Foreign Merchants. These consist of British, American, French, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, and Portuguese, with Farsee and Indian Mohammedan British subjects. The Americans, French, and Dutch have each consular agents recognised by the Imperial government. The same privileges have been, or are to be, conceded to all foreigners that have been granted to the English. Rates of Commission in China, agreed upon in November, 1831, and revised by the Chamber of Commerce, March, 1838. 21 ditto. 13. On guaranteeing sales when especially required without including responsibility for remittances 14. On guaranteeing both sales and remittance of proceeds 15. On bills of exchange, returned noted, or protested 2 ditto. 16. On letters of credit for mercantile purposes 20. On procuring freight, or advertising as commission. 28. Acting for the estates of persons deceased, 29. The management of the estates of others, 30. All cash receipts, not serving for the pur- 31. Shroffing 33. All advances not punctually liqu'dated, the 31. At the option of the agent, on the amount N. B. This charge not to be applied to ditto. - I ditto. 1 d.tto. Port Charges are fixed under the new treaty at 5 mace per register ton, in full of all charges; so that the complex systein that previously chtained for charging those duties is now, in so far at least as British ships are concerned, at an end. Vessels importing rice or other grain into any of the five ports open to British vessels, are fiable to no charges whatever; but it they take away an export cargo, they then have to pay the duties on such cargo agreeably to the tariff, and one molety of the tonnage dues, or 2 mace per ton. Trade between England and China. - Down to 1834, the trade between the United Kingdom and China was monopolised by the East India Company, but in the above year this monopoly was happily abolished, and the trade with China thrown open to all classes under the conditions specified in the act 3 & 4 W. 4. c. 93. Tea has always been by far the principal article of import from China; and it is mainly owing to the diffusion of the taste for it, and its consumption by all ranks and orders of the people, that the trade with China has attained its present importance: and, as already seen, we believe we must principally look to the increased consumption of tea that would, no doubt, follow the effectual reduction of the exorbitant duties with which it is at present loaded, for the future increase of the trade. The other articles of import are raw silk and silk manufactures, nankeens, cassia lignea, and a few other articles; but they are of very inferior value and importance as compared with tea. The great articles of export from this country to China consist of cotton stuffs and yarn, woollen goods, linen, &c., earthenware, iron and steel, &c. Bullion used to be largely exported to China; but latterly the current has begun to set in the opposite direction. Previously to the abolition of the monopoly, in 1834, the real value of the merchandise annually exported from the U. Kingdom to China did not exceed 600.000l.; whereas it had increased in 1836 to 1,326,3881; and though it fell off in 1837 to 678,375l., it rose in 1838 to 1,204,3561. The interruption of the regular trade, by the disturbances and hostilities that afterwards ensued, prevents any accurate conclusions in regard to its probable future amount being deduced from the returns for 1839, 1840, and 1841. But in 1842, the exports from the U. Kingdom to China amounted to 969,3811; in 1843 they were 1,456,1804; and in 1845 they rose to the unprecedented amount of 2,394,8277. ! And great as this amount may seem, most probably it would, at no distant period, be very much increased but for the difficulty the Chinese experience in making returns; a difficulty which would, however, be very materially diminished were the duty on bohea reduced, as it should be, to 6d. or 8d. per lb., and that on other teas in the same proportion. The act 6 & 7 Victoria, cap 80., anthorises the superintendent of the trade of her Majesty's subjects in China, being at the same time governor of Hong Kong, to issue, with the advice of the legislative council of the Island, laws and ordinances for the government of British subjects in China, or within 100 miles of the same. Laws and ordinances so issued are to be laid before parliament. Account of the Quantities of Tea imported into the United Kingdom direct from China, in each Year from 1793 to 1845, both