fuch unhallowed proceedings, prevail upon the king to forego
this teftimony of his great veneration. It is even faid, and
believed, that they have urged the monarch of this country to
throw off his vaffalage to the emperor of China, which, if it
be true, cannot fail of producing a war that may either prove
fatal to our trade at Canton, or be turned greatly to our advantage
; for, if the Chinefe ihould difcover Europeans a£ting
againft them, little folicitous as they really are with regard to
foreign trade, they might be induced to Ihut their ports againft
us ; or, abhorring, as they do, French principles, and afraid left
they ihould get poffeflion of fome country, at no great diftance
from their empire, they might, perhaps, by proper management,
be inclined to court the alliance and protection of England.
It has been mentioned, indeed, but with what degree of
truth I do not pretend to fay, that the Viceroy of Canton has
lately hinted it would by no means be difagreeable to the Chinese
government to fee the Engliih in poffeflion of Macao,
inftead of the PortugUefe, whom they do not confider as
able to defend this fmall neck of a large ifland againft any
attack the French might be difpofed to make upon it. If
the fact be fo, and the Court of DireSors cannot but have long
known it, it is prefumed that they have loft not a moment in
negotiating with Portugal for this poffeflion, which is only a
fmall peninfular promontory of no ufe nor benefit whatever to
that kingdom, but of infinite importance to ours. The French
know the value of our trade to China as well as we do, and
will let flip no opportunity of embroiling us with the Chinefe,
either by dircd or indired means. A Monfieur Perron, more
i than
than twelve months ago, in the capacity of commiffary of
commerce, has hoifted the French flag at Canton. Even here,
before the revolution, the French had greatly the advantage
over us by retaining in their employ an agent, a fon of the
learned Monfieur de Guignes, who underftood the Chinefe
language, whilft, on every occafion, the Engliih were obliged
to have recourfe to the Hong merchants to a£fc as interpreter's
the very men who were moft interefted in counteracting their
views. Happily, however, at this critical momenly-tfie Engliih
Eaft India Company poffefs the means of communicating di-
redly, and in the language of the country, with the Chinefe
government, through a gentleman in their employ, whofe extraordinary
talents and engaging manners, added to his ftation
in fociety, cannot fail to be produdive of incalculable fervice
to their important concerns with this nation. In a word, there
is fcarcely a part of the globe where Frenchmen may not be
found, employing their talents, and their time, in gaining fuch
information, Or making fuch connedions, as may be ufeful or-
agreeable to their government at home.
It cannot be denied that, from the labours o f fuch perfons,
much information of foreign countries has been communicated
to the world. In this refped, the French have contributed as
much as, and perhaps more than, any other nation. But the
Dutch and Portuguefe, partly from the effed of a narrow policy,
and partly, perhaps, from the weaknefs of intelledual
powers, owing to a defedive education, have rather impeded,
than promoted, any information relative to their cilonies.’
The Cape of Good Hope, however, forms' ah exception from
this