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LOCKHART ON THE YANG-TSE-KIANG, &c. [April 26, 1858. 
only race in the world that can he independent of every other race, as they 
produce everything within their own regions that man can desire, and they 
freely interchange them. Their coasting trade is enormous ; there are hundreds 
of thousands of vessels passing up and down. Mr. Crawfurd made one or two 
observations with reference to our operations up the Yang-tse-Kiang in order 
to compel the Court of Pekin to listen to our terms, and he referred to the 
very triumphant course of our expedition up that river in 1842 and 1843. I 
think he lost sight of the total change in circumstances. When we went up 
the Yang-tse-Kiang originally, and blockaded the mouths of the Grand Canal, 
it was like putting our hand upon the throat of the empire ; for by the Grand 
Canal they were in the habit of receiving all their supplies of food, and up to 
that time Pekin was mainly dependent for provisions upon the southern pro- 
vinces. We were in a position also to blockade the coast. In the novelty of 
their position, with Pekin threatened and the Manchu dynasty imperilled, it 
was no wonder they should instantly come to terms. The circumstances are 
very different now. The rebels have been in possession of the mouths of the 
Yang-tse-Kiang for the last five years ; therefore whatever mischief has re- 
sulted to Pekin from the loss of prestige and the cutting off the supplies by 
the Grand Canal has already been put upon them. How should we add to 
the pressure by going there too? We should only come in contact with the 
insurrection, the limits of which we could not foresee. It is certainly not 
desirable that we should come in immediate contact with the rebels, or 
enter into relations with them. There are strong reasons why we should not 
mix up ourselves with them, and there is no hope that our going there would 
in a political sense have any influence upon the people of China. 
Dr. M. Truman, f.r.g.s. — I may state, in corroboration of the assertion 
that our manufactures have not penetrated far into the interior of China, that 
most of the British goods taken to Shanghae are sold to pedlars, who carry 
them on their backs. It is not likely that these men taking such small 
packets could travel any very great distance. Another peculiarity about our 
trade with the Chinese is, that there is more of bartering than of commerce. 
They are disinclined to part with silver in purchasing our goods, and our 
merchants are in fact obliged to receive the produce of the country. Works 
of art have even been taken in exchange for our manufactures, and a number 
of curiosities brought to this country have been sold at good prices and 
produce large profits. I recollect on one occasion a friend of mine was 
obliged to accept a large quantity of rhubarb. He had some doubt whether it 
would find a good market in England. It turned out, however, to be of such 
excellent quality that he was perfectly satisfied with the arrangement he had 
made. 
The system of barter in China operates as a great obstacle to large com- 
mercial transactions, and nothing would tend more to increase our trade with 
the Chinese than inducing them to pay for the goods they purchase of us with 
specie, which at present they are extremely reluctant to do, keeping their 
silver and other precious metals hoarded up in their houses. 
In answer to a question — 
Mr. Pliny Miles, of the United States, said — I believe the number of 
Chinese who have gone to St. Francisco and different parts of California have 
for several years amounted to from 10,000 to 13,000 annually. Within the 
last three years that number has considerably declined in consequence of certain 
political reasons. As to the number that has gone to Panama to reside, I do not 
believe it has exceeded fifty during the last five years. With regard to Peru, I 
think those who have proceeded there have gone almost entirely under contract 
with guano ships ; but to California it has been a voluntary emigration. There 
are several Chinese merchants at St. Francisco, and they have sent out vessels or 
money to China to bring over their countrymen. The complaint against the 
