ART. VI.

Embassy to the eastern courts of Cochinchina, Siam, and Muscat; in the U. S. sloop-of-war Peacock, David Geisinger, commander, during the years 1832-3-4. By EDMUND ROBERTS. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1837: pp. 432. Octavo.

THE decease of Mr. Roberts, while on his second voyage in the east, as diplomatic agent of the United States, was noticed in the number of the Repository for September 1836. The volume before us, as appears from an introductory note, was prepared for the press by the author previous to his second embarkation, and was intended as a prelude to much further and varied information to be derived under more favorable auspices - more intimate knowledge of eastern forms, and that caution which should ever be the child of experience.'

Having only glanced at a few of the pages of the volume just come to hand, we are not prepared to give any opinion of its value, and for the present content ourselves with making an extract or two from the introduction. Mr. Roberts says

"At the period of my visit to the courts of Siam and Muscat, American commerce was placed on a most precarious footing, subject to every species of imposition which avarice might think proper to inflict, as the price of an uncertain protection. Nor was it to pecuniary extortions alone that the uncontrolled hand of power extended. The person of the American citizen, in common with that of other foreigners, was subject to the penalties of a law which gave the creditor an absolute power over the life, equally with the property of the debtor, at the court of Siam. As an American, I could not fail to be deeply impressed with the barbarity of this legal enactment; and its abrogation, in relation to my own countrymen, detailed in the Embassy, I consider as not the least arnong the benefits resulting fron the mission. With the courts of Siam and Muscat, it will be seen, I was enabled to effect the most friendly relation, and to place our commerce on a basis in which the excessive export and import duties, previously demanded, were reduced fifteen per cent. If in the attainment of these benefits some sacrifice of personal feeling was at times made for the advantage of American commerce, the dignity of my country was never lost sight of, nor her honor jeoparded by humiliating and degrading concessions to eastern etiquette. The insult

ing formalities required as preliminaries to the treaty, by the ministers from the capital of Cochinchina, left me no alternative, save that of terminating a protracted correspondence, singularly marked from its commencement to its termination by duplicity and prevarication in the official servants of the emperor. The detail of the various conversations, admissions, and denials, on the part of these eastern ministers, in the pages of the Embassy, exhibits their diplomatic character in true, but not favorable, colors.

"The unprotected state of our trade from the Cape of Good Hope to the eastern coast of Japan, including our valuable whale-fishery, was painfully impressed on niy attention in the course of the Embassy. Not a single vessel-of-war is to be seen waving the national flag over our extensive commerce from the west of Africa to the east of Japan: our merchantmen, trading to Java, Sumatra, and the Philippine islands, are totally unprotected. The extent of the commerce may be estimated from the fact, that there arrived in two ports in Java during one year, one hundred and one ships, the united tonnage of which amounted to thirty-eight thousand, eight hundred, and seventy-seven tons. To this may be added the whale-fishery on the Japanese coast, which likewise calls loudly for succor and protection from the government. The hardy whaler-the fearless adventurer on the deep-yielding an immense revenue to his country, amid sufferings and privations of no common order, certainly claims at the hand of that country, protection from the savage pirates of the Pacific. Among this class of citizens too, we may look for those old and determined spirits who would form the bulwark of our national navy. The protection of this important and prolific branch of commerce is, in every point of view, a political and moral advantage. I indulge the hope that it will become the object of special legislation, and that the hardy sons of the ocean, while filling the coffers of their country, may enjoy the protection of her flag.

*

"While it has been my special object to render the pages of the Embassy a guide to the best interests of commerce, I have not been unmindful of the claims which the general reader may have on a work embracing a view of that interesting quarter of the world, the eastern and southern portion of the eastern hemisphere; its natural scenery, productions, language, manners, ceremonies, and internal political regulations, will be found in the Embassy. The picture may not be at all times of a pleasing character; it has rather been my object to give the original impression, than to decorate it with any factitious coloring When visible demonstration could be obtained, I have always

resorted to it in drawing my conclusions; and in those cases in which this best auxiliary was denied me, I have given the testimony of travelers from other countries, who preceded me in visiting the courts touched at by the Embassy, and whose details have received the sanction of the world. *

My country claimed at my hands, the faithful fulfilment of arduous and responsible duties. If, in the information furnished in the Embassy, her requirements have been accomplished, my ambition is satisfied."

ART. VII. Premium of one hundred pounds sterling, for an Essay on the opium trade; specification of the conditions on which the premium will be awarded.

WHEN great questions are to be discussed-questions touching the highest commercial, political, and moral interests of empires-full opportunity should be given for considering them in all their bearings and effects, both immediate and remote. The opium trade considering the amount of capital embarked in it, the ways and means by which it is carried on, its effects on other branches of eastern commerce, on national intercourse, on human happiness, &c., &c.,- is a great question regarded as a mixed one-requiring the attention of the political economist, the statesman, and the philanthropist,-it stands paramount. The inhabitants of more than half the whole world are intimately connected with it. Moreover, it is a new subject: the traffic has grown up to its present magnitude very recently and with unparalleled rapidity, and has hitherto lain beyond the observation of almost all except those who are personally engaged in it Under such circumstances the question naturally arises, What course ought to be pursued in regard to it?

The manner in which a premium of £100 was placed in our hands, and the plan proposed for awarding it through the directors of a public Institution in Great Britain, were specified in our fifth volume (pp 417, 573). The prompt and considerate manner in which the subject has been taken up by the Committee in London, evinces the utmost readiness to do it ample justice. It will be seen below, that the period for receiving the Essays has been extended from the 1st of October 1838, to the 25th of March 1839; and that in one or two

other particulars slight changes have been made in the original conditions all these arrangemements of the Committee, however, seem wisely made, and have our entire approbation; they are as follows.

