|| August 29, 1895.)
they have given and are giving ample evidence that they are capable of rapidly rising in civiliza- tion without having been brought under alien rule.
As an illustration, in itself, of both the rude. ness and the crudeness of the writer I may quote
the following, and to provent any misapprehen- sion as to my mind being biassed I may be allowed to say that I have never myself nor have any of my relations ever been in Chinese Government or private employ
We will most emphatically call attention to the artomaly of the civilized white man accepting the money and placing himself under the commands of a people of so low a type. It has always struck us as strange that anyone should put himself under the orders of a savage and then plame himself on his "position." If we think of what that position means, how the very bread he eats and the clothes he wears are provided out of the taxes taken from the Chinese people by their grasping officials, if we think of how low in the scale of humanity the Chinese really are, of their daily habits and unclean ways, we must feel convinced that no European who respects himself and who has taken the trouble to think out the true nature of the relationship into which he is entering, would for a moment tolerate the idea of thus selling the birthright bequeathed to him in trust by the united results of the efforts of all his forefathers.
unnecessary.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE LOSS OF THE "SOOCHOW."
COURT OF INQUILY.
A Court of Inquiry was held at Shanghai on the 20th inst. into the circumstances attending the loss of the British steamer Soochow, of London, No. 91,885, which struck one mile south of the North-east Promontory, in Shantung Province, on or about the 12th of August, 1895.
167
THE CHINESE CUSToms revenue.
The following table shows the revenue of the Imperial Maritime Customs at the various ports for the April-June quarter, 1895, and the cor- responding quarter of 1894:
1894. 180,103 119,073 Tis.
Nowohwang... Tls. Chefoo Chungking
1895
112304
45,406
46,250
Ichang
45,459
69,830
Hankow
638,994
725,433
Kiukiang
418,471
481,979
Wuhu
213,225
94,275
Chinkiang
205,511
439,149
Shanghai
1,918,950
1,346,785
Ningpo....
257,187
258,276
Wenchow......
27,374
33,424
Foochow
397,453
440,806
Tamsui...
191,959
151,152
118,307
99,520 *
188,030
154,249
349,277
297,066
Canton......
401,935
415.175
Kinngchow.
26,221
22,725
33,084
38,639
104,954
124,350
113,465
82,962
976
1,167
18,060
26,587
6,045,474
5,462,303
!.
Tainan Amoy Swatow
Pakhoi Kowloon Lappa Lungchow Mengtsz
Total...
The following was the finding of the Court:→ Finding and order of a Naval Court held at H.B.M.'s Consulate-General, Shanghai, on the 20th day of August, 1895. t› investigate the cir cumstances attending the loss of the British steamship Soochow, of London, official No. 91,85 which occurred on the N.E. Promontory, Shan- tun Province, on the 12th day of August, 1895.
It appears from the evidence given before the Court that the Soochow was a screw steamship owned by the China Navigation Company of London. She had fire compasses, one standard on the upper bridge, one steering on the upper bridge, one in the wheelhouse, and two in re- serve. She was under the command of Mr. John Richard Cooke, who holds a certificate as master, I have not time to reply to this or to show how and had a crew of 36 hands, together with a com. little bearing it has on his case for the dismem-pradore's staff of 17. Her draught of water berment of China, but I conceive that that is forward was 18ft. 3in., aud 19ft. 2in. aft.
She left Chinkiang on the 9th August at 11 p.m. with a cargo of wheat and rice bound for Taku Bar. On the 12th of August at 2 a.m. the weather became foggy and the engines were put at half-speed. Thence forward frequent sound- ings were taken and speed and course duly altered in accordance with the state of the weather. At 11.15 a.m breakers were sighted,
The era of industrial progress in Shanghai has the helm was put hard-a-port, and the engines now fairly set in. Two large cotton spinning full speed astern. A minute or two afterwards manufactories have been fairly floated and a she took the rocks, striking them abreast the fore third will follow in duo succession in the coarse mast, subsequently, at 5.20 p.m., slipping off and of a few days. A fourth and fifth are well under sinking in 13 fathoms.
and now we hear that a Parsee house,,
stances above stated, finds as follows:-
The Court, having regard to the circum-doing a large business in Shanghai|| and Japan, is about to follow suit. The Japanese (1) That the master appears to have navi-are also in the field, and three experts in gated his vessel in a careful manner and to have cotton manufacture, or Commissioners, as the taken proper precautions to enable the ship to Japanese call them, have arrived in Shanghai in pass at a safe distance off the land.
the past couple of days. They are Mr. Wads and (2)-That the fact of the vessel going ashore
Mr.
Hashi, representing the Mitsui Busan is to be attributed to the influence of a strong Kaisha, and a third gentleman, whose name north-westerly current, which under the circum-we have forgotten, representing the Tokyo stances one would not expect to find,
Cotton Spinning Association. We believe it is the intention of the Cotton Spin- ning Union of Osaka to start a large mill here, in conjunction with the Mitsui Bassa Kaisha, and probably another Japanese-managed
I might point out how our author in one place asks, "Shall we rest content with chipping off small bits now and again which chippings are of so delicate a nitare as to affect in no way whatever the surrounding portions of the mass, much less its centre and remote sides ?" and concludes by saying "nearly all the limbs are now severed; but such criticism might appear captions.
