57
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sessment to be found successful in practice, || and yet we are told it is in conformity with the British requirements.
In our last we referred to a memorial which had been presented to the Emperor on the necessity of making an improvement in the manufacture of the Gunpowder used by the army and navy,
A Tartar officer Ching-ky-pin, Admiral of Fokien province, presents a petition or memorial which has been approved by the Emperor, in which he alleges, that owing to the Imperial benevolence (which is far and near extolled) the land is now quiet, and the barbarians business settled, now is the fitting time to learn and perfect the people in military affairs, and it is especially important that every effort should be made to
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manufacture a stronger Gunpowder, so that the best be universally used."
He goes on to say, that even in his leisure his thoughts were directed to the consideration of every thing that could benefit the Emperor's service, and that hearing that the city of Hang chow was most famous for its Gunpowder, he had sent hither for supplies, and had now several ten thousands of cattics.
To have a good article he truly says a proper price must be paid, and the workmen besides
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such implements and material we shall unfailingly
conquer our enemies?
Conformably Petitian, the Admiral praforging Memorial, or the Emperor to give order to the Viceroys and Provincial Governors that they do forthwith collect sufficient saltpetre necessary for the wants of each camp.
In giving out the ingredients for manufacture, he says a proper allowance must be made for the loss or waste in the process, and with every ten catties of Saltpetro, three, and with every ten catties of Sulphur, one should be given in on this
account.
He estimates that the cost of materials, wages, fire-wood, &c., &c., in the manufacture of 10,000 catties, would, in Fo-Kien, amount to five hundred taels of silver, or about one penny per pound.
But seeing
that in the
various provinces, labour likely that in some the cost and materials vary greatly in price, it is not un- may reach seven hun- dred taels.
It would be desirable that the Viceroys and Go.. vernors get correct estimates prepared, and ap- point military officers to superintend the manufac ture, and see that the material be truly good, and the powder of required strength, i, e., to carry two. hundred and forty Knongs,
officers who neglect their supervision, or are lazy
Heavy punishment should be infli
inflicted-on all
having good wages must not be irregularly paid. in the discharge of their duty
or at uncertain intervals.
If we have not good powder, he naie vly asks,→→ Any irregularity or delay in the Delivery or Re- How can the people be safely kept, or the peace
of the Universe preserved
ceipt of the PAPER, if brought to our notice, we will endeavour to rectify. We shall be much obliged to our Subscribers, if they will inform us when any change of residence takes place.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONG-KONG GAZETTE.
HONG-KONO, THURSDAY, JUNE 22nd, 1843.
He then goes into the subject, and remarks, that if the saltpetre be not well dried, and the sulphur not clean (pure,) when discharged it will be found not to carry far.
En passant, we may observe that according to Dr. Ure, there is very little difference between the Chinese and the British powder. The former on analysis consisted of 75 of nitre, 14. 4 of charcoal, and 9. 9 of sulphur; the latter 65 of nitre, 15 of disposed to think that the weakness of the Chinese charcoal, and 10 of sulphur. Hence we should be powder is referable to its imperfect manipulation. What we have seen has been of a very coarse uneven grain, and it readily absorbed atmospheric moisture, besides when exploded it produced a more offensive smell than the British.
The Proclamation declaring the Crimi- nal and Admiralty Court of Hong-Kong, to be constituted, and the promulgation of the Rules and Practice of the Court, which will be found in our Supplement, cannot but be read with great interest. We have expressed our opinions thereanent, and as
Seeing that the Chinese Government formerly we have no disposition to embarrass or im- but made an allowance in the pay, for its supply did not supply powder to the forts, ships, or army, pede the laudable intentions, but ill-con- by the officers, it is not surprising that the powder sidered procedure of the Home Govern- was so often bad, and despite the patriotic inten- ment, we now refrain from further animad-
tions of Ching-ky-pin we think there will be no versions on this specimen of the Red Tape effectual remedy for an acknowledged defect, policy of the Colonial Office. More, we unless the Government take both the manufactur- are sincerely desirous to render our Newg and supplying of the powder into its own Court operative for good, and if the experi- ence of several years as a Commissioner of the Court (on the forms and practice of which the one here is founded) be of any service, we shall at all times be glad to render it of public utility.
We have only space to claim the attention of our readers to an article on the OREGON TERRITORY (as our possessions on the Pacific are called) which we have extracted from the Times of 27th Febru- ary last. From the first occupation of Hong-Kong, and our conviction of its permanent renten. tion by Great Britain, we have uniformly urged the expediency of coming to an immediate settle- ment of a boundary question far more important than that of Maine. Deep was our regret on find- ing that such adjustment formed no part of Lord Ashburton's mission. Even since the peace with China, the Times averred the Oregon Boundary might be postponed till the next century, and it is
hands. It should not confide its manufacture to the Viceroys and Governors even. But we must return to our memorialist,—He recommends the saltpetre to be thoroughly dried, but not in the sun but over a fire, and to three parts fit for usc to be added one part of sulphur.
