We are glad to seo fresh instances of public attention being drawn towards China; because examination of a subject is one step towards comprehending it. If people can be brought to think upon a matter in which they are interested, there is m chance that they will arrive at a trae conclusion. Even the silly articles of the Pall Mall, are better than total neglect; for their very absurdity tends to provoke reply, and more or less light is sare to result from the attrition of argoment. The Times persists in writing as widely of the mark as it well can go; bat the mere study of the subject involved in writing, may guide it to a traer perception of the case. A yearsago, neither newspapers nor people, at Home, knew what Foreign residents in China bad to say in their own behalf. They bad an indi tinct notion that, at some uncertain spots o- "he Chinese coast, were rouped a few irate, unscrupulous, violent smugglers, who were perpetually calling apon Her Majesty's gan-boats to aid in thrusting Grey Shirtings down a Chinaman's throat, while they rifled his pockets to secure payment. At present, our plea that the people are w: ing purchasers, and the mandarins our enemies, has made itself heard. "Tt is easy, the 'Times' says, and probably safe, to argue that these (raling) classes stand between the millions and their welfare; bat we must take things as we find them; and between English traders who cry out that mandarins are defrauding them of stipulated privileges, and mandarins who exclaim that English tradersareencroaching upon ground not yet opened, there 1s perpetual strife." Thus, though our assertion is not allowed, it is understood; and we may hope that argument, reflection and proof will eventually sabtantiate it. The article from which we quote, is called forth by a memorial from the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, asking that free intercourse may be gained, with Szechuen.
The request seems a reasonable one, and the Times is fain to admit that it would be better for all parties, if the barriers to this intercourse were removed. Bat it has scarcely penned the admission, before it harks back over the old ground, of prejudices intervening, of old castoms to be respected, of enmity to foreigners, and of the case "the Chinese might possibly make out for themselves, if they had a good opportunity." It is alleged on one side, says the writer, "that we are defrauded of our dues; on the other that we are ping and intrusive, careless of native susceptibilities, and bent only on our own advancement." The subject for regret is that, in repeating these allegations, be does not give their source and actual value; we have seen them in the Pall Mall and in the Morning Star; and have heard them attri. bated to the inspiration of Mr. Burlingame; but we have never seen them openly supported by any one protending to speak with experience. It is one of the difficulties we have to combat, that sach vague assertions are repeated, at home, and that we have no means of calling on the exponent to verify them. The hield they have taken on the public mind is exemplified in the article we are reviewing. The words of Messrs. Michie and Francis' report on the trade of the Upper Yangtze, are quoted, to the effect that the trade with Szechuen would be worth "any trouble, risk, or expense entailed on the British Government" in bringing it to pass; and the conclusion is at once jumped to, that expense means "gunboats;" whereas we doubt whether the delegates had any more formidable outlay in view, than that involved in a Consular establishment at Ichang. And, having distorted very innocent sentence to the discredit of foreigners, the writer goes on to misapply a fact, mentioned in a Shanghai letter, to the credit of the Chinese. " Only yesterday, our Shanghai correspondent observed, in his letter, that the trade of the port from which he wrote had risen in tiwenfive years to the annual value of £25,000,000. Is not that pretty good progress Certainly; but so. far from being, as the'writer makes out, evidence of substantial good faith on the part of the Imperial Goverament, it is entirely the resalt of wars undertaken to punish it for its bad faith. The Report on the Upper Yangtsze which indirectly, through the medium of the Bradford Memorial, inspires the article under review, gives facts and figares sufficient, in proof of this assertion, had the writer studied them. His closing sentence fairly represents the chaos of ill-understood thoughts, and the incumbent sense of obligation to made them tend to one conclusion, which have oppressed him. " Sooner or later, Chinamen will find out their advantage in the market offered, and they will be as anxious to bay as we are to sell. It may be true that we should find them so at this moment, if the course were clear; but in point of fact the course is not clear, and we might be on-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.