To the Editor of the NortH-Ciina Datty News."
Si—In your book review of the 26th instant, referring to the "Is China Mad?" of Mr. d'Auxion de RUMté, it is said that "Mr, Leveson, former S.M.C, Secretary, records that the greater part of the International Settlement at Shanghai is the former American Settlement."
This assertion is perfectly. accurate, But it is interesting to point out that the said American Belelement came to its existence only by veason of the amalgamation of the British Settlement with the Tands to the north of the Soochow Creek. As a matter of fact, this part of Shanghai was offeially an MAmeriean Settlement" during four months only, viz: from June, 1863 to October 19 of the same year.
It is true that, a Jong time before, it had been known under that denomination. The first building' was erected in the Honkew trict by an American citizen, Tethrington, who died in 1848, the very moment when Uroottant establishments were in tated by the Amerienn Bishop Boone on the road from Shanghai to Weasnge; and, in the lowing years, many Americans had their Tesidences or factories there, 'At a landrenters' meeting, held fon March 31, 1862, the fusion of the British Settlement and the Hongkoew district was decided upon. But, as the latter was. Chinese territory, the American and Chinese authorities negotiated the matter, An agreement was con cluded only in June, 1863, between Consul Seward "and the Wang, and the limits of the American Settlement were fixed tas follows:
Soochow Creek, from a point opposite the entrance to the! Defence Creek, to the Hwang-p'
"Thence at low-water mark, the mouth of the creek entering the Hwang-p'a near the lower limit of the anchorage called creek, Thence, in to the, point of beginning.'
The fusion of the two Settlements Aicially promulgated -on October 17, 1868. It is interesting ty mete that, at a meeting held some days before, many landholders fof the British Settlement. protested Against the fusion, unless separate budgets should be contemplated, as; they were afraid of the enormous charges involved.
Tam, ote,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.