ON A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 289 



most rigidly enforced. Yet after this indication of ad- 

 vancement, Europeans will still find the manners of the 

 Japanese repulsive, and, though polite, tarnished still with 

 barbarous shades. Their commerce with the Dutch in 

 former times, who treated all other Europeans with jealous 

 and treacherous enmity in order to aggrandize themselves, 

 could not fail to impress most unfavourable notions on 

 semi-barbarians, witnessing such conduct among strangers. 

 With such impressions British commerce will have to 

 contend. The same may be said of the Chinese, who 

 are more cautious and proud, if possible, than the Japanese. 

 Care and circumspection, and respect for their national 

 laws and customs, may reconcile them to European manners 

 again, and recover their confidence. 



A fort erected on the promontory of Alaska, or on 

 Queen Charlotte's Island on the North American coast, 

 would be a protection from injury, or a safe retreat in 

 case of vessels receiving damage at sea, or other injury 

 or danger. The whole of that immense coast, from Cook's 

 River to New Albion and California, is the property of 

 Great Britain by right of discovery ; and it claims 

 particular regard, on account of the invaluable resources 

 with which, as a country unexplored, it may be supposed 

 to abound. That great tract of coast lies mostly in 

 temperate latitudes, and for that reason may suit coloniza- 



2 p 



