Page:Journal of three voyages along the coast of China in 1881, 1832, & 1833 with notices of Siam, Corea, and the Loo-Choo islands (1834).djvu/14

iv globe to the market of China, and have returned freighted with its merchandize. Of this merhandize, the only port which the unparalleled jealousy of the Chinese government allows foreigners to visit, has for some time past exported to England one single commodity,—namely, tea, to such an extent, that the annual sale in England, including what is exported to the continent of Europe, amounts nearly to 30,000,000 pounds weight. The annual sale of this article, in 1825, produced a gross return of upwards of 7,000,000l. sterling, with a net revenue to the government of three millions and a half; besides a stock kept on hand, in the warehouses, equal in value to the above.

Two hundred years ago, its use was unknown in England; but since that period it has been imported to an extent that has entirely changed the domestic habits, not only of our own country, but of many parts of Europe. The gratification of the taste thus acquired, has made us dependent on our traffic with China for much of the comfort of a large portion of every class of society. That this, besides being a source of immense riches to individuals, and of revenue to the government, has been highly beneficial in improving the moral character, and