Pug letter from "Libra" which appears elsewhere, suggested a remedy for an unpleasant state of affairs that has Intely arisen at some of the porte. The establishment of such a code of honour as "Libra" suggests would no doubt clear away the evils that are complained of, and which may easily lead to something more serious than trade beartbarnings and unprofessional attempts to gain the advantage of rivals in business. It is all very well for Syndicates and Agents, or whatever people may call themselves, to do their best for those whom they repre but it is not necessary to the sucoeesful doing of- this, that business opponents should be traduced, or their works or merchandise decried, and a dangerous national and personal auimosity thus iutrodaced into trade. One would be rather inclined to form a poor opinion of people who resorted to artifices such as these; or at all event to make a more scrupulous exami into the qualities of the good:
offering, and their previous vioeableness to rose who were youding or trying to vend goods of a similar mako and quality. We fancy the Chi. hose would, as sensible men of hi in ud if they were inclined to be over critioalaud permitted themselves to be influenced by the opinions of rival euitore for their custom, dealing with them would perhaps be brought and unfortauate results uted to other than the which had brought them about. oes might be assigned to personal deficiencies, national disasters to the incompetence of the defeated or the inferiority of their tactics, military skill, and weapons; there is no limit to the allegations that might be made against rivals or the ad effect they would have. Professional jealousy is now sharpened by the peculiarly conducted competition among nations for the honour and profit of providing China with euch things as the western world has made up li's mind she is not only in want of but ought to cupply herself with at once. But there is no need for mercantile or pro" fessional people of different nationalities adopting underhand or questionable is done every day in the West, where keen competition makes unscrupulous people forget fair dealing, but it must hi trauge appearance in the eyes of the Chinese, who seek to obtain, and asa rule do obtain, the advantage by combination. The mauner in which Baropoans disparage their business opponents in the Yaméus of the great Chinese mandarins is a scandal. It is pity that it should be 80; it docs no good; it oan do none; it lowers foreigners in the eyes of all natives, and procures for those who forget themselves in this wey, the contempt of the official and other Chines The mandarins are quite aware of the value whioh should advice from people who are the mauufactucers and the beneficiaries; they know that it would be foolish to act upon such advice, and those who tender it are unlikely to get more than a hearing. We cannot think that those mandarins who are above suspicion of being influenced by anything but the good of the services of their country, would be swayed by iusinaations from such advisers against their rivals; or listen to advice on contracts or professional matters from any foreigners except those in their own employment, or others of the very highest character. We have on former occasions given it as our opinion that consuls in China may forward the interests of their countrymen by in-traducing them and their projects to Chinese officials, and we see no reason to change that view, although we learn that the consal of another power is himself more intimately engaged in commercial and financial matters than suits his position. Sach a course of conduct will lower him in the eyes of Chinese, and it may ensily place him in an unenviable position, one what we should regret seeing any foreign official in this country occupy. Foreign merchants were formerly anxious to became cousula; uow it seems that consuls are trying to become merchants. But as the merchants made very bad consuls, 80, it is to be feared, the consuls will make bad merchants. At any rate, it is dan. gerous for the Chinese officials, as it would be for any one, to deal with men who act in two capacities, as it can never be known where the official ends and the commercial man begins, and the Chinese might find at most inconvenient moments some foreign consul having a say in @ contract which would deprive China of ber liberty of action in regard to it, We nothing of scandals that might contracts, or financial, commercial arise from consuls being interested in or any kind of transactions with the Chinese, from which they expect to reosive personal profit. Nothing could be more unfortunate for all interested in this country, than that impression should get aprond among the Chinese, that officials of foreign countries were acting as agents for professional or financial interests, and the mere suspicion that foreign consuls would place themselves in such a position would be felt as a degradation by people of all uatioualiti DEFENCES OF KUANGSI, A RECENT number of the Peking Gazelle contains a joint-memorial from the Governor-General of the two Kuang and the Governor of Kuangei, on the proposed defences on the Tongkingeso lo of the province. It la a very lengthy document, going into details of administration and defence; but it contains interesting information about a Tittle known part of the empire and affairs in it. It describes the southern frat of Kuauggi as having a sinuous length of over 2,000 Zi, and the number of etrategioal points or passes, as originally established, la 109, in addition lo 66 guard stations. These are con. tignons to the provinces of Languou, Cuobang and layéue Konang in An-m1, from which they are separated by mountains and forests intersected by numerous cross roads, all ut which are accessible, The road from Cbéu-nan Kaau to Lung-chow is the brandest and most level, and therefore Las always been the highway from Chiva to Annam along which missions, bearers of official orders, and the general trade has pa From Long-chow eastwards the river widens and there is direct access by boat down stream to Hsun-chow and Wa-chow, while there is a distinct roof. like slope from Cliéu-nan towards the whole of Kuangsi as well as towards the upper waters of Kuangtung, render ing Ulus pass a place of the first inter est to the fortunes of the two Kuang pro-vinoes. The treaty with France males the gate or pass at Chen-nan more important, as an outpost between China and the region outside, as well as a guard against vagrant disaffected hor. des from without, and repressing latent hostility from within, There is no other pluck the Memo~ eny that can be substituted in fulfilment of the Buporor''s charge to "occupy the important points of vantage with " largo force of troops. Other important points of vantage, are to be found near the Chen-nan gate and to the eastward and westward of it, which are mentioned, and at all of them troops will have to be stationed, At present the 32 battalions that are stationed along these routes are barely able to maintain communication ith each other; and although in thoro times of financial embarrassment some per= manent reduction must be determined upon, reductions on a large scale would now be inexpedient as displaying weakness before the frontier line Ind been decided upon, and they are therefore impossible at present. However, the abolition of 8 battalions would take place in April, and the re" minder be amalgamated in 24 batta. hous, and distributed along the routes, Forts, stockades, and barriers will be coustraoted in appropriate places remote byways will be closed to traffic the eucampmente prepared fur the re. ception of troops, and bamboo stakes will be freely planted outside of them. Daring next winter, when order has been fully re-established 4 more battalions will be done away with. The Memorialists recommend the appointment of s General Officer to superintend the defences, and in ce sequence of the opening of the frontier to foreign trade, they propose thut Tao-t'ai shall be appointed to deal with all questions arising therefrom. Both these officials it is proposed ball reside ab Lung-chow; and administrative are rangements for other places are suggested. The provincial treasuries being in their usual indigent couditiov, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.