The last Customs Gazette affords an additional proof of the gradual development of the import trade of this port; and if all restriction were withdrawn from the free admission of woods into the interior, there can be no doubt that Kiangsi would absorb an immense quantity of foreign products, The Gazette shows that the import of Cottons during the last quarter exceeds any previous quarter reviewed in the table, the import being 109.140 pieces of Cottons for the July-September term, against 73,379 for the same period of last year. The Literary examinations at Nanchang are said to have stimulated the Piece Goods trade, as every student—and there were some 15 to 17,000 candidates—invests in a piece of foreign fabric, for a gown or some such purpose. Of the quarter's importation 60,654 pieces went inland under transit pass, against 33,514 pieces for the same period of 1872. The Pass system appears to have been extensively availed of, and all the certificates covering bale yoodsappear to be respected, regardless of ownership. It is said not a piece of Cotton has been certificated to the interior by foreign merchants. The imports of metals and Straits' duce also show an increase over the riod of last year; but in the quantity sent inland, a lamentable diminution is exhibited. Of metals, not a pig or slab went inland under certificate and in all "Sundries," Brown Sugar e: cepted, there is a remarkable falling off in the internal trafic. A desier states that this is due to the Wuchéng seizure, which took place over a year ago; and that not picul of the produce given in the Gazette Ki it has been taken to the nei as conveyed to the interior has yone
bouring provinces, This commun dealer seemed well posted in transit matters, and gave me a deal of informa which does not appear to be generally known; but as its tends to explain the aversion the Barriers have to Sugar, Seaweed, and other delicacies of foreign origin, it may not prove uninteresting to make it known, It appears that, as late as 1870, the form of Transit Pass issued by the Customs distinctly stated that European manufactures only could be certificated to the interior; and that. produce alike indigenous to China and foreign parts, Sugar, Cotton, Seaweed. &e., Wey was, nob to be protected by a Transit Pass. This pro-visa had moreover been made known to the Ministers at Peking, but as no reply had been received it was provisionally enforced by order of the Viceroy of the Two Kwang, Whether any ministerial reply ever came, is not known to my informant but the fact remains the same, that this Pass, prohibiting articles alike the product of China and fo from going into the interior, until the end of 1870. It seemed hardly credible that our guardians of commerce could have allowed such a clause to remain in force so long; but the dealer positively states that such was the wording of the pass at that time, and that itis in consequence of this that the Barriers have such an objection to that kind of produce going inland, as nothing has appeared in the shape of an authoritative proclamation revoking the objectionable clause in the pass, Some time in 1871, another form of Pass appeared. which said' nthing about what kind of goods were to be conveyed inland, but it prohibited natives from holding a' pass in any shape or form: that is, in a foreigner's name or other: 1 imagine it must have been this document that the Chamber of Commerce objected to—ns it was short-lived, being superseded by another form the end of 1871.
new form said nothing about the ity of the holder of the Pass, notioned nor interdicted its use by. neither did it specify the kind of goods conveyable, as the uld Pass did. With this last named Pass appeared a notification at the Custom Hou: from. no higher authority than the Commissioner, stating that Chinese could take out Passes as well as foreigners; and my informant says they did so with avidity. For some time the B: d the Superintendent of seal, and freed all certificated goods; but when Likin receipts begun to dwindle, they took measures to nip the growing transit trade in the bud, by trumping up a case of fnlso weight against the owner of a lot of Tin, Seaweed, &e., &e., while passing Wuchéng—with the details of which all readers of the North-China Herald are familiar. Bur the Barriers do not appear to be aware that, in trying to check the conveyance of certificated Straits' produce, in native hands at least, there can be anything contrary to 'Treaty or regulations; and in this manner argue: 'The old form of transit pass, with jizanee if not approval of the Foreign ministers, distinctly excluded Sugar, Seaweed, &e., &e., from being certifieated to the interior' on payment of Transit dues, and the Barriers have not received any instruction from their superiors repealing the old clause though it is true other passes in foreigners' hands, not containing thatclanse, have been vised without question, but then they never covered these objectionable goods. About "71-72, a third form of posy made its appearance in everyone's hands and covering every imaginable article—produce alike indigenous to China and other coun-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.