C H A P . XL
■ADVANTAGES OF A COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE WITH
COCHINCHINA.
Peninsula and Harbour o f Turon— Views o f France in desiring the Cession
ofit-Importance o f to Great Britain, particularly in its Commerce with
China Cochinchinese Productions fo r Export— Mode o f establishing an
Intercourse with this Nation— Objections against entrusting diplomatic Agency
to mercantile Men— Ancient Commerce with Cochinchina— Reason o f its Decline
owing to the ill Conduct o f Europeans— An extraordinary Instance of
Cruelty -Chinese Trade to New, Holland-Superior Advantages resulting
from their early Knowledge o f the Compass— An Objection to its An-
Uquity answered-An Opening fo r Great Britain to revive the Trade of
Cochinchina. ”
T h e Bishop Adran, in negotiating the treaty between
Louis XVJ. and the King of Cochinchina, has clearly shewn
that, however great his attachment might be to the latter, he
was not at th e same time by any means unmindful of the interests
of the former. The terms of this treaty also prove that
by fixing on the peninsula of Turon as the cession to be made
to France, the good JBishop had not been inattentive to the
comparative merits of the local advantages which the coast
of Cochinchina possessed. He seems to have been well
aware that if France was once permitted to occupy this neck
of land, she would thereby be enabled to secure to herself a
permanent establishment in the East. In fact, the peninsular
promontory of Furon (or Hansan) is to Cochinchina what
Gibraltar is to Spain; with this difference in favour of the
former that, to its impregnability, it adds the very important
advantage of a convenient port and harbour, securely sheltered
from all winds and at all seasons of the . year, possessing
every requisite for a grand naval station,, where ships can at
all times refresh and refit, and where abundant rills of clear
fresh water fertilize the numerous vallies which open upon
the shores of the bay. Near a. small island, connected with
the peninsula by a’neck of land which is uncovered at low
water,, ships of any magnitude might conveniently be hove
down and careened; and opposite to it, on the peninsula, is
a sufficient extent of level surface for a small town, with a
naval arsenal, and magazines of every description : the whole
capable of being rendered perfectly defensible by a handful
of men.
A small island called Callao, situated at the distance of about
thirty miles to the southward of Turon bay, was also included
in the territory to be eeded. This island completely commands
the entrance of the main branch of the river on which
Fai-foo, the ancient mart for foreign commerce, is situated;
and is completely inaccessible on every side but that which
faces the mouth oif this river. Here a small but a fertile and
well-watered valley opens upon a bay, wherein ships of any
size may lie at anchor in perfect security.
The views of France in fixing upon this part of the coast,
which are obvious indeed from the whole tenor of the above