178
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
anxiously longing for, for years past, and I am sorry to find that it is out of your power to comply with my suggestion.
As to the arrangements to be made for carrying on your "Trade at Cantofi, after tha Co-Hong, shall be formally abolished. appears to me that they will depend solely on yourselves. The Trudo is to be con- ́ducted in China, is in all other parts of the
private capasity, to endure insult or injury from Chinese authorities'
the We need not say how town person and Plénipoloniary tukills, in his ov mission, all the requirements of the Poti- tioners; wany of whom are still residents, and one of them, is justly esteemed to be the most influential member of the Com- mittge.
individual of expressing his opinions, on the impending changes. Several memoirs on the exigencies of our Trade, are we know it preparation, somo live already been gent in, We hope our American und other foreign friends, connected with the Trade will not hesitate to forward any recommendations, which their great expo- rience and local knowledge may suggest.
World, gund I am not aware that it would. Mr. Matheson, in his excellent Pat befits the dignityof Great Britain that, the
be possible, or proper, to make the smallest difference between Canton and the other Ports, which are to be thown open to Bri- tish Merchants.
After I shall have scon Eleppo, should I have any fresh information to communicate, I will again address you, but you will un- derstand from the abayo observations, that it is my present intention to leave the Commerce totally unshuckled by rules, beyond those providing for a Tariff and Scale of Butics, including anchorage fees,
&c.
(Signed)
I have &c. HENRY POTTINGER H. M's. Plenipotentiary.
To Messers Matheson,
Braine, Barn, Thomson.
(True copy)
NICILARD WOOSNAM
-Acting Secretary.
IKIEND P CHINA
AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JANUARY 19rn. 1843.-
D
to which we have had aften occasion refor, says, ̈ The establishment of the Hong Merchants is one of the most artful and successful engines of oppression and extortion that was ever devised? He adds, but a few of them are really solvent and urges the imperative necessity of abölish- ing so degrating and odious à monopoly In the Chapter on the Arbitrary Duties, he cites the article of Cotton Wool, and shows that whilst the Authorised duty, is bdt, Tael 0,2054 per picul, yet the Hong Mer chants exactions had raised the duty te Tael 1,500; which amount we believe has been still further increased.
China question shall be hnally adjusted on the principles of a liberal and comprehen- sive policy, alike creditable to England-to China and to Western Civilization.
SHORT REVIEW OF THE WOOL TRA DE FOR TEN YEARS.
IN 1831, the total quantity of sheep and lamb's woo imported from foreign countries and from our own Colonies, amounted to 31,652,020lbs.
IN 1841, the total quantity amounted to 56,179,6411bs,
1841, the tob The increase of imports, therefore, in 10 years, has
been 24,527,6421bs, for 77 por cent! 17
Au increase of trade, however, does not always bring a profit of trade; but in the case of the wool trade, the nation has not only increased her activity, but increased her profit. Poz
Notwithstanding the total increase in the ten years' imporis amounts to 24,527 6111bs, yet the increase of imports from foreign Europe is only 1,360,205lbs,
And sebing that in 1841 we re exported 2,5541455lbs. and in 1831 only 1,025,962lbs. (making a difference of 1,528.493lbs.) in effect we imported less wool from foreign Europe in 1841, than in 1981, by 168 288lber
The increase of the wool trade, therefore, does not
result from trade with foreign Europe, From whence, then, does it come?
In 1831 the quantity of wool imported from the river Plate, Chili, and Peru, was only 13,299lbs., in 1831, it amounted to 9,173,931lbs., an increase in 10 years from those countries of 20 per cent, increase of our total imports of 77 per cent.