inclusive. Account of the Quantities of Raw Silk, Nankeen Cloth, Silk Manufactures, Cassia Lignea, and other Articles of Chinese Produce, imported into the United Kingdom, in each Year from 1830 down to 1845, both inclusive. An Account of the Number of Merchant Ships, specifying the Amount of their Tonnage, and the Number of their Crews, that have cleared out from the different Ports of the United Kingdom for China, and entered inwards for the same, during each of the last Thirteen Years. Account of the declared Value of the principal articles of British Produce and Manufacture exported from the United Kingdom to China during each of the Six Years ending with 1845. Detailed Account of the legalised Import and Export Trade carried on in British Vessels at Canton during the Year ended 31st December, 1845. ceros not enumerated or de Horns, buffalo and bullock - picuis Horns, unicorn and rhino Mother of pearl shells Metals, copper in rods, Sugar Candy 42,614 319,127 value $1,355 4,355 Trunks of leather nests 262 1,195 Vermilion 5,670 28,946 sheets, &c. . Metals, tin in blocks Pepper. 2 225 4,865 Petchuck Rattans Rice Rose Maloes Saltpetre Shark fins Skins and furs, viz. : Ox hides, land otter Hare, rabbit, beaver, and} 902 9,381 26.867 40 4,066 21,635 9,082 9.052 53,120 No. Racoon 2,675 1,136 120,861 III. MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS, AND ARTICI ES NOT ENUMERATED IN THE TARIFF. Including bees' wax, cochineal," capoor cutchery, curiosities and fancy articles, ready-made clothes, drums, dragon's blood, artificial flowers, glass pictures, hats and caps, glue, incense sticks, China indigo, galls, gamboge, hemp, China ink, lanterns, lead white and red, mace, marble slabs, mirrors, paintings in oil, pictures on rice paper, pearls factitious, shoes, women's, silversmith's work, smalts, China tinfoil, turmeric, umbrellas, silk, &c. carpets, cloves, coals, coral rough, and coral beads, corks, cornelians, and cornelian beads,cudbear, furniture, glass (broken), goat skins, gold and silver thread, guano, paper and stationery, pearls and precious stones, provisions, raisins, snuff, timber, tobacco, wearing apparel, and a number of small articles belonging to the trade of India IV. TREASURE N.B. The above returns have been compiled from entries in the hooks kept in the consulate of Canton, and the quantities specined are those that have paid duty. The weights and ineasures stated are those in use at Canton. 1 catty is equal to 13 pound avoirdupois, and 100 catties correspond with 1334 lbs.) In England. I chang is 4 English yards nearly. The value given has been computed upon the average prices of the year in the Canton market. The Spanish dollars have been reduced to sterling at the rate of 44. 4d. per dollar. The above merchandize was imported into the Port of Canton in 155 British vessels of 78,823 tons burthen, and in 60 Houg Kong lorchas of 3,508 tons burthen. A Return of the Number and Tonnage of Merchant Vessels which arrived at, and departed from, the Port of Canton during the Year ending the 31st December, 1845, distinguishing the Countries to which they belonged. An Account of the Quantities of Tea imported into the United Kingdom during each of the 14 Years ending with 1846 specifying the Quantities re-exported, the Quantities annually entered for Home Consumption, the Rates of Duty, and the annual Produce of the Duties. Account of the Imports of the different Sorts of Opium into China from 1816-17 to 1837-38, both inclusive. 4,172 1,204 1830-1831 6,660 967 603.800 3,680 3,904,250 | 1,000 6.0 610,000 700 625 437,500 200 975 195,000 30 1.525 45.750 500 1,025 512,500 226 1,270 287,080 No account has been kept of Turkey opium during these years. 1819-1820 2,970 1,235 1820-1821 3,050 1,900 1821-1822 2,910 2,075 1822-1823 1,822 1,552 1823-1824 2,910 1,60) 1824-1825 2.655 1.175 1825-1826 3,442 913 1826-1827 3,661 1,002 1827-1828 5,114 1828-1829 5,961 1829-1830 7.143 2,828 930 4,656,000 3,119,625 6,000 3,141,755 6,179 3,668,565 6,308 998 5,105,073 4,361 940 5,604,235 7,171 858 5,149,577 6.837 869 5,789,794 12,100 1831-1832 5.672 5,484,340 7,831 1832-1833 8,167 792 6,551,059 15,403 1833-1834 8,672 639 5,545,845 11,114 1834-1835 7,767 572 4,431.845 8.747 1835-1836 6,173 696 4,292,900 10,612 1836-1837 8,078 724 5,348,236 13.430 1837-1838 6,165 633 3.903.129 13,875 503 6.950,028 20,040 10.883,157 Opium, which is by far the most important and valuable of all the articles imported into China, is excluded from the Table of