Noruixe, perhaps, interferes more with the extension of internal trade in China, than the multiplicity end irregularity of the weights, measures and currency. Wherever we yo throughout the empire, we find this obstacle to interrse staring as in the face. No two perhaps have exactly the same tael of silver. It varies in touch and in weight. The catty is equally varible; while we find pecals, again, consisting of from 30 to 150 or 160 of ies, A foot in Shangent from the same measure at Canton; so near as Chinkiang it differs from the Shanghai standard by a still greater amount than dyes Shanghai from the Southern measure. Every trade, besides, has its local customs; a tuilor's foot differs widely from a carpenter's; both, feom the rade standard made ase of to measure land. A pecul of rice is by no means the same us a pecal of coals, nor is a string of cash in Shanghai at all equivalent to its representa ti in other parts of the Empire. to the absurdity of this ever-varying standard, is the tenacity with which the of China adhere to the varieties, their most objectionable forms. In Shanghai, we have experienced more awn once the difficulties created by an abstract standard of value for dollars of every sort, totally regardless of the intrinsic worth of the coin. Certain letters or details, which could be detected by the initiated alone, were made the criteria: jao; so that, at last, it was only by a concerted effort on the part of foreigners, that trade was in some measure relieved from these artificial shackles. 1¢ may seem strange that the guilds, who, of all others, should be in-Terested in the extension of zommerve, should be really the uplaiders of a stem +0 directly injurious; yet the fact is not without its parallel in other ant Close corporations have, t, ever been the most jealous of any interference with their abuses; and the more complicated these Inve bee come, the more carefully they are guarded, from fear lest a change might interfere with a virtual monopoly. France and England, at one time, were far behind the irregularity of the Chinese in respect to weights and measures; but there is this difference to be remarked, that while the corporate bodies vsed.all their influence to coutinue the false system, there was over a pressure, hoti from above and below, tending to equalise the standards. Even during the times of the Saxon monarchs, this necessity was recognised; we find King Hagar depositing at Winchester a standard measure for the whole kingdom. Diflicalties of int communication and the the standard itself its invariable use.
The people, how-not forget the subject uniformity of weights and was one of the cries which wd the reforming party of the tenth century; and a stipulation th y sluudd ye invariable through: lout the Kingdom formed one of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.