It is not to be understood that I wish to argue against the dismemberment of China or of the country in part or whole being undertaken by Great Britain (and) or other European Powers, but I think that the article-able and in most parts true though it is-has failed to prove that regeneration from within is impossible. I came to China before the Taiping rebellion was finished and lived at the time in Shanghai in the district where it made its last stand, and I am convinced, as many others were, that had we not supported the rotten Peking Government, China would by this time have been an entirely different country and would decades ago have been opened throughout its length and breadth to foreign enterprise, and, although I do not contend that in itself would have materially altered the character of the people. China would probably by this time have been entirely a Christian country. By merely undertaking to leave them alone we could have made any conditions that we liked.
Let our author think of the condition of the people of Europe in the Middle Ages and ask himself if they were in many respects much better-aye, if they were not in some much worse than the Chiness of the present day. Had there been then a nation as civilized as we are now there would doubtless have been found in it men who would have argued as the writer of the article under notice does. For fifty years and more there have been hundreds of thousands of Chinese entirely under British rule in the Straits Settlements. Is the moral character of the Chinese there any better than that of similar classes in China itself? I trow not. I know that any merchant who has had experience will tell you that in regard to commercial morality he would place the Chinese of Shanghai or Hongkong far higher than those of the Straits. Our author tells us truly that it is the character of the people that is at fault, and while he describes that character as being base in the extreme he brings forward no proof that his panacea government from without would effect much of a change.Yours faithfully,
Hongkong, 26th August, 1895.
W
From Newchwang it is reported, says the N. C. Daily News, that owing to the serious famine now raging in Manchuria the Chinese authorities are distributing charity in all the districts east of North Kinchow, and even the territory still occupied by Japanese troops, no opposition be- ing offered by the latter to the good work. The assistance given is 1,440 cash to each adult suf- fører and half that amount to children under twelve
years
of age.
(3)-That the officers and drew appear to to have conducted themselves in a proper manner.
(4)-That every attention and courtesy was shown by the Chinese residents in the neighbour- hood of the spot to the shipwrecked crew where the ship struck.
MANUFACTURING ENTERPRIZE
way,
AT SHANGHAI.
concern of a similar nature will be soon in the field. Frequenters of the Country Club are (5)That the Court desires especially to direct anything but pleased at the prospect of in- attention to the fact that the syren attached to dustrial energy extending in the direction of the N. E. Promoutory lighthouse would
the Bubbling Well Road, for land has been in foggy weather to be absolutely inaudible. purchased and arrangements made for the seeing that the Soochow was within a two-mila establishment of a silk filature on a large scale radius of the lighthouse for at least twenty right opposite the Club.-China Gazette. minutes without hearing any sound.
appear
are approved.
The expenses of the Court fixed at £5 3s,
Dated at Shanghai, this 20th day of August, 1895. (Signed)
J. W. JAMIESON, President of Naval Court,
Acting Vice-Consul.
E. F. TADBOT,
:
THE AMERICAN MINISTER AND THE CHENGIU COMMISSION.
The following telegram has been forwarded by the American Minister to the Shanghai papers:-
"Peking, 17th August, 10,7 a.m. "I did consent that the British Consul
C. C. HAMRITO, Master P... Members. shouldprosent American interests at Chongtu.
steamer Rohilla.
addressing Captain Cooke said I have much At the close of the proceedings the President pleasure, Captain Cooke, in handing back your certificate, along with those of your officers.
writes:-A new Korean Post Offico was inau
The Chemulpo correspondent of the Mercury gurated here on the 1st of the 6th moon. What will be the fate of this project? The first Post Office was started by Korea on the 18th June, 1884, and lasted 168 days only to Decomber 3rd -the memorable day on which the attempt was made to kill Prince Min Yung-ik and overthrow the then existing government. This attempt did in fact succeed, but only lasted a few days. This was another Japanese scheme. Kim Ok Kain, the leader, dead, but Pak is still alive, though he had recently to leave in double quick time to save his hea1. Well, we all wish the new venture better success. The stamps are four in number of 5, 10, 25, and 50 poon, or, roughly, 1, 2, 5, and 10 cents,
I withdrew from the proposed Commission three graph Consul General Jamieson that Acting. weeks ago. Sir Nicholas O'Conor did not tele- Consul Tratman would represent American interests at Chongin. The announcement was a mistake.
..
DENBY."
on reference to the reply of Sir Nicholas O'Conor The N. C. Daily Newe says:It will be soon
to the China Association that the announcement that Mr. Tratman would represent American. interests does not form part of the British Minister's telegram. It was mentioned in a previous despatch to Mr. Jamieson, the gist of which the telegram gave Mr. Jamieson permis- sion to make known, and at that time Mr.Jamie- son had not been informed that Colonel Denby bad withdrawn from the Commission.
The Mercury's explanation is as follows 200 The above telegram
bears reference to the despatch handed to the China Association on the 6th inst. by Mr. George Jamieson, the British Consul-General, in which it was stated that —“ I am to add that the Chengtu
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