The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-21 00:00:00

EXTINGUISHING OF FIRES

A meeting of the rate-payers of Liverpool was held on
Friday last in the Sessions-house, Chapel-street, to take into
consideration the clauses of a bill introduced into the House
of Commons by the Commissioners of Paving and Sewering,

g an adequate supply of water for the extinguish-
ing of fires. The attendance was not very numerous. JOHN
lioLmEs, Esq., Chairman of the Commissioners, was called
to the chair.

for providir

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the rocdins observed,
that they were all aware of the extenpsiveee losses which had
arisen in the town in consequence of the fires that had already
taken place from the want of water to extinguish them, and
they were also aware of the constant complaints which were
made from the streets not being properly watered in hot
weather. To remedy those evils it had been determined to
apply to parliament for a bill to give certain powers to the
Highway Commissioners, which he would call ou Mr. Deane
to read .to the meeting.
Mr. DEANE read several of the clauses, and stated the
effect of others. The main provisions may be briefly stated
to be to empower the commissioners to carry into effect the
plan proposed by Mr. Ashlin, with which all interested in
the subject are, we conceive, familiar. The commissioners
are to be enabled to supply any of the inhabitants with water
for private baths or other purposes. They are further to be
empowered to borrow at interest, on the credit of the rates,
any sum not exceeding thirty thousand pounds; authority is
also sought to levy a rate, with a proviso that it shall not
exceed, in any one year, the sum of one penny in the pound.
And as the corporation have agreed to contribute a certain
annual sum towards the expense of maintaining the engines,
reservoirs, &c., a clause is inserted to authorise the treasurer
of that body to pay to the commissioners the annual sum of
X5OO,

Mr. Alderman Nicol., said they had heard the two princi-
pal clauses of the bill before the meeting read, viz., as to the
mode of supplying the town with water for the streets and
!xtinguishing fires, and the way in which it was to be paid
tor. It was not necessary for him to detain them many
Minutes in order to show them that something in the shape
of that bill was absolutely necessary in Liverpool. During
the last eight months they had seen almost weekly extensive
fires in the town, principally caused from the want of water
to extinguish them in their origin. He had taken an active
tart not only in the mode of altering and building warehouses,
ut also in the considerations which had lately taken place
in the council respecting abetter mode of supplying the town
with water. In doing so, many parties had been consulted,
and among
the rest the Water Companies, with a view of as-
certaining whether any arrangement could be entered into
with them for supplying a sufficient quantity of water for the
extinguishing of fires. It was, however, found absolutely
necessary, to accomplish this, that pipes or mains should be
aid down alto;,,,ether distinct from those which supplied the
houses in the town. Many of the casualities to which he had
alluded took place in the night, and it generally happened,
from the quantity of water supplied to houses in the town, a
good portion of which was from the mains, that they were empty
beforebe morning. In consequence of this it was found necessary
consider how separate pipes could be laid down so as to
?sure a sufficient supply at all times for the putting out of
fires, and watering the streets of the town. At present a
considerable sum was paid to the water companies for water
or the latter purpose, but enough could not be furnished,
and they were now obliged to have recourse to other sources.
.„his suin, together with what would be contributed by the
-;?,'Poration would go far towards paying the expenses, but
s.till it was absolutely necessary to provide for the cost, al-
though it might not be required. Mr. Nicol concluded
with moving the first resolution, for which, as well as the
others, see the advertisement.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. JAMES ACKERS.
, Mr. Foal) asked what was the estimated cost, and the ex-
tent to which they intended to carry the main pipes ?
Mr. BIRKETT replied that it was thought £14,000 would
lay down nine miles of piping, but by doubling that length of
piping it was found the expense would reach nearly £30,000.
Should, however, the inhabitants sanction the plan. it was
the
proposed to raise the sum of £50,000, instead of £30,000, at
same time providing that the rate should not exceed one
fenny in the pound. The commissioners, in this matter,
aroPosed to go on by degrees, as they had done with the
fir'
of ie town.
, FORD said there could only be one opinion as to the
desirableness of a better supply of water in the town, but
there might be more than one opinion as to the mode in
which that supply was to be obtained. There were several
water companies in the town, and when they obtained their
actstcts they were allowed to make an additional charge in their
e 8) in consequence
of their undertaking to supply water
to general fires.
Mr
m • Fi Altnono said that only applied to one of them.
r• FORD said, if that was the case, and there was a
f ause inserted in their bill compelling them to supply water
tia_that Purpose, why did not the commissioners call upon
them to say why they did not afford an abundant supply for
PkirPose of extinguishing fires, at all events in accordance
ivveict? the spirit, if not the letter of the law? They had neg-
Led to do so, and now appeared before the rate-payers with
scheme which would cost the town an enormous 43% lie lie (Mr. Ford) did not approve of that scheme, and
forght, it would he much better if the bill was postponed;
And if it was passed in its present state, they would
they
themselves surrounded with difficulties from which
Passing that
not be able easily to extricate themselves. By
that bill they entirely exonerated the water com-
paniese from what be considered they were bound to do,
sid• n had no notion of doing that unless there was a con-
y erable reduction in the enormous rates now charged by
raise
water companies. The plan now proposed was to
wale water from the river to be preserved in tanks. That
rodrr was salt water, which would act very rapidly in cor-
Andn the iron pipes through which it passed, and the lifting
forcingwell iof it would be a most expensive process, as
mac as keeping the number of persons necessary to work the
feet groggy, to examine the pipes, and to keep them in per-
offioeuruet,r, and also to see that every key would perform its
with was sorry they had not come before the meeting
oier a proper and exact estimate of the cost, instead of a
eal_e abstract measure. They ought to have had ready a
vay'ettlation of the cost likely to be thrown upon the rate-
to e rs• What did they mean to do ? Did they mean merely
to tinnfine the laying down of pipes to a few main streets, or
theue neighbourhood of the warehouses? (No, no.) If
tvolligiq not, instead of requiritbor nine miles of piping, they
they find three times nine would be inadequate. Would
Piai °Prigea the principal seats of the town to lay down

