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    86 THE LEADER, [No. 409, January 23,1856...

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    HAVE WE A RESIDENT MINISTER AT WASHINGTO...

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    WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN CHINA. Fob once, w...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    The English View Of The French Plot. Wjs...

    choking the Revue de Faris and the Spectateur . The liberty that crowns the edifice is M . BiEtATTLT , it seems . These events have unsettled the English opinion of the French Empire . It needed nothing to remind us that a taste of Italian chocolate , a pistol-shot , the invention of a ITieschi , a dagger-stroke , a sudden malady , or an accidental fall from a horse might , at any unforeseen moment , compel France to revert to the doubts and perplexities of 1851 . But it had been imagined by many persons that , so long as his

    individual safety was ensured against assassins , JLoirrs jNapoiiEoit felt no apprehensions as to the political condition of France . Now , however , it is admitted that the Empire is not sufficiently powerful to reign in the presence of even the most moderate opposition . The Minister of the Interior applies the whole apparatus of his department to suppress a republican insinuation , and the Empire avows itself incapable of contending , except by physical force , with a royalist sneer . At this spectacle English public opinion has become uneasy , and , for the first time , the bewildered devotees of success have asked

    how , supposing an eventuality , they might maintain their credit with the French as a nation . Surely , had Obsini ' s missiles struck down the Empire , the alliance would not have been at an end . But we have always said that , to secure the cordial amity of Francej it is necessary to do more than flatter the tenant of a temporary throne . If we would enter into a political partnership with a brave and cultured race , let us extend to them our highest sympathies , or refrain , at least , from the insolence of declaring ourselves the only people on earth deserving of liberty , or capable of self-respect .

    86 The Leader, [No. 409, January 23,1856...

    86 THE LEADER , [ No . 409 , January 23 , 1856 .

    Have We A Resident Minister At Washingto...

    HAVE WE A RESIDENT MINISTER AT WASHINGTON ? It is some time since we noticed with satisfaction the appointment of Sir Wimiam Gore Ouseley on a special mission to Central America . Great expectations , indeed , ¦ were created in the United States and , by reflection , in this country , when the mission ¦ was announced . It was supposed that Sir "William Ous . . IjST \ vas * peculiarly fitted to n £ gtffaate the unsettled questions , especially those between this country and ^ ne United States . He combined with the qualities that conciliate a high English spirit % hich would render him the last man in the

    world to surrender the rights of his country , while , at the same time , there were particular reasons for believing that he would be able to unravel the entanglements of Anglo-American diplomacy . Amongst other circumstances favourable to such an expectation was the fact of his being married to an American lady . No surprise waa excited when he took Washington on his way to Central America , for , although it is out of the route geographically , it seemed quite in the right path diplomatically . That he should call to confer with Mr . Buchanan and

    Lord Napibb was the most natural circumstance possible . But Sir William Ousei / e y has remained so long in Washington that he may be said to have taken up his residence there- ; -and-our-lettersJ [ rom _ tuat-quarJieiL . e ^; - press some surprise at the unexplained delay , w hat can keep him so long ? His destination wna understood to be Central America , not Washington . Is he accredited to the capital of the United States P It looks like it j and yet the supposition is almost unintelligible .

    It he is , what can be his mission P Already we have a Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington—one of , the ablest men in our diplomatic service ; one of the most high-minded

    whom we have sent on important missions ; one of the most popular , with the Americans . People are beginning to ask whether Lord Napieb is being superseded ; and the Americans imagine that they can discern in his countenance an appearance of displeasure . Indeed , he is known to have publicly expressed his disapproval , phrasing his regret at the rejection of the terms which he had arranged with the United States Government

    in a manner which implies censure upon his own Government . In truth , the situation has become not a little complicated . If Lord Napteb has been superseded , de facto , though not in form , the act is the more remarkable on the part of our Government , since he was decidedly succeeding in his progress to a settlement of the differences between the two countries . "Why cut him short before he had accomplished a work which was prospering so well in his hands ?

    What We Have To Do In China. Fob Once, W...

    WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN CHINA . Fob once , we have a war upon our hands which may be directed to a distinct and useful purpose . It would be superfluous to reopen the question of its justice and necessity , that point having been decided constitutionally on . the hustings and in Parliament . We may assume that the Government has done well in directing an expedition against Canton , to be followed up , probably , by further operations along the coast and in the interior . We may also lake it for granted that these demonstrations will be successful , although it is to be hoped

    that our commanders will not despise the superiority in warlike arts acquired by the Chinese since the date of the last attack upon Canton . The reduction of that city may not be very difficult , but to hold it would require a large force , while to advance upon Pekin would be to fight our way through * a Holland of streams , canals , and embankments—a country of canaux , canards , et canaille . Reserving these military considerations , however , we would point to the dut y imposed on Lord Palmerston of rendering this Chinese war of real benefit to the commerce of the community and also

    to that of China itself ; fpr in this instance our success might be . the means of conferring a great and permanent blessing upon the race against whose Government we have appealed to arms . Hitherto the British trade "with China has been restricted to within not more than one-third of that which might be established by enterprise , under a fair system of tariff , and with free communications inland . We have , then , not only to secure ingress at the ports , but to break through the mountain barrier which , shuts off from the sea the principal portions of that immense and prolific area . Prom one point on the coast , indicated

    by the port of Shanghai , a vast water-way penetrates the interior , and sweeps through one province after another for nearly a thousand miles , and on that Oriental Mississippi our mercantile flag is unknown . Moreover , the Grand Canal and the minor rivers communicating with the western and northern divisions of the empire , are closed against the direct traffic of Europe , as well as all the other river inlets . If we are to employ an expensive squadron and a large land force in obtaining ' redress , ' it is not extravagant , we think , to insist that our merchants and tmnn nl n # t 4 it *** it * a n l \ n 11 it a » -xl r \ nan 1 * 1 * I tvi f \ t * f \ Ofitfft t ? T . ft / l ^ A _ lliuiw 1 Mti

