62
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
TO THE
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONG-KONG
GAZETTE.
For ONE YEAR (payable in advance.) Do. Six Moxrus, do,
$12
do.
7
D. THREE do. Do. ONE
do.
do.
4
do.
By. do. SINGLE NUMBREs (to Subscribers) 25 Cs. each.
do. Non-Subscribers, 1 Rupee. ADVERTISEMENTS.
Do.
SPS-For Freight, Sale, Charter, &c.,
Do.
Do.
Do.
1}
રમ
One Insertion
do. .do.
do
do.
Four do. do. Eight do. do. Twelve do.
.5
ONE INSERTIOx not exceeding Seren Lines
(Exceeding Seven Lines, ten Cents per Line.) N. B.-ALL REPETITIONS at a half charge.
JOB-PRINTING.
Bills of Lading, and Exchange, per 100 Opium Orders
do, do. Auction, and Quarto size Hand-Bills
from this date.
June 8th, 1843-
1
$2
2 3
disgraceful. What had happened on Wednesday last? The Baptist Missionary Society--a society which had done a great deal in effecting the spread of the gospel in this land, and which had produced some of the most eminent and pious men-met last Wednesday to consider the propriety of sending out a Missionary to Hong-Kong; and at that meet- ing it had been decided to work through the agency of the American missions, because the public feeling in China was so strong against the English, that if the missionaries must work at all, it must be through America, which had kept aloof from this disgraceful traffic. And what had been the result Why, the Baptist Missionary Society of England had voted £500 to be put at the dis- posal of the American missionaries for the propa- gation of the gospel in China [Hear, hear.] So that it came to this, that England, which professsed to be at the head of Christian nations, was preclud- ed from sending its own missionaries to that part of the world which she herself had opened for the advancement of civilization, and the enlightenment of Christianity."
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We put it to our readers, whether anything can be more thoroughly incorrect and ridiculous than this? It is true, an American Commodore has And $1 each additional hundred.
lately repudiated all connexion with the Opium The above Scale of Charges will take effect Trade, and announced that American citizens engaged in that branch of commerce, must not seek protection or indemnity through him. But what of that? Let us glance at the adherence of of ourTrans-Atlantic brethren to a system of domes- tic slavery, loathsome for its unchastity, disgustful for its barbarity, and revolting for its incompatibi- lity with Republican institutions, and does it not constrain us to believe, that if the profits on Opium had replenished the American Exchequer, we never should have heard a word of repudiation, or
interference by an-American officer? The large amount of American Shipping, and American capital now actually invested in the Opium Trade in China, is palpable evidence, that our Republican friends cannot indulge in any self. The merchants, British or American, are equally exultant exemption from the odium of this trade-
obnoxious to animadversion; for, verily, "there are six of one, and half-a-dozen of another.”-
Any irregularity or delay in the Delivery or Re- 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-KONG, THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH, 1843.
As we long since announced to our readers as inevitable--the Anti-Opium War has been prose- cuted with great vigour this Session. It requires no very great farsightedness to perceive that all governmental connexion with this traffic must cre long be dissolved.
A careful perusal of the debate in the House of Commons on the 4th of April, upon the motion of Lord Ashley, on the Opium Trade, will satisfac- torily prove that he made out a complete case as against the East India Company. He proved to demonstration, that no greater evil, social crime, or mora wrong, had ever been inflicted on a mis governed country, than the present monopoly of the growth of the Poppy.
He cited the opinion of a justly celebrated indi- vidual whose preinature demise occasioned wide. spread regret.
"No sooner, said Liutenant-Colonel Tod, was
it
promulgated that the Company's Sabili was contractor general for Optum, than princes and peasants, nay, even the very scavengers, dabbled in the speculation All Malwa was thrown into a ferment, like the Dutch tulip bubble: the most fraudulent purchases and trans- fers were effected by men who had not a seed of opium in their possession. In a variety of ways the local Government had extended the cultivation of this drug; they had allowed the collectors of the districts a per centage at the sales in Calcutta upon the surplus pro- duced, over and above what was produced by their decessors,'
pre.
