THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
(AL CORESPONDENCE, To the Editor of the FRIEND OF CHINA." Dear Sir,
have the pleasure to annex for your infor mation transcript of a letter addressed by His Excel. lency Sir Henry Pottinger to the Naval and Military Commanders in China, regarding the destruction of a building called the "Porcelain Tower' by ceftain Offi. cers and Seamen in Her Majesty's Service. The pub- lic at large, will at once concur in the views and sen. timents of Sir Henry, relative to this most disgraceful breach of decency, on the part of those concerned, and as a warning to others, it is to be hoped some punish- ment may he awarded to prevent the recurrence of such conduct. I give you the letter as received from Head Quarters:
"I am so
sorry to inform your Excellencies that the "Abbot of the Chinese Monastery attached to the "Por. "celain Tower has this morning waited on me to "complain that large parties of European Officers "and Sailors yesterday visited the Tower and employed "themselves by cutting off portions of the building, in- "cluding the Josses and other Figures, for the purpose
of carrying them away.
one boat went up to him and showed him this pass, (pass produced) stating to be good until the 1st De- cember next and having the seal of the Choose E thong would plunder the boats. The Pirates were more than Society. Assoon said he did not care for the pass, he 60, I cannot tell exactly; they came on board with swords and spears, they had Matchlocks but did not were taken by the Pirates, and they left us, I heard fire them; I was not ill used in person, all my goods of these Pirates robbing another Boat, but I did not see them do so. boat, Amou also was rebbed, he was my fellow
All of the Prisoners boarded our and there were many others, I heard long since that passenger Assoon was the
of the Choose E thong.
with ready made Chinese Clothes for sale, amounting "Amon." I was.coming from Cauton to this place to 60 Dollars on the 24th of last month when near Tong Koo at night, about 11 o'clock, from my sleep by Pirates boarding our boat. We were was aroused plundered; I lost every thing, and even my pocket (or purse) which contained a little money, and some letters the whole of my loss was not more than 60 Dollars, I was confused and do not remember the countenances of any of the robbers-the Prisoners may or may not have been there, but I cannot say they were. beaten twice with the flats of their swords, before I I was allowed them to take my purse, I was below and do not
"The Abbot states that on one occasion, there could "not have been less than forty men so einployed and "that the destruction of the Tower caused such excite-know more than I now state, "ment among the people, that a vast crowd collected "who appeared at one time lisposed to interfere, to "prevent this disgraceful dilapidation.
"It is unnecessary for me to dilate on the serious "public effect that must result from these outrages, to "say nothing of the regret that all reflecting persons "must feel at the wanton destruction of a building of
such celebrity
I have also the pleasure to subjoin a Statement of the distribution of the Forces in China, by which you will percieve that a larger complement of men will be stationed at Chusan then elsewhere and thus be enabled salectually check the first outbreak, that may occur among the disaffected people in that particular quarter.
CHUSAN
H.M. 55th 18th
500
Амок. HONGKONG.
18th 420 55th 500 41 M. 450 H.M.28th 550
430
2 M. N.I.
850
Madras Arty.
70
L
Sappers
40
"Gun Lascars
40
1930
Total
N. I.
Mad, Arty 2541 N.I. 450 "Sappers 15 Royal Arty 100 "G. Lascars 20 Mad Sappers 50. "G.Lascars 50
1700
980
4560 Men
Yours Faithfully
AMICUS.
POLICE,
BEFORE THE Chief MagistrATE.
127
to their characters. Assoon states he cannot do so for to speak for him, 3 or 4 days, but then he can bring 3 or 4 Shopmen
Government
Tur foregoing se was referred to the Head of the
Mr. Johnston having taken his seat the Evidences
have been allowed them to procure Evidence the fol- Prisoners having no wesses to produce, the 4 days are duly sworn and confirm their previous testimony the
lowing sentence is recorded.
The Evidence is quite conclusive and the two Pri soners Assoong and Cheung thong, are sentenced each to 4 years hard labour in Chains. The other three
to suffer a corporal punishment of 100 strokes each, to 2 years hard labour in Chains, All 5 Prisoners are Prisoners Afok Ahung and Ayee and each sentenced
and to have their tails cut off opposite to the house of ASBoong.
public Auction, the proceeds being divided among the Assoongs" house is confiscated, and to be sald by plundered in proportion to the amount of their loss, and the remaining due to be paid to the parties by the two prisoners Assoong and Cheung thong, previous to their release from Prison.
We are told Sir THOMAS HERBERT K. C. a. re- ceived the investiture of his Order, on board the In consequence of their information Sergt. Collins Marion on the 3rd inst, at the hands of the senior- was sent to search a house belonging to Assoon in the knight now in China Sir HUGH GOUGH. Sir Tho Bazaar, where one old woman named Mongpo was found and some papers-the papers shew Pirate books
mas left in the Blenheim for England during the last week. We cannot permit this much esteemed and accts of protection passes, from the Choose E thong officer to leave our shores, without respectfully and Assoon is designated as the elder Brother, and in offering to him the tribute of our warmest commen- a letter from a man, designated Chan Sing lam, Assoon dation for the lively interest, he has always taken is addressed as the leader, and the Prisoner Cheung-in our Island, and his admirable conduct of the im- thong as Clerk to the Society, there are also 6 more passes of protection with the seal of the Society.
portant matters which necessarily devolved upon The woman Mongpo states. I live in Assoons house high professional reputation, and past services, are him at the commencement of the Colony. His in the Bazaar and pay 2 dollars per Month for one room, my son Hing Hop lived with me, he has gone ever give us sincere, satisfaction to add, that the too well-known to need our eulogy. It does how- to work or catch fish-I dont know now where he is, I know nothing of Pirates. Assoon is owner of the above sentiments will be shared by the whole of house, but does not live there.
our community, who will moreover join with us, -in wishing him an early return to his native land, where they hope he may enjoy lengthened days, sweetened by the recollection of having on all oc- casions performed his devoirs, as became an officer and a citizen.