—Yes, we would

The' c_
Mr t,..4414.11AN,
nuicanee a, the St . 'oan.—Nothing was so great. a.
con-
theanttnlaYing-and re-laying of pipes in the principal streets of
a -,,wn• Would it not, therefore, be the wisestcoeuorusesutlot
iwithYastKike the bill before them for the present, and .
su„ , the water companies, to ascertain. whether they could
they,,P'Y them with a sufficiency to extinguish fires? Could
with not allow them for that purpose, if they could not do it
s,Vl,their present funds, a small ratetoan_warehouse property,
'it.ll at present paid them no rate a 11 ?
tha,, ,131113(ETT said that mode would be much less expensive
m tilf. present plan.
f r• I'oRD (in continuation) complained of the want of in-
plans under which the meeting laboured resnectingmteltite_
Plans to be . •
sure 0 carried into effect by the bill, and said the d
th "Plated with the Corporation of Liverpool, who ha
.e Public funds at their disposal, and who could without in-
di ivicid.,a,
cost, have given the public that lierm.ation they were
'Poit)wihttg,for. He found a Fire bill had originathteedliwoitohsetloref
CO: '-ouncil, but after its introduction into
reasonsna it had been found necessary, perhaps for more
Board ;than one, to divide it into two, and hand to the
41 ~,
incr._ ~ renwick-street. There was a clause in that bill
Mr' $g
the rate from Id. to Id.
mr. Li, ,
At% KLTT.—Nro, no. 10,.., roux, said he had obtained a copy of the bill from the
11. n-hall, a clause of which he read for the benefit of Mr.
-Irxett,
Mr B
1'0,,,, • IRKErr said that bill had been introduced by bor. thetito
1,01,10-clerk, but had not yet received the sanction
were
also • Co k,
The clauses, however,
the 0, the bill before the meeting, had bineeni 'struck out of
Mr, FD
out? Fußn•----Why was not the money clause also struck
M IR,I
a bill : —IRICETT said it had been found necessary to
ointr_odvuei:.e.
. ~,, _
Pool p( 27 the House of Commons giving the Mayor of
off Vium.
bur b wer, in case such a tire should occur. as prj to order the blowing down of adjoining property, to
Tow" its spreading That bill had been drawn up hy the
nor
had tncelerk, but it had. never been before the Council,
Mri.r.,' as yet expressed any opinion on it.
irk b ~_Ln Gan still
Complainedco that the rating clause. was left
tr °`a bills and gee that it would be better to
;:_,%tr vvith the water companies, as their reservoirs were con-
st ablv hi
. -,gher than any warehouse in Liverpool, and -114-
brai,e(l,_ the Propriety of their supplying the houses. from al, ea instead of inain pipes, so that the latter migh I.
theaTh kept full in case of fire. He also suggested thata util
rtheeornk7tio.e.libe"ssuepsplPiei should be placed, with plugs
to e ,o.
k 'finding as in .
itt anehester, supplied water from cisterns at the f
l factories in the neighbourhood of
_ g should ad
jaontdtrocosfenovcrelurtadmede,b recommending that the meet-
i untily it was ascertained whether
Siwly arra
d ngernent could be effected with the water companies,
bent° obtain the opinions of scientific individuals as to the
mrnode of obtainno, a sufficiency of water.
pothrPAanoun saiirMr. Ford had not given them the on-
pearfttY of affording them Or, r information which he ap-
hott;" So Much in need of, and again he attacked the ware-
the Proprietors, as though' they were perfect beggars upon
kfrotrununity.
kr' FORD,-1 never mentioned them.
sun. • rIARBoan replied that Mr. Ford had made various.
th:getions about taxing them, but he (Mr. H.) thought if
