yet succeeded, and the Shah, alarmed by Hassan Allee's proceedings, which indicate an intention of marching to Ispahan, as soon as Yezd shall have fallen, has called on Abbas Meerza to march an army into Arak nominally for the reduction of Yezd, but really (as it is supposed) to keep his brother in check.

"Hassan Allee declares that, if the prince royal should march an army against Yezd, he will oppose him, for that he considers Yezd his own. The chief of Yezd, believing that Abbas Meerza cannot move his army to so great distance, says he will submit to Abbas, but to no one else. Hassan Allee is very popular in Arak, and it is supposed that he has been encouraged by the tribes of that province and of Fars and Kerman to oppose the prince royal, with a promise of support should he march to Ispahan. Abbas is collecting his troops at Jingan, on the road to Tehran, and proposes to march upon Koone, whence his motions will be regulated by circumstances.

"The Shah, it is said, will take no part in the business, leaving Abbas Meerza, as heir to the throne, to defend his own pretensions, and support Abdul Rozak Khan (who offers to submit to him) should he think himself capable of doing so. This appeal the prince royal cannot disregard without a terrible loss of character, and his rival is a man of courage, liberality, and enterprise, and thought by his friends to have too much confidence in himself to retire without striking a blow. A civil war is therefore very generally anticipated, but I think it quite as probable that the difference will be compromised. In the mean time all here is bustle and preparation for the campaign; money, however, is wanting, though every man in the province who had any has been squeezed, and all the district governments put up to auction. Five thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry, two troops of horse artillery, and a dozen heavy brass guns will however be collected, and if properly commanded and paid (which in Persia they are not likely to be), ought to suffice to put down any rival this country could at this moment turn out against the prince royal. But, of course, every thing will be mismanaged, and the result left to chance.

"If the parties do come to blows, this contest may have the good effect of deciding the question of the succession before the throne shall have become vacant. It may be infinitely injurious to our interests if Abbas Meerza should be induced to call in the aid of Russia, which, if he gets the worst of it in the first encounter, he most infallibly will do. I wish we had some more officers here to keep things right in the army, and to assist deciding the matter."

China.

CONSEQUENCES OF OPEN TRADE.

A writer in the India Gazette of Calcutta (a free-trade paper), who appears well-informed upon Chinese topics, makes the following remarks upon the trade with China, with reference to its being opened to British merchants. They are well worthy of attention, as indicative of the policy which such opening will probably force upon us:

The

"I have advanced that the policy of the Chinese government is to avoid forcing foreigners to extremity. I have inferred that their extraordinary expenditure depends greatly upon foreign commerce. There are, however, other causes which would make it extremely difficult for their government to dispense with any part of its foreign trade. All the best exports from that country are produced in the provinces to the northward of Canton. tea, the richest silk, the best nankeens, the most delicate porcelain and lacquered ware, even the finest fruits, are all found there. The woollens, which are the principal imports into China by the Company, are articles of luxury, merely, at Canton. In the northern provinces, warm clothing is necessary, and thither the woollens go, as far as their high price will admit of. Both exports and imports pass to their destination through the interior of the country; paying a high duty in every city which they pass through. Independently of the expense of boating on the rivers and canals, those goods employ a vast number of men to carry them across the Meylin mountain, which bounds the Canton province to the northward. Every chest of tea is borne there, for eighteen miles, on men's backs: the green tea has, besides, to make another portage at the northern extremity of the Fokien province. Now, imagine a stoppage of the trade, which should throw the whole of these porters and boatmen, the manufacturers, and the tea-cultivators, out of employment for twelve months, and that in a country disaffected to the reigning dynasty, and filled with secret societies, whose object is to get rid of it. Opium, the largest import into China, equal in value to the price paid to the Chinese for tea, is all smuggled, and nearly all goes to the north by sea. The balance of the duty-paying trade is, therefore, greatly in favour of the Chinese. Since the imports pay a much larger share of the duties and charges of transit through the country than the exports, it appears to the Chinese, who are little versed in political economy, that they are much the gainers by the transaction. It is pretty certain, then, from this and other causes mentioned before, that the Chinese government cannot afford to lose the foreign

trade. I will affirm that they dare not interdict it.

