The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-05


powers, and in daily communication by railroad
telegraph and steamers.
We have seen the trade of the United States start
from no bipg in LISA, and, in 1856 reach value Of
sli,o4s. 20 tons per annum employing about 10 900
tons OF shipping; or, embrace total Of all imports
from Cnna IN eight years-from 1888 to lg4i-of
$56,49O,499: and EMPLOY 3l5 vessels. containing an
aggregate tonnage Of l22 1854 tona
NEWSPAPER TRANsLA TONS AND EXTRACTS
Transiations from the French Journals
Change OF the American F1ag-Indictment
Against the English at Canton-Mansiarins
10 Aid Yeh-The Emperor's Army-Move-
ments OF the French and Observation-Disclosures
Despatches-The Great Porcelain Tower De-
strOyed-PrOgress of the RebelliOn--Reii-
Rion Of the PeOple--aauiet AT Singapore
Trade OF Shanghai, 80.
ADMINISTRATORS ORGANIZATIONS or THE CHINESE I'M
PiKE-AsPECT OF CANTON AND THE FLOATING CITY.
from II Moniteur Universal of Pars.l
Canton, the capital of Kouang Tong. 1000 kilo-
metres from Pekin, communicating with the sea by
the river Chou Kiang, whose mouth is distant 20
miles, Is governed by viceroy, whose jurisdiction
also extends over the province of Kouang ST. This
union Of two provinces under the authority of one
high dignitary Of the empire, is the general system
OF administrative division throughout China, Thus
nine voeroyaltes composed of two united provinces
form the Celestial Empire. The enormous distances
which separate the seats of those administrations
from the centre Of the supreme power. explain the
the slowness with which Chinese diplomacy is 30
often .epruached.
In order to complete these particulars with regard
TO the administrative divisions Of China, will add
that each province is sub divided into departments,
the departments into Districts and the districts into
small communities. The city of Canton belongs
to the department of Kouang CheOu. and
forms part of the two districts POuan- You aud Man.
If o0chn IL q
general subordinate TO the vceroy, but yet possess
ing rather Independent authority. A civil func
tonary, somewhat analogous to the projects Of de-
partments in France but with more extended pow.
ers, commands the department. The district Is ad
ninistered by subprefect, vested, like the magis
trates Of the departments in France with admins
trative and judiciary powers together This sub
trusted with the police and the collecting of taxes.
This latter charge Is rarely exercised by men hav-
ing claim to the button Of the lettered Glass; they
are entirely subordinate agents. who, by orders of
the bprefects. are subjected without ceremony to
the bastinado. To these functOnares must be added
the director general of duties charged with the ad
ministration of the finances of the province, the
receiver general of contributions, and the super
intendent Of the salt works; aud these form the
whole administrative personnel of the vice royalty.
They number for the whole empire, Ii 600 civil
mandsrins, Q figure not very large when we consider
inhabitants The vceoy residing in Canton rules over
two provinces, whose extent is 407 900 square lone
tres (ourffths of Frsnce), and is vested with the
power over life and death OF 81 900 900 of inhabi.
tants. This enormous authority doubtless accounts
for the haughtinees which these high functionaries
exhibit in their relations with the Western nations;
but 1t Also shows homage paid to European genius
when they are obliged to bow before the energetic
and nfiexible viii OF single captain of friqate.
The knowledge which the Chinese have OF the
prodigiOus power which the Western people owe to
this energy of will is not only manifested In their Ian
guage by the epithet Of" devils which they bestow
on the Europeans but evident proof of ia to be
found in the barriers which they are necessarily oc-
cupied In raising between themselves and the foreign
bot at the same time il takes to entrench itself
behind city apart. elevated In the heart Of Canton,
and surrounded by walls which the barbarians were
never allowed to pass The Chinese merchant who
his day in the midst of Europeans but in the even
ing he shuts up his merchandise under lock and KEY
and returns to the walled city. Nobody therefore
must wonder at the parsimony with which the
Chinese government measured out the territory on
which the Western merchants established their
factories. Nine or ten hectares Of a swa rpy SOIL
which 1t was necessary to render solid at great ex
pense are the portion OF land allotted TO the foreign
the city Of the red-haired.
This part Of Canton. built of granite and brick
Is divided into thirteen blocks formed by transverse
streets. Two OF them, Old China street and New
China street running parallel TO the river, are
occupied with Chinese shops. From east
to west, between the factories and the islands
OF the western suburbs winds the narrow and
torsucns Physic street. BY walking through this
tvity Of Canton and Of the extent of its population
OF 100000 inhabitants. Whatever noise. tumultu-
Gus crowds and agitation fair may offer. il affects
Int weak picture OF the hustle and movement of
Physic sheet. People press and crowd on each
other; porters and carriers Of sedan chairs push
you aside with their large shoulders the retiunes of
the high cgnares throw Won down 70 avoid the
trouble OF throwing YOU aside: aud itnerant must
clans de aden your complaints aud cries with the
most discordant music that ever rent and tortured
human ears.
The reserved or Chinese city Is surrounded BY an
reside the viceroy and the authorities Of the pro-
lations Of the last treaties, must stop short the
curiosity Of the Europeans. You can only vak
panorama of Canton hes any charm for The traveller
he must pass through the western suburb and enter
the open country. Leaving this suburb he turns TO
the east and finds himself in front Of brcen hills,
where the cemeteries Of Canton are situated. Hav.
ing crossed these aelds Of repose, he sscends the
hill on which Hugh Cough established In Nav, lslI,
his headquarters. and from this point his eye viii
embrace, without any obstacle, the capital OF Kou-
sng.Tong, the river which bsthes II. aud the rich
fields surrounding t. In the distance the pale sha.
dows of the mountains limit tho horizon; at their
foot green valleys stretch out In the foreground.
Then the eye follows the river with its numerous
branches marked by the yelloS sails auttering in
the air. On the right hand, the place for the exer
cises OF the how and the srquebuse; on the lett,
fertile fields limited by the river; in front the eye
takes In the floating city and the whole panorama OF
Canton. and curiously likes itself upon the Tartar
city, from which towers on high The graceful steeple
of the paeoda Of Eve stories.
The floating city which we purposey mentioned
the last IL certainly the most curious part Of Can.
ton and Of which the traveller preserves the longest
recollection. II il no more the European quarter.
with its swampy soil and imposing but monotonous
bm,dings neither IL II the Tartar city 10 which its