N. 47 VOL. ✔
THE FRIEND OF CHINA,
AND LONGBONG
NOTIFICATION.
GAZETTE.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 1843
THE publication of the ments But from what cause was it, that in the
zette under the authority of
will be discontinued from this date; but all public orders and notifications appearing in The Friend of China and Hongkong Ga- zetto," with the signatures of duly autho-
rized Functionaries of the Government are still to be considered as official.
By order,
J. Robt: Morrison, Acting Secretary and Treasurer Hongkong, March, 23rd. 1842.
FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHINA.
Major General Lord Saltoun, C. B. and G.C.H., Commanding the Army in China, cannot re- frain from expressing his thanks to the several Commanders and Crews of the different Ships in
Price # 14 monthly $ 12 yearly
merely their object, that we should bend to withstand the enemy, is doubtless the and
give way to foreigners from afar. part of patriotism; but to give cause for war and strife, is very much opposed to patriotism. Ye gentry and others, having read the sacred books, must understand reason. Do ye therefore take these com- mands, and impress the same upon all good people.and show them, that, if they set fire to houses and rob and plunder, they are not what they profess to be "Righteous Men," but they are thieves and vagabonds, and most proper will it be to deter from such like acts, by making of them severe examples. No laxness shall be shown, which might lead to a spreading of the evil.
first week of December last, a quarrel was commenced from which ensued strife and contention, even till some of the foreign residences were set on fire and consumed, and in their mutual animosity, lives were on both sides taken? It would seem that, from a continuance of War and its calami- ties, during these years past, the feeling of enmity and indignation had become so deepened, that foolish people under the idea of taking vengeance became the tools of lawless men, who found occasion to rob and plunder: that while there was not entire absence of cause given on the part of the foreigners, there has yet been, on the part of our people, a criminality that calls punishment. And the local officers
the harbour as well as to residents on shore, forrefore been instructed,to apprehend || to their business, our people, may not dis-
the great aid and asssistance afforded by them Arsenal of
at the late fire, which took place at
the Ordnance Store.
NOTICE.
with severity those lawless incendiaries and plunderers, that they may duly receive the punishment that the law decrees.
The High Commissioner, has further heard a rumor, that the Gentry and Scho- lars of the country around Canton, acting still under the name of raising a patriot band of soldiers, to avenge this quarrel, have formed a "Society of Spirit and Loy
ALL Persons having claims on the Estate of the late Mr. THOMAS G. FITZ GIBBON, or owing debts thereto, are requested to make the same known to the Secretary and Treasurer to Her Majesty's Superin-alty." And sundry of these gentry and
tendents.
By Order
CHAS. E. STEWART Assistant Secy, and Treasurer.
Government House Hongkong 3rd February 1843
}
The following Proclamation of the Imperial Com- missioner-mangre the peculiar periphrasis, which is wont to be indulged in by Chinese Functionaries, when speaking of themselves, in connexion with Foreigners is very satisfactory and fully evidences the present good faith of the Court of Pekin.
Editor.
PROQLAMATION. ELEPOO, Imperial High Commissioner, General of the Garrison of Canton, lately a Minister, &c., &c., and entitled to wear the Red Girdle, issues and urgently impres- ses these clear Commands.
Whereas, two years have elapsed since the English first took up arms, it has now pleased our August Sovereign, with a liber- ality large as Heaven's, and with a univer- sal benevolence that knows no exclusion, leniently to treat them, and to grant them a renewal of their former Commercial in- tercourse in order that he may rescue his people from the grief and suffering into which they have been cast. And the said English have, or their part, immediate- ly laid aside their arms, yielded to this gentle treatment, followed the influences of Civilization, and ceased from strife.
scholars,have recently presented themselves before the High Commissioner, to make a Surrender of their services for purposes of war. These things are done, indeed, under|| the momentary impulse af a burst of loyalty and patriotism. But they are in direct opposition, to the sacred purpose of our August Sovereign, tenderly to cherish men from afar, and well-entreat those who yield him obedience, and not less opposed to His gracious pleasure, that hostilities. should cease and commerce be renewed.
