42
THE FRIEND OF china and honGKONG GAZETTE.
By Her Majesty's Commands, I take upon me with a sincere feeling of pursomal satisfaction, the Honourable Office of Investing Your Excellency, with the Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross, of this Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
The observations which succeed the letter, (except the first paragraph) wore intended for our last number, but could not be inserted for want of space. Our subsequent knowledge” in no way affects the view we then took.
in all claims of compensation for
It is truc Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of || tion, which is at present wholly inexplicable, the Bath:-
seeing that the American Consul, at Macao, has losses or by the Chinese, are barred publicly declared "he is not aware of any inforin- Cality in the papors," which sounds very odd after by this Notification, and in this, to our the following fotter of Commodore Koarney,minds, consists its whole purpose and value, The same course the British have pur- which we copy from the Canton Press, of the 27th ult.
sued, but more authoritatively; for what is the Proclamation of II. E, of the 14th of November last (Vido No. 36) but an equivalent announcement-nothing more; e. a. a. selon la façon de parler "admisé parmi les diplomātes *
Whilst
on this subject, we may remark the late Notice of Commodore Kearney, may be published with the view to conci- liate the feelings or prejudices of the and favourably impress them Chinese, prior to the advent of the American
en route. Plenipotentiary, now en
valuable
This high distinction conferred by our Sovereign, will, I am sure, be appreciated by Your Excellency as a proud testimony of the sense entertained by Her Majesty, of your eminently services; the result of a life devoted to Public Duty, and of talents energetically, and successfully exerted, the Service of your Country.
It would be superfluous to dilate on the public advantages, derived by the firmness and wisdom, with which the various important Missions con- fided to Your Excellency have been conducted; they are recorded in the Archives of India, and will, I am persuaded, be felt for ages to come in the extended commerce and Intercourse, which will be opened by the Honourable Peace, recently concluded with the neighbouring Great Empire.
Your Excellency may rely, that I shall ever retain a lively remembrance of the benefits afforded your enlightened and friendly counsel, as a Colleague, during the progress of the late Expedi
by
tion.
In presenting these dignifying decorations, allow me in the purest feeling of warm friendship, to express an ardent hope, that they may be long worn by Your Excellency, with re-established health, to enable you to render further service to your Country, and in the uninterrupted enjoyment of all earthly happiness.
SIR HENRY POTTINGER thus Invested, addressed the Representative of the Crown in reply
Sir William Parker,
There are some situations in which it is not possible to give utterance to the feelings of the heart-In such a situation, I now stand before you. I feel all the heartfelt pride, and deep and loyal gratitude, that should fill my bosom in return for The Queen's Royal and Most Gracious approbation, and appreciation of my humble services; but I am not capable of expressing those feelings, as I could
wish to do at this moment.
My life from my earliest boyhood up to the present time, has been literally, uninterruptedly passed abroad in the Service of my Country; and when I declare that this moment is, in my estima-
U.S. Frigate, CONSTELLATION,
Harbour of Amoy, May 18th, 1813. Six,-After a strict examination into your papers, in connexion with the rights and privileges or benefits of an American vessel, under the Navigation Laws of the Congress of the United States, in relation to the record and registry of vessels-I have made up my mind clearly on the subject, that the Schooner ARIE has not the privilege of carrying the American Flag, or to take goods on board helonging to other citizens or subjects of any nation,
The ARIEL onnnot leave this port, where I found bor, unless to return to Macdo; and every item of Merchandise or Freight must-first be discharged here; and on having done which, to my perfect satisfaction, I will place in your hands a sealed package, containing all the papera and documents of the vessel, which you brought on board this ship; and they are not to be opened except by James P. Sturgis, Esq., the U. S. Vice.Consul, at Macho, to
whom the package is addressed, unless on your passage thither
you should fall in with a National ship of war and he boarded, or be cast on shore, and evidence such as you have, may be required for immediato relief from capture or oppression,
The Officer and men now on board the ARIEL will be with drawn, and her own crow returned precisely at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning, when you can, if you please, assume the command of your vessel; but the American Flag is not to be
hoisted aboard of her.
It is to be understood, that in the event of her coming out of Macao, it will be necessary, to avoid capture, to obtain a clear and an unquestionable right to display the American Flag.
Iremain, A
Your's respectfully,
L. KEARNEY, · Commanding the U. S. Squadron in the East Indics.
In our last, we had only time to mention the reported seizure of the schooner Ariel, by the U. S. Commodore, at Amoy; we also, then published a Notification issued by him subsequent to that occurrence.
for
We are still ignorant of the grounds i detention or capture in the case in question, hence we cannot discuss it. The Notifica
mulgation an overt
If so, we have no ground of complaint, nor have we even, should the American s not likely) take Government (which is measures to suppress the Opium trade, somewhat similar to those we have adopted to put down the traffic in Slaves. Great Britain has erected herself into the Custos morum of one hemisphere, why should not America (if she pleases) play the same role in the other?
