brought upon us. A very little consideration will suffice to show the difficulty of retaining our footing in those regions. Fierce marauders, in vast numbers, swarm around the forts and detachments that pass from place to place, and their implacable hostility is unchecked by defeat, because having neither polity nor country, they re-assemble wherever plunder is to be found. We cannot maintain a large force at such a distance from our own provinces in British India, and the small garrisons and detachments of sepoys which we have left there under the command of British officers, run imminent risk of destruction, if their vigilance is for a moment surprised. In the month of September, the following was the amount and distribution of the army in Affghanistan: Head-quarters, Cabul, Sir W. Cotton, G.C.B., commanding. 2d Company, 6th Battalion. Abbott's Battery. 2d Light Cavalry. 1 Ressalah, 4th Local Horse. Her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry. 35th Native Infantry. 37th Native Infantry. Two companies 27th Native Infantry. Candahar.-4th company, 2d Battalion Foot Artillery. Battering Train. 2 Ressalahs 4th Local Horse. 2d Native Infantry. 42d Native Infantry. 43rd Native Infantry. Ghuznee.-I Ressalah 1st Local Horse. 14th Native Infantry. Rajah. 1st European Regiment. 48th Native Infantry. Bamian.-4th troop 3d Brigade Horse Artillery. SHAH'S CONTINGENT. Cabul.-2d Regiment Horse. 3d Regiment Horse. Candahar.-1st Regiment Horse. 5th Regiment Foot. Two troops, H. A. Quetta.-1st Regiment Foot. 2d Regiment Foot. Bamian.-4th Regiment Foot. On the 5th of March, the House of Lords ordered certain public documents relating to the government of British India to be printed, which, besides copies or extracts of despatches from the governorgeneral to the court of directors, contained copies of correspondence between the board of control and the court of directors, from 1834 downwards, relative to the system of levying the duties of customs in the three presidencies." Amongst these papers was one addressed to the chairman of the company, by lord Ellenborough, when president of the board of control, during the short period of sir Robert Peel's administration in 1835, and which was intended to be a guide to the government of lord Heytesbury, who had been nominated governor-general of India, under the Conservative ministry; but the appointment was cancelled by the Whigs on their return to power, before that nobleman had sailed from England. We lay before our readers some extracts from this valuable document as giving an able account of the mode of levying the duties in India, and the state of the fiscal regulations with regard to the produc tions of that country. This statepaper is the more important on account of the fact that lord Ellenborough was in the following year (1841) himself appointed governorgeneral of India. It bears date " India board, March 18, 1835, and is signed "Ellenborough." It begins by stating, that the court of directors, and the board of control, had on more than one occasion intimated to the local government their wish that the people of India might be relieved from the transit duties; but that no steps had been taken to carry these recommendations into effect. After alluding to the report then recently drawn up by Mr. Trevelyan upon the inland customs and duties of the Bengal presidency, lord Ellenborough proceeds→→ "It is unnecessary for me to observe upon the extreme importance to India of encouraging the cotton manufacture, which has of late years been so nearly superseded by the importation of British cot tons. "While the cotton manufactures of England are imported into India on payment of a duty of 24 per cent., the cotton manufactures of India are subjected to a duty on the raw material of 5 per cent., to a further duty on yarn of 7 per cent., to an additional duty upon the manufactured article of 2 per cent.; and, finally, to another duty of 2 per cent., if the cloth should be dyed after the rowannah has been taken out for it as white cloth. "Thus, altogether the cotton goods of India may pay 17 per cent. "We have been endeavouring to improve the leather manufactures of India, but our efforts are, to no inconsiderable extent, counteracted by the duties which have been suffered to remain. "The raw hide pays 5 per cent.; on being manufactured into leather, it pays 5 per cent. more; and when the leather is made into boots and shoes, a further duty is imposed of 5 per cent., thus, in all, there is a duty of 15 per cent. "We desire that at the earliest period consistent with the safety of the West Indian colonies, the sugar of India may be admitted on payment of the same duty which may be imposed upon West Indian sugar; but in what manner do we continue to treat our own sugar? On being imported into a town, it pays 5 per cent. in customs. and 5 per cent. in town duty, and when manufactured it pays on exportation from the same town 5 per cent. more; in all 15 per cent. "It is unnecessary to multiply instances. The effect of these and similar duties is virtually to prohibit the manufacture in towns of all articles not absolutely required for their own consumption; to confine manufactures to the place where the raw material is produced; and, by such restrictions, much more than by any tax actually levied, to depress the productive industry of the people. "Not less than 235 separate articles are subjected to inland duties; the tariff includes almost everything of personal or domestic use; and its operation, combined with the system of search, is of the most vexatious and offensive character, without materially benefiting the revenue. "We are in a position in which we cannot remain. We cannot proceed much further in reductions of expense otherwise than by a minute and watchful attention to all the details of our establishments, by which ultimately, I trust, we may effect a large saving; but at the present moment we cannot, by any sudden stroke, materially diminish our charges. "To increase taxation is impossible. It already presses but too heavily upon the people, aggravated, as it seems to be, by a deficiency of circulating medium. "To remain without an effort to redeem ourselves from the finan cial difficulties which the recent measure of the legislature has either occasioned or increased, would be at once unworthy and ruinous. We have but one course -that of relieving the people from undue pressure, by giving freedom to internal trade. "It is in the improved condition of the country, and in that alone, that we can find the resources which will preserve us from bankruptcy. "We may at once, by our own authority, give entire liberty to the internal communication of 60,000,000 of people. Industrious, possessing a fertile country, traversed in its whole extent by a navigable river, inaccessible to foreign war, and protected in their property by an impartial administration of the