*
It has now been arranged by Treaty with England, that henceforth English foreigners shall not insult or injure our people; and at the same time, so long as English foreigners, live quietly and attend
turb or molest them. Thus then, those from within and those from without, being at peace together, both parties may enjoy the blessing of living in perfect harmony, which the Sacred Emperor, has himself, so happily brought about.
The High Commissioner indulges the hope, that his people will not frustrate his good intentions, to guard against a recur- rence of strife, and to give a full and com- plete security to all. Let every one trem- ble and obey! Do not oppose !
•
A MOST SPECIAL PROCLAMATION. TAOUKWANG, 22 year, 12 month, 25 day,
(25th January, 1843).
[True Translation]
J. ROB. MORRISON. Chinese Secy and Interpreter.
(Sa.) R. THOM
Assist. Translator and Interpreter
To His Excellency.
Sir,
SIR HENRY POTTINGER, BART, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superin- tendent of the British Trade in China.
We have the honor to wait on your Excellency
we beg leave to refer to the same in reply, to the letters which Y. E. has addressed to us under date 24th and 25th Instant.
With reference to Y. E. further letter, dated
The people of Canton are by nature un- yielding and great lovers of propriety; they are valiant when impelled by a sense of justice; they rigidly adhere to their pledged word, and where that is concerned are regardless of their lives: they frequent with copies of certain resolutions, passed at a Ge- ly act without a due regard to consequen-neral Mesting of British Merchants this day; and ces, and in a moment have recourse to violent measures. Such dispositions are often the source of much good; but they are also the cause of much evil. For ex- ample, when the patriot soldiers which the gentry had been trying to raise, banded together, lately, with the populace, and burned some of the Foreign factories, the people engaged in this affair were of dif- ferent characters and prompted by differing motives; but they neither knew to exer- cise due care, before committing the deed, nor did they look forward to the conse- quences that might follow from it. All rash appeals to arms, all acts of violence, are of this description.
27th Instant, we beg to state, that we will lose no time, in collecting all information on the subject to which it relates, and as soon as we are in a position to furnish such details, as can be useful, we will again have the honor of addressing your Excel- lency-
We have the honor to be
Your Excellency's most Obdt, humble Servts. Alexr Matheson,
George T. Braine,
Wm. Thomson, D. L. Burn, W. P. Livingston,
Macao, 28th Jany, 1848.
Minutes of a General Meeting of British Merchants, held at the House of Messrs Dent and Co. to take into consideration the Notification from H. M. Pleni- patentier published in the HONGKONG-1 date 1611
ary and three com Committee OF BILIB Merchants dat
The High Commissioner has come, in
Therefore, in addition to the clear com- obedience to the Imperial Commands, to mands which the High Commissioner, verb- Canton that he may, in concert with the ally gave to the Gentry and cholars who
him, fur Governor General, Ke-Kung, and the Gov-appeared before him, it behov ernor, Liang-Paochang, consider and devise ther, lest there should still be some of the regulations for the levying of duties, &c., people, in ignorance of these principles, to and make all the after-arrangements of issue this clear and distinct proclamation 24, 25 an peace. From henceforward, then, the Sea for their due warning and admonition. Coast will enjoy rest, and this frontier will have quiet after all its trials.” Our gentry
nd our people are bound to joy:
and under the impulses of ratitude they move, the praises of the benevolence. - Towards the Eng
i aade their past enmity,
Il root of future quarrel. ved, and
While ye profess to be guided by the sentiments of loyalty and patriotism, must know that ye cannot but obey the Imperial Commands, and cou
give cause för a renewal
doubt the part
from our shores - bit
to the Imperial
line of one's own inclinat
will obey the Imperial Commands it is not cannot be deemed loyalty. Determinately
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