[7] About 7,000,000 of which, or bars or moulds of silver to that amount, are sent to India, the Chinese being unable to make sufficient return in merchandise. This remittance is of material assistance in helping to provide funds on the spot for the purchase of tea. [8] A late No. of the _Canton Register_, mentions a fact, which is one instance out of many, of the desire to be independent of foreigners; it is as follows:--"Prussian blue, an article which was formerly brought in _considerable quantities from England_, is now _totally shut out_ from the list of imports, in consequence of its mode of manufacture being _acquired by a Chinaman in London_; and from timely improvement it has been brought to that perfection which renders the _consumers independent of foreign supply!"_ [9] The port dues on a vessel of 1,000 or of 100 tons are _alike!_ [10] The Chinese will not admit a foreign nation to trade at two places; for instance, the Russians are excluded from Canton because they enjoy an overland trade at Kiachia, which is 4, 311 miles from St. Petersburgh, and 1,014 miles distant from Pekin. * * * * * FOX-HUNTING. The following are the items of expenses, laid down by Colonel Cooke, in his "Observations on Fox-hunting," published a few years since. The calculation supposes a four-times-a-week country; but it is generally below the mark; we should say, at least one-half:-- Fourteen horses ................................. £700 Hounds' food, for fifty couples .................. 275 Firing ............................................ 50 Taxes ............................................ 120 Two whippers-in, and feeder ...................... 210 Earth stopping .................................... 80 Saddlery ......................................... 100 Farriery, shoeing, and medicine .................. 100 Young hounds purchased, and expenses at walks..... 100 Casualties ....................................... 200 Huntsman's wages and his horses .................. 300 ----- £2235 Of course, countries vary much in expense from local circumstance; such as the necessity for change of kennels, hounds sleeping out, &c. &c. In those which are called hollow countries, consequently abounding in earths, the expense of earth-stopping often amounts to 200_l_. per annum, and Northamptonshire is of this class. In others, a great part of the foxes are what is termed stub-bred (bred above ground), which circumstance reduces the amount of this item.--_Quarterly Review._ * * * * * THE GATHERER.