Dorine the Inst few days the Chinese piece-goods dealers here have almost, if not entirely, suspended their clearances of manufactured goods intended for Tientsin, Their reason for doing so is that the Taotai at that port has announced his intention of levying a due vf 1/10th per cout upon imports of foreign goods. The sums thus procured are, it is said, and we believe correctly, to be applied to the constriction of the addition to the Bund at Tientsin, and the levy is to go on for many years, and until the outlay has been fally repaid. The Chinese object to defray the cost of the new Bund, the dealers saying that they will receive no benefit from it in the way of trade, They further say thnt as © promenndo it will not be used by them, and that therefore the foreigners in Tientsin should pay the cost of it out of their own pockets. They do not seem to believe that when the expenditare on the works las been fully covered from the taxation of their business the new impost is at all likely to be remitted. In this they are probably quite right, and the experience of foreigners in the matter of lekin will lend them to sympathize with this view of the probable action of their officials. These gentle. men are not in the habit of surrender. ing any source of income when once they have b able to establish it, and they are pretty certain to mako the present surcharge permanent. In this case, it is possible that they might have the sympathy of the foreign community of Tientsin, which has now scarcely any interest in the import trade of manufactured goods, and might not object to have their properties improved, and their value increased at cost either of the merchants of Shang-bai, whose markets are affected by such action as this of the Chinese officials at Tientsiv, or of the native importers. In future transactions these last will not safter, us they will no doubt combine so as to obtain the amount, at least, of the new tax from the foreign merchants here, from whom they purchase manufactures. But on all the goods for which they have already contracted the Chinese must pay the new tax. This they seem firm in refusing, and in the meantime until the Tientsin Taotai gives way or some arrangement is currie to, there are nob likely to be many clearances of goods which have been purchased for Tientsin. The imposition of this tax being contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of of Tientsin, a nature as objectionable as the Jekin, we trast that Sir Thomas Wade will take auch measnrea as muy appear to him best to have the action of the Chinese officials rescinded.
His experience with the Chinese will, no doubt, show him that it is best to meet such attempts at squeezing with a firm opposition at the first. The Chinese dealers here, and those at Tientsin whose interests are identical, have very promptly shown their opinion of the action of their authorities but though they will suffer somewhat if the new levy is proceeded with, it is by the foreign importer that its effects will be chiefly felt. At present his business is impeded, and should any decline take place in the rate of exchange here, he may suffer a smart loss,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.