It was stated last week, in our article on the
" Jobs and Blunders in the Regulation of the China Trade," that the American Consul at Canton had neither fees nor salary. This was at mistake : lie has fees, but no salary. The fees, however, do not exceed from :300 to 400 Spanish dollars, or from 601. to SOL sterling annually ; and are just suf- ficient to keep up the American flag before the Factory,—that is, to pay for colours, a flag.staff, and it flag-man.
We learn that the Americans now in London, who were justly alarmed at the prospect of increased competition in the Canton trade which was anticipated from the abolition of the Company's monopoly',. are chuckling with prodigious glee at our blunders ; the full benefit of which they intend to reap. Indeed, we see it stated in the Papers, that some American vessels now in London have been secured for the English trade, in order that the vexatious duties imposed by ourOrders in Council stay be evaded. Fine news this for our shipowners !
Part of the produce of these absurd imposts is destined, we presume, to furnish the dinner-table of Lord Name and the other gentlemen of the Factory. It appears from the public accounts, that the dinners, under the Company's dominion, cost from 15,000/. to 17,000/. per an-. nam. %nut will be the expanse of a set-out at which a Lord is to preside, it would be hazaidous to conjecture.
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