five years for Saigon as England has done in forty-two years for Hongkong.
The original conditions in either case were most unpromising. Neither in Hongkong nor in Saigon was there any trade or shipping; now the trade is counted by millions of pounds sterling, and the shipping by millions of tons. Saigon is a marvel of French colonial enterprise and success. Its roads and streets are well laid out and cleanly kept. It has shady groves, well-constructed houses, and excellent facilities for landing and shipping cargo.
The population has largely increased and an enormous trade has been developed in the grand China staple, namely, rice, which is there equivalent to corn in England. China, although capable of growing enough food for its people, is, owing to the absence of railways and, indeed, of all but the most primitive means of communication, absolutely dependent upon outside supplies by which the enormous loss of life from starvation from periodically occurring famines in portions of the Empire is in some measure lessened.
Saigon is the largest exporter of this grain, and only of late years, by the great addition to the mercantile steam fleet in Chinese waters, has it been rendered possible to convey the enormous supplies constantly coming to market for transhipment to China. No complaints are heard of the way in which this trade has been carried on, nor of the infliction of any unreasonable dues.
The trade is, moreover, not in French hands, but almost entirely in those of the Chinese settlers in Saigon, who are the agents of the Hongkong houses. There is, therefore, ground for hope that the French may in the future, as they have done in the past, conduct the growing trade of Cochin-China for the benefit of commerce.
The China trade has been greatly facilitated by the admirably managed steam fleet of the Messageries Maritimes Company, whose boats make as good time, and possess accommodations equal to those of any other steamers. This company at the outset had to contend with very great difficulties; nor did it appear for many years that there was room for two powerful mail lines between Europe and China.
The great expansion of trade, however, has abundantly justified the French Government in the attempt to firmly establish their own independent line. Many continental travellers take passage by the old and popular Peninsular and Oriental Company, which has lately made several magnificent additions to its fleet, and many English also travel by the Messageries Maritimes, the two companies rivalling with one another in friendly emulation for the public comfort and convenience.
The French have also done a very great work in the suppression of the pirates by whom the Chinese seas and coast were formerly infested. Such attacks as were formerly of constant occurrence are now hardly ever heard of, and it is to the French especially that we are indebted for this freedom from a state of things which was a terror to traders of all nationalities.
The French, by their severe and determined action, have accomplished that which probably would never have been done in any other way, and which the English, without their aid, would have failed to achieve. Owing to the fortunate occurrences at Madagascar in connection with Mr. Shaw and the intemperate writing of M. Lemoinne, we are in danger of forgetting all the great and noble work which has been done in the East by French missionaries.
Those only who are personally acquainted with the self-denying lives...
net
Enclosu
Carticle stated to be contrib
(1.) long resi
190
Englishmen ought to give to every people
their due. They have not done this in the case of France, whose rightful olaims have been over- looked. Englishmen appear to be unwilling to accept as siucere flattery the imitation of their policy by the French. Yet France has done al- most as much in twenty-five years for Saigon as England bas dons in forty-two years for Hong- kong. The original conditions in either case were most unpromising. Noither in Hongkong nor in Saigon was there any trade or shipping; now the trade is counted by millions of pounds sterling, and the shipping by millions of tons. Saigon is a marvel of French colonial enterprise and success. Its roads and streets are well laid out and cleanly kept. It has shady groves, well constructed houses, and excellent facilities for landing and shipping cargo. The population has largely increased and an enormous trade has been developed in the grand China staple, name- ly, rice, which is there equivalent to oorn in England. China, although capable of growing enough food for its people is, owing to the sb. sence of railways and, indeed of all but the most primitive means of communication, absolutely dependent upon outside supplies by which the enormous loss of life from starvation from perio dically occurring famines in portions of the Em- pire is in some measure lessened. Saigon is the largest exporter of this grain, and only of late years, by the great addition to the mercantile steam fleet in Chinese waters, has it been ren- dered possible to convey the enormous supplies constantly coming to market for transhipment to China. No complaints are heard of the way- lin which this trade has been carried on, ner
of the infliction of any unreasonable dums.
'The trade is, moreover, not in French bands, but al- most entirely in those of the Chinese settlers in Saigon, who are the agents of the Hongkong bonses. There is, therefore, ground for hope that the Fronob may in the fature, as they have done in the past, conduct the growing trade oľ Cochin-China for the beusfit of commerce.
The China trade has been greatly facilitated by the admirably mausged steam flest of the Massageries Maritimes Company, whose boats ¦ make as good time, and possess accommodations; equal to those of any other stomers. This com-| pany at the outset hai to contend with very groat difficulties; nor did it appear for mary years that there was room for two powarfa! mail; linos between Europe and China. The great es. pansion of trade, however, has abandantly justified the French Government in the attempt to firmly establish their own independent line. Many continental travellers tako passage by the old and popular Peninsular and Oriental Com-1 pany, which has lately madə several magnificent additions to its fleet, and many English also travel by the Messageries Maritimes, the two. companíss ateiving with one another in friendly emulation for the public comfort and convenience.. The Freneb have also done a very great work in the suppression of the pirates by whom the Chinese seas and coast were formerly infested. Such attacks as were formerly of constant oo- currence are now hardly ever heard of, and it is. to the French especially that we are indebted i for this freedom from a state of things which was a terror to traders of all nationalities. The French, by their severe and determined action, hare accomplished that which probably would never have been done in any other way, and which the English, without their aid, would have failed to achieve. Owing to the fortunate occurrences at Madagascar in con- nection with Mr. Shaw and the intemperate writing of M. Lemoinne we are in danger of forgetting all the great and noble work which has been done in the East by French missionaries. Those only who are per- sonally acquainted with the self-denying livos
un-
kome
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