1846.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. ^23 



America will pay any regard to the preposterous claims of Holland in tins respect 

 They treat the natives very cruelly and unjustly, and their policy is of the most 

 narrow and exclusive character. No Europeans but Dutchmen can get a looting 

 whero they are strong, as they are immediately ordered off. They have likewise 

 nearly destroyed the effect of their treaty of 1824 with England, by making coun- 

 tervailing laws of protection for shipping and manufactures entirely contrary to 

 every fair principle in the construction of treaties. They have now the etirontery 

 to complain of the English forming settlements in Borneo, in parts where a Dutcli- 

 man has never set his foot, and is even afraid to do so, as he knows with what 

 strong hatred he is viewed by the Malays. „ u,.„. 



The Chinese, in all the islands chimed by Holland and Spam, carry on a laigo 

 and lucrative commerce in their junks, with their fellow countrymen settled in 

 those countries ; as also with the Engli:^h settlements in the Straits of Malacca, 

 where the number ol' Chinese emigrants is said to amount to hvc or S!X hundred 

 thousiind. In the great islands above mentioned large numbers of Chinese agri- 

 culf-irists and artisans emigrate every year, particularly to Java, Borneo, and Su- 

 matra They are an industrious and plodding race of creatures, very patient, out 

 also very proud, and the most arrant cowards in the world. John Bull, to his 

 credit be it spoken, treats them with great kindness and justice, and throughout the 

 East every man, from tho Governor down to the lowest Hindoo, is the same in the 

 eyes of the law, and has as fair a chance of getting justice, if he will have the 

 patience to hang out against the delays of the law. It cannot but be contessed 

 that throuo-hout India, England shows the strongest desire to govern in the spirit 

 of humanity and freedom; though she does it in a different way to what would ap- 

 pear at first sight to be the best. There is, however— and it ought to be known to 

 Americans that the best class of Englishmen in India admit that there is— much 

 room for reform, retrenchment, and dose watching of of&cials and the Government. 

 The liberal party in England and India ought to insist on a retrenchment ot the 

 expenses of the Government and a curtailment of the company's power, cautiously 

 introduced. It will not do to carry on reforms with too high a hand in India, as 

 the people are with difficulty induced to forsake old ways, however injurious. It 

 may be said with truth also, that the British Government is beloved by the great 

 bulk of the population of Hindostan, and they have only to confirm this conviction 

 by the general introduction of the English language and English literature. One 

 hundred thousand white men cannot always govern a hundred and fifty millions, 

 even of ignorant heathen. Education should be extended to the lowest ot the 

 population, which will raise them from their present degraded and disgusting super- 

 stitions to the level of intelligent beings. 



The English colonies in New Holland are just now said to be in a prosperous 

 state, and the commerce increasing rapidly. The resources of the country are be- 

 coming every day more developed, and th-iv only drawback is the want ot capital 

 and of good steady emigrants. They have lately discovered valuable deposites ot 

 copper, iron, and lead in the colony of South Australia, near the seacoast, with 

 every facility for shipping. Several ship loads of copper ore have been shipped 

 since August, 1845, to England. Their whale fishery is also extending, as is like- 

 wise the raising of sheep and cattle. The exports of wool have much increased 

 since the rise in price. I could not help but notice, in reading some of their papers 

 lately, a spirit of independence, keen discussion, and great energy and elasticity ol 

 mind. They also are quarrelling and wrangling (and particularly in Van Uieman 8 

 land) with onr common father, John, on account of the very expensive nature ot 

 his disposil.nii and the obstinacy of his character. John will have to give in in 

 the end, and reduce the extravagant salaries of some of his sons, and their lonuness 

 for high living and dissipation. The Kangaroos won't stand it, as they are ot An- 

 clo-Saxon blood, and thf children nf a hot sun. , , , . . , . 



I haveoftrn been surprised that our citizens have never extended their travels to 

 oriental regions, particularly some of our Southern people, as there are objects 

 highly interesting to be seen. If some of the Southern agricultural societies were 

 to raise a fund to pay tho expenses of two gentlemen, practical agnculturista, they 

 would derive the most valuable and interesting information concerning many arti- 

 cles which n.if'ht be introduced with great profit into our country. 1 hey might bo 

 sure of being made heartily welcome wherever the English are located, only they 

 would have to be careful, as tlioy ought to bo, not to offend John's prejudices, and 