Sergt. Collins states, that he found the papers under bed Clothes, some hanging on nails near the walls, others in boxes, and a few in a Table drawer, the woman was in a room by herself.
COTTON REPORT. Canton, September 30th, 1842.
Bombay Bales Bengal Madras
Saturday Oct. 8th Examination Continued. "Kutmung deposes-On the 24th of September as my boat was passing near Tongkoo, two Pirate boats boarded us. I was plundered of 300 Dollars, and beaten with swords 4 of the crew were wounded, they have gone to their houses at Tung Kooun to be cured of the sword Cuts-I had charge of Athai property amoun- ting to 300 Dollars and Consisting of Flour, Grass Cloth, and shoes all was taken by the Pirates who would not respect my pass. I bought the protective pass from Chun thung of the Chooe E thong Society. I paid & Dollars for the pass, it was to last for 3 months, I purchased it here in a mat house above the Bazaar about 15 days since I can swear to all the Prisoners having boarded my boat except Assoon-to cannot swear to Assoon as I am not sure about him, The Pirates were more than forty; they had Match locks, spears and swords. We were only 10 men My pass is not here, it is in my boat which is gone to the Bogue. I did not show the pass to the Pirates, but called out and told them I had one from their Society, but they said they did not care, they would plunder the boat. I heard afterwards that the same Pirates plundered another Boat that night.
6th October 1842. Case of Piracy. "Assoong Ayee"Cheung thong"-"Afok" and "Abung" charged with robbery by "Aquui.
"Aquui"-deposes-On the 24th of this month I was returning to this place from Canton, and when near Tongkoo the boat in which I was, was attacked by two Pirate Boats containing about 60 men and 10 Match. locks, the boarded us and with drawn swords and threatened us. Two men were wounded by their sword cuts I was bound up and suspended by the waist from the mast, they stripped me and I was beat-
"Akuin" states-On the 24th Sept. off Tongkoo on with the flats of their swords, all my property when in the passengers boat belonging to Kutmung, taken; worth about 260 dollars. The master of our I was plundered of property in Four Clothes and boat wanted to pay for a protective pass, and went money to the amount of 110 Dollars-60 of which was to "Assong head Pirate who refused it I can swearn money. I am a very old man and cannot see well, to all these five Prisoners, the two Frisoners "A fok' I was down in the hold and do not know that the Pri and Abung bound and suspended me whilst Assoong
Boners were the Pirates on looking at them I cannot the leader was giving orders to them. He is the head
that I recognise any. I was not beaten. All of of the Chooee E thong association.
sengers were pluudered. Altogether the boat was robbed of 13 or 1400 8. worth of property-The ily After robbing the "Cheung thong Society and wr know if I can and bring mor With the apprehended in a n
4 protective
A letter from
that 11
sold ab
& sale of
also
on the pat Cash Fong Fo
drawn
was for two
closed
rador "Athai lost heav- Oat the Pirates left us. - lark to the Choose E thong
pases At present I dont other evidence but I will try
bund on the Prisoners, who were
ed above the Bazaar, there are
for pas le of whi book
for 4090
ace
the
or states-I sent 300 Dollars by Kur
anton to purchase Flour Grass Cloth and Shoe He came here on the 25th and told me that my property was all taken as well as his own br
Linformed Major Caine, of the
who ordered me to look out for the him information the moment Tobeyed this order, and the Police took up the Priso ners in consequence of the intelligence I obtained from Kutmung
DEFENOR The Prisoners all deny the charge Assoon states. I was on thore here on the 26th of
I am an Opium seller, and the papers found in ouse belong ome of the people living, there
hong
807
DELIVERIES STOCK 14,350 2,561 78,720
8,006❘ 10,216
Total 23,163 91,497
Cargo of the ANNE Mary included.
THE total net rental of real property assessed Poor's rates in England and Wales for the year 1841 amounted to £ 62,510,030. In 1815 only amounted to £ 51,898,423.
SHIPPING IN THE HARBOUR.
18TH OCTOBER.
BHIP'S NAME
Arethusa Ariel
Anne Mary Anthony Anderson Algerine Bombay Castle Bolton Black Nymph Birman
Cacique
Colonist
Cornwall
Equestrian Emma Eugenia Foam
Felicity Fenella Frances Ann Hongkong
Hero
Tamalaya John o Gaunt
eber.
TONS CAPT.'S NAME TO WROM CONSIGNED
Christian C. Fearon. Burt
Dent & Co. 669 Backham Jardine & Co. 498 Splatt
Govt. Stores. 195 Hill Jamieson & How, 609 Bactro Jardine Co. 540 Robinson Dent & Co. 300 Hall
do. 544 Cleland Govt. Stores.
O. Fearon.
Man 261 Leik
872 Hillman
Capt. Burd.
Govt Stores,
221 Dandson Fox Rawson & Co., 660 Cromarty Govt. Stores.
Kittlewell Revayaan ▲ Co.
Dallas & Co.
320
1950
McDonald Dirom & Co.
Govt Stores.
Fox Rawson & Co.
H. Holgate.
Lindsay & Co.
ughes & Co. rner & Co.
Hanson & Co. ld Jardine & Co.