Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-13

Again quote fiom Lieutenant H.
very snug harbor has within few years been sound
ed out and taken possession Of by the Hudsons Bay
the southeastern part OF Vancouvers island They have
named Victoria, and is destined become the most inn
portan British seaport contiguous territory Eighteen
feet be carried into its no which Is
fine large basin. There sbesdes pretty good anchorage for
frgate outside this basin. The company making this
s a. ppn o % aspVsns - s Sy gs articles e
the English market at this place, which is safe for their large
ships enter during the winter They longer
init them into the Columbia between November and
March"
Monterey situated six hundred miles to the southwark OF
the mouth Of the Columbia iver and il therefore in better
climate and central position The harbors OF San
Francisco and Monterey so well known that par
cular description Of them is not deemed necessary They
near together that is material which shall be Sc
ected our great naval station and docyard the Pacific
Whichever may be occupied for that purpose will un
quesionaby become rendezvous Of whaling and other
merchant vessels and the terminus Of the railway across the
continent As unquestonabe evidence Of the excellence
of the harbor Of San Francisco II is stated That our men-o
war have beat out of it in gale OF wind.
AS has been stated and as may have been perceived from
the facts and arguments advanced it the object Of this
port to propose the establishment of line OF steamers from
San Francisco Monterey to Shanghae and thence Gam
ton China and also the employment OF steam mail pack
ct from the same port the Sandwich Islands The commit
tee are opinion that the extent and value OF our
on the Pacific and with China not only warrant such mea
sure but that the interests Of our whole country require ~
Frequency and apy Of intercourse are found to De the sur
of extending and increasing commerce. when the
lines Of steamers first established the Atlantic,
was supposed by and feared by many that our sailing
packets would be thrown out Of employ and that success
fu at ALL we should for the sake of celebrity Of movement
simply substitute expensive for cheap mode OF commun
cation So far from this having been the result our sailing
packets have gone increasing IN size and number beyond
all former precedent showing clearly that the whole range OF
our commercial intercourse has been increased by the rapid
movements of these far beyond what they themselves
are able to accommodate control Imagine for moment
the sudden withdrawal of all steamers from the navigation OF
pJxvho nofuo hat
trade would receive shock which would cause in few months
losses to vastly greater amount than their value. II is with
steamships is with rawaysthey create wealth by faci-
tating intercourse.
The amount Of our tonnage the Pacific and in the Chi
ma trade is much larger than that Of Great Britain yet she
maintains strong military establishment at her
ed posts in China and naval force almost equal to our whole
navy and also large squadron on the west coast OF Ame
ca with mail conveying passengers and intelligence
in all directions for the protection and encouragement OF that
commerce. while Government has not until recently taken
the first step towards placing merchants on ioonng IN
these respects with their British competitors Her policy is
protect her with her navy and by extending her
trade make support both her manufactures and her navy
Take away either and the others will persh and with them
British supremacy. She collects the elements OF commerce
from other countries Nature has sown them broadcast over
Their development and value will depend on the wis
dom and energy Of commercial policy so vast are the
products Of soil that reduction of cent pound on
cotton or one cent bushel Indian corn two cents
bushe wheat would be larger Of money than the
ordinary annual appropriations for the naval service Who
does know that the price Of these products depends
merce Cut off power to export and what would De the
value of these great staples They would not pay anspor
taon market In fact there would not be market for
them Were to manufacture every pound OF cotton we
produce, and forbidden to export what could not
sume the fabrics would be Of comparatively little value and
this would be the with all products whether of the soil
the loom This shows that wealth nation depends
In a great degree on commerce.
As the route from San Francisco Monterey by way Of
the Aeuan or Fox Islands, to Shanghae and Canton but
sUhic the
shment of depos of be foeseen is proposed
in the joint resolutions which accompany this report TO
poy this ne for the two first years longer may be
found expeden three four sailing steamers belonging
the navy or in the course of construction Being fully
ngged will not be necessary for them 10 coal except In
adverse weather. Winds Gains and therefore the expense
attending this service will be but little greater than that OF
dnay sailing ships BY using steam only as an auxiliary
power is quite probable that the whole distance from San
Francisco Monterey may be performed with supply of
coal II win be necessary, however, obtain permission from
the Emperor of Russia establish depot Of coal the Fox
Islands, which situated afford convenient stop
ping place, nearly may be half way between Monterey
and Shanghae. This depot would be reoed to by wha
ling vessels in the north Pacific for the purpose Of receiving
and communicating intelligence.
As proceed on the great circle approach the coast
of japan, and passing through the straits Of Sanger between
the islands of Jesse and apan down the Japan and
China the city Of Shanghae, which situated in at
tude 3o north, and immediately adjacent to the richest dis
trcs Of the Chinese empire. In ls45 exported 5000
bales Of silk and To- 900 pounds of tea Sir John Davis
in his despatch Of the oath FEBRUARY, ls47 states that in his
opinion Shanghae be expected to attract to itself in
due time the larger portion Of the British trade, seeming TO
be impossible that should long continue to bear the heavy
charge of transport to Canton from the north, when they
can be delivered to the place Of production"
As Canton is and probably win long continue TO be-, the
great emporium Of the China trade proper make it the
terminus Of the proposed line Of 1t is also the
sdence Of commissioner minister and Of consul In
China.
is believed there will be no want Of coal supply
It has been found in great quantity Vancou
vers island, and easily procured that the lans sell to
the Hudson Bay Company for four shilings on Coal
abounds San Diego in California. II sfound in Japan and
China and the island Fomosa the northwest
As the climate Of the straits Of Sanger represented be-
ing very cold in winter may be found expedent in that
Of the year. to make the voyage the eastward Of a
pan and to the China the norhwad Of the Loo
Choo islands This would enable 10 have depot
Of coal the north end Of Formosa where is said TO be
found in great quantity.
With respect the number Of passengers and letters that
may be expected pass this roue the committee have
data which TO form estimate. They only give
the grounds which TO form opinion by stating the dis
and the time which will probably be required perform
it. compared with the British overland The distance
from New York Shanghae has been stated 10 $50 miles
At average speed Of ten miles per hour would require
little fortyve and half days TO perform the journey
we allow four and half days from Shanghse TO Canton,
and five days detention at the various stopping places have
fyve days the probable time required pass from New
York to Canton, vice The British overland mail
has average Of about xyve days n making the passage
from Canton Hong Kong London. IT, therefore,
of mil we