342 C O C H I N C H I N A. 
steei, light woollen cloths, camblets, Manchester cottons, 
coarse Bengal muslins, naval stores, opium, and a fevv other 
drugs. Articles of this nature, when carried to the ports of 
Cochinchina, have usually been disposed of at an advance of 
from 20 to 30 per cent., and their value paid for in ingots 
of silver. 
There is another consideration which renders the possession 
of a port on the coast of Cochinchina, or at least a factory in 
some of them, extremely desirable for the concerns of the 
East India Company. It is well known that the Chinese 
government has more than once intimated a design of ex- 
cluding foreign traders altogether from their ports, a;nd very 
serious apprehensions have been entertained in consequence 
of it. In such an event, the trade might still be carried on, 
and perhaps with advantage, by means of Chinese junks 
bringing cargoes of tea and silks to Turon baj^ or other parts 
of the coast ; thus avoiding the exorbitant duties levied at 
Canton on foreign vessels. But if in such case we should 
have no establishment within the limits of Chinese navigation, 
the Spaniards at Manilla, the Portuguese at Macao, and the 
Dutch at Batavia, would be put into the possession of the 
whole commerce carried on by Chinese junks, and England 
Avould become in a great degree dependent on them for the 
share thej^ might be disposed to allow her in their respective 
ports. 
If, however, the Cochincliinese should not be disposed to 
cede an}^ part of the coast or adjacent islands to a foreign 
power, which, after the fortunate turn of affairs in favour of 
