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choking the Revue de Paris and the Spectateur . The liberty that ; crowns the edifice is M . BiiiiiAUiiT , 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 ITiescht , 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 , Liottis JXAPoiiEOK 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 Obsieti ' 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 France ,, 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 .
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HAVE WE A RESIDENT MINISTER AT WASHINGTON ? It is some time since we noticed with satisfaction the appointment of Sir William Gobs OusbIiEX 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 Wiixiam Qhsblby was peculiarly fitted to negotiate the unsettled
questions , especially those between this country and the United * States . He combined with the qualities that conciliate a high English spirit which 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 was 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 . Buchanaw and X-ond Napibb . was the most natural circumstance possible . But Sir William Quselej y has remained so long in Washington that he may be said to have taken up his residence there ¦;¦ and our letters from that quarter express some surprise at the unexplained delay .
! 5 jKUatw » ke © pUiin *; saJ ^ tion waa understood to be Central America , not Washington . Is he accredited to the capital of the United States P It looks like it ; and yet the supposition is almost unintelligible . If he is , what can be his mission ? Already ¦ we have a Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington- —one of the ablest men in our diplomatic service : one of tho 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 Napleb 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 Napier 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 ?
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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 Cianton , to be followed up , probably , by further operations along the coast and in the interior . We may also take 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 hy 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 duty imposed on Lord Palmebston of rendering this Chinese war of real benefit to the commerce of the . community and also to that of China itself ; for in this instance our success might be the means of conferring-a great and perma--nent 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 . From one point on the coast , indicated by the port of Shanghai , a vo 3 t 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 , arc closed against tho direct traffic of Europe , as well as all tho 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 manufacturers shall be placed in a more advantageous position , in relation to China , -after the war than before it . It may bo true that they have not
hitherto worked tiie Chinese market even to its available oxtent , and that they have nogleoted to compote with China upon hor own territory by adapting their exports to tho tastes , wants ,, ana means of tho community ; yet , if wo aro in tho presence of a jealous restrictive system , guarded by . doublo . and 4 roblo-tnrijrs , Tsome ^ ol ^ wJuRli . ar . qJeyie 4 , aJi tho seaports , and others in tho interior , we surely need not seek beyond this fact for at least one powerful reason explanatory of the limited commercial intoroourao between Groat Britain and
China . What does China export P Thoro arc seventy items on her tariff list—tea , silk , tobaoco , drugs , dyos , spices , glass , hardware , ivory , and fanoilul manufactures . Her import tariff specifies eightyscvon iteina . Of the ox ports , 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 rice . 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 cordoriii , 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 , nve 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 pec 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 participation was rejected , four years ago , on the ground that she already enjoyed a monopoly of the inland commerce through Iviachta . But the Court of St . Petersburg , having determined to obtain a maritime that of the worlddoes not
influence m quarter , desist from its efforts , but establishes a naval force near Canton , and continues , from the Amoor ,. to introduce its influence into Corea . Great Britain : lias no right to be jealous of those proceedings or . to oppose them ; but we may fairly claim from our 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 tlia Russians have to contend , on their land route , against obstacles created by the climate ; but hows many English readers are aware that , in less than forty days , an order transmitted from the Emperor ' s Cabinet at St . Petersburg may bo acted and at the
upon by an admiral in Castries Bay , mouth of tho Amoor ? Traversing in immense caravans the deserts of Chamso and tho southern provinces of the empire , Russian picco-goods nave driven all others out of tho prodigious markets ot Kiang-Si and Chc-Kiang . Fifteen years ago the commerce transacted at Kiachta between the two empires was estimated at a hundred and live millions of francs . So that , while tho Chinese Government looks through » grating upon tho trade of the West > it opens its land frontier to tho ponderous tratno ol tho North . , Wo do not complain so much of the Five-Ports tariff , if it were systematically and oquitably levica , nor can we , perhaps , insist that tho Emperor shall abandon tho local inland dues of tho empire , although some modification in this respect seem desirable . But it is surely time to break tnrougn iuw
tho exolusive system of China , and demand irep lafrnTgrc ^ o ^ junks and sond thorn up the Thames to . London , British commerce claims similar rights in w ui » , and wo do not think any national purpose will uo served by the operations now in viow unless aomtthing approaching a reciprocity of this kind bo osia-Wished . It is in no way our fault that tho Chinese nro not a nation addicted to maritime enterprise , but it is the fault of their Government thai ; WUBU goods arc not exposed for solo in all thoir njarke « a »
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86 T H E I * E A I > B R > fNo . 409 , January 23 , 1858 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 23, 1858, page 86, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2227/page/14/
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