The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-22 00:00:00

TRADE WITH CHINA.

(BROM A CORRESPONDENT AT CANTON.)
Any information regarding the interests of British
merchants, upon the well-being of whom the strength
and resources of their nation depends, induces me to call
the attention of the public, through the columns of your
widely-circulated Paper, to our relations with the (Ai-
nese. The extreme jealousy of that nation of all fo-
reigners causes our trade to be so unstable and insecure,
that the accidental death or capricious extortion of a
local Government officer have often caused its interrup-

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tion. The policy of the Government holds all " red-
haired barbarians," as they call us, up to the contempt
and disrespect of the inhabitants, by which our property
and lives are often endangered, and ourselves subjected
to invariable insult—all which we have submitted to with

exemplary patience. Their insulting and irritating con-
duct caused the lamented death of Lord Napier, who
was sent a prisoner, in the most public manner, from
Canton to Macao. Their treatment of a highly.re-

spected and talented Nobleman met with not the least
notice from the British Government, which induces the
Chinese authorities to imagine that extortion, insult, and,
I fear, eventually execution, by way of intimidation of
our countrymen, will pass with impunity. In regard to the
unjustifiable means they have taken to seize two millions
worth of opium, viz., by imprisonment and menace, to have
it delivered up, it is not the two millions of cash ab-
stracted from merchants that is the only loss we suffer,
It stops the circulation of fifty times the amount. Had
the Chinese seized our opium ships in their waters as
contraband traders, we could not have said so much
upon the subject, as European Powers would do
SO under the like circumstances ; but it is well known
that Government authorities have not only connived at
but assisted the foreigners in the trade. Many very good
people no doubt (in their own estimation) call the opium
trade iniquitous ; but such assertions proceed either
from hypocrisy or ignorance. Those who are fools enough
to abuse the use of that stimulant, by giving way to the
excess of it, became useless, harmless, drones of society,
and do no good. Let those who have such an intense
desire to benefit their fellow-creatures, when it does not
cost them anything, or imagine they can by such profes-
sions gull the honest part of society, turn their attention
to the gin, brandy, and beer traffic—to the stimulants
used in this country, really hurtful not only to
those weak wretches who are addicted to such means
of debasing themselves, but injurious to all connected
with them, and often enough others also, by their
intellects becoming affected. Formerly foreigners, or
" outward barbarians," as we are called, Dutch,
French, Portuguse, Spanish, &c., traded to all ports of
China ; they were then reduced, till they were all
murdered in their factories by the Chinese. The Spa-
nish have liberty to trade at Omoi at present, but
the extortion, purposely practised to exclude them, has
destroyed their trade there. It is a splendid harbour, in
good communication with the interior, has an extensive
trade, and is where most of the rice from Formosa
enters China. As the Chinese authorities have com-
mitted themselves by such a breach of the law of na-
tions as imprisoning and menacing her Majesty's Re-
presentative and our merchants, now is the time for us to
establish ourselves in such a manner as to secure a trade
with the 300,000,000 of inhabitants of that immense
country. The means arc simple and without bloodshed,
and not expensive. If the Government do not like to
go to the small expense requisite, just let us have a
Chartered Company, and we will soon manage the af-
fair, and open that country to all who choose to trade
there. We would take and occupy the fort at the
mouth of the Canton River, called the Bona
Tagus by the Portuguese, the Island of Omoi, Chusin,
and the Com Kevee Sing Moon. Should the
Chinese Government not like such proceedings on
our part, stop their rice and salt, which, com-
bined with the hordes of those disaffected to
the Government, will soon make them peforni
the " Shoo Tan," add four millions of revenue
to the British Customs, and increase the trade of
the merchants of Europe and America. From 1 iO3
to 1812, the Ladrenes were so powerful, that the Chi-

nese Government were glad to apply to the Portuguese
to put them down, which was done by seven to twelve
ill-armed and ill-appointed European vessels, manned
partly with Portuguese, Manillese, and Chinese.
In Lord Napier's time, had Colonel Chads been
commanding officer, he would have taken the Begun
Forts and retained them, blocking the river, which
would have enabled his lamented Lordship to bring
Futty to his own terms.
But if our Government will now take advantage of this
good chance, instead of the trade of this country passing
through the hands of a few individuals, which gives them
an immense advantage, now that the monopoly of the
Company is done away with, we shall have anymerchants
we choose to trade with, which is the only way to be
on equal terms with them. We can frighten the Chi-
nese out of their wits. Just let the Burmese be at

