The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-05 00:00:00

'TEMPTED EXACTIONS.

We f
learn (From the Canton Press.)
Y advices from Canton that ever since the 25th
:° I. An L'gust the foreign trade, so far as new arrivals are con-
riled, has been stopped, and no vessel can get permission to
runtenoe discharging without the consignees of all vessels
lisee'
IL Ing to submit to the following "squeeze" to be paid to
-..e. p
sr% tnguists:—A fee of 2231 dollars on each and every British
be lei; a fee of 12 dollars per 70 hales of Bombay, or 80 of
;gal cotton' and in proportion for other cargo.
th Or several days various attempts were made to escape
ssie.s heavy charges (amounting to prohibition of small ves-
Ls') without avail, as it was ascertained that no one but the
Zoit uists were allowed to approach the Hoppo on business
nected with the foreign trade. An application was then
'sleet to ." her Majesty's officiating Consul" to the following
'sleet:
4,,," We beg to represent to you that we are unable to get any
of the linguists to attend to the Custom-house business of
our vessels lately arrived unless we agree to pay them as fol-
lows (naming the above fees).
tl
We beg to inquire if the difficulty in our proceeding with
44.'e, business of our vessels can be removed without our sub•
milting to the exactions of the linguists?
tai", They are the only persons we can find to carry on the de-
"of the business of a ship with the collector's offices ; they
state that the collector refuses paying them for their services,
441w1 therefore they make an increased demand on foreigners.
tidingecor to„ the new regulations we supposed they would be
d
The Consul, Mr. G. T. Lay, replies :
no" I have to say, that by the new regulations the linguists are
~antsto be considered the collector's servants, but as the ser-
ii, of the consignees, who must y them for their services, to 'es a bribe or fee, but as their hire; and if these men refuse
of Work for a reasonable sum, others who will consent to accept
i:„ smaller compensation must be sought for; but if such are
wt te be found, whatever the charge, must be paid.„ 1 have no
vie' to compel them to act for any specified sum.
by i e so far agree with Mr. Lay that the linguists must be paid
or .7reigo merchants, if their services are absolutely required,
;.11 these services are not such as are usually paid by the re-
,:preivers of the ditty. Of what nature are the services required
linguists? and for what is the fee of '223 dollars per ship
th 4.12 dellars per 70 or 80 bales to be paid? We imagine
l` the only one thing for which the importer may justly be
theder to ray, or which may be required of him, is to furnish
tin 'nese Custom-house officers with a paper stating in
comes
the nature of the cargo his ship braigs ; it then
is according
the duty of the Chinese to see that such statement
bateording to truth • but surely it can never be contemplated
~, besides the du'ty, he is to pay those that are appoinTted
oor;,iiirle4Crvhicinnese to watch after its being properly paid. h e
which, therefore in our opinion, the linguists,
Ire, Ytnoe else in their t cl' oueht to expect payment.
.for
ot,- tue foreign
sPi,-"! °f the merchantea is for the, translation or writing
e'n'se necessary documents ; in fact, a. translation into
'4lled ' of the ship's manifest; any other duties they may be
t4i,es .11P.,°11 to perform must be paid by their own au.thor.i-
,`otepti till'e" Iwo suppose that even Mr. Lay will not maintain
„ .inguists should be allowed to charge for such
tit PaY pe'43Y witty, for filling, perhaps, a reasonably-sized sheet
tOsnd, r wg the exorbitant sum they now de-
sotto_ which its the case of a ship carrying 4,000 bales of
Isrs,l;_ would amount to the enormous sum of 823,N dol-
!ts 4°l' translation of a small document. We would engage
tesg:twit__ written out at one hundredth part of that charge,
Zesk
_7 not aware that none but the linguists' documents
,
N are such occasions be received at the Hoppo 's office.
%ly e told that previous to the present exorbitant demands
the 17,:e.ltde Ole linguists demanded much less, but even then
Ss t eigters would
sett' clew_ not comply, and they then declared that
4y
ode 'tants had not agreed to what the linguists deeme
tZuve Itat_r!tes they would now insist upon these charges as
kAt that ''' All business is consequently at a stand, and we
14itsis
tohnelse_ss the British authorities make a vigorous sten. d
to ties st 4_, exactions, the trade will revert to exactly its
tisdetiar--tamely, that the Chinese authorities will be able
" with any charges they please.

