the channel is narrow, and to a stranger the navigation is difficult, from the many branches which, whether natural or artificial, serve to irrigate the rice-fields. The influence of the tide extends some miles above the city, and during the strength of the ebb and flood there is a considerable current. Above Pagoda Island, where the channel is narrowed in some places to thirty yards, there are numerous sandbanks, bare at low water, upon which sailing vessels are apt to be cast by the current, and from this place to the city it will be necessary for strangers, even in boats, to secure the services of a pilot.

The river Min takes its rise in the black tea district, and flows past Chaou, Yen-ping, and other cities of great importance.

Trade has scarcely made any advance at this port, owing to the absence of capitalists; the native traders there being able to deal by barter only, and at unfavourable rates to the importers. A ship from Loo-choo is said to visit the port annually with ten thousand taels of gold for the purchase of goods about the end of October.

A correspondent of the Singapore Free Press, who visited it in the steamer "Vixen," says,—

"The Min is a most miserable river-as bad as the Severn, between Gloucester and Bristol, before the ship canal was made. Vessels of any considerable size cannot approach the city nearer than thirty miles; while vessels of 280 tons may perhaps go within twelve miles. The steamer grounded on a bank which obstructs the river, directly athwart the passage, and was several times in imminent danger, though drawing only four and a half or five feet water. The chief export of Foo-chow is timber, and not tea. The great tea depots are yet in all probability to be Shanghai and Amoy. Indeed there is every prospect of these two ports becoming the greatest places for trade of every kind in China. Already there are fifteen merchants at Shanghai, several of whom have their families. The situation for foreign residences is said to be delightful. At Amoy there have been seven merchants; one has left in search of health, and one has died. There is every prospect of large additions being made to the five who remain.

The country in the vicinity of the city is monotonous to a degree, and quite devoid of woods; both above and below the city hills or ridges approach close to the river-between the ridges there are in some instances fertile valleys, and they themselves are covered with verdure.

Like all Chinese towns, Foo-chow-foo is filthy, and, to our European ideas, does not contain a habitable house. The people, so far as opportunities have offered of judging, are peaceable, and well-disposed towards foreigners. Mr. Lay met with a kind reception from the authorities, and although much inconvenienced for want of a proper house for the Consulate, in other respects he has every reason to be satisfied. His own amiable disposition and kind manners will soon endear him to the natives with whom he is brought into contact, and impress them with a favourable opinion of the once-dreaded barbarians. During the month of August the heat was overpowering; thermometer in the shade 100 for days at a time. There has fortunately been no sickness among the Consular establishment, though the cholera has been committing fearful havoc among the Chinese.

Another writer in a Chinese paper says, the advantages which this place offers for foreign trade are great, and, next to Shanghai, it will be the chief of the four new ports, both for imports and exports. With a good harbour

of easy access, and a river which, with its various tributaries or branches, flows for 300 miles through that district of China where the finest teas are grown-added to which an abundance of sugar, which will possibly soon be an article of export, and a dense population, who for hundreds of miles can receive from Foo-chow-foo all their supplies by water-carriage, and carry the produce of their industry there for sale or barter at much cheaper rates than to their present market, Canton-we see advantages which must ensure to this port a large portion of the foreign trade of the country. It has been calculated, though probably the amount is exaggerated, that the transport of teas from this district to Canton costs four taels per picul. Upon the middling qualities of Congou this would be from 20 to 25 per cent. ; but even set it down only at one-half, and there is a saving which must, sooner or later, render this the principal port for the shipment of black teas. Upon imports of all kinds the carriage is equally great, and upon heavy or bulky articles even more than what we now state.

Previous to Mr. Lay's settlement, there was little known of this place; Mr. Lindsay, who visited it in the "Lord Amherst" in 1834, calculated that 150,000 piculs of teas might be shipped annually—this is more than one-fourth of the entire shipment from China,-and now the quantity is probably increased. The information supplied by this gentleman, which is in a great degree conjectural, and that contained in the narrative of an expedition made by Mr. Gutzlaff and the Rev. Edwin Stevens, who in 1835, in a European boat, courageously ran a hundred miles up the river, were captured, liberated, and allowed to escape, after having violated the law of the country, and only escaped decapitation through the humanity of their captors, is nearly all that was known until lately of this interesting portion of China. The narrative will be found in the fourth volume of the "Chinese Repository," and is one of the many interesting papers which, at the period, was published in that periodical.

