pre annexed copy of a despatch from His Excellency Sir Rutherford Alcock, K. C. B., H. M..'s Envoy Extraordinary, &¢., &e, to Fi. M.'s Consul at Amoy, in reference to' the opening of additional ports on the sea coast and the'establishmant of landing places on the Yangtsze, is published for veneral information. A copy has been specially communicated to the Shanghai General Chamber of *Commerce, and the under signed avails himself of this opportunity to invite individual opinions on the subject from any member of the mercantile community who may feel desirous of expressing his views, or affording any information or suggestion that may be of service to Her Majesty's Minister.
W. H. MEDHURST, H. B. M. Consulate, Shanghai, 28th December, 1863.
No. 20.
Perro, December 11th, 1868.
Str,—In the Memorial to my address from the Merchants at Amoy, forwarded to me last year, there are! two paragraphs, the one relating to the opening of. additional Port'at Wenchow, and another, of muc 4 larger scope, proposing the opening "of all the princi. al Ports on the Coast, not og regular Treaty: Porte, ut as subsidiary to them."
From various other sources, opinions have been conveyed to me on the part of the Mercantile Commun tics in China, more or less distinctly deprecating the opening of any more ports on the coast, as likely to be productive of expense incommensuratewith any advantage to he anticipated In this conflict of opi among those more imme: diately concerned, ther room for doubt as to the course of action which would best meet the interests of British Trade. It seems desirable, therefore, before any revision of the Treaty is actually entered upon, to learn with greater certainty the views of the Mercantile Commani ally on this subject. And, as moy, I have to instruct re precisely what they mean by and to what places on the Coast they allude?
may 2% well state that, were other difficulties overcome, have ascertained, from recent discussions with the Foreign Board at ching, that the Chinese Go-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.