On the other hand, we have seen letters from Canton, men-
tioning that rumeurs prevailed there that Keying and other
high authorities had written to the Emperor, to represent that
it would be necessary to deduct, from the amount of the Im-
perial duties now received five candarines per picul, for the
payment of the Chinese officers connected with the Custom-
house ; and that they, expecting his Majesty's gracious ap-
proval, would begin already to deduct that amount. If this is
the case, the position of the linguists becomes doubly unten-
able ; and certainly British merchants ought never to submit
to their exactions.

THE FRENCH EMBASSY TO CHINA.
We learn, by letters from Canton, that the French Consul
Count de Ratti Menton, presented his credentials to the
Viceroy of Canton, at the country house of Pwankingqua.
This ceremony, which was preceded by several visits to the
French Consul and Captain F►rman Duplan from the Kwang-
ehowfoo, and a delegate from the Imperial Commissioner, may
be considered another progressive step in the events which
have lately taken place. Towards eight o'clock of the morning
of the 6th of September two boats belonging to the French
corvette Alcmene lett Canton for the place of meeting. They
contained the French Consul, Captain Duplan, the Chancelier
de Consulat, eight officers of the corvette, an interpreter, and
several private gentlemen, and reached the house of
Pwankingqua after an hour's pull. Then the Com-
mandant and Consul were shown into the large hall, and
a delegate of the Imperial Commissioner, the Kwaugchowfoo,
and several other mandarins paid their respects to
them. At near the hour fixed upon an officer wearing a
chrystal button announced that the Imperial Commissioner was
prepared for the interview. when the Consul and Captain with
the others before-mentioned descended to the reception-room,
and there found the high Chinese officers and a number of
other functionaries wearing white and blue buttons.
Some compliments having passed, the French Consul pre-
sented his credentials from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to
the Viceroy, who handed them to the Imperial Commissioner,
and the latter took note of and returned them to him. After
this many questions were put, concerning his Majesty the King
of the French, about France and her .11inisters generally, and
more particularly M. Guizot became the subject of conversa.
tion, which continued fo►r more than an hour, during which a
collation was offered by the high Chinese officers to their guests.
This intercourse between the high Chinese functionaries and
officers of foreign nations would lead us to suppose that an im-
portant change is beginning to operate with regard to Eu-
ropeans—a change which, managed with care, would appear to
augur an approach to an entirely friendly understanding
between the Celestial empire and the various European
Governments.

DEATH OF MR. MORRISON.
Sir Henry Pottinger announces with feelings of the deepest
and most unfeigned sorrow, the demise this morning, at a few
minutes after seven o'clock, of the Hon. J. R. Morrison,
Member of Council, Chinese Secretary, &c., and Officiating
Colonial Secretary of the Government of Hong-Kong.
Mr. Morrison was so well known and so truly beloved, es-
teemed, arid respected by all who had the happiness of his ac-
quaintance and friendship, that to attempt to pass any panegyric
on his private character would be a mere waste of words, and
Sir Henry Pottinger feels that his own sincere grief on this
mournful event is only a type of that universal sentiment .
which the memory and worth of Mr. Morrison will be for ever
embalmed.
In a public point of view Sir Henry Pottinger considers the
death of Mr. Morrison to be an irreparable national calamity,
and he doubts not but as such it will be received and viewed by
his Sovereign and country.
The Canton Press adds the following particulars :
" Mr. J. R. Morrison, the son of the illustrious Dr. Mor-
rison, so well known as an active missionary and compiler of
the Chinese Dictionary, and who died in China just nine
years ago, was born in Malacca in 1815, and was only 28
years and four months old at the time of his death. In an early
age he was sent to Europe, whence he returned, after a short
stay
to China, with only the rudiments of an education, which it
then became the care of his father to perfect. From the
earliest age his attention was drawn to the study of the
Chinese language, in which he had become so proficient,
that on the lamented death of his father, though only
19 years old, he was appointed by the Government to
the responsible situation of Chinese secretary and inter-
preter to the superintendents of trade, before held by his
father, the duties of which he performed to general satisfaction.
" Mr. Morrison's studies were even at that early period not
limited to the Chinese language. The trade of this country
bad so much engaged his attention, that in 1834 he pub-
lished a volume, the " Chinese Commercial Guide," con-
taining much very valuable information on the commerce
with Canton, which must have been collected with considera-
ble pains, and which to this moment is of the greatest use as a
book of reference. During the following years, preceding the
differences with the English, Mr. Morrison, whose official
oodii
nfffu thtitpheeheis.
esrhdraecicddcoutusni
btnnooegttmer
nytshh
pessapnanardketr
ing
enedohuwriaotabl engross the
rseil:tysgietho whole
of
the of h
Chinese
hi
ni s e time,s e
language,engaged
and
tshe
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gi
his
gepeoudprl
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se
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weh e
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have published a work on the geography of China, for which
he had already collected many valuable notes. He con-
templated also a new and enlarged edition of his father's
dictionary. These literary labours were, however, interrupted
by the troubles which broke out in Canton early in 1839, since
which time he had to conduct the whole of the Chinese cor-
respondence of her Majesty's Superintendents and Plenipoten-
tames, and in 1840 and subsequently always accompanied her
Majesty's Plenipotentiary on the several expeditions of the
British forces, where his perfect knowledge of the language
and of the official usages were of the greatest advantage in
carrying on the negotiations which have terminated so advan-
tageously to this country. It was just at the moment when Mr.
Alorrison's services were about to be rewarded by higher office,
and their value probably more substantially recognised by his
Sovereign and country, his Excellency Sir H. Pottinger hay.
ing only last week appointed him a member of the Legislative
and Executive Council, and officiating Colonial Secretary of
the Government of Hong-Kong, that, on the 23d of last month,
he was attacked by the Hong-Kong fever, which has lately de-
prived us of so many valuable lives. The fever which termi-
nated his life, and which must be called the Hong-Kong fever,
combines, we are told, in its symptoms, the appearance of the
jungle fever of India and of the yellow fever of the West Indies,
and has hitherto in too many instances defied medical art, al-
though the latest advices from Hong-Kong, we are glad to say,
mention the recovery of several that were considered in danger
from the same illness."

