The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-01-31 00:00:00

PEACg efillA

SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT OF OUR TRADE AND INTER-
COURSE WITH THAT COUNTRY, WITH INDIA, AND WITH
OUR SOUTH SEA COLONIES, BY STEAM-SHIP COMMUNI-
CATION VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

our publication of the 20th instant we noticed, in the
favourable terms that then suggested tl.emselves, aa able

article in the Colonial Jl-,

)ject, from the pen of Mr. Rout

this town, and now of Allonby, a gentleman in whom is

united the experience of the merchant with that of the sailor,
and whose knowledge of the East, as well as of our South

Sea dependencies—rapidly rising in national importance—
entitles his opinions to the deepest consideration, not only of
that portion of our community who carry their enterprise, for
the general weal, to the remotest quarters of the globe, but
of her Majesty's government, who by well-directed nice-
sures, and, if need be, pecuniary aid, may enable private
companies or individuals to extend the field of our profitable
traffic—the best and surest mode of submerging those politi-
cal discontents, and mutual recriminations. of party, that
affect our yet especially favoured and indomitable_country.
A second perusal of the article has induced us to recur to the
facts adduced by our author, and more particularly to his
new, bold, and (we think) practical proposition for the ex-
tension of our intercottrse with the Chinese empire and our
South Sea colonies, and the cementing of the friendly rela-
tions already arrived at with the former—by the establish-
ment of a regular line of steam-ships between them and
England, via the Cape of Good ilope.
We may recapitulate that he introduces his subject by
some congratulatory remarks on the achievement of an ho-
nourable peace with China, and pays a high and merited
compliment to the British forces employed in that perilous,
and, for some time, doubtful service, for the skill, courage,
and perseverance which they displayed throughout. He
also compliments the home authorities for their judicious
arrangements for (if we may so term it) the opening of the
campaign last year; and after stating that the Yang tse,
the largest river in Asia, has been successfully explored and
traversed by a victorious British fleet, from the sea to where
it is crossed by the Grand Canal, above Nankin—a distance
of 250 miles from its mouth—thus giving us the key of the
canal navigation, and also noting our new possessions in that
country, he thui concludeS this part of his subject :

" Our success in China will exercise a most beneficial in-
fluence in our favour in the Cochin China, Siam, Birmab,
and the Malayan States, for they have ull hitherto been
strongly impressed with the idea that, however we might be
able to deal as suited our purpose with themselves, or Ilin-
dostan, China was more than a match for us."

Under the head of our " Prospects of an improved trade
with China," our author urges " every possible honest effort
within our reach, to extend the trade profitably and honour-
ably, and to endeavour to cement friendship with China,"
and through proper fiscal and other regulations for the pro-
motion of "trade, the protection of life and property, and the
redress of grievances at the ports newly opened, and the
establishment of a mutually beneficial understanding on all
essential points between us and the Chinese, before our
forces move one foot homeward, he anticipates the greatest
advantages:

" Then," (he exclaims) " from the great resources and
wealth of China; from the persevering industry of her 360
million inhabitants, and from the fixed and resolute national
trading propensities. and the ceaseless commercial enterprise
of the plodding Chinese part of the population, (above ninety-
nine parts of one hundred of the whole,) it is not too much
to anticipate confidently, that the result of the China war will
be to the effect of affording more relief to the industry and
enterprise of our overflowing population, and of infusing
more new life, in motive for active commercial (and no doubt
profitable) operations, than any other one measure whatever,
and prove in the result highly beneficial to both countries."

Mr. Wise considers that the four additional ports opened
to us by war for trade in China, are adm'irably selected in
point of position, for the extension of our commerce with the
most populous and wealthy parts of that Empire. Shanghai
is especially so, from its being the sea-port of the capital—
Nankin, and also the Yang-tse river, which passes through
the richest and most populous part of China. His only ap-
prehension is, that the Mandarins and Hong merchants may
thwart the terms of the treaty of peace. On the other hand,
should the Tartar government show good faith, and remove
all restrictions on trade, he anticipates an immense extension
of our China trade in goods and merchandise, particularly
suited to the wants of the Chinese. He appears to have at-
tained a knowledge of their requirements, and points out the
various articles of manufacture, &c., in most extensive de-
mand, and for which we can at all times obtain teas and silks.
He winds up this section of his observations with the follow-
ing passage :

" Some of the South American States, which possess little
or nothing else but gold and silver for foreign trade, have for
a great number of years taken largely of our merchandise
annually, and paid us mainly in the precious metals; China
has gold, silver, copper, and other ore mines in abundance,
her population is certainly both the largest and the most in-
dustrious on the face of the earth, she therefore possesses all
the requisites for obtaining the needful to pay us for our
merchandise to a very large amount annually; doubtless the
industrious millions of China, can do as much in proportion
to their numbers, in this respect, as the indolent thousands
in some of the South American States, have done for a series
of years past."