"The only substitute proposed for the authority of the committee in China, when the trade shall be laid open, is a king's consul. It will be easy, no doubt, to give him the same power which the committee now possesses to prevent British vessels entering the harbour or delivering cargo, in case that he is obliged to contend against the exactions and regulations of the 'thieftakers,' soucars, or linguists of Canton. But, in that event, who is to pay the demurrage for detention of the ships? £600 per diem is little to a monopolist who clears a million and a half sterling of profit per annum; but if that sum, or half of it, have to be paid by private merchants, whose competition will not allow of great profits, we may be sure that there will be a prodigious clamour against his British Majesty's Government for compensation. Nay more; the free-traders will, I think, in directing the whole force of the manufacturing and mercantile interest, which is now arrayed against the monopoly, towards compelling the ministers of the Crown to deliver them from the vexations and exorbitance of the local government, and its subalterns of Canton.

Were I a

British merchant I should go further, and take merit to myself, beyond that of Mr. Crawfurd, for demanding of the British Government thus early, that it procure for its subjects free and unmolested access to the northern ports of China. I would stake my mercantile existence that, after the Chinese were satisfied of their incompetence to eject us, the British trade with that empire would increase in a greater ratio than it has done in India since the relaxation of the Company's monopoly. It is pure humbug to talk now-a-days of the law of nations. It has been violated by every state in Europe, and by none more than Great Britain, whenever it was found convenient to do so; and Vattell, now sells at every book-auction for less than an old song, even when put up in the same lot with the Evidence on East-India Affairs, and all manner of Considerations' on the Government and Trade of the British Empire in the East.

"Every resident in China, who has given his attention to the subject, believes a rupture with the Chinese to be inevitable, two or three years after the opening of trade.

No one

doubts the result. The British power must prevail. It may involve the necessity, under the present reign, of building another Fort William, which will cost some crores of rupees beyond the expense of the war. But

a five per cent. loan in Calcutta will readily furnish the ways and means, and the other half of the batta, if there be any end to it, may go to keep down the interest. Here, however, considerations of remote danger arise."

THE HONG MERCHANTS.

Howqua, the senior hong merchant, was a linguist, I believe, or something inferior. It matters little; he is undoubtedly a man of talent, and the only hong merchant who has a clear perception of the danger awaiting his country, by contact with the British. His views on this head are acutely sharpened by self-interest; for every rupture, terminate as it may, draws upon his treasures. He is, therefore, a staunch adherent to the policy of restricting foreigners within as narrow limits as possible the only expedient likely to occur to an intelligent Chinese, in the present state of their knowledge. He is generally supposed to be enormously rich; but I doubt if his coffers be found so well filled after his death as is expected. Puankequa's hong is conducted by Tinqua, who was a subaltern in the Chinese army, prior to turning merchant. He is a shrewd sensible man, who has as little as possible to do with the mandarins. Both he and Howqua have long since discovered that they were unequal to cope with free traders. They have confined themselves entirely to the Company's business, and have prospered accordingly. Mowqua, the hong merchant, is a debauchee. His brother, who conducts the business of the hong, is a respectable man; but his credit has not been good for some time past, and he is only kept up by Howqua's assistance. Chunqua, the hong merchant, is an imbe. cile. His brother, the active partner, was once a deputy collector in the government employ; but he peculated, and was banished to Ele in Tartary: on his return he turned merchant, acting first for his father, and latterly for the brother. Two years ago he retired from Canton to his native province of Nanking, carrying with him, it is said, some six lacs of dollars. The hong broke in consequence. One of the objects of the discussions last year was to bring this man back, which was achieved. He is now at Canton. Kinqua has dipped deep into barter with Americans, parsees, and free-traders generally. He has been on the verge of ruin for years, and is only saved by the good management of an honest, intelligent, shopkeeper, whom he has taken into partnership. There were but three other hong merchants at the commencement of the discussions with the local government, who are men of no capital or consideration, and confine themselves to their shares of the Company's trade.India Gaz., Mar. 2.

