H.—No. sa.

the voluntary immigration of the Chinese. I have already prolonged this letter beyond the usual limits; but, in conclusion, I would summarize in a few sentences my plea for our Chinese brethren. To the sickly religious and moral sentimentalist I say, " Let him that is without sin among you cast the first stone." The Chinaman is no worse than his neighbours. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I cannot see how it is possible but that the Chinese will be iu a very high degree beneficial to the country. They excel in the virtues of industry, temperance, and frugality. They are kindly-natured one to another —good-humoured, civil, and obliging to all; they live within their income, but are by no means penurious wdien circumstances enable them to be otherwise. AVhen their means allow of it, they spend more on the "luxuries of the table" than European miners with equal earnings; but they do not frequent the hotels. Although, I believe, teetotalism is unknown among them, drunkenness is extremely rare. They write neatly, and evidently are more familiar with the pen than many European miners. They are very peaceable and quiet —submit meekly to any constituted authorities. AVhen they obtain credit from our storekeepers, they are punctual in their payments and correct in their reckonings. They contribute largely to the revenue, and add nothing to tho cost of governing the country. They labour under great disadvantages in the AVardens' Courts through there being so few Government interpreters appointed; and if Chinese miners' rights were issued and charged at, say, ss. more that those issued to Europeans, as an equivalent for the providing the gratuitous services of an interpreter on every diggings, they would have no right to complain ; but any exceptional taxation, further than to make provision for their own benefit and protection is not compatible with justice and equity. Much might be said about the ingenuity of Chinese artisans and their inventive resources. They were acquainted with the magnet or loadstone, with gunpowder, swivel-guns and bombs, wood engraving, and stereo-printing, many centuries before these were invented in Europe. They excel in dyeing, embroidery, lacquer work, and porcelain manufactures ; their fine and strong paper —the bright aud unchangeable colours they use —cannot be produced in Europe. Of their pottery and other manufactures, very imperfect imitations have been produced in France of late years, but at a much greater cost than Chinese w-ares. In fine, it may be said that the introduction of Chinese in large numbers will develop our gold fields to an extent hardly dreamed of at present. It will give an impetus to the introduction of various manufacturing industries —to agriculture and gardening (they are nearly all practical gardeners) ; it will materially assist us in overcomiug our financial difficulties, and will greatly enrich the whole of the European population. I have, _e, Yelia Boeg. Appendix 111. Copy of First Official Communication on record from the English to the Chinese Imperial Authorities. Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, the most mighty defender of the true and Christian faith against all who falsely profess the name of Christ, —To the most high and Sovereign Prince, the most puissant Governor of the great Kingdom of China, the chiefest Empire in those parts of Asia, and the Islands adjoining, and the great Monarch of the Oriental Regions of the AVorld,wisheth health and many joyful and happy years, with all plenty andabundance of things most acceptable : Whereas our honest and faithful subjects which bring these letters unto Tour Highness, Richard Allot and Thomas Broomfield, merchants in the City of London, have made most earnest suit unto us, that we would commend their desires and endeavours of sailing to the regions of your empire for traffic sake: Whereas the fame of your kingdom, so strongly and prudently governed, being published over the face of the wholo earth, hath invited these our subjects, not only to visit your Highness's dominions, but also to permit themselves to be ruled and governed by the laws of your kingdom during their abode there, as it becometh merchants who for exchange of merchandise are desirous to travel to distant and unknown regions, that they may present their wares and musters of divers kin'd of merchandise, wherewith the regions of our dominions do abound, uuto the. view of your Highness and of your subjects, that they may endeavour to know whether there be any olher merchandise with us fit for your use, which they may exchange for other commodities whereof m ports of your empire there is great plenty both natural and artificial : AVe, yielding to these requests of these honest men, because we suppose that by this intercourse and traffic, no loss, but rather most exceeding benefits, will redound to the rulers and subjects of both kingdoms, and thus help and enrich one another. And we do crave of your most sovereign Majesty, that these our subjects, when they arrive at any of your ports or cities, that they may have full and free liberty to egress and regress, and of dealing with your subjects, and may by your clemency enjoy all freedoms and privileges as are granted to the subjects of other princes. And we, on the other side, will not only prepare the offices of a well-disposed and willing Prince unto your Highness, but also, for the greater increase of mutual love and commerce between us and our subjects, by these present letters of ours do most willingly grant unto all and every one of your subjects full and entire liberty into any of our dominions to resort, there to abide and traffic, and then return as it seemeth best to them, all and every of which promises we have caused to be confirmed by annexing hereunto our royal seal. God, most merciful and almighty, tho Creator of heaven and earth, continually protect your kingly Majesty. Given at our Palace of Greenwich, the 11th day of July, 1596, and thirty-eighth of our reign. Extracts from the Treaty of 1842. Article 1. —There shall henceforward be peace and friendship between Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and His Majesty the Emperor of China, and between their respective subjects, who shall enjoy full security and protection of their persons and property within the dominions of tho other.

12

AD INTERIM EEPORT (No. II.) OP THE