We now come to the grand proposition of our author,
namely, the establishment of a line of steam-ships between
England and China, and England and Australia, via Saldanha
Bay, Cape of Good Elope. On this important point we must
permit the author, who has drawn up his calculations with
the accuracy of a skilful navigator, to speak to some extent
for himself. He says—

" From the Lizard Point, in the English Channel, to Sal-
danha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, is 5650 miles by the shortest
route that can he taken, viz., direct from the English Chan-
nel to the west coast of Africa, rounding Cape Blanche and
Cape Verd, Africa, as near as is prudent; thence close past
our own colony on the river Gambia; and thence again di-
rect onward to Saldanha Bay. Cape of Good Elope, which
voyage can be made in twenty-six days, at the average rate
of speed at which the Atlantic Ocean steamers perform at
present—say about nine miles per hour—and if steamers can
be made to navigate faster, the length and expense of the
voyage will, of course, be shortened in proportion.
" From Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, to the British
settlement of Hong-kong, China, is 7010 miles, by the near-
est route that can be taken, viz., direct from the Cape of
Good Hope to Acheen Head, Sumatra; thence through the
straits of Malacca to the British colony of Singapore ; and
thence again up the China Sea to Hongkong, which voyage
may be performed in thirty-two, say thirty-two days, at the
average rate of speed at which the Atlantic Ocean steamers
make their voyages between England and America at present.
" Hence the steam-voyage between England and China,
via Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, can be performed in
sixty days, allowing two days to take in coal, at the average
rate of speed performing at present, all the year round, in
the stormy Atlantic Ocean : it is therefore only reasonable
to expect that a very considerable higher rate of speed will
be obtained on the comparatively yr.:Ex-FINE-weather voy-
age from England to China, via the Cape of Good Hope."

He recommends, as the first place of call for coals on the
outward voyage, the new position near the mouth of the river
Gambia, in Africa, recommended by the Parliamentary com-
mittee last session to be colonized by the West India Afri-
cans, and considers that a few hours stay at such a point
would not subject to nearly so much risk of health as an
overland trip through Egypt. The Island of Ascension,
which is healthy, and nearly midway between the west coast
of Africa and Brazil; would, he thinks, form a convenient sta-
tion for our African squadron employed in the suppression of
the slave trade, and in the protection of our mercantile ma-
rine trading round the Cape of Good Hope, and round Cape
Horn ; but, as touching these would lengthen the voyage to
the former by about a day's run, he prefers making the run
direct from Gambia to Saldanha Bay, of which, as well as of
the other suggested stations, he gives the following interesting
particulars :

"Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, is a spacious, safe,
deep-water, land-locked harbour, has few equals in any part
of the world, and no equal in Africa, south of the line ; in it
any number of ships, of the largest size, may lie anchored,
secure from all winds, at all and every season of the year ;
and, for a coal depot, it cannot be surpassed, if equalled :
fresh water (its supposed want formerly, and which has been
the cause of its neglect) bas been lately found to be (all the
year round) both plentiful and pure on Schapen Island, (in
the bay,) and also at the residency ; supplies of poultry,
cattle, sheep, vegetables, fruit, wine, &c., are plentiful and
cheap ; the soil in the neighbourhood is fertile, and the cli-
mate is both most delightful and most healthy ; no delay need
be occasioned here beyond a few hours to take in coals, &c.;
this safe and beautiful harbour, in fact, lies in a different cli-
mate altogether from Table Bay itself, although only about a
degree distant from it, northward, as every observant naviga-
tor will have noticed, on his passage home from India, by the
sudden change from unsettled to fine weather, after rounding
the Cape of Good Hope. Saldanha Bay is capable of being
made as valuable and vulnerable a naval station and rendez-
volts as Trincumale has been made, and it is as much superior
to either Table Bay, or Ealse Bay, Cape of Good Hope, as
Trincomale harbour is to Madras roads. When our immense
trade east of the Cape of Good Hope is considered, and when
the protection required for the great number of our merchant
ships that lass round the Cape yearly is also taken into the
account, it is to be hoped that the attention of our Govern-
ment may, at an early period, be seriously drawn to this va-
luable position, situated in a most fertile part, of the Cape of
Good Hope colony, than which none is capable of producing
greater wealth, nor of returning greater benefits to the mo—
ther-country, for any outlay or attention which she may bestow
upon it.

Port Louis, Isle of France, and Singapore, Malacca Straits,
these two good and safe British harbours are both well known
to possess all the requisites as depots for coal, and also for
affording every facility in giving quick despatch to the passing
steamers. Both these healthy and delightful British har-
bours lie in the direct route from the Cape of Good Hope to
China, rendering it unnecessary to deviate from a direct
course either out or home. Good water, poultry, vegetables,
and every other article of refreshment, may be obtained at
both harbours.

" Point de Galle harbour, Ceylon, though affording suffi-
cient room and depth of water for a moderate number of
vessels in safety at once, is not the most desirable anchorage
at all times for sailing ships, on account of sundry detached
small rocks scattered over its surface, and on account of a
swell which tumbles into the harbour with a high south-west
wind, but it nevertheless possesses all the necessary capabili-
ties for being made into a safe and excellent coal-station for
steamers, which class of vessels in these latitudes can always
choose their anchorage, and thread their way in and out.
Calling at Galle would lengthen the passage from England to
China 236 miles, or about one day's run by steamer."

Our author supplies tables of the courses and distances
between the proposed stations on the respective steam voy-
ages out from England to China, and from England to Aus-
tralia, viii the Cape of Good Hope, which will be perused
with much interest by nautical men. These he follows up
by the following table and remarks :

" Comparisons respecting Steam Routes to Ceylon (Point

de Galle Harbour.)

By steam from Falmouth, by Mediterranean,
overland journey through Egypt, and by

steam down Red Sea and Indian 0,
Galle, Ceylon
By steam from English Channel to (
by Cape Good Hope, caning for c,
„