The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-24

WHAT Is DONG on THE AMOOR RIVER SHALL.
in another column an interesting letter from our
correspondent at Fort Nicolai, on the Amoor
river in Russian Asia. The intelligence con-
tanned in this letter relative to the progress Of
Russia in opening Mantchouria to the rule of
civilization and the progress of mechanical enter
prise, coming as it does at time when Eng
land and France are combining on the South of
China to open the ports Of that empire to COM
merce and the mechanic arts, gives rise to some
very curious reflections.
1t is not to be doubted that the civilized world
and the crowded communities OF China will both
receive an immense benefit 10y the introduction
among the latter of those mechanical appliances
which, facilitating the conveyance to and fro of
the products of industry and knowledge, shall
Increase the reward of labor and diminish the
cost of those necessary supplies Of food and
clothing which are not produced at home. Ii is
in this light that we view the efforts now being
made to open an intercourse with China and In
view of the facts that deveiope themselves, the
question naturally arises, is England or Russia
most likely to accomplish this great work.
On one side we see England with her fleets
battering the forts and burning the cities of the
Chinese, sending out strong reinforcemsnts with
the avowed object of tlrashng them into good
humor and an unrestricted intercourse with her
merchants 1t is but few years since she whip.
ped them into liberation Of her opium trade.
While these things are going on, she is suddenly
stopped in her course by the breaking out of in
surrccton in her i'll administered Indian empire,
and the discovery there Of wide spread spirit OF
disahection and revenge among her Asiatic
subjects.
! On the other hand, we find Russia settling
/ down in undisturbed repose upon the river
AMOR, which is navigable for tbousand miles
along the northern boundary Of China. II is
far north. II s true its outlet corresponding to the
\ coast Of Labrador on our own continent, and the
/ river is 80 icebound for several months OF the
\ year that as our correspondent states, the
people there cannot conceive what Russia
designs doing with the several steamers
she bss already placed there. and AN.
other which she has ordered to he built here
in New YoEk tor the same destination. These
steamers can run on the river during certain
months Of the year. and in doing so they will de-.
monstrate TO the Chinese towns upon is banks in
a practical way, the benefits thai accrue to them
from steam navigation Of their rivers Though
China is closed TO the civilized world intelligence
is not slow in making its way among her popu.
lous cities, and IL viii not be loug before they
ask themselves the question, If this can be done
90 the AMOR. why can il not be done on the
Yangtz and the Hoang.ho.
II lie not very long since the English press told
us that Russia had obtained possession Of the fine
island Of Chusan, situate near the mouth Of those
two great rivers OF China. If this is 20 il may
not he very long time before The steamboats,
that Russia is striving so uselessy 10 place upon
the AMOR will be transferred TO Chusau. aud in
vited by China through the Russian college at
PeLin, 10 ascend their commerce burthcned
streams. There Is curious struggle going on
upon the little-known shores Of Eastern Asa.
and the great problem TO be solved is. whether
Russia or England shall open China to the bcne-
! fits OF civilization.