THE CURRENCY.
by reading
The
Sun, TOI
was much TILE
s m EDITOR
neh
Sun, of yesterday, some able remarks on the
Currency, by your Correspondent " Beirniard."
One of the errors which he points out, as com-
mitted by writers on that subject, is that of ad-
mitting the depreciation of paper currency; and
as that phrase occurs in the leading article of the
Times of this morning, commenting on some
pamphlets published by the Society for the
Emancipation of Industry, it may not be amiss
to inquire into the sense in which it is so used, so
as to put an end to wrangling about terms to
which both parties attach different ideas. The
term depreciation of currency first came into
vogue about the time Mr. Huskisson wrote his
celebrated pamphlet on the Currency, in 1810.
He found that ever since the passing of the Bank
Restriction Act, in 1797, the price of gold, wheat,
and all other commodities, had been gradually
rising in price, and that, consequently, the
pound-note did not purchase so much of any
commodity as it bad done prior to 1798. lie,
therefore, asserted that the CURRENCY HAD DE-
PRECIATED, and erroneously attributed this de-
preciation to the over-issues of Bank paper. I
agree entirely with your Correspondent "Beir-
niard" as to the loose and unphilosophical mode
of thinking and expression implied in this.
phrase, " depreciation ;" for had Mr. Huikisson
said that everything had become dearer he would
have been much nearer the truth ; and, by this
mode of expression, we might have been saved
from all the misery and ruin which Mr. Huskis-
son's unfortunately chosen phrase and loose
manner of thinking has since entailed on this
coun try.

In consequence of the amount of indirect taxa-
tion levied on commodities year after year, from
the passing of the Bank Restriction Act, the
productive classes of this country were compelled
to demand, and paper money enabled them to
obtain, from the consumers of their respective
commodities, a higher price than they could
otherwise have received. The pound-note, there-
fore, very nwurally and properly lost its power
to purchase, in exact proportion as prices of com-
modities had"been enhanced by taxation.

From the system of indirect taxation, and the
drain on us for gold prior to 1797, we were com-
pelled in the following year to abandon gold
money ; but even had we not been so compelled,
and if go/r/ money could have been retained in this
country (the pressure of indirect taxation re-
maining as betbre), IT too would have depre-
ciated just in the same degree as the PAPER
money did ; in other words, IT too would have
lust a portion of its power to purchase. In re-
spect of " depreciation," then, the gold and paper
pound would have been quite on a par, as far as
THIS COUNTRY was concerned. But gold is a
commodity, and has a general mercantile value
in the market of the world, and if we depreciate
it at home, in consequence of high taxation prices,
it will be sure to leave us in our dealings with
foreigners—nut so our paper ; and therein
lies a great point of superiority of paper
money possessing no intrinsic value, over
gold money possessing intrinsic value. For
prices can be maintained in a taxed country by
the use of paper money, but cannot be main-
tained by using gold money, unless by adopting
the most stringent prohibitory system of trade,
and making it criminal to clip, melt, or export
the coin of the realm. Set gold free from the
trammels of the,fixed price at which the Bank
of England must at present take up its notes,
and let it rise in the markets like other commo-
dities in this taxed country, and the value of our
English pound will just be what amount of gold,
or anything else, it will purchase; and this value
will depend and be regulated by the amount of
indirect taxation which Parliament chooses to
levy on the country, and will therefore have a
much steadier and uniform value than any money
based on the precious metals; its value will in-
crease with the diminution of taxation, and di-