There are several Memorials appended to the above named work. That from Man- chester, when speaking of the China trade, affirms that it is subjected to the arbitrary exactions of the Hong Merchants (a body of men through whom alone our transac- tions are permitted to be
be conducted, nearly all of them in embarrassed circumstances, and many of them insolvent,) and of the corrupt local officers, whose exactions it is belived, are contrary to the law of the Em- pire, and to the wishes of the Government." On the 21st we published, BY DESIRE, ÎÐ
The Liverpool Memorial state. "This EXTRAORDINARY, containing the late cor- trade labours under two great evils, from respondence between II. . the Plenipo-which arise most of the other grievances by tentiary and the Merchant's Committee. We which it is oppressed-First, the imposi- now reprint such parts as have not already tion, by the Canton local officers, of unau with our Colonies, but this trade approaches nearest to appeared in our Ordinary issue, on the 12th thorised and arbitrary duties, greatly exit; the link of Spain is broken, and these are the Co- ceeding the established Tariff. And, selonies of the world; fertile in raw materials, naked of condly, the restriction of the trade to ten or manufacturing power twelve Chinese, under the name of Hong Merchants, most of whom are in embarras sed circumstances. To these Honger- chants all imports must be passed for sale, wholly out of the owner's custody and con- trol.
instant.
We do not affect a deep regret, at the de- termination come to by the Committee, and which we certainly did not expect. At the same time, in official quarters, it has all along been said, that such would be
the re- sult. It is alleged the same state of cir- cumstances; so forcibly depicted by Sir George Best Robinson, in his Correspon- In the Glasgow memorial it is remarked. dence with Lord Palmerston, still exists in "The goods of British traders must be full force in China. (Vide the Blue Book), passed for Sale wholly out of the hands of In the Petition of the British Merchants the owner into that of the Hong Merchants, to the King, dated Dec. 9th 1834. "The upon whom, the owner possesses no check Petitioners would humbly suggest that your whatever. The trade is subjected to nu- Majesty's Minister in China should be in- merous duties and heavy exactions, the rate structed to put himself in communication and mode of changing which are arbi with the Merchants of Canton, qualified as and for the payment of a large proportion they must be in a certain degree by their of which, the Hong Merchants are held experience and observation, point out in responsible by the Chinese government. what respect the benefits
thus be I might
the whole proper reaped under a well-regulated system of y
and others, for debts commercial intercourse, are curtailed or due rg-po
by these Hong Mer last in consequence of the restrictions to
whom it torious which the trade is at present subjected, and
nan the arbitrary and irregular exactions to which it is exposed, either directly or not less severely because indirectly, through the medium of the very limited number of merchants licensed to deal with Foreigners” nions of the China Mere and it further adds, of these Hong Merchants to the acknowledged Hew of them are in a really solvent state." "hope
acing in
are în ar insolvent state. CO mend the
the island ne China
foregoing went
In the same petition, they urge the pro- feren iety of obtaining a restoration of the li
berty to trade at Amoy, Ningpo and Chu-prepared for such san, and with great good sen remark
would ill become your Majesty Petitioner to point to any individual as more
ther, to undertake the office secure and A tagao
past and
ancer wo ght to an end) m
ned, we were wholl
bru
the labour of the Committee
We have nod
there
ermination of
mmittee
||
countries which in no way have rivalry with England, This is a profitable trade for the nation, being with being producing, not manufacturing countries. 1831 the value of our total exports to those countries was 1,400,4901 in 1841.2,748,9111,
The trade of no country can be so good to us as
And now for our Colonies.
In 1831, imports from them amounted 2,541,956lbs, weights in 1841, 16,498,851lbs., an in- crease of 13,256,895lbs. weight, or more than five-fold in ten years
...
We received no wool from India till 1833, when the importation was 3721lbs only in 1841, we received 3,008,664lbs.
From all the Australian Settlements and New Zeal- and, the import in 1831, was 2,493,337lbs. ; in 1841, 12,899,362lbs. This is more than five-fold in ten
years.
From the Cape of Good Hope, the import, in 1831, was 47868lbs. only; in 1841, This is more than twenty-three fold in t years.
We have transferred the on brady
Gazette Cape and the Past
Circumstances.
079.010lbs
om an interest-
lished
The
19% op-
OL
but
ket.
dur
lucted
to which
misfortage, either off a
with