"The sum of £100 has been transmitted from Canton, by the Editor of the Chinese Repository, to the Committee of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, for the best Essay on the Opium Trade; showing its effects on the commercial, political, and moral interests of the nations and indivi. duals connected therewith, and pointing out the course they ought to pursue in regard to it. The following are the conditions on which that premium will be awarded;

"1. The candidates for the premium will send their manuscripts, of not less than 40 or more than 100 octavo pages of type, to the Secretary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, giving their names and addresses under a separate envelope sealed; of these envelopes only the one accompanying the successful Essay will be opened by the arbiters.

“2. All the manuscripts which shall have come to hand by the 25th March, 1839, will be placed in the hands of two or more arbiters, whom the Committee will nominate; and provided the best Essay shall be considered by the arbiters worthy of the premium, the sum of £100 will be immediately remitted to the successful competitor.

"3. The Committee reserve to themselves the right to publish the prize Essay with the name of the author.

"4. It is the wish of the Editor of the Chinese Repository that the unsuccessful Essays should remain at the disposal of the Committee, either to be published by them or sent to Canton. The Committee do not think that they can prescribe this condition; but they would thank the competitors to intimate whether they have any objection that their Essays shall in all events be at the Committee's disposal.

"5. The Essays, addressed to the Secretary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, London, must be sent post paid, or be delivered in such a manner as to be free from any charge.

"50, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;

15th January, 1838.

By order of the Committee,

THOS. COATES, Secretary."

ART. VIII. Journal of Occurrences. Arrival of sir F. L. Maitland in China, and of captain Elliot at Canton; contents of the Peking Gazettes; events at Peking, and Canton; the hong debts; foreign boats; intelligence from India; tea in A'sám. ADMIRAL SIR F. L. MAITLAND. The arrival of the flag ship of the British naval squadron in the east. H. B. M. S. Wellesley, bearing the flag of rear-admiral sir Frederic Maitland, K. C. B., the commander-in-chief, is the prominent topic of interest among the events of the past month. The Welleslay, captain Maitland, accom

panied by H.B.M. brig Algerine, captain Thomas, passed through Macao Roads on the morning of the 12th July, and proceeded immediately to the anchorage which had been selected, that of Tungkoo, or Urmston's harbor, a little to the eastward of the island of Lintin, and nearly midway between it and the anchorage of Capshuy Moon. Sir Frederic Maitland remained on board until the 17th, when he arrived with his family at Macao. The vessels had hardly appeared in sight from the town of Macao, before the pilots were fully informed regarding them; and these emissaries of the government proceeded immediately to report to their officers the unwelcome arrival, and to detail all, and even more than all, that they could glean concerning the force of each vessel, and the purpose of the admiral's visit. The official functionaries forthwith published the usual insulting documents, by which they require the speedy departure of such vessels of war as visit their coasts. These documents are now, we believe, always refused by the foreign officers to whom they are addressed: but it is high time that the mockery of writing them, and the insult given in offering them, should cease. The precise purpose of sir Frederic Maitland's visit has not transpired; but the Chinese, whether on good authority we cannot say, have reported that it is to examine into matters relating to the trade of his country. They have also represented him es an e-muh, a barbarian eye, or head man. The pilot, of the Wellesley, we understand, has been placed in confinement and punished by the keunminton at Macao, for not furnishing a more explicit account of the purposes of the admiral. His excellency the governor, too, though well aware that none but a common fisherman, acting as pilot, has been on board either of the vessels, exclaims, "The con duct of these foreigners is difficult to fathom. I am really filled with doubts as to what may be the object of this foreigner's visit. Whether he is to remain outside and investigate, or aims at entering the port to conduct affairs, does not at all ap pear from the report of the several civil and naval officers.' And without sending a single officer to meet the British admiral who has visited these shores, and to inquire from himself the object of his visit, his excelleucy goes on to command the civil and naval functionaries of Macao and its neighborhood, 'that they investigate most minutely.' Such is the boasted wisdom and civility of the Chinese! On the 24th, sir F. Maitland returned on board the Wellesley, leaving his family still at Macao. We hear that he will employ his leisure in visiting the neighboring anchorages.

Captain Elliot, the chief superintendent, who it will be remembered lowered the British flag and retired from Canton in November last, left Macao on the same day with sir F. Maitland, and hoisted the flag again in Canton on the 26th instant. As to the purpose of this visit we are also in the dark, but we presume that it must be in connection with the object for which the British admiral has visited this distant portion of his cruising ground.-If new scenes are soon to be opened here, their managers, we trust, will see to it, that the respecsive parts are performed, justly, prudently, honorably.

The Chinese Papers are often peculiarly devoid of interesting matter. Those with which the Gazettes are filled consist of many unimportant documents in regard to conduct of magistrates, recommending some and censuring others, reports of ordinary matters of police, suggestions for trifling alterations in branches of the administration, questions of expenditure for repairs of embankments, dykes and walls, building of temples and colleges, and such like. Among documents on the last-named subject, is a request from an officer at Oroumtsi, in the northwest territory, that sundry officers and private individuals, subscribers for the erection of a college, may be rewarded by the imperial approbation of their public spirit. The emperor turns round in auger, severely reprimanding this misapplication of a rule, intended for a civilized and settled community, to a Tartar and military district, in which arms not arts should be the object of study. We observe, also, documents regarding the apprehension of certain Catholic Christians (natives) in Peking, and of opium-smokers in the district of Jěho.

At Peking the only interesting events recorded are, the return of the emperor from his visit to the tombs of his progenitors, the illness, during a period of two months, of the aged minister Yuen Yuen, of whom we have often had occasion to speak, as having been formerly governor here, latterly governor in Yunnan, and