Notwithstanding the statement in our last, we are disposed to think that the "ARIEL" will not be condemned, but if she should be, it will, we think, be in con- sequence of informal papers, and wholly irrespective of her employment in the Opium trade. The Cargo and Treasure on freight, whether British or Foreign property, cannot, we believe, be affected whatever may be the ultimate fate of the Ship, and will of course be given up.
We expect to have occasion to resume this subject in our next until which time we defer any additional remarks.
tion, an ample reward for that long exile from my tion is a Public. Document, and its pro: Seventh Report of the Committee of the East native Land, it will be understood how truly I value the honours which you have just bestowed on me in Her Majesty's Name.MAZAI
During the remainder of my days, whilst I have, under God's blessing, strength and health, my de- voted exertions shall ever be at the disposal of my Sovereign and my Country, in any part of the world where they may be thought useful.
I will only add, that it forms an additional source of gratification to me, to have received from your
an overt act, the prudence and policy of which, it well becomes us to con- sider. By it, American Merchants and others are officially warned against putting their property on board any vessel engaged in the "Opium Trade," sailing under the United States Flag,
We learn it is the opinion of many, that
In our last we give some extracts from the India and China Association, presented on the first of February last. It is satisfactory to perceive the labours of the Committee, have not been in vain.
We are sorry to note the East India Company decline abolishing the system of advances in India, on the hypothecation of goods. Would that the matter were within the scope of the Governor- General's duties, then, an acknowledged mercantile at once removed.
hands, in the kind and flattering terms in which this Notification is tantamount to a declara-grievance would (on proper representation) be
racker.
The amount of Bills drawn on, or from, India and China, by the Company, has, it appears, during the last seven years, averaged £3,154,188 per annum, The amount, drawn on the several Pre- sidencies of India, from the 4th of February, 1842, to the 5th of Jan., 1843, amounted to £1,121,956 193 8d, at a rate of Exchange varying from 11, 18, to Rs, Id, the Rupees
you have conveyed them, these high tokens of tion, that any property shipped on board Her Majesty's most distinguished, and gracious such Opium Vessels, would be liable to goodness and favour; and I beg to assure you, seizure by the Naval Officers of the United from the bottom of my heart, of my lasting esteem States) We demur to this conclusion, and ver and regard, both for your health and public cha-hocent
accept the Notification merely as a cautton which the American Commodore deemed his duty to give, seeing that he had formally announced, on the 31st of March, last year, (vide our No. 3) that the Govern- ment of the United States does not sanction the Smuggling of Opium on this Coast under the American Flag, in violation of the laws of Chim?
After which, Sir Henry Pottinger made his reverence to the Throng, when the Royal Standard at the Government House, as well as the Decora- tive Flags on board the Ships, were hauled down, and the Ceremony Concluded,
la
All the Ships present, and the Batteries on shore, then fired a salute of fifteen-guns each, sonal compliment to Her Majesty's Plenipot the St. George's Flag being displayed: top-gallant-Mast-head of the Cornwallis during the continuance of the Sainte
The Vice-Admiral afterwards entertained Majesty's Plenipotentiary, the Right Major-General Lord Baltouni comt Land Forces, and the principal Naval Officers at dinner, in honour of the dis ceremonies of the day.
(Signed)
TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. The out-standing Arrears, admon che Friends and Subscribers to obli liquidating our Claims, which, individually, yet, aggregately, am able sum
Any irregularity or da'ay PAPER, if brought to our
ahad be much obl
when any change of remdenced
Mai
THE FRIEND OF CHIN/
AND HONG KONG GAZETTE.
HONG-KONG, THURSDAY, Junmi far, 1843,
Since our last the Ariel has arrived at Magad, and a correspondence has been published in the Papers there, with respect to the cause of deten
He, moreover, then added, "Difficulties lying therefrom. In respect of the seizure of any vessel by the Chinese, the claimants will not, under my instructions, terposition, after the
hipping
loyment of American the Opium trade (since this tice was issued) has greatly increased, it surprising that the Commodore otice of the 18th inst... but: a corollary of hi
the
be bold
can Commodore
For ability citizens engaged
the
Plenipotentiary with British subjects simi- Opium Trade, than has Her Majesty's larly employed.
The Exports of Bullion from London last year, as far as can be collected from the Custom House returns are as follows
China Calcutta Bombay Madras Singapore
QOLD.
3,308
SILVER.
2,7037,833 oz.
1,408,745 do. 195,270 do. 109,889 do.
2,000 do.
Although recent events have given a prominent importance to the claims of Anglo Chinese Com merce, yet, we have not seen that the Committee ght to press on the attention of the or the Government the monstrous the continuance of the present enor
out Staple T We could supineness, and may do so on
thing however, is abun we ought to have in London d distinct and different from any than one occasion has the China Trade been swarn and rked by their supposed antagonism
Free Trade and our Local Chimes Government will
onl
fore entering on the consideration of That
eat with us on the Perfect ould, we
1 Offe
arrence and question that it aced only be cited.
Such a eclara bar to all further
ase the
hy Capuin Hope the
Kwry of this view