Newbern progress., 1863-01-24
NEWBERN, N. c.. SATURDAY JANUARY a. 1863.
NUMBER "a.
Russia and China.

1t is an opinion rather felt than expressed
among European politicians, that Russia is
gradually advancing her territorial lines in the
North of Asia, with the design, ere many
years pass. of getting foot-hold in the vast
empire of China. Whoever desires to have
the grounds for this opinion may read Atkin-
sons Travels in the Upper and Lower Amoor
and the Russian acquisitions in the confines of
India and China, published in London in 1860,
and republished by the Harpers in the same
year. 1t appears that in 1857 the Emperor of
China ceded to the Car the vast valley of the
Amoor, whereby the Russian territory in Gen.
| trail Asia was largely cxtended-threateningl
if needs be, toward British India and China.
Previously, Siberia had extended 65OO miles
on the North of the Asiatic Continent, from
the Caspian Sea to the North Pacific ocean,
near which, and North of China, the Amoor
territory is situated. The journey from Lon
don to Pekin now occupies fifty days. At
meeting of the London Geographical Society,
on the 1lth December, Mr. Grant read an
account of new route from Pekin to st.
Petersburg, via Mongolia Siberia and Moscow,
which reduces the journey from Pekin to Lon
don to twenty days, and brings St. Petersburg
within sixteen days travel. 1t was stated in
the conversation which followed, that very re-
Gently nearly the whole of the rich Chinese
province of Manchuria, including the whole of
the seacoast, washed by the Sea of Japan and
the Gulf of Tartary, had also been ceded to
RussIa-thus bringing the Cars domlnIons
within no great distance of Pekin. The new
acquisition, in fact IS adjacent to the Amoor
territory, ceded to Russia in 1857.
The Chinese have long considered Russia as
their only European friend. The successive ces |
sions of territory to the Gear have been proofs of
gratitude for services rendered. Russia has late
ly succeeded in negotiating a new commercial |
treaty with China, which gives it greater advan.
tages than have been conceded to France and |
England Among its provisions are these: that |
all trade for fifty versts leach verst is 3,501 feet)
on each side of the border line is be free from
duty, and that Russian merchandise will be re-
ceIved at Tien-tsn for one third of the rates
imposed upon Other European goods. Tien-tsin,
it should be noted, is port not much more than
ene hundred miles from Pekin. and was the place
where the British and French troops effectually
the Chinese in June 1853, and there
BY extorted treaty from them. Russia has new
sr carried hostiities into China, and has her
eward in the most tangible manner.
The present generation may not live to see it,
'ut China is evidently destined one day to be-
,ome the spoil of European rulers, and whenever
he partition is consumated, Russia will be found
o have gained the lions share. Perhaps the
win principles of civilization and progress will
70 advanced thereby-for the mental develop
nent of Russia within the last half century has
been unusually and envixbly great How Eng
and will accept of the Csars advancement in
Asia remains to be seen. One day it may even
ssail India as the first Napoleon predicted at St.
Helena. .-.