eoriYtrWibere disposed to' be selfish they could say already they
stzto uted towards many things of no use to them, and in-
whieeed th warehouse e watering and flagging of the streets,
mh the 'proprietors could do without. natir• l'oan asked permission to say a few words in expla-
guru(r", pad was proceeding when he was stopped by
' t'llaerman EARLE, who said he was answering the ar-
charr, ,of Mr. Harboard instead of explaining, and he was
Warehouse' 'e' Mr. Earle with having attacked the owners of
Mr, on account of the large per cantage they paid.
M • c.,1'0110 denied havin. done so.
ex r• S. HoLue said he Zertainly had, for he had taken the
t,,,lession down.
aftnr• J• Surrx, one of the proprietors of the Mercury,
eluded addressed the meeting at some length, and coo-
in'sened his observations by proposing that a clause should be
nle.,r,ted in the bill authorising the award of prizes for the
,VAfter suggestions on the subject.
rer a few words from Mr. Birkett and Mr, Ford,
kovi.bRANE read the sth clause of the bill, in which it is
freiri Idea that the water may be taken from the docks, "or
on, atlY other source from which water can be conveniently
dined ~ ,
Some ' • me.
kNA. discussion ensued on this point, after which Mr.
that asPER spoke at some length against the bill. He argued
the„, the warehouse proprietors received great per centage,
deirabrght to pay also great premiums, and that as a consi-
forei e Portion of the goods in the warehouses belonged to
..;:_resgetlnsoeursfse, and were there on commission, therefore the
own ere
ought to pay the greater portion of the ex-
3fir. (,),. the present measure.—The clause was carried.
propose .ANILJEL HOLME said that he had a resolution to
liviBatseuoenre,thbfuatohad attended there rather in the character of a
a speaker. The question before the meeting
ernsPerit° great local importance, involving the commercial
,00ked a.Y. nf the port ; and he thought that those who
aided
vr t it in a narrow and isolated manner, and took a one-
questiolne of the subject, could hardly be said to treat the
separate t.as Its
importance
deserved. It was impossible. to
the le interests of all classes of society : the interest of
kee merchant was the interest of the tradesman, the shop-
(labourer he mechanic; arid the interest too, of the humblest
Hear,)who earned his livelihood on the quays' of our docks..
-s. We cannot legislate for classes. (Hear.) M e are
class, it were one vast family ; and what is injurious to one
coerce bY the singular and unalterable ramifications of corn-
eated ,t 1 is felt to be injurious to all. He, therefore, depre-
see - , is
Petty and unworthy feeling which lie was sorry. to
xi_ incl ainfested 'on this occasion, because he had hoped to find tliiieinilo" 00
a question such as that under discussion. Le.
%gray loot'
at the effects produced by the late calamitous con-
leek 1°"s• (Hear.) The losses sustained had not to
ut da..:"ed bY hundreds and thousands of pounds; b
rxii,j;:ng the last few years that loss had to be computed by
(Hear.)
they""s*
L.. sufferer ?
u the dwellings
No. Ras 'it the merchant alone who was
\Vere not our warehouses surroundedthe
most distressing
element which, wherei ke iP(iluuridn.
scl tehees Poor ' Had they not witnessed
t,auseehrvant but egr tiro i e feeracontrol, awgaess
soofustetti
, when buirstiunr, foprthpin all its fierceness,o was
i
seen they trannical master ? (Loud cheers.) He had often
their poorer classes removing their furniturc—P heat-
all—amidst scenes of distress which were most

