guishing mark of attention. The gift of fans to the British troeps would have amounted to an expression of thanks to them for the sound drubbing they had given the defenders of Ningpo.

Piracy is carried to a great extent in China. The boats which are constructed for this purpose are very fast, armed to a certain degree, and carry a very large crew. When they get within reach of their victims, they throw on board the doomed vessel a large quantity of fire-balls, so prepared as to produce an intolerable and offensive odour, when explosion takes place. When the confusion thus occasioned is at its height, the pirates grapple and board the prize, and if resisted, kill all on board. These pirates infest the sea between Hong-kong, Macao, and Canton, inhabiting the Ladrone Islands surrounding Hong-Kong, which seem to be abandoned to them in sovereignty. The passage between these ports is thus rendered extremely hazardous. Such piratical attacks constantly occur close to Victoria Harbour, within gunrange of four or five men-of-war, which lie comfortably at their moorings. Much specie is thus repeatedly sacrificed, while our cruisers and boats lie idle and inactive. The local press, for what reason I am ignorant, rarely, if ever, records these attacks.

Two sons of the major-general, ac、 companied by a military friend, were returning in their schooner from Macao, when, at break of day, they were disturbed by a confused noise. Jumping up, they ran on deck, and found about one hundred Chinese, climbing up the side, and about twenty in possession of the schooner, some of whom were actively engaged in cutting away the rigging, and all were well armed. A Chinese servant told his master, that having informed the pirates whose sons they were, they assured him that the lives of all on board would be spared, provided the robbers were allowed to do their work undis. turbed. The pirates then commenced their operations, first taking the watches, and other valuables, from the persons of the three gentlemen, and cautiously possessing themselves of all the fire-arms and weapons on board. They then proceeded into the cabin, and carried away all their clothes, and every available article, not forgetting

a case of champagne, which was intended for a pic-nic party; then, securing the compass, and unshipping the rudder, they left the unfortunates to their fate. Their planet proved propitious, as, wind and tide being in their favour, they drifted into Victoria Harbour, about 4 P. M., to the astonishment of all who saw them. The companion of the major-general's sons was obliged to send on shore for new clothing, before he could land, as the pirates, having taken a particular fancy to the suit he wore, allowed him with difficulty to retain his shirt. The story goes so far as to state that the gallant officer entered the harbour with a piece of old canvas wrapt round his body. To the surprise of everybody, the men-of-war immediately awoke from their slumber, and the greatest activity was displayed amongst them during the evening, after the arrival of the dismasted schooner. To such an extent did they exert themselves, that they actually succeeded in taking the pirates on the following day, who were handed over to the Chinese authorities for punishment. No part of the property was recovered, however, except a pair of valuable pistols, which were some time after restored through the mandarin.

A very melancholy act of piracy occurred a short time previous to this transaction. A sergeant and his party were ordered round Chuck-choo in a Chinese boat, with treasure to pay the troops. They left Victoria Harbour early in the forenoon, and were never again seen alive. The boat, the same evening, was drifted back to the harbour, and the mangled bodies of our poor men, mutilated in a most horrible manner, were found in it. The sergeant's hands were nearly severed, and he had evidently died making a brave resistance. The following day a gunboat was sent out, but although the dreadful deed must have been perpe trated at no great distance from the harbour, these pirates were never dis covered. This is not to be wondered at, as many acts of piracy have occur red in the port, within musket-shot of our men-of-war, the authors of which have invariably escaped unscathed, though their crimes were of a most aggravated nature, wholesale murders and plunder having taken place.

After the attack on the schooner

above related, the men-of-war again sank into lethargy, and seemed of no other use than occasionally to let loose their crews on shore to annoy, with their drunken frolics, the inhabitants of Victoria. I have been obliged, in going to Macao, to hire an armed schooner, and to see the guns loaded before I left the harbour. A laughable circircumstance occurred during such a voyage, which might have led to something serious. In the dusk of the evening we saw a vessel running down upon us before the wind, which had all the appearance of a pirate. We kept the guns ready pointed, and hailed her as she approached; and receiving no answer, we were on the point of firing into her, when the commander of the schooner, most fortunately, recognised her as one of the "Larcha's" which regularly run between Hong-Kong and Macao.