T
Lord Ashley most truly added, that he felt "that by the cursed and unprincipled acts of the Government, they had made the name of God to be blasphemed amongst the heathen.""
The Noble Lord's exertions on behalf of the
any
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Not so with the Opium Trade, then "Mole-hills become mountains.”
But to resume our consideration of the debate Sir George Staunton was right, we think, when he said Should the Emperor attempt to legal- Would sit on his Throne ize the Trade, be
China has hitherto dis- another month."
dained to imitate Christian Europe, levying a duty upon vice and taxing the wages of sin. An Impe rial Duty on the introduction or sale of Opium, is held by Chinese Statesmen to be a governmental sanction, and approval of its use. They are right, and we honour the high morality which prompts such a conclusion. Would to God that our Statesmen could so look at matters at home. There a pure religion is forced to succumb to a vicious expedi-
ency.
Lord Jocelyn's speech was gentlemanly twad-` dle, nothing more-Captain Layard's an ab cup- tandum effort in no way remarkable.
Mr Hogg's speech was such as might have been expected from a gentleman of his practical sagaci- ty and talents, and one too who had lived long in India, and was moreover a Director of the Company. He could be none other than an apologist of the infamous monopoly. A high toned moral view of the question could not be expected
Mr Lindsay's speech it is obvious is very badly reported, and we are told it did not receive the attention it merited. It was listened too very impatiently by the House, the lengthy extracts from Dr. College's letter much impaired the effect of his remarks. He might have much abridged the communication without diminishing the value of the Doctor's respected testimony, which we think is unexceptionable.
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Lord Sandon's unreasoning quixotism and assumed morality provoked the deserved rebuke of Sir Robert Peel. If report speaks true, some of his Lordship's Liverpool constituents, the most active instigators of his zeal owe their fortunes and position to the profits of the Slave
nature, trade-such are the contradictions of human
Sir Robert Inglis' attempt was such, as any one who knows him, must also know he would make on such a subject, thus we dismiss the remarks of
Oxford. the honourable member for the university of
There was much practical knowledge and great ham Baring, on this question. His declaration, truth displayed in the observations of Mr Bing- that the whole force of the British Navy, added to But the speech of the evening was that of the the Police of the Chinese Empire, would not be Premier, that portion which referred to the Com- adequate to suppress the trade, we hold to be an pany's monopoly was wholly artistical, not even incontrovertible fact. France compels it to maintain a Custom's [Douane] special pleader, exhibiting not even the qualities of The restrictive policy of rhetorical, merely the technical dexterity of a Force ally twenty thousand strong, to say nothing an accomplished debater, which undeniably he of its faaritime service. We are tired of repeat-is, far less the high souled purpose of a Philantro- wishes to exclude the Drug. Although, with the dirty, paltry expediency (which some pismires ing, that China must adopt a similar course, if it phist or Statesman.A humiliating truckling to venality of the Mandarins, such an expectation is think the perfection of state policy) was painfully quite hopeless.
apparent.
It
encouraged in India were to be balanced by an According to the approved rule, the immoralities affectation of great virtue in China. affectation, we should rather say gross hypocrisy We say which despite the prohibition to store Opium here, it cannot but be, so long as the Company retains the monopoly of its culture.
that the Opium is not smuggled or run by the may not be amiss to tell our friends at home, British, according to the usage of contraband trade in other parts of the world. Strictly speaking, not a grain of Opium is smuggled ashore by the British venders. They lie off the coast, and it is the Chinese alone, who come on board, buy, and aftewards introduce it into their own conutry. We believe there is rarely a port or cove on the East coast of China which has yet been entered by a Man-of-War, or a Steamer, that application has the steamer which had H. M. Plenipotentiary on not been made
e by the natives for the Drug. With board, it was a common occurrence.