minish with the increase of taxation, so that it
will be for the benefit of landowners, fundholders,
annuitants, placemen, and every- person enjoy-
ing fixed incomes, to see that the affairs of the
nation are conducted with an eye to economy.—l
am, Sir, your's truly, Q. T.
4th January, 1814.

MUNTZ'S PATENT ELASTIC CUR-
RENCY RENOVATOR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
" The ,cene? 'tie Birmingham renown'd afar
At once for half-pence, and for Doctor Parr."
Pursuits of Literature, p. 222.
Sia,—By your paper of yesterday I find 11r.
Muntz pruposing to set everthing right in the
monetary world by having ss. ‘.2d. of the. silver
coin melted down and coined into seven little
shillings and a little sixpenny piece, and explains
that why he adopts 7s. Gd. as the denomination
for the ounce of his new silver coin, is that it
' appears to be generally acknowledged that 7s. Gd.
is a remunerating- price for a bushel of wheat;
and thus, by this presto movement, making an
old half-crown a three-shilling and ninepenny
piece instead of a two and sixpenny one, and
giving two of those old half-crowns instead of
three for a bushel of wheat at 7s. Gd., he fancies
that the farmer will obtain his remunerating
price for his grain. Now, Sir, I beg to suggest a
plan of my own as a better one.
"Junius" slys, " The balance equally prepon-
derates, whether you take from one scale or add
to the other." Now what I would suggest would
be, not as Mr. Muntz would do, take from one
scale, viz„ docking off one-third of the silver from
a shilling, but I would adept a new impe-
rial pint, the capacity of which should be one-
third larger than the present one, and that
there should be the same number of pints as in
the present imperial bushel, it is very clear that
the new bushel would be one-third larger than
the present one; now, according to Mr. Muntz,
a little shilling is as good as a large shilling ; the
only thing necessary being that it shall be a
shilling by name—no matter about its pondero-
sity. Now, my new measure will still be
a bushel; and as it will still be a bushel,
no matter as to its capacity, this very simple
alteration I feel perfectly satisfied will insure the
corn-grower 7s. 6d. per bushel tbr his wheat, even
against all free trade in corn, Leaguers and else.
Both coins and bushels are measures—the
former of ponderosity, the latter of capacity ;
therefore, if there be any truth in the assertion
of " Junius," it matters not whether we take one-
third from the coin or add one-third to the.
bushel. Don't hint one word about my having an
intention:to make a spec. before-hand in the pur- •
chase of tithe-rent charges—neither does Mr.
Muntz say one word that his proposition amounts
to paying off all old debts at 13s. 4d. in the
pound.
No one scarcely thinks now-a-days for him-
self as to what are the common principles and
operations of money; therefore, they are the
more easily gulled. People little think that the
alteration in the weight or coins would make no
i
difference whatever in regard to all contracts(
made and entered after the issue of a new light.
coin, as all agreements would be made on the'
foot of the new measure of the coin ; but when old
contracts are to be discharged in the tale of the
new light coin, it amounts neither more nor less
than to a diabolical robbery.—Yours, &c.,
GORDIUS.
Ilfracombe, January 4,1844.

LITERATURE.