rending; and he entreated gentlemen, while they looked
well after their own affairs, not to be blind to the dietates
of benevolence. (Loud cheers.) The insecurity of property
in Liverpool was attended with disastrous results to our
commerce ; and, considering how the prosperity of the
shopkeeper was identified with the prosperity of the mer-
chant, he thought all classes were interested in bettering
the present condition of things. (Hear, hear.) Although
he was not a merchant, it was clear to him that 235.
per cent. was more than the merchant could afford in
these days of competition to pay for insurance • and he
begged them to recollect that railroads had in no slight de-
gree destroyed the advantages of localities, and that it the
commerce of Liverpool continued to be burthened with such
an exorbitant rate of insurance, it might probably take the
wings of the railroad, and fly away. (Hear.) What was it
that had made land and buildings so valuable in Liverpool ?
Intrinsically and abstractedly, land in Castle-street was
worth little more than land in the middle of Chat Moss :
and the bricks and the timber of which the shops in Castle-
street were constructed, were worth no more in one place
than in another. (Hear.) Why, then, that land was worth
£2O a square yard, and why did the shops produce such high
rents? It was the commerce of the port that stamped
value on the property in the town. It was the enterprise of
the merchant—the foreign produce he imported, and which
tilled our warehouses—that gave value to the house, the
shop, and the office—that gave employment to the multi-
tudes, who react upon the shopkeeper, and furnished both
them and all classes with the means of acquiring an honour-
able livelihood. (Loud cheers.) And was it, then, the
paltry consideration of whether we should have a halfpenny
or a penny in the pound, that would induce gentlemen
to reject a bill having for its object the preservation
both of property and life? (Hear, hear.) He entreated
all who heard him to take a broader view of this impor-
tant question, and not, by a petty and unworthy oppo-
sition, to assist in committing local suicide. (Hear.) He
protested that if the present state of things were permitted
long to exist, and fire after tire took place, it must end in the
destruction of the character of this port; and, although the
charges from this bill would fall as heavily on him as on any
person in the town, he should neither be doing his duty to
the constituency who had sent him into the council to protect
the interests of the town, nor should he satisfy his own
conscience, if he did not lift up his voice and protest against
such a state of things as now existed being any longer en-
dured. (Applause.) They had a most efficient fire-police—
well disciplined, well arranged, and prompt in action. Mr.
Whitty, their leader, was deserving of all praise ; but what
could he or they do when at every fire they were left without
water? (Cheers.) Suppose the army of the Duke of Welling-
ton in the Peninsula had been brought face to face with that
of Marshal Soult, and they had found when they got into
action that although they were well commanded, and had
their muskets in order, they had no ammunition in their
cartouch boxes! (Loud laughter.) Where would they have
been ? And yet such was the situation of the fire-police at
the late fire at Messrs. Fawcetts. When he (Kr. Holmes)
arrived on the spot, he would have guaranteed all the damage
for a few hundred pounds, if he had had a copious supply of
water. (Hear, hear.) And yet the fire-police were obliged
to stand by for hours and see building after building con-
sumed without any means of extinguishing it. (Hear.) And
here he was reminded that it was not always warehouses that
first took fire. Thy great fire in Formby-street did not
originate in a warehouse, but in a bone-boiling house. (Hear.)
The late fire originated in an iron foundry ; and he appealed
to Mr. Rushton, who was present with the mayor, whether
the fire did not spread from the foundry across the street,
and set fire to the warehouses, when there was not a drop of
water to be got to impede its progress. And had we not had
steam mills, and buildings of all descriptions, consumed
where the same want of water was as severely felt ? (Hear.)
A scheme had been mentioned by Mr. Smith, of stopping
the progress of fires by hanging up iron screens against the
doors and windows of opposite buildings. Who in the world
world venture in the face of such an intolerable heat as that
which aenerally existed, to hang up such screens, even if they
were on the spot, and if there was machinery to get them
up ? It was like attempting to resist the attack of a ferocious
tiger by unfurling a parasol for self-defence. (Laughter.)