We

were in great fright at the moment; and were not a little rejoiced to continue our course after meeting a friend, instead of being obliged to fight an enemy. It would be endless to recount the instances which have occurred of inhabitants leaving Hong-Kong or Macao in boats, who have never after been heard of. In some instances their bodies have been found, washed on shore, with their throats cut. The authors of these acts have never been detected, and, for ought I know, have never been sought. This most unaccountable conduct of the British navy in China, leads to the same result that all our other mistaken policy does. A premium is thereby offered to piracy, and pirates, in consequence, become daily more numerous, and their acts daily more daring and atrocious. For what purpose the admiral allows the cruisers to remain inactive, instead of

sweeping the seas, and eradicating these human monsters, is an enigma which can only be solved by himself. But it would not be more difficult to eradicate these pirates, and it would certainly reflect more credit on the British flag, than to undertake an expedition to Borneo, in order (to burn a few bamboo huts, which the natives had abandoned. It is remarkable that no company has placed a steamer on this station, to run between Victoria, Macao, and Canton. The freight of treasure and passage money is very high, and such a speculation would not only be highly beneficial to all classes at these ports, but would be necessarily very remunerative.

But to return; our false policy is exemplified by withdrawing part of our naval force from China, whereby we are unable to keep a government cruiser anchored off each of the five ports to assist our consular authorities; by neglecting to employ the naval force which remains, to enforce strict compliance with the articles of the treaty, and to punish the pirates, who injure our trade, and endanger our intercourse with China. If it be considered injudicious to take the punishment of these marauders into our own hands, would it not be advisable to negotiate with the Chinese government for a system of co-operation to ensure their extirpation from the Ladrone islands, surrounding Hong-Kong, which is the largest of them? This course might certainly appear the most becoming to adopt towards a nation with whom we have entered into a mercantile treaty, particularly as their laws are most severe in the punishment of piracy, and their war-junks are constantly employed in searching for, and intercepting them.

In a country where education is so universal, where civilization has so much advanced, and where the arts and manufactures have attained such a state of perfection, it is surprising that the state should devote so little attention to the coinage of the empire, or he establishment of a uniform and unadulterated circulating medium. China

has but one coin peculiar to herself, which is totally inadequate, not only for mercantile purposes, but for domestic accommodation. This is a copper one called "cash," which is a circular piece of money about the size of our farthing, and of half its weight, and therefore about half its thickness. In the centre is a square hole, for the

convenience of stringing them together, and on the coin certain characters are inscribed in relief. Incredible as it may appear, there are an immense quantity of spurious "cash" in circulation. These coin are strung together in hundreds, and commonly twenty in each hundred are bad. When a shopkeeper is asked why he mixes this bad coin which he will not receive back again, he answers, he does not know, but it is "China custom." I have heard of one place in the interior of China where there are none but spurious cash in circulation. Spurious coins are easily detected, even when strung up with lawful money, by an experienced eye. No steps are taken by the state to detect or punish the forgers. When the cash is good, about eight hundred go to the Spanish dollar, but when mixed with spurious coin, about one thousand are taken for the dollar. Of silver there cannot be said to be any coinage in China, as the "tael" which is used as a circulating medium, is a piece of silver of an oblong form, with both ends rounded; one being rather broader than the other, something like a Chinese boat. This is very thick, and the value varies from 6s. 11⁄2d. to 6s. 3d. The Chinese always assay this, to ascertain the purity of the silver, and it is then stamped with the private stamp of the merchant or shopkeeper. "Sycee" silver is always passed in bars varying in weight; it is always assayed, and its weight valued in taels, at the price of the day. There is no paper currency of any description in use throughout China. Dollars,

both Spanish and Mexican, are in general circulation, but the Spanish are always preferred. The Chinese are very peculiar in their mode of valuing dollars. Of the Spanish dollars those of Carolus are most prized, and of these, there are some more valuable than others. To our English eye they all appear the same; however there is some peculiar mark by which the Chinese distinguish them. I have had one of each put into my hands, but, with all the attention possible, I was unable to discover the least difference. value of the Spanish dollars varies from 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. ; those of Carolus vary fi om 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. Mexican dollars never reach a higher value than 4s. The local government of Hong-Kong have passed an ordinance equalizing

