ment of China. In a Peking gazette,* dated the 11th October, 1833, there appeared the result of deliberations between the several supreme Boards, and that particular one which has especial charge of the revenue. They had formed a committee of ways and means, and the object was to increase the income for current expenses, because, during the last few years, the outlay had exceeded the receipts by more than thirty millions of taëls. They were, in short, employed upon the great secret of government, which has been thus defined,-"à prendre le plus d'argent qu'on peut à une grande partie des citoyens, pour le donner à une autre partie." The defalcation is attributed, and with apparent reason, to the suppression of two rebellions among the Mahomedan Tartars, adherents of Jehanghir Khojah, and to the inroads of the Meaou-tse, north-west of Canton. But, besides these sources of expense, there has been an unprecedented train of calamities in the shape of deluge and drought, making it necessary to remit large amounts of land-tax in different provinces; while the repairs of the Yellow River, and its neighbouring streams, drained both the general and provincial treasuries. Expense was thus increased, at the same time that income was diminished.

The expedient that has been adopted for raising money, being directly contrary to what may be termed the leading principle of the Chinese system, that of eligibility to office by learning and talent alone, may perhaps be considered as boding ill to the present rulers of the country. The rank of Kiu-jin, which qualifies for employment, and, by the fundamental law of the country, should be attainable by no other road than that of approved learning, has been lately sold for money, as offices in France were under the old régime. But so opposed is this to the universal sen*Chinese Repository, vol. ii. p. 430,

timent of the empire, and to the expectations of the proper candidates for employment, that a short limit is set to the period of its exercise. On the occasion in question, the term was restricted to about nine months. The system is considered altogether bad. Many of the old purchasers remain unemployed; and those who get into office, having bought their places, deem it but fair to repay themselves as fast as possible from the people. Various other expedients have been proposed; some were for opening the mines; some advised raising the price of salt; others recommended that rich merchants and monopolists should subscribe for the wants of the state. It has been already mentioned, that one or two of the Hong merchants obtained the decoration of the peacock's feather for contributing a round sum towards the military operations against the mountaineers. The present government of the country is evidently hard pressed for means, and would be distressed by any unusual draft on its resources.

The

Although, as we have before endeavoured to demonstrate, the very different condition of China, in respect to wealth and prosperity, argues a system of government much superior to what prevails under other Asiatic despotisms, although, as long as we are to judge of the tree by its fruits, a large share of good government must be the general rule, it is evident that the rule is not without its exceptions. Emperor, the theoretical father of his people, does not find it so easy openly to impose new taxes as his necessities may require them, and his power, though absolute in name, is limited in reality by the endurance of the people, and by the laws of necessity. Our own country has proved the fact of the largest amount of direct taxation being levied under a limited monarchy, and through the delegates of the people themselves; and the English House of Commons has

done a great deal more than the Emperor of China could probably attempt with safety. He is therefore obliged, to a certain extent, and on particular occasions, to let functionaries pay themselves—the worst possible form of taxation. The real amount, levied in this manner from the people, becomes greater than the nominal, and the excess is incalculably more mischievous than if fairly and directly obtained. In reference to this system and its consequences, the Chinese have a saying, that "the greater fish eat the smaller; the smaller eat the shrimps; and the shrimps are obliged to eat mud." It may be presumed that the expulsion of the Tartars is the only likely way to a remedy.

DIAN

CHAPTER XXI.

COMMERCE.

Coin of Base Metal-Value compared with Silver-Which passes by Weight-Ancient Paper Currency-Pawnbroking-Interest of Money -Internal Commerce-Disadvantage of Canton for English Trade Origin of Hong Merchants-Heavy Expenses of Foreign ShippingSystem of Smuggling-Opium the chief Import-Its ConsumptionNew Law against it-Totals of British Trade-Black Teas describedGreen Teas-Preparation of Tea-Spurious Green Teas-Mode of Colouring-Growth of English Tea-trade-Chinese Ports and Harbours-Eligible Points for Trade.

THE government of China issues no other coin than the base metal Tchen, composed of copper and zinc, with perhaps some lead, and in value considerably less than the tenth part of a penny." * On one side is the title of the reigning Emperor, with two words denoting "current value," while the reverse bears a Tartar inscription. In the centre of each of these coins is a square hole, through which they are strung together by hundreds, and in this state look something like strings of sausages. Many years ago, a specimen of a single coin having by some chance been dropped in an unfrequented part of the United Kingdom, the person who picked it up carried the mystery to a learned antiquary, who having written long essay on the subject, in which every conjecture

*It appears that the white shells called couries have been, and perhaps still are, in use as a medium of exchange about the provinces bordering on India and Ava, particularly Yunnân. They are called by the Chinese hae-fei," fat of the sea," and three of them seem to have been exchanged for one copper coin.

was hazarded but the true one, a representation of the strange coin, with the essay appended, was published in a standard work of some eminence. With a view to diminish the chance of such a mistake for the future, a fac-simile of the coinage of one of the Manchow Emperors is here given:

The curious, as in other countries, make collections of the ancient copper coin, in the order of succession of the reigns under which they were issued. It is said, however, that there are fabricators of these, as well as of numerous other antiques, of which the Chinese are so fond. A series, mounting up beyond the Christian era, has been brought to England; and if a string of tchen taken at hazard be examined, it will often be found to contain some coins of an ancient date. During former periods of Chinese history, money seems to have been made of other materials besides copper, being coined into a great variety of shapes, with symbolical figures of various animals. So greatly has the current coin of the reigning dynasty been debased, compared with its nominal value, that the greatest difficulty is experienced in repressing the practice of forging it. In the Peking Gazette for June, 1824, there is the confession of a convicted forger, who declares that, "being in great want, he, in concert with a former acquaint