Mr. Ford had drawn a comparison between the returns
yielded from warehouses and cottages to the disparagement
of the former ' • but he begged to_tell that gentleman, that he
(Mr. Hohne) had had some little experience in both sorts of
property, and as far as that experience went, deducting the
loss of rents by empty warehousei, he thought warehouses
did not yield on the average quite as large a rate of interest
as cottagesdid. (Hear.) Mr. Ford had spoken, too, of the
projected mains not being carried through every street, as
being unfair, and of the difficulty of carrying them through
streets with 6-yard butts, where there were already two gas
and two water pipes. To the former argument he replied,
that there were many streets where the companies had now
no mains at all; and to the latter, that the pipes were not
laid alongside each other in many streets, but, in srune cases.
over each other ; and even if they were not, there was still
room in any street for the contemplated main. (Hear hear.)
He had stated before this his conviction that the supply of
water to this town ought never to have been left in the hands
of private companies—(loud cries of " Hear, hear"),—but
that it ought to have been provided by the constituted au-
thorities, and then the mains would have been kept con-
stantly filled; but as the companies, wisely for their own
advantage, turned off the water when persons were supplied
for domestic purposes, Mr. Ford's proposition for having
pipes carried to the top of every warehouse would be useless,
because it would be generally connected with an empty
main ; and would be about as serviceable as an empty pipe
of another description would be to a smoking friend whom
he saw below him, if that friend had no tobacco to put in it.
(Loud laughter.) Mr. Ford had contrasted the warehouses
of Liverpool with the factories of Manchester; but he (Mr.
Holme) knew something of the factories of Manchester as
well as Mr. Ford did. He therefore begged to inform that
gentleman, that most of the Manchester factories possessed
wells of water wherewith to work their steam-engines ; and
to many of those engines were attached powerful forcing
pumps, kept ready for seasons of emergency ; and therefore
the contrast between them and Liverpool warehouses, without
such advantages, and used merely for storing goods, fell to the
ground. (Applause.) He now turned to Mr. John Smith,
who, with his usual ability and good humour, had appeared in
the character of an antagonist to this bill ; and he asked that
gentleman, when he expressed hostilities to the Water Com-
panies, whether carrying out the present proposition was not
the first step to the destruction of.their monopoly? (Hear.)
Mr. Smith had spoken of spontaneous combustion in ware-
houses. He (Mr. H.) thought that that combustion had
been the spontaneous one which arose from smoking tobacco
in cotton rooms, and which had caused so many fires.—
(Hear.) He also asked why the committee had not sought
for new designs and new modes of hettering tho prooont
state of things. He could assure Mr. Smith that the com-
mittee had had before them plans without number, some of
them good ; and he had had schemes propounded to him pri-
vately which convinced him that some of the inventors were
hardly in their right mind.—(Laughter.) Not that he could
be supposed to be insensible to the value of mechanical sci-
ence, for he desired to pay to mechanical science the just
tribute it deserved ; and he would answer for the committee,
of which he was a member, that they would give every con-
sideration to any suggestion which men of science would
bring before them. What they now asked for, to enable them
to accede to the standing orders of the House of Commons, ,
was merely that the Parishioners would sanction time general ;
principles of the measure, and thus no time would be lost.
Surely the commissioners of sewers might be trusted to
forward this essential measure; and if they betrayed their
trust, the remedy was in the hands of those who had to re-
elect them. And in reference to the other part of the rnea-
saure, which fell into the hands of the council, the same
remedy was at hand. If their representatives failed in doing
their duty, let them be rejected. (Hear.) Let this measure
be faithfully and honestly carried out, and he was convinced
that it would be an advantage to the whole community.
There could be no legislation for a particular class in such a
case as this. The richest and the poorest were alike in-
terested : and he had no doubt the day would arrive when
all would cheerfully acknowledge it, and every man present
would cordially approve of the perseverance of those who
now sought powers to carry this bill. (Loud cheering.)
.