laws; the inhabitants of Bengal would thus obtain, by the enlightened policy of their government, more extensive means of public prosperity than are enjoyed by any other nation in the world; but I trust that no lengthened period will elapse, before, by the influence of our example, we shall induce the neighbouring states within and beyond the Indus to adopt similar measures." this island during the present year were of the most satisfactory character, and the conciliatory conduct of the imperial parliament towards the colonial legislature produced the happiest results. The session for 1840 was opened in October, and the Speaker, attended by the house of assembly, having been summoned to the council chamber, the governor (sir C. Metcalfe), delivered a long speech, giving a gratifying account of the situation and prospects of this important possession of Great Britain. following extract presents an interesting example of the happy results which have flowed from the great experiment of West Indian negro emancipation. The "All those who are acquainted with the state of this island must know that there is no more fear of a return of slavery in Jamaica, than there is of its establishment in England; that our emancipated population are as free, as independent in their conduct, as well conditioned, as much in the enjoyment of abundance, and as strongly sensible of the blessings of liberty, as any that we know of in any country; and every one who reflects must be aware, that in a land where the demand for labour is pressing, and the supply inadequate-where the people have, in most parts, means of support, which precludes the necessity of continuous labour-where the desire to live at ease may, to a considerable extent, be gratified-and where uncultivated and fertile land is abundant and procurable at little cost, positive coercion is, in the nature of things, impossible and that the virtual coercion which, in all countries, is imposed by the necessities of the labouring man, JAMAICA. The accounts from is likely to be less here than in Lord Ellenborough concludes these suggestions by saying, "I have confined myself, in this letter, to recommending the imme. diate abolition of the transit duties in Bengal only, because I am not yet in possession of the full information I require with respect to the nature and operation of similar duties in the presidencies of Fort St. George and Bombay; but the principle applies to all India, and I regret every hour which passes over the head of this recognized abuse." any part of the United Kingdom. To these advantages may be added, that all disqualifications and distinctions of colour have ceased; that men of all colours have equal rights in the law, and an equal footing in society; and that every man's position is settled by the same circumstances which regulate that point in other free countries, where no difference of colour exists-that civil and religious liberty is universally enjoyed in as great a degree as in the mother country, and that we have a press as free as any in the world. Such is the present condition of this colony in those respects, and it may be as serted without fear of denial, that the former slaves of Jamaica are now as secure in all social rights as free born Britons. Let it be our study, gentlemen, to confirm, and if possible, improve this happy state." perial parliament. Churches, chapels, and schools, raised with the aid of grants from the mother country and the island, or from the funds of charities and societies, and in some cases at the expense of individuals, or by local subscription, to which, in many instances, the labouring class contribute, are in the course of erection, in addition to many which already exist, and more are continually required to meet the demand for education and religious instruction. Several savings banks are in operation, of which the labouring population laudably avail themselves; and it may be expected, and is to be desired, that more of these valuable institutions will be established." With reference to these portions of the speech of his excellency, the house of assembly, in their address, echoed the pleasing statement of the governor in the following words : "The peaceful demeanour of the emancipated population of this island redounds to their own credit, and affords a proof of their continued comfort and prosperity." CHAPTER XV. CHINA. Narrative of Events in China since 1834-Bill for opening Trade with China introduced by Mr. Grant, in 1833-Appointment of Lord Napier as first Chief Commissioner-Arrival at Macao— Refusal of the Viceroy of Canton to acknowledge his AuthorityInsulting Conduct of the Chinese-Lord Napier passes the Forts of the Boca Tigris to Whampoa, and the British Frigates are fired upon by the Balleries-Lord Napier returns to Macao, and dies there -Mr. Davis succeeds his Lordship as Chief Superintendent-Sir George Robinson succeeds Mr. Davis-Tranquillity during 1835 and 1836-Opening of the Trade facilitates Opium Smuggling-Despatches of Mr. Davis and Captain Elliot on the Subject-Measures taken by the Government at Pekin-Advice and Fate of Heunatse, a Mandarin Councillor-Increase of Opium-Traffic-Arrival of H.M.S. Wellesley-Difficully from refusal of Captain Elliot to use the character Pin-British Boat fired upon from the Boca TigrisSir F. Maitland demands and obtains Satisfaction from the Chinese -Seizure of Opium in Canton-Arrival of the High Commissioner Lin-Opium Smuggler strangled at Canton-Edict of Commissioner Lin-Captain Elliot proceeds to Canton-Case of Mr. DentEuropean Factories closely blockaded-Surrender of Opium in hands of the British by Captain Elliot to the Chinese Authorities-Chinese Peasant killed in an Affray at Macao-Demand made by Lin for delivery up of the Homicide-Attack by Chinese War Junks on the Black Joke-Captain Elliot leaves Macao for Hong Kong-Edict of Lin against importation of British Goods-Petition of Captain Elliot, and answer of Lin-Case of the ship Thomas Coutts-Hostilities commence The British Frigates Volage and Hyacinth engage twenty-nine War Junks, and compel them to retire with loss-Deter mination of British Government to send a Hostile Expedition to China-Appointment of Admiral Elliot to the command of the China Fleet-Edict issued from Canton-Rendezvous of the British Squadron at Singapore-Attempt of the Chinese to destroy the English with Poisoned Tea, also to burn the British Vessels with Fire-ShipsBlockade of Port of Canton proclaimed by Sir Gordon Bremer-He sails to the North, and is followed by Admiral Elliot- Edicts issued from Canton-Capture of Chusan by the British Armament. 'N our last volume we briefly I alluded to the important which occurred last year at Canton, namely, the delivery by captain VOL. LXXXII. Elliot, the chief superintendant, of all the opium in the possession of British traders, and the critical position of affairs in China, at the [R] |