Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 501

1830.

Journal of Occurrences.

163

ready to hand. Its typographical appearance is creditable, and we have no doubt the foreign community at Shanghái will support the efforts of the editor to make known the capabilities of that port and region. We quote what he says on the port of Shanghái :—

Shanghai is most admirably chosen as the principal seat of commerce for the North, the West, and the whole interior of the empire; the Yang-tsz' kinng, the noblest river of the world, which traverses the centre of the kingdom (intersecting three of its largest provinces) and which communicates with that other splendid river the Hwang ho (Yellow river) by means of the Grand Canal is the main river into which the Shanghai river falls one tide brings ships of the largest burden from the ocean into harbor, and above thirty sail of European ships sometimes ride at anchor before this new and important mart, the centre of civilization of the Middle Kingdom, and the only seat of perfectly free com- merce with other nations.

Shanghai, by its excellent central position, as regards the coast line, must by its con- nection with all the principal watercourses of the country command its inland trade throughout the length and breadth of the land; it is therefore most desirable that the British Government should exert her influence at the Court of Peking, to extend the facilities of trade with the interior-to do away with the pernicious interference of local authorities, and to establish our commercial relations on such a firm basis, that the en- terprise and integrity of British and foreign merchants may have a fair and open field for their exertions, and become the promise of a far wider spread of civilization-refine- ment, science, arts and true religion, than has ever yet obtained in China since it became an empire.

It is evident, that our merchants require greater opportunities to carry out their specu- lations. They require access to the first markets; the vast plains watered by the two great rivers of China, and their numerous tributaries offer ready communication with every province, and once our merchants can obtain secure footing upon their great trunk lines of inland trade; we shall obtain ample scope for the pent up energies of our capital- ists, and place them in such a position, as must yield vast sources of wealth to all who embark with well considered zeal upon the new routes laid open to them.

Some may be disposed to inquire how the "influence of the British govern- ment at the court of Peking" is wanted "to do away with the pernicious in- terference of local authorities" at the "only seat in China of perfectly free commerce with other nations," but we let this incongruity pas, to remark that there is a tone running through the two leaders of the Herald which we do not think pleasing. Previous authors on China, we are told, have "ob- structed the path leading to an accurate knowledge of China and the Chi- nese," and expectation is thus raised to see how far the editor will remove the "malignant inventions" of one, and correct the " ill-digested statements" of another. He is rather free, too, with accusations against the Chinese go- vernment, which is charged "with the gravest criminality in daily and hour- ly violating the letter and spirit of the main provisions of our treaty with them, even to the utter extinction of all hopes of the further extension of the recognized import trade of Great Britain." We think the opium trade and its results should have been brought to mind before writing this and a few like passages, and then the expectations held out as likely to result to China from foreign merchants having "access to first markets," and carrying their goods everywhere throughout its provinces would have been moderated. Commerce alone is too selfish ever to carry many benefits in its train, and the people of this land think they have already suffered much from foreign traders, and may yet suffer more. We commend the enterprise exhibited in publishing the Herald, and hope it may fulfill all the promises made in its Ad- dress. We introduce two or three extracts from the number before us.

Port of Shanghii. It is every way important for the best interests of Shanghái, that an early effort should be made to redeem the reputation of the port from the alleged difficulty of its approach, seaward. We hope soine of our nautical readers will favor us with a note of the requirements necessary to render the Yangtsz' kiang navigable to Wusung with safety, from going on shore. But for the apprehensions entertained of our river, it is nearly certain that we should have many of the American whalers, which navigate the contiguous seas paying us a visit for supplies. And now that the navigation laws are abolished, it would seem a more economical mode to re-ship the oil here to Europe or America, and then return to their cruizing grounds; the principal

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