STORM ON THE RUSSIAN FRONTIERS.On the 24th of April, in the Russian possesions on the frontiers of China, a dreadful hurricane, accompanied by a thick snow, commenced at nine in the morning, and continued without intermission until

the 28th at midnight. The snow blocked up all communication with the neighbouring posts. The inhabitants of the forts and neighbouring villages have experienced immense losses in cattle-namely, 3,494 horses, 3,193 horned beasts, 7,134 sheep, and 14 camels. The loss is estimated at 216,000 rubles, without reckoning the young animals of this season, not one of which remains. Two of the dependent posts of the frontier of Fort TchindatTourrow-Rouieff have also suffered considerably; and what renders the situation of the inhabitants still more deplorable is, that the extraordinary flood has rendered commnnication very difficult, some of them having been obliged to quit their houses and seek safety in the neighbouring heights.-Constitutionnel.

Australasia.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Press. A new weekly paper, under the title of the Sydney Herald, has appeared at Sydney. It is very respectably printed, and, as far as we can judge from the first number (April 18th), likely to be conducted with ability and temper. other paper, called Life in Sydney, we observe, is about to appear.

An

to

Sydney College.-A letter has been received from the Under Secretary of State, regarding the proceedings which took place about fifteen months since, at the laying the foundation of the Sydney College. The opinion of his Excellency the Governor had not been received at the date of the letter, though it was anxiously anticipated. The proceedings seem have excited considerable interest, and accounts may be expected in a few weeks, regarding the probability of government patronage. The institution, we are glad to hear, is not on the decline. We should feel equal interest in both the rival institutions, the Sydney College and the King's School, if they are founded on a basis equally liberal.

The Magistracy.-A new commission under the great seal of the colony, dated 22d April, contains the names of 128 persons as justices of the peace for the colony. The list comprizes 65 naval and military officers; 8 surgeons, now or lately with colonial appointments; 14 civil officers; 28 country gentlemen; and 13 merchants. Some complaints are made that a preference has been given to the court and camp, to the exclusion of the monied and mercantile interests of the colony.

Steam Navigation. A steam vessel, named the Surprize, built in the colony, was about to commence plying, as a passage-boat, between Sydney and Paramatta.

A much larger steam vessel is on the stocks, which is to be schooner-rigged, and internally fitted up in the most comfortable manner. The engine is of sixteen horse power, and was originally destined for a steam-boat in the Isle of France, where it was fitted up. The vessel is to be constructed upon improved principles, presenting a larger surface to the action of the fluid, giving her a sharp and deep keel, for a flat bottom, and curved sponsons in place of perpendicular sides, raising the centre of her paddle wheels to lessen the force of her dead or back water on the paddle boards. She will go up William's River to Clarence town; Hunter's River to Wallace's Plains; and it is supposed that she will make a passage from Hunter's River to Sydney, from sunrise

to sunset.

Melville Island.-It is said that orders are expected from home to re-colonise Melville Island. The settlement was, perhaps, abandoned prematurely; but now that it has been given up, it seems scarcely advisable to resume it without proper consideration and investigation. Men who formed part of the settlement, speak of it with rapture, as a place where every production grows luxuriantly. This inducement is not to be overlooked, in connection with the probability of an intercourse with the Malays; and the right acquired, by settlement, to the northern parts of the Island, which are claimed by the Dutch, from discovery. It is to be regretted that the natives are hostile, to a degree of ferocity seldom exhibited elsewhere. The Malay proas frequently touched at the place, and work was done for them by the blacksmith, who made knives and other articles for their use. They were most punctual in their payments, which were effected with rice and other commodities. When an agreement was once made between the parties, no deviation from it was permitted. Should Melville Island be converted into a penal settlement, and should, in the course of years, a beneficial intercourse be affected between it and the Malay Islands, another settlement might be made in the vicinity of Shark's Bay. The coast of this vast island may then be thoroughly explored, which it never has been, notwithstanding the various voyages undertaken to effect it. Perhaps the intended voyage of Capt. Fitzclarence, on discovery, may be connected with this object; but whether the new ministry will carry on or abandon the project, time alone will determine.Sydney Herald, April 25.

