[11] The foreign trade of Japan now (1900) approximates 40 millions sterling, exports and imports being very nearly balanced.
[12] There is more truth than may appear in the bishop's paradox. Peking is singularly free from epidemics, except occasionally of smallpox. When Shanghai suffered so severely from cholera in 1862, there were two British regiments quartered there—one, the 67th, within the native city, amid filth and stagnant water; the other, the 31st, in the foreign settlement, in quarters carefully selected by the surgeon, Dr Rennie. The 31st lost a third of its strength; the 67th suffered very little. Writing in August 1860 from Peitang, a town 500 yards square in the midst of a great swamp, into which 17,000 men were huddled, Sir Hope Grant says: "Notwithstanding the pestilential nature of the place, our troops, wonderful to say, never enjoyed better health."
[13] See infra, "Revision of the Treaty," [pp. 210-222].
[14] Vide 'U.S. Diplomatic Corresp.,' vol. ii. for 1867, p. 424.
[15] He now knows better.
[16] Germany in her treaty made no profession, but simply stipulated for toleration.
[17] M. Eugene Simon, one of the most distinguished of the French consuls in China, in his book, 'La Cité Chinoise,' awards the credit of this performance to M. Delamarre, "un prêtre des Missions étrangères," who acted as Baron Gros' interpreter. "Je tiens," says M. Simon, "le fait de plusieurs sources, et entre autres de M. Delamarre, qui se glorifait beaucoup de sa supercherie."
[18] Compare "Jesuits' Estates Act" in Canada, 1890, for which Mr Mercier was decorated by the Pope.
[19] It will be understood that a concise view of the general mission question is all that is here aimed at, no distinction being drawn between branches of the propaganda. Important as are their differences viewed from the foreign standpoint, they are practically ignored by the Chinese, as we see from the impartiality with which they visit resentment on all. Our concern is with the impression produced by the propaganda as a whole, gathered as far as possible from Chinese evidence and not from the hypothetical arguments of foreign disputants. In other words, it is the political bearing of the movement which alone we are endeavouring to illustrate.
[20] This measure was intended by the Chinese Government to facilitate the local settlement of disputes where the facts were known, and so obviate incessant appeals to the Central Government. It has not fulfilled its purpose, partly because an important section of the propaganda declined to avail itself of the concession offered to them. Indeed the form of the concession implies a hierarchy which only Catholic missions possess.