THE FRIEND OF CHINA,
AND
DONGBONG
NOTIFICATION,
GAZETTE.
EXTRAORDINARY.
HONGHONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 1843.
His Excellency, Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart &c. &c. is pleased to direct the pub- lication of the annexed Correspondence, and to intimate that he will be glad to hear from any Gentlemen, who may be disposed to submit his individual opinions on the sub-
jects to which the letter from Sir Henry Pottinger particularly refers, viz, a Tariff and Scale of Duties including Anchorage fees, &c. &c.
By order
RICHARD WOOSNAM
Acting Secretary. Government House at Hongkong, Jany, 16, 1843.
Macao December 28th 1:42.
The British Merchants.
To,
GENTLEMEN,
&c. &c
en
I have reason to expect, that one or both of the Impel Commissioners, will arrive at Canton, in the course of the suing or current month, with the object of negotiating with me, upon and finally ad- justing the still pending questions as to the Tariff to be established, and duties to be levied at the five Ports, that are to be thrown open, in conformity with the late Treaty, and as the discussion of such mat- ters, and the adjustment of the important questions they involve, are strange to me, owing to my never having had to look much into Mercantile matters, I came over to this place, a few days ago, with the intention of inviting you all to a conference, but subsequent reflection, has led me to t
think, that it will be better to obtain your sentiments (whether you may decide on favoring me with them, individually or collectively) (in writing, which will have the self-evident advantage over verbal communication, that you will all be more likely to weigh your opinions, with even greater care, than if you were to express them orally; but your putting those opi- nions on paper will be an effectual guard against the possibility of my misunderstand- ing your
and that it will enable me to submit the result in a clear and con- cise shape to H. M. Government.
I had proposed to myself, to publish for general formation the Treaty, which I have concluded with China, but there appears to be objections to that course, until it shall have been formally ratified by the Queen, and, therefore, I. herewith send you copies of the 3 articles. 2nd 5th and 10th immediately connected with the sub- ject of this letter, and which will show you distinctl what remains to be done.
I had us. rent
ou may readily
f discussion with the
Toners, subsequent to the et
and I likewise forward.
from
To the lat
those liig.
X
"of examining distinctly which are those "that ought to be retained, and which those, that ought to be abolished, the result to be fixed by Treaty, upon a mo ❝derate scale, which end will be worked out, after we, the High Commissioners, shall have arrived at Canton, where we to leave no room for any disagreement or shall I again consult about matters, so as unpleasant discussion. Putting aside all this, there only remains &c. &c. &c. And, as I quitted Nanking the day the communication reached me, from which the above is a quotation, the matter rests in that
46
state.
sons they please, and IIis Imperial Majesty further agrees, to pay to the British Government, the sum of Three Millians of Dollars on account of Debts due to British subjects, by some of the said Hong Merchants or Go-Hong, who have become insol- subjects of Her Britannic Majesty. vent, and who owe very large sums of money to
ARTICLE 10.
RICHARD WOOSNAM.
Acting Secretary.
"His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to establish, at all the ports, which are by the 2nd, article of this Treaty to be thrown open for the re- sort of British Merchants, a fair and regular Tariff of Export and Import Customs and other Dues, which Tariff shall be publicly notified and promul gated for general information, and the Emperor further engages that when British Merchandise I am not aware,, I can add any obser-regulated Customs and Dues agreeably to the shall have once paid, at any of the said ports, the vations to the views, I have recorded in Tariff, to be hereafter fixed, auch Merchandise the Extracts from my Memoranda; but I may be conveyed, by Chinese Merchants to any presume that you will all agree with me, province or City, in the Interior of the Empire of as to its being most desirable that,
China, shall not exceed. every
per Cent on the thing should be strictly defined, so as to
Tariff value of such Goods. leave no opening, however small, for exac-
(True Copies.) tions or perquisites under whatsoever name should be fixed on a scale, which will not only || No. 2. For pretence and also, that the duties provide for the liberal maintenance of the requisite establishment, but will, after pro- viding for the Expences, form a fair source of Imperial Revenue and I am sure, that in taking this letter and its accompani- ments into consideration, you will also bear in mind, that the benefits of a Commercial Treaty beyond all others, must be as far as possible, reciprocal, if we hope and wish they shall be permanent; and that you will also remember that the nearer the points, now to be fixed, can be made to ap- proach to, and assimilate with, what is at present in force in China, and the more simple the whole system, the better hope may be indulged that it will work well.
From the Plenipotentiary. dated 20th Augt 1842
"A vast object both for China and England might I think be gained, by assimilating the Duties and
Tariff, at all the four Ports, which are to be thrown this object is for the Emperor, to be pleased to com- open to British Merchants. The best way of attaining mand the local officers to furnish, from each port, a detailed Report of the fixed and authorized Export CoHong and other arbitrary Charges. These reports and Import Duties, rejecting of course all Consoo, can be examined by the High Officers, on both sides, and on being pronounced suitable and correct, an average of the whole, both as to Export, and Import the five ports. This plan has many advantages. Its duties and Tariff, might be assumed and established at simplicity would prevent disputes: It would render
the accounts of the Customs Department, concise and clear: it would enable the Chinese and British Consular officers, to detect any attempts at smug- gling or extortion, and it would be a must satisfac-
tory arrangement for the Merchants of both Countries.
2. When the Export and Import Customs should have been once decided upon, there will be no difficul-
are to depend on the other.
The mode of levying the Transit Duties will require alteration, and, were it possible to arrange for so doing at the Sea Port, it would be a great benefit. The Goods raight be stamped, or furnished with a certifi- cafe showing their quantity &c. and exempting them from further demands.
You will observe, that no allusion is made in any of these documents to the Subject of the Trade in Opium. It is only necessa- ry, that I should at present tell you, that ty in fixing the amount of Transit. Duties since they the Subject has not been overlooked by me, and that I indulge a hope, a very faint one I admit, that it will be in my power to get the traffic in Opium, by barter, lega- lized by the Emperor; but whatever ar rangment, I may be able to effect regard- ing it, when I again meet the Imperial Commissioners, will be hereafter intimated to you, in common with all other Mercan- tile arrangments. In the meantime, I shall be glad to receive your reply on this matter at your convenience.
(Signed)
I have the honor &c. &c. HENRY POTTINGER.
No. 1. THREE ARTICLES OF THE REATY
ARTICLE 2
His Majesty the Emperor of Chma, agrees, that British Subjects with their Famili and
shall be allowed to resid
Their Mercantile.
rial of carrying mote
Shanghde and Her Maje
3rd. The prohibitory laws as to the Exportation of particular articles, from particular ports, must all of ourse he annulled, seeing that after the re-establish ment of friendship and peace, the great aim of the
reaty is to facilitate and encourage Commerce-
(True Extract.)
RICHARD WOOSNAM.
Acting Secretary.
No. 3, From the Imperial Communioners, dated the Ist of September 1842.
The five Ports of Canton: Fuchow, Amoy,
ben, it will gkong has no further
Ningpo whereat
they
the
the
17th of Septe
ders replied.
among the other matt
ver the question
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