The

the value of all dollars at 4s. 2d. ; but this legislation can only entail loss upon government servants and troops, who are obliged to take Mexican dollars at 4s. 2d. for which the Chinese shopkeepers will only allow 4s., or, taking them at 4s. 2d., put an increased price upon their goods. It will be impossi

ble to make the Chinese inhabitants of Hong-Kong calculate the value of dollars, otherwise than according to their peculiar ideas, and the mode universally adopted throughout the Chinese empire. Much, however, as the Chinese dislike the Mexican dollar, the rupee is their abhorrence. The government servants and troops used to be paid in Hong-Kong in rupees, the value vary. ing, according to government calcula tion, from 220 to 227 for the 100 crowns Spanish; but though the government servants and troops were compelled to take the rupees at this valuation, the Chinese could not be induced to take them at the same rate, but gave only from 1s. 6d. to Is. 74d. for them, and some even refused them at any price. The Chinese will only occasionally take English silver, and then not anything like its value. Gold they do not understand at all, and consequently refuse our sovereigns, which can only be occasionally sold (for the use of the goldsmiths who make ornaments or trinkets for Europeans), and then only for 4 crowns Mexican, or 18s.

Money-changers seem to carry on a most lucrative calling in China, if we may be allowed to form an opinion from the numbers engaged in it. They are constantly to be seen in the markets, distinguished by a long string of cash hanging, like an alderman's chain, around their necks, and piles of them strung together in heaps before them. There are also a great number of shops principally devoted to this avocation. No dollar will be changed by them except some article is bought, or a few cash changed. In this manner, and by intermixing spurious coin, they must make enormous profits.

Pawnbrokers flourish as much in China, if not more, than in England. Their rate of interest is exorbitant, and as no questions are asked, they are the great receivers of stolen goods. Every description of article may be pledged, from the most expensive to the most trifling mechanical tool;

tickets are given corresponding to ours, and a duplicate attached to the article pledged. The broker generally wears a most comely appearance; in fact, he is the very picture of Chinese beauty in man, and his dress invariably betokens wealth. In a thinking nation like the Chinese, and one so deeply calculating, where the value of every article is known to the greatest nicety, it seems most unaccountable that they should deteriorate the value of money by their absurd system of stamping each dollar as it passes through their hands, with the private mark of the merchant or shopkeeper. By this process it becomes at last so thin and battered that it falls to pieces. The pieces thus broken off swell the circulating medium. They pass by weight; perhaps there may be frequently as many as forty pieces to the value of a single dollar. China is not only as striking an example as can be found amongst the nations of the earth, of great inequality of wealth amongst the population, but of the extremes of wealth and poverty. She has many Rothschilds amongst her merchants, and many a Lazarus in her streets. Owing to her absolute monarchy, however, the fluctuation of wealth is greater than in any other country. To-day a mandarin is amongst the richest in the land, to-morrow he is disgraced, and not only the whole of his wealth confiscated, but that of his sons or brothers, if he has any. A merchant is amongst the wealthiest of his class, and being detected smuggling opium, the whole of his property, and that of his sons and brothers, is in like manner forfeited.

The oriental bank has established a branch at Hong-Kong. I have heard from those connected with it, that it does not answer, as was foretold by every one who understood anything upon the subject. From the habits of merchants in China, it would be very inconvenient, if not impossible, to keep banking accounts. Spare cash is generally, if not universally, invested in opium, when it can be purchased at a low rate, which is kept until the market rises. To the residence of each merchant is invariably attached a treasury for money sycee and opium, which is well built and strongly secured. The compredore of each establishment has the custody of this treasury, whose fidelity is secured to the merchant by the wealthy Chinese; any defalcation

either of treasure or opinion, is immediately made good. This system has been so long adopted in China amongst the merchants, that they are unwilling to try a new one. The only accounts likely to be kept at the bank are such as, from the smallness of their amounts, could not pay, being those, in all probability, of government servants, who could not make any considerable lodgments from their monthly payments, or of European shopkeepers and speculators, whose accounts would rarely exceed £100. From what I have been informed, it appears the result is exactly in conformity with the mercantile predictions. The government, however, have given every encouragement to the undertaking, and very properly have allowed the bank a military guard.

