The New York herald., 1850-05-19

silk from China and 81 622 SOP pounds of tea. and
Of these amounts Shanghai furnished 5000 of the
former and l0,0O0,0O0 of the latter. This az once
shows the commercial importance of Chusan as
hatDg station and depot, lying, as il does within
forty miles of Shanghai. In word, it is estimated
by British writers, that these locations hereafter
will obtain entire precedence over all the other
ports and stations of China combined. But Eng
land is resolved. if possible, TO oveneach us here
she has endeavored TO do in the Mongolian and
Siberian regions Foreseeing day when the 18TH
mus of Nicaragua would be opened to her vessels
upon equality with the United States, and salts
fed by her European location that she could con-
troll seven-eghhs of the Arctic and Pacific trade so
far as supplies were necessary for the European
markets, she commenced her encroachments upon
China years since and besides the island of Hong-
Kong, essential station for the commerce of the
Indus, she also seized upon the island of Quelpaert
with the determination permanently 10 occupy it, be-
cause il would command this very trade Of Shang-
hal, as well as the commerce of the Corean archi-
pelago, and the trade, coastwse, throughout the
Yellow Sea. Her possessions in the Indian archi-
pelago and these waters, now embrace Quelpaert,
port Essinglon, on the Coburgh peninsula Cape
York. the islands of Tore Straits, the southeast
coast of Papua, the Straits settlements of Malacca
Singapore and Penang, the island of Labuan, the
island Of Hong Kong, and the island of Maratan,
on the coast of Borneo, which latter commands the
principal traffic of The whole of Borneo. Our pos
sessions there yet to be acquired-our COM
merce-we have none.
STH. ISLANDS OF THE SOUTHERN SEAs.-We come
now 10 the Islands OF the Southern seas which be-
long to the immediate preceding class, as also
lying south Of 80 degrees latitude north These,
because generally known TO commercial men. and
with which conduct a considerable trade, |
shall group together, beginning with
Isl. Malaysia. Malaysia may be considered
under five divisions, namey:-l. The Philippine
Islands, ofwhch Sum and Mindnao are the prin-
ciPal 2. The Moluccas, the principal of which
are Gillolo, Ceram, and Amboyna. 3. Celebes
4. Borneo, the largest island in the world, except
Australia and Greenland. ). The Sund Islands,
the principal of which are Timor, Java. Banca, and
Sumatra. The traffic of these islands with the
world is immense, as | shall presently adduee in
the hnal summing up. They are owned by Spain
and the Dutch
2d. australasia. sia.--Aus,ralasia comprehend= Aus
tralia, with The adjacent islands, north, east, and
south Off These are IL. papua or New Guinea
: New Hebndes, and New Caledonia :. New
Zealand. g. Van Dieman's Land. Australia, Van
Dienan's Land and New Zealand, belong to the
English, the residue to the native negroes.
3d. PoigneSid The islands north of the Equa-
tor, are IL. Sandwich Islands, of which the prin-
cipal is Hawaii 2. The Mulgrave Islands; 3.
The Iadrene, (Which belong 10 Spain) f. The
Caroline Islands 5. The Pelew Islands; South
of the Equator Sc The Marquesas and Washing
ton Islands; Z. The Society Islands, of which the
Islands Il 9. The Friendly Islands 10. The Feejec
Islands These islands, with the exception given,
are owned by the native population.
This disposes of the whole subject, so far as re-
latcs TO the countries and islands north and south
of the latitude of 80 degrees north.
The annexed tables will show the value Of the
commerce of these islands, and the possessions Of
the East India Company. The accounts are en-
tirely on the score Of Great Britain, the United
States not participating therein single dollar;
A-sraL VALUE IMPORTS AsD rxPoRrs Hyrw,rr eREar
nnraIs AND rE IsAsns NC. or lliE rAenc lriiosh os
mi 4 m nn