496 Voyage of the Novara. 



other attention than an insulting chuckle over the power- 

 lessness of the German empire. 



In consequence of the Treaty of Pekin securing to Eu- 

 ropeans the unobstructed navigation of all canals and rivers 

 throughout the Celestial Empire, the trade with China is be- 

 coming so rapidl J developed, that some remedy of this sort is 

 imperatively needed, — if German commerce and industry 

 would avoid receiving a serious check, if she would not bo 

 supplanted by other and more fortunate nations, in the en- 

 deavom" to avail herself of the great alteration for the better 

 in the facilities for trade in China. 



The activity and energy of the English in opening up new 

 outlets for their native manufactures were here astonishingly 

 visible. Hardly are the ratifications of peace exchanged, 

 opening the most important rivers and harbours of the Em- 

 pire to free commerce with the subjects of England, ere the 

 country has been surveyed and explored in every direction. 

 A number of English merchants ascended the Yang-tse-kiang 

 as far as Hang-kow* (mouth of trade), a city containing several 

 millions of inhabitants, which, in consequence of its extraor- 

 dinarily advantageous site, has already been described by 

 Hue as the chief emporium of the 18 Provinces, and whence 

 all the foreign trade radiates into the interior. Others under- 

 took a land journey from Canton to Hang-kow ; a third com- 

 pany ascended the Pei-ho and visited Tien-Tsin, while yet 

 a fourth were contemplating the formidable undertaking of 



* Since sacked by the Tai-ping rebels. 



