The Washington union., 1857-04-25
REPORT ON THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF
THE UNITED STATES WITH ALL FOREIGN Ma

of this work TO the commercial men, well as to all
others who may desire information on the topics of
which il treats. The work has been prepared and
printed under the direction Of the Secretary of State,
in accordance with resolutions Of the House Of Rep
resentatives and reflects the highest credit upon all
the parties concerned Mr.. Edmund Flagg, the su-
perintendent has executed the important duties as
signed to him with great tact and Judgment. The
labor, as any must at glance, has been i'm
mense. Mr.. Flagg accords to Mr.. Mclaughlin one
of the gentlemen in his Office the highest credit for
the patient labor and valuable assistance which he
received from him in the preparation of the work.
Its merits will soon be understood. And its value
and Importance viii very soon be appreciated, both
al home and abroad:
PARIS, March 81, 1851
Few of the books which have come into my hands
within the twelve months past have afforded
benefit and satisfaction than the noble quarto from the
Department of State at Washington with the title Report
on the Commercial Relations OF the United States with all
Nations IL prepared by Edmund Fagg, esq, under
the direction Of the Secretary of State and abounds with
proof of the competency and zeal of the editor The
qualities will, doubtless be equally evidenced in the
ond and third volumes, which are to complete the accom-
plishmcnt of the extensive and most useful design of the
House of Representatives My first dealing with the S27
pages to look through them cusoy in order to form
the execution of the whole. My impressions highly
favorable My attention then directed to the chap
ters sections France and The French Coona Possessions,
subjects with which particularly convcrsant IL is
my intention to to them in detail and it may
be in power to furnish recent statistics and
illustrations than those TO which the intelligent editor
could have then turned TO China that supen-
dous empire which, beyond any other of the East the
mind of Europe is now fixed, with less of
tainty and disguctude. serious danger of long inter
ruption or embarrassment in the between China
and this quarter of the globe and the United States is
momentous concern for the parties and the world
According to the gazetteers the population of the Ce
estia Empire is nearly three hundred and xy-eght
millions Chinese census of l845 gives that figure;
Lord Macartneys estimate three hundred and thirty
three milions that of the Gcographer Blb only hun
dred and seventy millions Mr. fagg adopts the calcu
aton of four hundred and twenty millions My inference
from the statements of the Able Nuc and Sir John Bow
ring and the really conccul character of all the esti
mates that should limit ourselves three hundred
Millions term far from being The British
have continued to differ by very many millions respecting
the numbers in their India the question is problemaca
in relation to the smaller and better known countries of
the East Siam, Burmah, Muscat The Spanish govern
ment has just undertaken general Of its home
subjects The numbers WILL il is believed prove to be
twenty millions the existing calculations from twelve
to sixteen millions The English at Hong Kong reported
the Chinese the island to be at least thirty thousand
the French unctionaries double this esmate the former
suppose the population of Canton to be million; the
latter fifteen hundred thousand The variations sim
liar as to Singapore Bangkok and Zanzibar.
Mr. Flagg mentions it as significant circumstance
that the Chinese name for their country is Sc HaAN
ta but Christian Inflammation will not brook their
exclusive policy The trade of the United States with
China next in amount to that of Great Britain SO us
to the consumption of tea The value Of the whole inn
portaton Of our republic from the empire Is little
than eleven millions of dollars that of tea six and
half mlionsthree fourths of the total and agreca
ble salutary is the article that might wish to
it enlarged without limits. Chemists who have analyzcd
tea and studied its properties have not ovcryaued its
ritivc principle this must be evident to all who read
the old and the books of travels in China and the
adjacent regions. 1t is the chief food and might
alone sufficient amcnt for the nations, used in their
fashion We should appreciate it not merely far it
takes the place of what noxious for habtual beverage
but for its direct excellent qualities Theme and the
similar plastic principles found in coffee and cocoa
especially food for the structures Let refer
your readers, this head to two manuals which deserve
to be remembered desirable for every family bookcase
DR.. Manns Guide to the knowledge Of Life, and DR..
Boyle Matera Mcdca and Therapeutics, the third edi-
ton, revised and enlarged by DR.. Headland.
Mr. Fagg has not overlooked the statistics of the opium
trade of which enough of the most recent and authentic
has already been quoted in your paper It not with
in his province to dwell its fatal characteristics When
we find Lord Palmerston, and the British editors his
de nveighng in terms of execraon against the attempt
of one of the Chinese bakers at Hong Kong
poison their British customers decstabc crime assured
y,) we cannot but think of the millions of Chinese who
have fallen victims to that smuggling which Mr. Fagg
in his account of the introduction of the drug by the p
vate traders to whom the East India Company sells it,
computes at forty millions of dollars worth He notes
that two million dollars capital invested in the trade
between San Francisco and China owned and controlled
by Cinnamon resident in that city 1t has been repeated
y urged in the British parliamentary debates the hos
ties at Canton that the should be prosecuted to
whatever extremity, with reference to the prestige which
Great Britain must maintain in the East for the presery
ton of her vast empire of India But the American Union
discover duty advantage for itself in assisting
it has prestige of different kind to perpctuate that of
nvarabe justice and moderation Nothing that has vet
appeared in the American newspapers from vesscso
which followed the British example at Canton per
suades me Of the lawfunes expedcncy OF this
Congress the grand inquest and will inquire and dis
cuss.
Crawford reported the population Of the kingdom of
Siam to be, in 1922, nearly $500, ,Oo0 the American
commissioner, who negotiated the treaty in 1882 with
teer, 1859 reduced it to three millions. Sir John Bow
ring rates it much higher Mr. Flagg inserts the articles
of the advantageous treaty which Sir John concluded in
1855 the part of Great Britain touching any dimi
mutton of duties and the appointment of consus, the
treaty Of 1922 entities the United States to whatever ia
vor might be granted TO any other nation at any future
time. Mr. Flagg aims that not single cargo has been
shipped since the treaty, under American coors This
singular for what he adds is true that eStcn
sive and profitable market might be opened for American
products in that fertile portion Of farther India You
are aware that Sir John has published two "buky vol
umes, acompilaton embracing everything Samesc His
soourn in the kingdom did not exceed month his per
sona narrative and experiences occupy, by comparison
only small number of his pages the work is, STILL in
tercstng throughout and to bc consulted whenever ii is
wished to establish commercial relations with the Siam
The opportunity precious from the extraordinary
iptp e.rIaf of thn