"THE full exposure which we were able to make in these columns of the manner in which Mr. Chang Chien, the delegate of the Shangpu at Peking, proposed to settle the Boycott, has had its effect, and that gentleman has very much modified his scheme, which is still, however, one that the Chinese Government must be made to disavow, for it is still more evident that its real object is to introduce a new form of inland taxation on the foreign import trade. Mr. Chang has had another meeting with some of the more important piece-goods.dealers, at which be stated that he withdraws his demand for Tls. 200,000, but adele! that all his telegrams and expenses in connection with this matter, and with the regulation of the boycott in the fature, will have to be defrayed by-a levy on the piece-goods merchants, As to the fines amounting to, Tis, 4,000 already inflicted (but mot paid), he will look into the question, and if he finds that the irregularities on whose account they were levied were unintentional, they amoy be remitted. He now proposes to appoint four honorary directors to supervise the working of the boycott, two of them to be merchants and two students. It will be their duty to examine all the contracts alleged 4o have been made before the 20th of July last; subsequently an_ office will be established, in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, where permits will be granted enabling the holder to take delivery against the permissible contracts, IF cargo is taken delivery without one of these permits, the exact form of which has yet to b+ determined, "the culprit Will-be linble toa fine, the cargo may beheld as security for the payment of this fine, which may even amount to the confiscation. of the cargo. The prohibition to Chinese' to purchase, not merely from Americans, but from foreigners of -any nationality, any American goods imported after the 20th of July last is maintained, and will be strictly enforced. If any dealer decline to- send: to: the new Boycott office a list of his cargo purchased before the 20th of July, it will all be regarded as having been Bought since that date.
This is obviously an offvial scheme for levying taxation on, and establishing a control over, the trade of the port which must be resisted at all hazards. The opening it leaves for Mr. Chang Chien and his " direc, tors " to "squeeze " is evident. We may surely rely upon it that the Municipal Council will not allow the proposed office t" be established and carry on its working in the Srttlement. One great obstacle to its success is the good demand that has set in for the Northern ports, where H. E. Yuan Shih-kai does not permit any boycott.
We received last evening a letter on the subject of our Tuesday's article from His Honour Taotai Yuan, which we append, His Honour, however, makes such a general charge of inaccuracy, that- we really. have a difficulty in answering it, It is as follows To the Editor of the "Norra-Cumva Daty News." Sm,—In reading your leading article yesterday concerning the action of Mfr. Chuangyuan Chang in regard to the affairs of the American goods I was exceedingly surprised at the extraordinary opinions expressed therein, Your honourable paper has always borne the name of being very intelligent and broad-minded, und to have printed such unfounded words not only do you injure that gentleman's character, but you have. also.acied contrary to newspaper regulations, Moreover Mr.. Chuangyuan Chang has, by constant attention to them at list. succeeded in getting som" satisfactory results in regard. to education and commercial, matters, so that, to have your honourable p"per suddenly publishing unreliable sentiments, you have placed commercial matters in danger also.
Perhaps your reporter has. given you, a wrong report of. matters, or perhaps some interested. person has written to you on the subject, I, the Taotai,-am, however, compelled to make enquiries of you and trust that you will reply aid ct. me know whether you wil! make a correction.
With compliments, ete., Card: of 2nd day of the 8-h Moon (Bist August '05).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.