The following letter has been addressed to the Chairman of
the East India and China Association, by the President of the Board of Trade- The following letter has been addressed to the Chairman of the East India and China Association, by the President of the Board of Trade- " Board of Trade, Feb. 17, 1840. " Sir—Haying understood from representations which have been mode to me that much anxiety te;t by mock:tuts and others connected with the tea-trade with respect to tl.e :,leis-run of ten brought to this country in Brithli bottoms from the coast of Chira, and having been in communication with the Lords of the Treasury on this subject, I beg to Inform you, that tea waterborne at Canton, and received on board the importing ship at the most convenient place on the coast for the purpose of taking in her cargo, is held to be imported from Canton, and therefore admissible for consumption in this country. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" I1. LABOUCIIERE."
The profit on opium-smuggling is so great that the trade must go on at all risks. According to the Singapore Free Press—" Opium now is
in greater demand than ever, both in Hong-Kong and on the coast, par- ticularly Malwa. Sales were being made at 050 to 1,000 dollars, and in some parts of the coast at 1,200 to 1,300 dollars; but this state of things cannot last long. Captain Elliot has taken steps to prevent opium-ships remaining at I long-Kong more than six hours ; which of course drives them to the coast for a market. At Manilla, the drug has been in good demand at -150 dollars, anti from all accounts this rate is likely to he maintained. The Lady Grant was seen near Manilla by the Good Success. All parties that sent opium from this within the last three months to China, have received their account-sales, all exhibiting in most cases 100 per (ant., and rime less than 200 dollars per chest profit. blue'.' depends upon the latent:on of the Company in respect to the sales for next year. It' the opi am is brought forward on the eve of such en- couraging sales on the eot.st, prices will run high ; and as the quantity of Malwa will he very great,' the trade may be overdone after the present year. From infor . tssien derived from some Chinese, who have just arrived from A moy, it appears that the junks will come here this season,
notwitle the. ;.!isturbances at 1 bmg-Kong. The opium taken by smile of' the junia: iii `.larch last sold in small quantities at thirteen to fourtetn hundred per chest ; but such was the vigilance of the Mandarins, that the sellers were compelled to remain on board."
We (the Colonial Ga:::11,:) have seen private letters which mention, that in the affair Left:ea:it the men of war and the junks, " the Chinese Admiral behaved with great g,allantry." Another circumstance of some importance in the hi tory of this war, and which we have not seen any
notice of in the ;addle accounts, is stated in a letter dated November 5th front Hong-Kos -
" In the ab:s.nce of Ilk: men-of-war, Om Chinese commenced erecting bat- teries to act agaihst the shil•piti;t here; one so close to the beach that It be- come necessary frir I la! ;..tereb,,, In lire, in order to dislodge Me part!, ; in c hirli ,;,•ce,s''a1. It is, however, probild,! that tit shipping will have to quit this * All the British subjects who had gone to Macao in coneziaelic,2 of f'sptain Ellint's recommendation, have been again obliged to gait With the greatest precipitation."
Another letter shows very reasonable are the Chinese Commis-
sioner's suspiciens that tl:e opium-trade is still carried on with the sanction of the British Sur rie!endent- " The opium -I rale, as was ;.nticipated, is conducted along the coast, and among the ishonls, I v -wall armed vessels ; tied their arrival and departure from here Lllong•Kang] every day, leading the 1Iandarins to believe the business is sanctioned Ly the only ;1111,,,rities recognized, fully warrant any forcible " I have always cousidemi the Chinese policy peaceable, but their late suc- cess may induce them to try what they can do with the concentrated force of Canton."
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