We have often protested against the secrecy which is observed at Peking, in regard to the most trivial as well as the most important matters; and there has seldom happened a better illustre tion of the wrong than Mr. Hart's memo. on the Woosung Bar. Here is adocument, false in premiss and in conclusion, yet affecting very gravely the interests of the port because sufficiently plausible to mislead,—treated as official at Peking, and sent home by Foreign Ministers to their Governments, without an opportunity being given to those most interested, of exposing the blunder and repelling the inferences. That such documents do sometimes leak out, and find their way after many adventures into the calamus of a newspaper, is not a reply. We contend that such a document ought to be at once communicated to the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and comment by the Chamber invited. There is no mistaking its drift, nor the effect it would have on Chinese action, if Jet pass unquestioned. It is true that Mr, Hart allows us another twenty years of existence, and concludes that even this respite makes dredging the bar worth while; but though that reflection might influence a Western Government to ion, it would more likely convince ug that the outlay would be waste, Nor does the importance of the document ie altogether in its bouring on the Woosung bar; the error of its general statements would tend to throw on a false scent officials who could have no opportunity, in Europe, of testing thei accuracy. We repeat, therefore, that the community have, from every point of view, cause of complaint that the paper was nob submitted to the Chamber of Commerce for report, directly it reached the hands of the Foreign Ministers. The mischief done by such papers is not to be measured by their worth. The present memo-random for instance is a tissue of misstatement and nonsense; but it is sufficiently plausible—coming from a gentleman who has a certain reputation for ability—to gravely mislead persons having no intimate personal knowledge of the subjects dealt with, What official in Europe or America, for instance—nay, what new-comer even at Peking, would suspect Mr. Hart of gravely mapping out a non-existent channel, and erecting thereon such a superstructure of false prophecy as he has been Jed to pen? The possibility of a man in his position making such a blunder could never suggest itself, and the whole document would be allowed solid weight in considering what steps should be taken to persuade the Chinese to conserve their harbours and water-courses.
But it is time we addressed ourselves more particularly to the enormous blunder which Mr. Hart has perpetrated. Reference to a map of the lower Yangize will show, lying opposite the Hwangpoo, and stretching nearly equidistantly on either band, the large island of Tsung-ming. Between this and the mainland again, and nearly opposite Woosung, is the islet known as Bush island, The main channel of the Yangtze runs between Tsung-ming and the South bank, and thence seaward, still to the south of the various banks and islets lying below and South-east of 'I'sung-ming. Mr. Hart sets out by declaring that this channel is narrowing and shallowing, and that a channel to the North and East of Tsung-ming has " of late been used occasionally, and is spoken of with growing approval." And he concludes that "it may be regarded os
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.