The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-02-27
G o re q I.

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Corea.
Tho brief announcement in the foreign
news received yesterday by the steamer In
dian at Portland, that the King OF Corea
had voluntarily opened all the ports Of his
kingdom to the commerce. of ell nations, Is,
II true, Of far more Importance TO the inter
ess of this country than all the rest OF the
intelligence about Prussia and Switzorland,
Austria and Turkey, England and Persia,
including even the startling but gratifying
statement that her Majesty tho Queen Of
Spain has recovered from the measles. 90
Corea IL q poninsular, which projects
Southwark from the eastern extremity Of the
Chinese Empire into thesa Of japan, and
is separated from China by the Yellow Sea
and from japan by broad strait. Il e.
tends from latitude i3s North to $50 South;
that Is to say, from tho latitude OF Mas"-
chusetts to that of South Carolina. From
its situation, like that Of our Atlantic
States, ON the eastern side Of u great contin-
cnt, il is subject to similar climate influcn-
ces, and except 80 far rs those influences are
modified by its psninsular position, there
Is no material difference between it, climate
and that Of tho Atlantic States. In the
northern part, the climate. like ours, Is in
winter, extremely cold. The soil in the
north also is poor, 30 that barley is the grain
chiefly raised. But in the south the climate
10 mild and tho soil fertile, 90 that extensive
CT, pa of wheat, millct, rice, potatoes. cotton
and hemp are raised. Tho ginseng root OF
tho best quality grows abundantly, and
brings very high prices in China and Japan.
Skins and furs of the Gnost kind arc produc-
sd rlentifully. .,r I ''.'H f.
Tho people manufacture strong and coarse
stufs from hemp, cotton, silk and grasS.-
They make pottery and porcelain. and eI.
ccllent s,bres and polgnards. Paper 10
manufactured in immense quantity, and used
for a gro.t variety ofpurposes. Umbrellas,
hats, and clothes are made Of It, which are
sid T. wear surprisingly well. Hitherto
tho foreign commerce of Corea has been con-
Gnod to China and Japan. Tho govern.
mcnt, though locally Independent, has for
about $50 years acknowledged, to certain
extent, the sovereignty of tho Chinese En-
peror, and paid u small annual tribute Of
500 ounces of silver. The influence OF the
Chinese has rendered the Corean Kings
averso to intercourse with Europeans or
Americans, and it is probably the decay Of
the influence Of China, through tho troubles
in that Empire, together with the example
of Japan, that has led to tho change of poll
cy now 70 suddenly announced. .r.
Tho area Of corea is about equal to that
of New England but its population is three
or four times as large. Tho people are a
tall, handsome, Industrious, and intelligent
race, well disposed towards foreigners, and
whenever visited, have shown themselves
ready TO trade 40 far az their government
would permit. From their character, and
from the geographical position Of their
country, there Is every reason to believe
that if commerce with them should DO legal
lied. il wouli soon become considerable and
profitable. The land abounds in useful
metals and minerals; gold, silver, copper,
iron and coal are found, though their work.
ing has been very much neglected. The
natural resources Of the country seom to DO
fully equal to those Of any other Of like e1-
tent in the same attitudes Developed by
commerce, tho native products would DO
found amply sufficient to exchange for for
eign comodities. The climate and tho hab.
its of the pcopre arc such rs to render it
probable that American cloths, hardware,
cutlery, and many other manufactures,
would De IN demand.
OF the interior of Corca our information
is scan,y and imperfect. The capital has
not in modern times been visited by any
person Of European race, though it was d..
scribei by some Of the earlier Jesuit mis-
sionarics. 1t Is called King. ki.tao, and is
in tho interior in latitu 10 37a.-l
The coast was explored in 1916 by tho AL.
ccstc, the frisate which carried tho British
Ambassador, Lord Amherst, to China. An
account Of the voyage was published by
Captain Basil Hall, and by the surgeon of
the Alceste. Excellent harbors were found,
though the navigation is intricate and dam
gcrous, owing to tho existence Of u very
large Archipelago, with beautiful and fine
Iy cultivated islands, extending along the
southern shore, which have not been nccu-
ra,ely laid down on any charts. IL the rc-
port Of the opening of the country to foreign
should rove to DO well founded,
Dur commissioner in China, or the commits.
'ioner who wc hope is to b. sent to the East
indian Archipelago, should be instructed to
'isit Corca. investigate It's condition. and
orm commercial treaty with the govern.
Atlas, 2Sth.
ADDRESS or Tux TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.
Wc publish to-day tho address adopted by
hc State Temperance Convention held at