Formation of a New Society.-A society has lately been formed in Sydney similar in nature and objects to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, save, that it proposes to foster domestic manufactures, and the production of all those commoditics which the colonists are capable of

raising and manufacturing themselves, so as to save the value (money or produce) which are being annually remitted or exported from New South Wales to pay for like articles from England. The new society is composed of the landholders and shop-keepers of Sydney, and of the settlers and their sons up the country; and accordingly, it comprises within its body some of the most wealthy, influential, and acute men in the Colony. Mr. Samuel Terry is elected President for the ensuing year. We are glad to hear of the formation of this society, as we are fully aware that it is free from all party feeling, and has a single eye to the advancement of the Colony in its manufacturing and commercial prosperity.-Sydney Monitor.

SWAN RIVER.

Accounts from this settlement via Sydney, state that provisions had been extremely dear, but supplies had reduced them to a more moderate scale. Articles of clothing, however, were still high-priced.

A cargo of ponies had arrived from Timor, and were selling at £12 per head. It was reported that Capt. Stirling had changed his mind with respect to convict labour, and was desirous of procuring the aid of Government prisoners, to get on with the heavy work of the settlement.

A new river had been discovered beyond the Blue Mountain, and called the Avon.

Contributed by a Passenger.-A short time previous to my leaving Swan River, His Excellency Capt. Stirling crossed the mountains, and upon his return, stated that he found some very good land on the other side, and that there was good pasturage for all kinds of cattle. This induced Lieut. Bull, R. N., Mr. Wright, and another gentleman to undertake an expedition in the same direction, where they found good soil; and on their return confirmed the Governor's account. Lieut. Bull was so much pleased with the result of his journey, that he immediately, in conjunction with Mr. Leake, engaged men to form a grazing farm on the east of Darling's Range. They set out a few days previous to my sailing.

I myself have been employed in surveying the site of the township of Kelmscott; twenty miles S. E. of Freemantle on the Canning river, on the banks of which the intended town is to be. The township is to occupy a distance of four miles in length, and about three-quarters of a mile in width, about one half of which is good ground, being a reddish loamy clay; the higher parts being intermixed with ironstone. There is plenty of good red gum trees, and mahogany trees growing on the site for all purposes of building. In fact, it is the most desirable situation yet Asiat. Jour. N.S. VOL.6. No.22.

found out for a town, the water of the Canning being most limpid and pure, with a sufficient fall for water-mills, and about a mile from the town there is a small stream, falling into the Canning, capable of turning any number of overshot mills. I found some specimens of slate similar to that of Westmoreland, and on the face of the hill behind the town is the same appearance, which if quarried would certainly pay well, should the town go on. Some settlers went up, and left the place again in disgust, owing to the ill-management of the person appointed to locate them on their grants, he fixing them in one place, and after they had gone to considerable expense, informing them they must remove as the situation they then occupied was a Government reserve; the result was, that they have come on to Hobart-town.

The official offices are about to be removed from Perth to Freemantle, and His Excellency will have two public days a week. This will save the settler a great deal of trouble and unnecessary expense which are now incurred.

1 believe it is the intention of the

principal settlers to call a meeting in order to petition the home Government to make the colony a penal one, and the same is to be forwarded to England by wisest thing they can do; for without H. M. ship Sulphur. It will be the some assistance from home the colony must fall to the ground.

There have been some good vegetables grown even in the sand, with the assistance of manure; especially cabbages, turnips, potatoes and radishes. There is a radish grown at Perth, in a shoe-maker's garden (reserved for seed) as thick as a stout man's thigh, and from ten to eleven feet high, in fact, the radish appears to take a different character in the deep and moist sand of Perth. Settlers are in general leaving their first locations and removing further into the country; in short, there is no soil until you get near Darling's Range, when some good ground will be found on each bank of the Canning, on which Lieut. Bull grew good wheat, as well as Mr. Wright and Mr. Adams. The crops were very light, Lieut. Bull growing about five bushels, Mr. Wright ten, and Mr. Adams seven bushels to the acre. The land was certainly very sour, having never been exposed to the sun, and the next season they expect a fair average crop; the expense of clearing, &c. was about 30%. the acre. Sing. Chron. April 7.

New Zealand.