Imports (next page), which comprises those articles only that are legally admissible. Although, however, it be nominally excluded, opium is openly, systematically, and easily introduced; the trade in it being, in fact, as safe and as regular as that in any other commodity, while it is incomparably more extensive. The table above exhibits a detailed account of its importation into China from 1816-17 to 1837-38. We regret we have no means of continuing it down to the present time; but the imports have since continued rapidly to increase; so much so, that we are assured by Mr. M.Gregor, the very intelligent consul at Canton Description of Commodities. CANTON. that the imports of opium in 1845 amounted to 38,000 chests, worth 23,000,000 dollars! being little short of double the value of all the other articles of import put together! (Returns of Trade of China in 1845, p. 40.) A General View of the (legalised) Import Trade from Foreign Countries, at the Port of Canton, during the Year 1815, specifying the Description and Quantities of Commodities Imported, as well as their estimated Value, and distinguishing the Nations to which the Ships belonged in which they were imported, viz. : Quantities, and in what ships imported. Quan Aggreported. tities i Estimated at 4 4d. Biche de mar 420 4,896 5,289 132,828 Birds' nests, edible 775 25,651 20,5511 232,676 Clocks, waiches, &c. va ue 28,546 6,564 35,110 35,110 Cochineal -catties 1,680 6,312 Cotton piculs 1,283 13,631 180 Cottons, plain pieces 846,147 338,286) 16,118 5,316 580,544 5,192,439 54,955 1,255,506 3,462,169 twilled 3,020 132,937 4,740 137,677 420,911 cambrics and muslins 2,427 printed and dyed 23,426 350 2,427 27,283 7,274 69,672 handkerchiefs 1,239 210 105 15,680 33.168 -not enumerated value 19,030 50,784 11,326 84,224 84,224 Cotton yarn, and thread picula 20,446 1,785 44 25 1,031 23,331 400,961) Earthenware value 1,810 125 1,965 1,965 Elephants' teeth cattles 15,271 16,723 Fish maws piculs 1,696 136 1,-32 82,035 Flints 15,411 19,927 9,204 Glass and glass wares 3,812 576 3,280 11,625 11,625 Ginseng piculs 216 2,286 2,532 155,549 Gum olibanum 4,089 4,089 23,645 -myrrh and other gums value! 4,407 4,407 4,407 Horns, buffalo and bullock piculs 45 45 1,195 rhinoceros 54 10 64 3,260 Mother-of-pearl shells Metals, copper wrought 419 1,545 12,879 2 674 1,606 36,957 tron ditto. 24,083 4,375 3 630 8401 29,931 74,952 steel 7 290 20 317 1,270 tin in blocks 225 225 4,056 lead in pigs 716 106,407 spelter 1,836 1, 36 11,475 tin plates Pepper Rice and paddy 1,239 8,692 piculs 4,865 1,028 374 1,121 94 346 7,828 39,534 902 290 265 1,457 14.618 || | || 9,381 11,870 39,313 112,937 26, 67 112,404 4,881 4,432 5,871 12,281 166,739 296,725 152 692 844 6,376 6,084 10,948 128,679 30,889 74,795 Smalts piculs 280 33 313 14,489 Soap, common catties 63,933 13,685 Wine, beer, and spirits value 5,650 10,652 Woods, sandal wood piculs 22,593 2 1,142 28,768 18,903 214,080 sapan wood Woollens, broad changs narrow 395 145,472 736,236 blankets not enumerated pairs value Miscellaneous imports 716 5,459 6,570 1,760 1,319 4,410 161,236 12,955 890,996 6,415 6,615 12,768 784,637 1,118,013 620 1,374 7,028 40,137 7,536 7,536 30,486 288,610 Value of imports N.B. See Table of Export Trade on top of next page. 10,392,934 2,478,048 8,318 77,751,134,658 123,530,22,482 825,060, Total 14,062,811 Or, £3,046,942| But in addition to the trade carried on with the port of Canton, we carry on a considerable trade with the other ports opened to us under the treaty of 1842, especially with Shanghai. And taking these into account, the total amount of the legitimate trade carried on under the British flag with China in 1845, will be * The consul's returns contained on both sides (imports and exports) the value of a cargo which was not unladen, amounting to 28,1664. This was deducted. Shanghai is situated in the S. part of the province of Kiang-Su, at a considerable distance from the sea, on the river Woo-Sung, in about lat. 31° 10' N., long. 120° 50' E. The river, which may be navigated by large ships for a considerable distance above the town, crosses the grand canal, and, consequently, makes Shanghai an entrepôt for all the vast and fertile countries traversed by the canal and by the great rivers with which it is connected; and hence the present importance of this emporium, as evinced by the extent of our trade with it in 1845; and hence, also, the infinitely greater importance to which its commerce will hereafter most probably attain. 253 |