    IIIUiUUIUUUUI VI P OUUIV UV I / HUUUVI AftJL M » ** v * ^ r ^« ous position , in relation to China , after the war than before it , It may bo true that they have not hitherto worked the Chinese market even to its available extent , and that they have uegleotcd to compete with China upon her own territory by adapting tlieir exports to the tastes , wants , and means ^ of"the- "coinmunity ; ' ~ yet / jr'if— we-aro—in-tho presence of a jealous restrictive system , guarded by double and treble tariffs , some of which are loviod at the seaports , and others in the interior , wo aurdy need not seek beyond this fact for at least one powerful reason explanatory ' of the limited commercial intercourse botwuon Groat Britain aud

    China . What does China oxportP Thoro arc seventy items on her tariff list—tea , silk , tobacco , dru ^ s , dyes , spices , glass , hardware , ivory , and fanciful manufactures . Hor import'tariff specifics eightyseven items . Of tho exports , only two—^ building

    materials and coins of all kinds' —are free of duty of the imports there are three—coin and precious metals , and grain of all descriptions , including rioe . It will be observed how these exceptions are likely to act in a country producing so much , grain and so greedy of gold ana silver . It should be explained perhaps , that the Chinese standard of value is represented by the tael of ten mace , of ten cordorin of ten cash , of ten chow , or six shillings English , the duties being paid in Sycee silver , and such foreign coins as are alloyed being reduced to pure silver . Thus three shillings import duty are levied on every piece of fine Irish or Scotch linen , and upon other

    qualities , as well as those mixed with silk or cotton five per cent , ad valorem , the value being calculated upon the highest price offered by one out of two or three merchants in Canton , Shanghai , Foochow , and Ningpo , the only ports , it will be remembered , which are open under treaty rights to European commerce . Upon woollen blankets the Chinese Custom House levies six shillings each , on narrow bunting rather more than a penny a yard , on camlet holland tenpence per measure of a hundred and forty-one English inches , on sail-cloth three shillings per piece of from thirty to forty yards . The export duties are not exorbitant . The following are

    examples : —On a hundred and thirty-three pounds ' weight of tea , fifteen shillings ; on the same quantity of tobacco , one shilling and twopence . ; vermilion , eighteen shillings ; white lead , one shilling and sixpence ; camphor , nine shillings ; oil of cinnamon , thirty shillings ; ivory manufactures , thirty shillings ; linen and canvas , six shillings . Upon the same weight of gold and silver manufactures , rough silk of every quality , organzine of every kind , ribbons , thread , and manufactured tortoiseshell , the export duty . is sixty shillings , while that on piece goods , satin , velvet , and crape , is as much , as seventy-two shillings .

    Now , the trade of the West has to struggle with complicated difficulties in China , while that of Russia is taking possession of her inland markets . We may therefore inquire at this point what effect has been produced upon our commerce by the gradual and steady rapprochement of the Russian and Chinese Governments . Russia is not admitted , it is true , to the five ports opened by the treaty of 1842 to the Western powers , and her proposal of partici * pation was rejected , four years ago , on the ground that she already enjoyed a monopoly of the inland commerce through lUaohta . But the Court of St . Petersburg , having determined to obtain a maritime influence in that quarter of the world , does not desist from its efforts , but establishes a naval force

    near Canton , and continues , from the Amoor , to introduce its influence into Corea . Great Britain has no right to be jealous of these proceedings or to oppose them ; but we may fairly claim from oar Government that , while rival nations assiduously foster the interests of their commercial classes , nothing shall be neglected which may enlarge the market for our own commodities . No doubt tho Russians have to contend , on their land route , against obstacles created by the climate ; but how many English readers arc aware that , in less than forty days , an order transmitted from the ltanpcror ' s Cabinet at St . Petersburg may be acted upon bv an admiral in Castries Bay , and at the immense

    mouth of the Amoor P Traversing in caravans the deserts of Chamso and : tho southern provinces of the empire , Russian piece-goods liavo driven all others out of tho prodigious markets or Kiang-Si and Chc-Kiang , Fifteen years ago the commerce transacted at Kiaclita between the two empires was estimated at a hundred and five millions of franos . So that , while tho Chinese Government looks through a grating upon the trade of the YVcsW it opens its lund frontier to tho ponderous trauio 01 the North . , Wo do not oomplain so much of the Pivo-1 orts tariff , if it were systematically and equitably lovieu , nor oan wo , perhaps , insist that tho Einporor shnu abandon tho local inland dues of tho < ; P" ° > altho . ug ^ 3 Qmo ^ nodjac * vti ^^ desirable . But it is surely time fiTbroak I irougn i

    tho exclusive systom of China , and demand ^ oumsafe ingress to tho interior . Tho Chinoao may uuuu junks aud send them up tho Thames to -Lorn on , British oommoroo claims similar rights in v ""! £ and wo do not think any national purpose wiinw served by tho operations now in view unless sow thing approaching a reciprocity of tins kind bo obw blisned . It is in no way our fault that tho ChmoBO are not a nation addiotod to maritimo enterp woj but it is tho fault of their Government that J «» b » BB goods aro not exposed for sale in all thoir murKoiB .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 23, 1858, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23011858/page/14/