The Sydney Herald of May 2, says: "By the last arrivals, we understand, that there are vast quantities of heads preparing in Cook's Straits, for the Sydney market: (K)

-They are those of the poor creatures who were massacred at Banks' Peninsula, Sept. 15. Hands and arms are curing in the same manner-this is a new branch of the art, introduced amongst them by their highly civilized white brethren. The hand of the murdered chief, and part of the intestines, converted into a powder flask, we understand, are now in the possession of a gentleman in Sydney."

From another number of the same paper, we are glad to find that this vile commerce is stopped:-" A vessel from New Zealand having brought up several baked, or preserved human heads, to the number, it is stated, of twelve, and several accounts of very serious disturbances having occurred, to which, it is said, the Europeans were not entire strangers, an order has been issued forbidding the further importation of that disgusting commodity: this order, though excellent in itself, falls short of the expectations of the public, though it must be admitted, that the Government is limited in its power over crimes committed in New Zealand, as it is neither a colony nor a dependency of the Crown, but is considered, with very little propriety, as a sovereign and independent state. We may, therefore, regulate our own imports, but the law of nations, it is supposed, gives us no authority over their exports.

the

eyes

"In publishing the order in question, it would have been satisfactory if the names of all the ships and parties had been specified, that the innocent might not suffer in popular estimation, and perhaps in of the New Zealanders themselves. It may be pleaded in excuse, that under every discouragement, the practice of steaming human heads by a process peculiar to the natives of New Zealand, is still continued, and is likely to continue, from custom and superstition. But this is not the point at issue; for it is evident, that if the heads of enemies are wanting, the heads of old friends, past defence, are to be met with, and the facility being presented, the view of profit will urge to the commission of crimes of the deepest dye. -We have done sufficient injury by the introduction of fire-arins, spirits, and European maladies. Besides, if heads of natives are not forthcoming, the heads of whites may be procured, with a little dexterity and deception, equally fit for steaming, as those of a darker hue."

The following is a copy of the order alluded to:(No. 7).

Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, April 16, 1831. Whereas it has been represented to His Excellency the Governor, that the masters and crews of vessels trading between this Colony and New Zealand, are in the practice of purchasing and bringing from

thence human heads, which are preserved in a manner peculiar to that country: And whereas there is strong reason to believe, that such disgusting traffic tends greatly to increase the sacrifice of human life among savages, whose disregard of it is notorious, His Excellency is desirous of evincing his entire disapprobation of the practice abovementioned, as well as his determination to check it by all the means in his power; and with this view, His Excellency has been pleased to order, that the Officers of the Customs do strictly watch and report every instance which they may discover of an attempt to import into this Colony any dried or preserved human heads in future, with the names of all parties concerned in every such attempt. His Excellency trusts, that to put a total stop to this traffic, it is necessary for him only thus to point out the almost certain and dreadful consequences, which may be expected to ensue from a continuance of it, and the scandal and prejudice which it cannot fail to raise against the name and character of British Traders, in a country with which it has now become highly important for the merchants and traders of this Colony, at least, to cultivate feelings of mutual good will; but if His Excellency should be disappointed in this reasonable expectation, he will feel it an imperative duty to take strong measures for totally suppressing the inhuman and very mischievous traffic in question.

His Excellency further trusts, that all persons who have in their possession human heads, recently brought from New Zealand, and particularly by the schooner Prince of Denmark, will immediately deliver them up for the purpose of being restored to the relations of the deceased parties to whom those heads belonged; this being the only possible reparation that can now be rendered, and application having been specially made to His Excellency to this

purpose.

By His Excellency's Command, ALEXANDER M'LEAY.

Society Islands.

By the arrival of the Harlequin from the South-Sea Islands, on Sunday last, we learu that some disturbances have taken place at Tahite, which threatens a revoluin the government. The young queen, Pomare, had been absent from Tahite for several months, among the leeward islands of the group. She had travelled about, attended by a number of disorderly people of the lowest class, of both sexes. The code of printed laws which had been established by her late father, King Pomare, as the laws of the land (and which forbade the practice of the old regal and aristocratical oppressions of the common people, as well as all the old obscene and idolatrous