Star.
London, England, 1830-08-19 00:00:00

TRADE or THE AMERICANS AND OF OTHER roitticNtits

WITH CHINA.
The Russians are said to be excluded from Canton in consequence
of the privileges they enjoy of trading with China overland. Of the
other European nations, those which have been mentioned as conti-
nuing to resort to Canton are, the French, the Dutch, the Swedes
and Danes, and the Austrians ; but the trade of all these is compa-
ratively trifling. The most important of them is the Dutch trade,
which used to be conducted by a company with exclusive privileges,
but is now thrown open.
There is, however, a Netherlands Association, of modern forma-
tion, by which the Dutch China trade is principally conducted, and
which appears to have been established with the hope of promoting
the sale in China of Belgian manufactures. In that object the Ne-
therlands Association failed ; and its returns in tea have caused •
loss, it is said, of 25 per cent. on the capital employed. This As-
sedation is restricted from exporting B • it manufactures to China.
Although the Dutch trade (u before observed) is principally carried
on through the Netherlands Association, no such restrictions as to
British manufactures is imposed upon Dutch private traders, who,
however, in consequence of heavy losses, occasioned by competition
with the Americans, are stated to have in a great measure aban-
doned the trade since 11125.

This trade of the Dutch has been carried on in ships of front 400
to 500 tons, and is conducted by resident agents in China, where
there are two supercargoes and a consul. It does not appear that of
late years the Dutch have experienced any difficulties in the trans-
action of business at Canton.

The Americans used to conduct an extensive carrying trade Prom
China toHolland and other parts; but this has considerably fallen off,
owing to the Dutch and other nations importing direct fur their own
use. It has been stated, however, that the Americans can still com.
pcte with the Dutch in their own market.

The aggregate of the American trade with China has increased
since 1814 ; but latterly there has been a falling off: Their exports
consist principally of dollars, which, even since they began to take
British manufactures to Canton, have formed two-thirds of the total
exported. The imports into America from China are chiefly teas
aid manufactured silks. The latter article is said to yield the best
return, though that has not always been the case.

Their tea trade was formerly very profitable; but, in consequence
of ovcrtrading, encouraged by a system adopted in the United States
of giving to the importers of tea a year's credit for the duties, it sub-
sequently became a losing one. The American trade with China
seems also to have suffered from the establishment (by authority of
the Act of the b Geo. IV. cap 88) of the trade of the Company
from China to Canada, which settlement was previously sup.
plied, in a great measure, with tea smuggled from the United
States.

That part of the American trade which relates to India and China,
is stated not to labour under greater depression than any other trade
of the United States ; and opinions have been expressed, that if
conducted upon correct principles, and brought within proper limits,
the American trade with China might still be profitable.

The Americana are said to navigate their ships at a less expense,
not only than the Company, but than British merchants in general.
Some of the American vessels are chartered by various persons in
shares, each of whom may and often does send a supercargo ; but
this is not done in all cues. Instances have been mentioned of the
transactions of a voyage having been wholly, and without difficulty,
managed in China by the commander of the ship ; but the more fre.
quent practice is to employ a resident agent, it being thought that
the business Is better arranged with the Chinese by persons of
established confidence than by strangers.
The American Consul, at Canton, acts as agent for those who
choose to employ him ; and there are several American merchants
who reside in China.

The Americans are well treated in Chins. Their trade is said to
be popular there in consequence of the large importation of dollars ;
and it has been interrupted only once since 1814. The cause of the
interruption was an accidental homicide of a Chinese by an Italian
seaman of an American ship. lie was given up to the local autho.
titles : by their order he was put to death, and then the trade
i was resumed.
EFFECTS EXPECTED FROM THE AROLITION or THE COM.
PANT'S EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE.
. _ .

The opening of the trade between Great Britain and China would
not, it is thought, cause any alteration in the policy of the Chinese
Government towards foreigners, unless the revenue should fall off
from an increase of smuggling by free traders, or unless there should
be from private disputes more frequent collisions between Europeans
and Chinese. In either of these contingencies, apprehensions are
entertained that the trade might be entirely interdicted. But, on
the other hand, it is said that such a fatal result would be averted
either by the sense which the Chinese Government entertains of the
value of the trade, or by the influence of the population of Canton,
and of the tea districts, which are deeply interested in its continu-
ance. If the trade were interdicted, tea, it is thought, might be
brought to Sincapore, and other places accessible to the British tra-
ders, in Chinese junks ; but such a commerce is stated to be con-
trary at present to the laws of China ; and much doubt is felt, whe-
ther, by the mesas of such insecure vessels as the junks are repre.
sensed to be, tea could be obtained in sufficient quantities for the
English market.
it is said that the interest of the Hong merchants, in a pecuniary
point of view, would be promoted by an open trade, as an increase
in the number of the purchasers of tea would afford an opportunity
for commanding high prices. In spite, however, of such expected
advantage, the Hong merchants, from an apprehension of increased
risk and responsibility, are represented to be against any change.
On the other hand, it is stated that the Americans and other fo-
reigners, dealing freely as private traders, have not experienced any
combination against them on the part of the Hong merchants.
In order to derive advantage from a free trade between Great
Britain and China, it would be necessary, as some think, that the
monopoly of the Hong merchants should cease, and that a commer-
cial treaty, upon mutually liberal principles, should be formed be.
tween the two countries. It is, however, apprehended that the
Chinese would not be induced to enter into such a treaty by any
other than coercive means, and these it is fancied might be easily and
successfully used.
Many oil the witnesses are strongly impressed with the belief, that
a very large increase in the consumption of British manufactures
would be the consequence of opening the trade. Private merchants,
they say, can push a commerce much better than a company; and
new wants and desires would be created by the never.ceasing swiss
of individual enterprise and speculation. These witnesses refer not
only to the fact of the Americans having of late made exports of
British manufactures to China, but they also refer to the result of
opening the trade with India, followed, as that measure unques-
tionably was, by an immense increase in the exports from this
country.
In opposition to these views, it is said that the small proportion
of the American exports of British manufactures, relatively with
bullion, coupled with the fact that the officers of the Company's
ships, having no freight to pay, have not increased their exports,
ought to be considered as proof that the consumption has not, as yet,
been found susceptible of any material augmentation. It is further
stated, that a formidable obstacle to the growth of a profitable ex-
port trade from Great Britain to China, arises from the obligation
under which India is placed of annually effecting a large remit-
tance to England, and which remittance is now advantageously made
by the Company through the medium of Chinese produce. It is
likewise observed, that the extended use of British manufactures in
India has been promoted by fiscal regulations, which the British
Government had the power there to make, but which it could not
effect in China.
With respect to the price of tea, it is thought that the first effect
of an increased demand in China, consequent upon the opening of
the trade, would be materially to raise the price there ; though in-
deed this effect (unless the Hong should he enabled to dictate prices)
might be expected gradually to subside.
It is said that the charges of bringing the tea to England ami
selling it, would be much less in a free trade than they are at pre-
sent, and therefore that tea would be afforded to the consumer at a
lower rate. In answer to this it is temarked, that most of the Com.
pany's charges are controlled by law; that these might be reduced
if the law were altered; and that what the Company get in shape
ol'arzfit is necessary, with the obligatiorts imposed upon them, to
en
able them to administer the government 6? India.' According to
this view, whatever the consumer of tea might gain by a rientkill
of the rate of profit to the importer, would either be at a sacrifice to
India, not now in a situation to bear it, or must be made up by the
people of England; besides whit% it has been obseeved; 'thee, the
ability of the private traders to furnish tea cheaper than the Com.