At all risks, we have never shrunk from speak-. From all this, it must be apparent that the pre-ing the truth, careless whether it tells for or Opium must rest vention or suppression of the consumption of against th
the most cherished opinion or prejudice. ay, an attempt to carry out Lord Aberdeen's instructions will much retard, if it does not prove fatal to the prosperity of Hung-Kong,
The inadmissibility of Opium into a FREE PORT is altogether so preposterous a notion, that we confide in the practical sagacity of H. E. the Pleni- potentiary averting the enactment of such enforce, will be found wholly inoperative. absurd regulation, and which if it be attempted to
poorer classes, will earn for him an undying repu- whilst they cannolly with the Chinese, who, Hence we say, an i
tion which shall pale the lustre of the conqueror's fame, and hence, any proposition which, on moral grounds, he might submit, could not fail to receive the most respectful attention, not only of the Ilouse of Commons, but also of the public out of doors.
We hope he will never relax in his efforts, till the detestable Opium Monopoly of the Company is abolished.
related to the Opium Trade in China, was singu lated to the portion of his Lordship's speech which larly erroneous, and strangely contrasted with the general accuracy et his observations with respect to the Indian monopoly.--
It is to be regretted that his Lordship has not consulted a file of our Print, he would then have obtained far more accurate notions on this subject. In order to give the folks at home some idea of our progress and position, we have gratuitously dis- tributed upwards of twelve thousand copies, and several have been addressed to his Lordship,
Esteeming the Noble Lord, and highly valuing his exertions, we shall send him a copy regularly, and then, we are sure he will not again perpetrate the egregious blunders which (for want of better information) characterised this part of his speech, Illustrative of our remarks, we have only to make the following extract —
Now, a fact had occurred only yesterday, than which, to him, nothing could be more thoroughly
f
abolish its use, may yet, sincere* in readily create such obstacles as would seriously their wish to put it down check its general use. Past events have shown that the single determination of an Imperial Com- missioner has sufficed to render Opium quite un- saleable, and almost valueless in the Canton market.
It is well known,
we
traffic; we have no one-sided code of morals, for from expressing our detestation of the Optum of the Opium our guide, we equally abhor the distillation and sale of spiritous liquors, We do not
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"Compound, for sins we are inclined to, By damning those we have no mind to."
Worst excesses of the Opium Trade to be quite On these grounds it is that we hold the venial, compared to the lasting infamy earn- ed by the Indian and British Governments, by their direct encouragement of the culture and use of the Indian licencing system. Have we not for more
· Drug. Besides, look to the revenue, created the horrible vice of intemperance among the native population? More, the whole policy of the British Government, in i gulations, has been one of desperate immorality, the hideous features of which, custom has rendered us so familiar, that they escape observation.
an
expenditure on buildings now in course of erection We are told the largest firm in China (whose
fifty thousand dollars) have announced its intention on the Island, must have exceeded two hundred and to remain at Macao. Many others will, if they are. wise, follow its example,
Had it been believed that such instructions ernment, not all the exertions and influence of the could ever have emanated from the Home Gov- Deputy-Superintendent, Chief Magistrate, and Captain Mylius [to whom the establishment and success of the Colony is wholly attributable] would few refugees and suttlers for the supply of the have availed; beyond attracting to our shores a Garrison and Men-of-war. Have not then parties right to who have invested large sums on the Island a just We our remarks with the Extract. Times, of the 5th of April, to which we above from Sir Robert Peel's speech, as given in the refer
"Now, with regard to the interdiction of the in its fiscal re-illegal traffic, that subject has occupied the atten- ernment, who gave instructions to Sir H. Pottinger tion, not only of the present, but of the late Gov- on the subject which her Majesty's present Go- vernment have renewed. And who is Sir H. Pottinger, and What is the course he was directed
The Emperor is sincere his inferior Officers are not so 1 Vide the Corn Laws and Excise regulations
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