Mr. RUSHTON fully corroborated all Mr. Holme; had
said respecting the consequences of the want of water at
fires.

Mr. J. S. WALKER strongly urged the necessity for suf-
ficient supplies of water being obtained to protect the town,
in proof of which he mentioned that that very day the fire
in Lydia Ann-street had again broken out, and a fire had
occurred in Duke-street for which no water could for a length
of time be procured.
Mr. J. Salmi said, before it was passed, be wished to
observe that he could not agree to the bill unless an assurance
was given that his suggestion as to obtaining the very best
plans should be adopted.
Mr. HoudEs said they had seen plan after plan proposed
to them, but many of the projectors were more fit for bedlam
than rational society. . .

After a few words from Mr. N. D. BOLD, in vindication
of the insurance companies, the resolution was passed.
Mr. EARLE proposed the next resolution, which was se-
conded by Mr. J. Fletcher, which after a few words from
Mr. Birkett and Mr. Ford, the latter stating that lie reser-
ved himself to oppose the bill in the House of Commons,
Mr. D. HODGSON proposed the third resolution, which
was seconded by Mr. A. Henderson, and put from the chair,
after a promise had been obtained by Mr. Smith from the
chairman that his suggestions shtuld receive consideration.
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting
separated.

FIRE LAST NIGHT.—Last night an alarm was raised that
a fire had broken out in Orrell-street, Vauxhall-road. The
engines were quickly on the spot, but no material damage
had occurred, the fire having been quickly extinguished.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has
issued a positive order that M`Naughten be kept in strict
seclusion.

Two men (Rebecca's daughters) were tried at the Pem-
brokeshire assizes, last week, for breaking the dwelling-
house and toll-house of William. Rees. The prisoners were
found not guilty.
REBECCA AND HER DAUGHTERS IN KIDWELLY.—Last
night week, some of the disciples of Becca assembled at
Kidwelly Gate, leading tb Garreg Mountain, and completely
demolished the toll-house, the gate and posts of which had
been, a month or six weeks previous, destroyed by a body
of that reckless gang.

COMMISSARIAT.—A return ordered by the House of
Commons shows the total estimated cost of the Commissa-
riat department for 1843-4 to be £191,045 15s. 4d. ; that
for 1842-3 was £200,939 10s. Decrease for 1843-4, £9,893
15s. 2d. Total cost of officers and clerks in foreign garrisons
and possessions for the year ending March 31, 1844, is esti-
mated at £46,893 15s. Estimate for extra clerks, store-
keepers, &c., at the several stations abroad, for the same
period, £64,814 19s. Bd. Pav and contingencies of the
Commissariat branch of the Treasury, £4,045 35., 2d.
Amount required for land and inland water transport, &c.,
£73,439. Half-pay, superannuations, pensions to widows,
&c., £47,949 19s.

TRADE WITH CHINA : THE FIVE PORTS.—Mr. Gutzlaff,
in a letter dated Chusan, October 28, and addressed to Mr.
Mathieson, of Glasgow, gives the following information re-
specting our trade with China :—" There can be no doubt
that the commerce to this part of the world will soon be con-
siderable, if our merchants will not overstock the markets by
overtrading on too sanguine expectations. Of the new ports
you will already have heard. Shanghae, the only emporium
for central China, and enabled by inland communication by
water to transport goods with ease, offers the largest pros-
pect for imports of cotton and woollen manufactures. It
will furnish, in return raw silk of the best description, some
green teas, and also a, few silk and cotton manufactures that
are still in demand in England, or are carried in English and
American bottoms to South America. However, the re-
sources of this emporium remain still to be developed, and,
judging from the favourable situation, and the present exten-
sive maritime native trade it now enjoys, it will be our largest
port for importations. Ningpo has considerable capital at
command—will furnish us with green teas, and some raw
silk—take off our hands a good deal of cotton goods and
woollens, and also receive in moderate quantities Straits pro-
duce, for which Shanghae is, however, the principal mart.
Futehoo, the metropolis of Fokeeu, furnishes our black teas,
and will, therefore, have the largest proportion of our trade,
and take in return principally raw cotton, and a few manu-
factures, for home consumption. To this place I have my-
self been appointed, and shall proceed to that town within a
few days, if I have to remain during the winter here in the
magistracy. Amoy will be a regular depot for everything.
It will furnish us with the cheaper kinds of black teas that
grow on the coast; hemp, camphor, and sugar candy, from
Formosa, and a great quantity of sundries, such as umbrellas,
alum, and coarse China ware, for the Indian market, and
will take almost everything in exchange, for the merchants
of that city are the carriers of China, but principally raw
cotton."