1 cluyast, Tue "Journal of the American Assvciation of China," the receipt 15 of Vol, I of which we have already acknowledged, gives us the American view of passing events, Ifit should be found that that is also to a very great extent the English view, there is no occasion for surprise, for from the time that the first American Consul here hoisted his flag in Park Lane, now the king Road, and defied Captain Balfour to take it down, the commercial and social relations between the Americans and the English have been very close, and serious divergences of opinion on niatters relating to China have very rare. The American Association here are fortunate in having in Professor Leavenworth an honorary secreta who takes great interest, in the work, and does it with conspicuous ability. The following graceful tribute to the late American Secretary of State makes a sad preface to this July number of the Journal "At the last moment before going to press, the sed news has reached us of the death of John Hay, American Secretary of State, well known as a soldier, scholar, "ud' diplomat, and whose fame a stat.sman has} attained a death'ess_ glory.
The first editorial note refers to the currency of China, and the danger of future trouble from depreciation in the value of the new copper coinage. Hints of this have been given recently by some of our correspondents in the interior. Professor Leavenworth introduces his contributors in a few well-chosen words and has brief notes on the death of Mr. Fiske, the official changes in China, the departure of Mr. and Mis, Conger, and the arrival of Mr. Rockhill. Mr. Conger left such a good name behind him that we the more regret his ill-considered utterances in San Francisco with regard to the boycott, Into the shord paper on "The Wealth of China" which follows the editorial notes a great amount of information is compressed, "The world has been encircled, and now the outposts and firing line of Commerce have advanced close to the portals of the most ancient living nation of the globe." The writer takes us first to Manchuria, with its enormous agricultural possibilities, and its mines of coal, iron, and gold.
will perhaps be remembered that when the Russian aggression on Manchuria began, we mentioned that the sian representation was that Russia expected to be repaid in Manchuria for the money she had spent without return in Siberia, Than we come to the great northeastern section of China proper, the provinces of Chibli, Shantung, Shansi, and Shensi, in which lie the great coal-fields. "Although some of the coal does not come up to the standard which was expected at first, yet itis safe to accept the familiar statement that the greatest coal area of the world is found in China, which is enough to supply the demand of the whole world, at its present rate, for many hundreds of y " Next comes the centre of ars, Cc hina, the heart of the Middle Kingdom, of which Hinkow is the capital, the fature central railway junction of the empire. "The provinces of Hunan, Szechuan, Kueichou, most, of Hupeh, as well as southern Shensi pour their wealth into the great mart at Hankow, and in these regions, besides there great giants among minerals, coal and iron, are also found lead, zinc, antimony, and other metals in large quantities and of superior quality. Tea is, of course, the most important export from Hankow, while to the southward lie the rich agricultural resources of Hunan; for the Chinese say: With a full harvest in Hunan there is enough for the whole world (ie. China)' The recent establishment in Hankow of branches of some of the leading British firms in Tientsin is an indication that it ix believed tha: the railway will bring to Hankow some of the trade which is now centred at Tientsin, to the greater glory of the Chiengo of China, A paragraph is devoted to the great province of Szechuun, altaost shut off from East China, but rich'in opium, gold, silk, silver, copper, iron mercury, coal, white wax, and petro-lenin, "All these things are shut off in a comer of the emit. by the great barrier of the gorges found in' the Upper Yangtzs, which furthermore keep back the cotton and cotton fabrics which Szechuan wants from the eastern provinces and from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.