THE OPIUM TRADE.
A deputation from the Anti-Opium Association waited on Lord Stan- ley on Wednesday, and presented a memorial, praying the government to prohibit the cultivation of opium in India, and also its transit through British territory from the independent states of India. Lord Stanley expressed his full appreciation of the philanthropic motives of the Me' morialists, but went on to state that, as a political question, it was one surrounded with difficulties. He admitted the deleterious effects of opium, and coincided with what the memorialists said on that branch of their subject ; but he adduced the deleterious effects of the use of spirit-. uous liquors as a somewhat analogous case, and yet no government .01 this country would consent to prohibit their production ; heavy duties were imposed on them, and that was all that legislation had yet accom: plished. He could not recommend the prohibition of the cultivation CI opium ; but other causes seemed to require consideration ; the trade might be thrown completely open, but then the evil would remain, and probably even be greatly increased, and the present revenue would be lost without any equivalent advantage being obtained. Two o.tl.ier modes of dealing with the subject had been considered—the itnposMon of a heavy export duty, and of an excise duty at the place of production; but he would not pledge himself; at present,. to either course. One thing his lordship said he was prepared to promise, that no instruction should be given to British men-of-war to support merchants in smug' gling operations, that whatever ventures merchants might make in the smuggling of opium should be entirely at their own risk, and should re- ceive no countenance or support whatever from government. His lord- ship thought that the sentiments of the Chinese government, as regards their prohibition of opium, were somewhat misunderstood by the me- morialists ; he believed that opium was openly sold in every town fl China, without the government taking any decided steps to supprms traffic, thus inducing a suspicion of the sincerity of the Chinese pre- tests on this head.
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