HISTORY OF TEN YEARS. I'art 1.
Chapman and Hall, London, 1844.
Who M. Louis Blanc, the author of this work,
may be, or what were his means of acquiring in-
formation, we know not; but there is an appear-
ance of authenticity about his " History of Ten
Years in France," so far as it has yet proceeded,
and an acquaintance with the more hidden
springs of political intrigue during the earlier
years of the restoration of the Bourbons, that
entitle his statements to attention. Hisintro-
duction, in particular, wherein lie alludes to the
underhand plots carried on in 1815, chiefly under
the auspices of the Baron de Vitrolles and Tal-
leyrand, to bring about the downfal of the Em-
peror and replace the old worn-out dynasty on
the throne by the reluctant agency of Alexander,
displays a minute knowledge of the political
machinations of the times, which induces the
supposition that the author must have had
access to private documents hitherto kept
jealously from the public eye. Among other
interesting matters, he explains the whole
circumstances of the defection of Marmont
from the Emperor at the critical period when
the Allies were threatening Paris; and his ex-
planation tends in a great degree to exculpate
the Marshal, who was himself' deceived, and who
gave in his adhesion to the new order of things,
not of his own free will, but from the uncontrol-
lable force of events. In discussing the curious
question, why was not Paris vigorously defended,
when it had the means of resistance at its com-
mand, and if it had held out but two days, would
have had Napoleon in person ready to march to
atirhithrisne(ritiissistance with the collected remnants of his
resistance,
iors:utalar
cycßeo,dli asteibi
eel tylided toei
were
ewtareiteildi.‘eve:lc'atealripyteil
nfot iatn.l
ak 11
theluopsiutomlll3ii
Imperial
offer t
r
sway, which kept them a state of humiliating
thraldom, and looked forward to the restoration
of the Bourbons as the triumph of their own
selfish interests. To this influential party our
author boldly.asserts that the Emperor's downfal
must be ascribed. They and they only—for the rest
of France was sullen and apathetic—secured the
throne for Louis the Eighteenth ; and they would
willingly have submitted to many of the en-
croachments of his successor, had he not, by
violating the Charter, proposed to reduce them
i
to the same state of politicalinsignificance in
which they lived during the whole period of the
Empire. From that moment they resolved to
keep no terms with him ; and, making common
cause with the .masses, whom at heart they dis-
trusted and despised, they effected that revo-.
lution which placed the crown on the head of
Louis Philippe, and which, owing to their stead-
fast allegiance, lie still retains, despite the fre-
quent murmurs of the inflammable populace, and
the emeutes of the small, but energetic Republican
party. M. Blanc, though he affects to write
with candour and moderation, is clearly
a bitter enemy to this triumphant bour-
geoisie. But his hostility is without just
cause, for the steady advance in political
power of the middle—or, as he sneeringly
calls them, the trading—classes, is the necessary
results of the various movements that have taken
place in France since the assembling of the Tiers
Etat in 1789. When absolute monarchy was
annihilated, and feudal privileges abolished, it
became an inevitable consequence that an indus-
trious, intelligent middle class, should spring up
from the ruins of the old regime; and, notwith-
standing the temporary check that this class sus-
tained under Napoleon, who dreaded its political
sagacity even more than the swords of the Allies,
it was evident that it must, in the long run, prove
too powerful for the Emperor. Throughout
Europe, the tendency of the bourgeoisie—or in-
dustrious middle class—is slowly, but surely,
to extend the range of its influence, to the gra-
dual weakening of all monarchical and aristocratic
influences. In England it has wrested a Reform
Bill from a reluctant oligarchy ; in Spain it is
sturdily fighting the battle of the Constitution
with every prospect of eventual success; in France
it is all powerful under the shrewd sway of Louis
Philippe; in Prussia it has wrung concessions of
no ordinary value from Royalty ; and the day is
not far distant when Austria and Russia will
both be compelled to listen with deference to
its just and enlightened councils. In a word,
the march of the bourgeoisie is the march of
• common sense, of industry, of toleration, of
equitable principles of legislation throughout
Europe ; and lie must indeed be a short-
sighted patriot... who can contemplate this
march with any other feelings than those of
satisfaction. But M. Blanc is an anti-middle-
class man—that is to say, a man of the people.
Well, let him look to America, and see there
what mob-rule has done for government! Minis-
ters of State afraid to speak out their own con-
victions—freedom reduced to a mere question of
colour, bestowed in rank abundance on the
whites, scornfully withheld from the blacks—
national faith and justice laughed to scorn as
things of no account—such are among the re-
sults of exclusively popular sway in America,
which our author, nevertheless, would gladly
see extended to France. Having pointed out
the besetting defect in M. Blanc's work, we may
observe in fairness to him, that many of his
statements are deeply interesting ; and that he
writes in a light, lively, and picturesque
style, throwing many of his more stirring inci-
dents into quite a dramatic form, that cannot fail
to rivet attention. Of' the abilities of Talleyrand,
we perceive that he speaks with infinite con-
tempt; but the statesman who kept his head on
his shoulders through so many violent political
changes as he witnessed, and took a conspicuous
share in, has taken it out of the power of any
writer justly to impugn his consummate sagacity
and far-sightedness. As a specimen of the pe-
culiar spirit that pervades M. Blanc's History,
we subjoin his reflections on the capitulation or
Paris in 1814 :

"What followed is well known ; and where is the