t-fifi 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[China, 



cinnamon, betel-nut, varnish, and certain dye stuffs. The Chinese Colonists 

 of the countries with which China carries on a trade, may be safely estimated 

 at one million, of which Siam contains by far the largest number ; and the 

 hands actually engaged in navigating the junks themselves may be moderately 

 estimated at from 18,000 to 20,000. 



Commerce with Russia. — A considerable inland trade has been long 

 carried on between Russia and China, at marts fixed on the boundaries of 

 the two countries ; but no attempt had ever been made to open a communi- 

 cation by sea till 1806, when two Russian ships, which had been fitted out 

 for discovery, arrived at Macao, and procured a cargo of goods. The 

 jealousy with which the Chinese viewed these strangers, will appear by the 

 following extract from an Imperial Edict relative to their visiting Macao, 

 and will shew that the attempt of that nation to open a trade with Canton 

 has not met with much encouragement. 



u We are just apprized by the lloppo that two Russian ships had suc- 

 cessively anchored in the roads of Macao, and that on board of these ships, 

 two foreign merchants, Krusenstern and Lysianskov, had arrived, and had 

 brought with them a sum of money and a cargo of furs, with the intent of 

 opening a trade at the port of Canton ; that the Hong merchants had, upon 

 an investigation, found these Russians to belong to the nation termed by the 

 Chinese, Go-lo-se. and had translated and laid before him their petition for 

 leave to trade ; upon which he, the said Hoppo, having consulted with the 

 Viceroy and the Sub-Viceroy, had issued the usual orders, directing the 

 merchants to trade honestly and fairly with them. 



" This is a very negligent and summary mode of proceeding; for it 

 ought lo have been recollected that the trade with foreign nations is restricted 

 within certain limits, which it is never permitted to violate or transgress. It 

 is true that all such foreign nations as are accustomed to frecjuent the ports 

 of Canton, Marat), ami the neighbouring islands, are likewise allowed the 

 liberty of trading in those parts ; but amongst these the name of the Russian 

 nation has never yet been observed by us : wherefore their sudden appearance 

 at this time, and design of opening a trade at the port of Canton, cannot be 

 considered otherwise than as a very novel and extraordinary circumstance." 



After declaring the conduct of the officers of Government at Canton to 

 be very culpable, the edict states — 



" The Viceroy and Hoppo shall, immediately on the receipt of these 

 commands, in the first instance suspend for a time all transactions at the 

 Custom -house on behalf of the said ships, provided they are not already 

 laden ; if they shall have completed their lading, but not have quitted the 

 port, the Viceroy and Hoppo shall proceed, without delay, accurately to 

 emjuire and investigate whether these Russians really came from the nation 



