Wirntx the last few years the Chinese Government has obtained a fleet of about twenty steam vessels, all more or less adapted for purposes of war. We cannot shut our eyes or ears to the fact of their existence, for they are contin. ually to be seen cruising about the Chinese coast, flying the Dragon flag; and they are often to be heard firing' salutes at the most unaccountable times and places." The majority have been built in China, and are manned and officered by Chinese who profess to know something of navigation and marine engineering. The tonnage ranges from two to seven or eight hundred tons. Their original purpose seems principally to have been to chase pirates and to act as troopships or despatch. vessels, But, within the last year or two, much larger ships have been commenced; and a frigate of about three thousand tons, to be armed with large Krapp's guns, has been successfully launched. These are to be followed by iron-clads; und an experienced naval architect hus been sent for from England, expressly. to design them and superintend their construction. It is said that torpedoes are now being purchased in consider. able numbers, for use in connection with the smaller vessels.
So China seems to be in earnest, and to aspire to rank among the nations us a maritime power of no small preten. sions to dignity. It is the common idea among the middle and lower classes of Chinamen that she will soon be more than a match for the barbe. tians who have hitherto overmatched her. The only way to manage the barbarians is, of course, to fight them with their own weapons. When the time comes to exterminate foreigners, the ships and guns will be ready. If so much has been achieved in five yours, what may not-be done in five years more? There is no need to ask where the funds are to come from, for is there not an inexhaustible mine of wealth: the Maritime Customs, which has always been available hitherto? So what is to prevent China going ahead, and bye and bye being-able to maintain -her claim to "all under heaven"?
We may feel inclined to be amused at the idea of China becoming an opponent of any real importance to Foreign nations, at least during the present century, but the present fleet of gunboats, armed with torpedoes and backed by frigates andiron-clads, might after all prove troublesome and dangerous. The sailors and marines are picked.men, who have many of them been. under Foreign drill, and are. armed with Foreign rifles of modern fashion. The guns are made and mounted after the newest and most approved Foreign methods, and the daily "ill is said in some cases to be somewhat severe. An encounter with such a fleet would be an entirely different affair to the cutting out and destroying of the scores of old fashioned war junks at Canton, which happened not very many years ago. eat fret sight one would imagine that Chinese officials would regard these Foreign-built ships with a certain amount of pride; but it appears that such is not the case. It is too humid lating, altogether, to admit for a moment that a ship built after the barbarian's fashion is fit to be compared with the good old shape which has existed since the days of Yao and Shun. As an instance of how the Chinese pride themselves on their ancient notions, we may mention that, at the launch of the frigate at the Kiangnan Arsenal the other day, a Foreign gentleman remarked to one of the officials present that a larger ship had never been launched in Chine preven in the East. What was his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.