them, who would gladly be so—aiding them a little with
sane officers and materials of war—an easy matter as
our troops are now close to the north-west frontier—ant
the Russian Eagle will become white with the disgrace of
having induced poor Futty to meddle with the Lion
which guards British commerce.
What is the determination of our Ministers in regard
to the interruption of our trade with China, so oft occur-
ring, though so important to Great Britain and her
E4Ltern possesions ? How is it that our enlightened
and talented rulers have not thought it advisable to
turn their attention to secure this trade upon such
foundation as not to be interrupted by the capricious-
ness of an arbitrary and corrupt government It is
like every other good thing, we know not the value thereof
until lost. It is asserted that our importing opium to
the Celestial Country is the present cause of interrup-
tion, and to put a stop to the opium trade is the cause
why our merchants were imprisoned, and her Majesty's
Representative treated with such insult. The real cause
is, the Chinese authorities thought they had an excellent
opportunity of filling their coffers at the expense of the
" red-haired barbarians,"and make their subjects believe
it was out of pure regard for their health and morals.
They caught us in a trap sure enough, (though it's
odd if they lose not their own tail for it.) If the
Celestial Government really determined to prevent
the use of opium, it is of no use plundering
foreigners who import it ; they must do away
with the cause by preventing their own people front
using it ; and as it is well known that those habituated
to the use of opium, certainly die unless the excite-
ment caused by its use is kept up, the shortest and
most merciful way would be to take their heads off.
And in that case the Emperor must lose his own
first, by way of example, for all people in China who
can afford it use the article, as an occasional excite-
ment. Should the British Government, through a mis-
taken notion that our taking opium to China would
cause us the loss of our piece goods, woollen, cotton,
and silk trade, and not allow British subjects to import
opium to China, it would not deter other nations,
American and European, from doing so ; and according
to the late regulations of the Commissioners, our coun-
trymen would be apt to lose their heads, for the Chi-
nese could not, at least would not, make any distinc-
tion. In fact, if the Bricish Government is weak
enough to allow this act of plunder and insult to pass
with impunity, it puts an end to our trade with China ; a
few desperate people would venture, and make a good
thing of it too ; but it would lead to plunder and blood-
shed on both sides, and this Government get no
revenue. Mr. W. Jardine, lately returned front
China, could give good information respecting the
best way to go to work. The receipt in the British
Customs would be three times what it has received, in
less than five years. Consider above three hundred mil-
lions of people, all too happy to trade with us, did theirjea-
lous Government permit, when at present all our trade
passes through a strict monopoly of two or three mer-
chants, called the Hongs, who squeeze us, and the Man-
darins squeeze them. Let us have the islands of Keoi,
Omoi, and Chusin, small places of no value or terri-
torial consideration to China, being little more than
barren rocks, but good harbours, which is what we
require, and from which places we can trade with
the Chinese without interference, without troubling
the Chinese authorities,and after a time Formosa would be
glad to be under our wing. As experience has told us
that embassies are of no use, but very costly, take such
measures as will induce the Chinese authorities to come
to us. Knock hard at their door, by blockading their
ports and coast ; allow them neither salt nor rice ; and
a nucleus of 5,000 men would start a trading society into
life, which would upset the present dynasty in one year,
when we would have our trade pursuing as steady a
course as it does with all other parts of the world. This
affair will produce plenty of tea from Assam in a few
years ; nothing can stop that now ; but we want the mil-
lions of Chinese to consume our manufactures, and that
door can be opened, if our rulers choose, with little cost
and risk. It is well worth the while of the Ame-
rican and European nations to pull together in this affair,
for it will be beneficial to all. The present interrup-
tion is a dose of physic, that will work much good even-
tually, if our physicians are good for anything.

THE GOOD OLD TIMES IN THEIR GOOD
OLD SENSE.-." In 1496, the diet (food) was consi-
dered equivalent to one-third of the income of an
artificer, and one-half the income of a labourer, which
indicates a greater degree of independence among the
working classes than prevails at present ; for the board
both of labourers and artificers are now reckoned at a
much higher proportion of their wages. [The true cri-
terion of wages is the quantity and quality of labour,
for the quantity and quality of provisions. In the year
1496; the hours for meals and relaxation were more ii-

beral than at present.]
TIIE RAILWAYS.--The amalgamation of the
Chester and Crewe line of railway with the Grand
Junction has given rise to various rumours relative to
the Manchester and Birmingham line, which we are not
prepared to say are void of foundation. It is considered
very probable that a further amalgamation will take
place, and that a portion of this very costly project will
be abandoned, the original line to Crewe being substi-
tuted, with probably a portion of the Extension line.—
Ma cclesfield Courier.

NDON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22. 1839.