Instead of the old pestle and mortar system, whereby three men are required to make fifteen which consists catties daily, Ching-ky-pin asserts that a machine, heavy roller therein, and ruled ough with a
circular
the ingredints) with three men will be able to. bullock (which will slowly and effectually pulverise make more than 100 catties daily.
one or two perfect makers, to see that every thing Above all, it is necessary in each camp to have
duced. is properly done and really good powder pro-
sibilities Ching-hy-pin says he has discovered that Day and night reflecting on his heavy respon-
enough demands how they can be so effective as the cannon
now in use are top short, and naturally the * inside land's cannon which are so much
Ching-Ky-Pin concludes his Memorial, by tell- ing the Emperor that he is o
oppressed with the deep and heavy obligation he is under to the Imperial benevolence; that, although his age and long services would induce him to court retire- ment, and pray for permission to retire to his own country, yet he has deemed it his duty to solicit the Emperor's attention to the foregoing important.
matter.
Neither in this, nor two other papers we have found on the same subject, in the Peking Gazettes, do we find any reference to one of the ingredients in the composition of Gunpowder, namely, char- Coal.
We should be disposed to infer from this, that the proportions, so far as this ingredient
cerned, remain unaltered. -
-con-
composition of the powder recommended by the If strikes us that there is too much sulphur in the
Admiral of Fo-Kien Province. For it is well- known, that the more sulphur is present, the less forcibly explosive will be the Gunpowder.
....
his very useful Dictionary)" by the trials at Es- This is sufficiently confirmed, says Dr. Ure (in sonne, where the Gunpowder that contained twelve of sulphur and twelve of charcoal, in one far as that which contained only nine of sulphur hundred parts, did not throw the proof-shell so and fifteen of charcoal.
It is found by experiment, that that charcoal is leaving the smallest residuum of ashes, contain- best for Gunpowder, which burns rapidly away, ing, therefore, the largest quantity of carbon."*
This condition is well complied with in the shan tan, or pine charcoal, made from the wood of the Pinus lanceolata, which a native informant assures us ordinarily used by the Chinese. He. however, informs us, that very lately it has been discovered that tung tan, or rattan charcoal, prised, for, unless we much mistake, the rattan, makes the best powder, at which we are not sur-
in an eminent degree, possesses all the require- ments for a perfect Gun-powder charcoal.
We shall be glad to hear of its efficiency being the knowledge of this fact may hereafter be use- fully tested. Should our supposition be correct, ful.
By an Extract which we published last the Times, it will be perceived that the week, from the "leading journal of Europe”
Trot until the Americans urge their pretensions in a longer, whose powder too is excellently made opinions we have expressed with regard
manner 59 offensive to John Bull's pride, that he is
compelled to believe there must be an object of some importance to warrant such audacity,
On a future occasion, we shall give a geographi- cal sketch of the Oregon or Columbia River Ter ritory, its present condition, and future based mainly on information we have derived prospects, from partics who have visited the country.
The accounts from Canton, report the Imports and Exports dull generally, except Opium, which is rather improving. An impression is prevalent among the Hong- Merchants (whother well or ill-founded, we know not), that the TARIFF would be ad- justed ere two months elapse, and among other reductions of duty which they allege are agreed to, is two taels on TEA. The sketch of the New Tariff, which (thanks to a Native informant) we have seen, is far too complex and includes too many rates of as-
very strong and very fine, of which there can ber
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doubt. So buy and obtain the barbarian powder, he urges, which put in a musket and test its strength, and truly it will carry about two hundred and fifty loong's length (about half a mile's dis- tance,)
Therefore it is that Ching-ky-pin recommends that the Nitre should be well dried the ingredients well mixed, threefold beaten and made fine as that with which it must be tested, and if it do not like the barbarian's powder carry two hundred and forty hoongs, then is it not good,
the plan of the inside country we employ cannon Taking care to use only good and if adopting of double the length, surely, he exclaims, with
obvious, reference to the English, we should otherwise here *So we tranelate NUY TE which but for the context and its believed to refer to the interior ordinary application, The term as applied to us or our country
China, which is is
should be WAE e but it may be, and bo doubt is part of the Chinese governmental policy to blind the people, as to the source from whence these ameliorations proceed, or the Government may perhaps consider that they would not be popular if known to prucced from, or be induced by the dotested foreigners,
tion, are accepted in London as those of to the Opium trade and its future regula-
the merchants engaged in that trade, who, the Times, evidently imagines would be great gainers by the legalization of the traffic, which we have so earnestly recom-- mended.
contemporary
In this supposition, our Metropolitan smallest acquaintance with the state of is wholly wrong, as the things in China, would convince any one, that so far as pecuniary considerations are concerned, the merchants are more advan-
fic by the Chinese Government. taged by the present prohibition of the traf-
profits would sink down to the scant returns Were the trade legalized the gigantic
We have been told that Hemp Stalks have been used in Germany, Willow, Poplar, Elder, Lime, and other woods, are used in England.