Our correspondent is of opinion that the goods which would sell most readily, are unbleached American domestics, and English bleached calico of a fine quality; drills (grey) would also probably be taken to some extent, though the fabric appears new to the buyers. Chintz, of suitable patterns, and cotton twist would sell moderately; but of woollen goods he expresses some doubts. Prices it is difficult to ascertain, without having a cargo on the spot. The trade will be chiefly one of barter, the calculating medium being paper. Dollars are scarce, and not even preferred to notes-the exchange is at the rate of ten mace of a common size to one dollar. Our correspondent remarks-" the means of doing a large trade are here, and British capital will readily improve them." For Exports, the prices are :

Tea (Hong-foo, first chop) 21 dolrs. per picul, including

all expenses of packing, &c.

Sugar, No. 1-7,600 cash per picul, and brokerage.

2-6,140 ""

Camphor, best quality, 10 dolrs. per picul.

It is to be understood that these are the prices asked, not the cost of actual purchases, and that the picul is of 90 catties, the catty 14 taels.

NINGPO. This is the principal port of the Province of Che-kiang, which produces more green tea than other Provinces, and also silk, rice, grain, and pulse in abundance. The streets are very narrow, and none of the houses exceed two stories high. There are extensive manufactories of silk and cotton goods, especially in flowered and embroidered satins.

The river Tsien-tong-kiang is navigable for large vessels up to the capital of the Province, Hang-tcheou-foo. The course of the river will be found laid down in the sheet of the China Coast published by the Admiralty; and sailing directions are given by Capt. Collinson in the "Nautical Magazine " for 1843, p. 641.

The Chinese merchants of Siam and Batavia go to this port yearly to buy silks, and they have a great trade to Japan, it being but two days' sail distant from it.

SHANGHAI is the chief port of the province of Kiang-sen, which produces chiefly rice and pulse, and has extensive fisheries. There are many large towns on the banks of the canal, such as Nanking, the capital, Yang-tcheou-foo, Su-tcheou-foo, &c. The last-named town, besides its extensive commerce, is famous for its manufactures of silk and cotton goods.

Shanghai promises to be one of the principal emporiums for commerce in this part of the world, and, at no very distant day, may rival Canton, both as a mart for sales and purchases. The immense amount of native tonnage which finds its way up the Shanghai River daily is worthy of remark, as being one of the most prominent features in the Yang-tse-kiang. Two thousand junks, some as large one thousand tons burthen, are frequently in the harbour. Several merchants have rented portions of land near the Consulate, on which they intend to build houses and stores. The land-rent is extremely moderate.

Several instances of dishonesty have lately occurred among the native population at Shanghai, similar to what is but too common in the South. These, however, have principally amounted to the carrying off of materials from new buildings. Subscriptions are getting up for erecting a Union Chapel in Shanghai, upon principles similar to those on which the Union Chapel at Hong Kong is being built.

A Circular has been sent round by the Consul at Shanghai, that "no vessel will in future be permitted to drop down the river till her grand chop has been obtained." This regulation has produced a good deal of discontent. It was formerly the custom to allow a vessel, after all her duties and other charges were paid, to take advantage of the tide and drop down to Woosung, a long way inside the boundaries of the port. As there is often a delay of four or five hours in obtaining this grand chop, the tide is thereby frequently lost, involving a delay of a day unnecessarily in consequence of the new arrangement, which has naturally occasioned a good deal of grumbling.

RETURN of the British Trade at the Port of SHANGHAE during the Year ending the 31st of December, 1844.

G. BALFOUR, H. B. M. Consul for Shanghae.

* Tsatlee, or Fine Silk, 3385 Bales. Taesaam, or Coarse Silk, 1429 Bales, exported under a Foreign Flag.

N.B.-The value given is, in most instances, estimated according to the market prices, taken on an average throughout the year, as reported by the British Merchants. The Spanish dollar has invariably been calculated at 4s. 4d. sterling.