House-rent in Hong-Kong is very expensive. In 1845 I rented a house, as a favour, for a hundred and fifty Spanish dollars per month, for which two hundred Spanish dollars had been offered by another. The rage for building was greater, probably, than in any other new colony. Although the speculators may, in a great measure, have outwitted themselves by overbuilding, yet the rent of a moderatesized house is sixty Spanish dollars, and in the present year, 1846, the commissariat have taken a house, at the monthly rate of three hundred and fifty Spanish dollars. This building is of the first class, and similar to those used by the merchants. Their houses, however, invariably belong to themselves, but they pay similarly high rents for their houses in Canton. The expense of living in China is also excessive for the benefit of others, I will mention what I learned from visiting the East, that a rupee only goes as far in India as a shilling in England. In China the ratio is doubled. The Spanish dollar will only procure what a shilling would purchase at home. Vegetables are about the same price as in England, but it would be impossible to give old, ever-varying prices of poultry and pigs; it is true that the old market prices are published weekly by the chief magistrate at HongKong, but I never have been able to purchase at the moderate rate of his quotations, nor have I ever met any one who did. The compredores in

variably affirm that the people will not sell at these rates. The poultry, pigs, &c., are all sold by weight. The Chinese exercise their ingenuity in increasing the weight, by administering large doses of salt to the pigs shortly before they are exposed for sale, and giving them water, which they consequently drink to a great extent. They cram the poultry for the same purpose with pellets of wet sand, and rub it abundantly into their feathers. I had the curiosity to examine a duck which was purchased by my compredore, and found half a pound of sand under each wing; when the bird was killed, I found the craw filled with the same substance. The pork is so disgustingly fat, I could seldom eat it; English bacon was about one shilling and nine pence per pound, and good Cheshire cheese about half a dollar; inferior cheese, such as the Dutch (that servants in England would refuse to eat), from one shilling and sixpence to two shillings per pound. In the rainy season, these luxuries might be bought in large quantities considerably cheaper, with the certainty, however, of being spoiled, from the moisture of the atmosphere, in a week's time. Good butter is about two shillings per pound, and very difficult to be obtained. Mutton varies from one shilling and sixpence to two shillings per pound, when it is to be had, and beef is about the same price as in England, of a very bad quality in Hong-Kong; but I have eaten beef in Canton nearly as at home, not forgetting green pease at Christmas! Bread is dearer than in England, and rice, strange to say in a rice producing country, is dearer than in Europe; this is owing to its being the food of the million. The better sort of French and Rhenish wines, I have bought much cheaper than at home; but every other article of European production is very expensive. I know many may exclaim at this, and refer to the much cheaper prices these articles will fetch at auction, but the auction are also wholesale prices. In many instances, the goods thus bought must be at a

great risk-some may prove of an inferior quality, and some be damaged. This may answer very well for a speculator, but is in no manner calculated for the benefit of the consumer.

It is a curious fact, generally complained of in China, that good tea is not purchasable by retail; in fact, I never could get any except as a favour, through the merchants. But the best and most delicious teas are not exported, being of too costly a nature, and too much prized by the Chinese ; they are kept for presents. The value is calculated by its weight in silver-a katty of silver to a katty of

tea.

I have tasted some of this tea, and the flavour and aroma of it is most delicious. The mandarins are as curious in their collections of teas, as our connoisseurs are in their cellars of wine; and the wealthy Chinaman takes as much pleasure in getting a friend to taste his various teas, as an English gentleman would experience in producing his various wines to a good judge. Notwithstanding this goût for teas, the Chinese have a great partiality for liqueurs, but our cherry brandy is by far the greatest favourite. Of this, a Chinaman will imbibe an incredible quantity in a very short space of time.

Although China is an expensive country to reside in, yet there is a wide field for realizing large fortunes in honest trade, unconnected with that abomination, the trade in opium. There are many shops in Victoria, which, with few exceptions, are kept by Chinese. Amongst these are several which attract the attention of ladies, where curiosities, and fancy articles of all descriptions, are exposed for sale. I have never entered one of these shops with a lady in Victoria, or in Canton (where certainly superior articles are to be had), without fear and trembling. The Chinese are so fearfully depraved, that they expose publicly in their shops, obscene prints, books, and even toys, thus attempting to deprave the very mind of infancy.