THE FRIEND OF CHINA,
AND DONGBONG GAZETTE.
BO VOL. 1
NOTIFICATION.
PUBLISHED EVERY THUR DAY MORNING.
VICTORIA, THUR.
The publication of the Hongkong Ga zette under the authority of Government, will be discontinued from this date but all public orders and notifications appearing
The Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette with the signatures of duly au- thorized Functionaries of the Government are still to be considered as official
By order,
J ROBT: MORRISON, Acting Secretary and Treasurer. Hongkong, March, 23rd. 1812.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
THE annexed Copy of an Official Com- munication addressed on the 18th Instant by Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary &c., in China to Their Excellencies the Viceroy and Lieut: Governor at Canton is published for the information and warning of Her Majesty's Subjects, as well as of the Subjects or Citizens of all other States who may be at this time residing at any Place occupied by Her Majesty's Forces in China..
In directing the publication of this letter, Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary cannot refrain from expressing both his disapprobation of, and great surprise at the conduct of the Persons concerned in this matter, who appear not only to have gone to the very unjustifiable length of bearding the local Authorities, but, to have attempt- ed to explain the stipulations of some parts of the Treaty, in a way that could not fail to excite the alarm and apprehension of the Government of China, as well as the indig nation of all right thinking persons, at so gross an evasion of a Solemn Engagement between two Great Empires.
By order of His Excellency Her Britan- nic Majesty's Plenipotentiary &c., &c., in China.
RICHARD WOOSNAM.
Government House, Victoria, Hong-Kong, 27th November, 1843.
Government House, Victoria, (Hong Kong), November, 18th 1843. I trouble Your Excellencies with this in consequence of my attention hay- ing been called to a "Narrative of a recent to the Chief City of the Department
chow, in the Province of Fokein,
been published at Macao, and it would appear, that certain
during last month,
of Changchow, and the Country, in
of the
trust the local Mandarin confine them, and wil
rest English Con with as may be
20TH. 1843.
graves, we
* Price 81 | monthly, Or $12 yearly.
seize and trated, they attack the frame with resistless force, hur them to the rying their victims with headlong precipitangg to their wer to be dealt
Of the appalling viruhance of a fever arising mainly from this cause, our burial ground bears la and pro mentable witness. The specific gravity of
considerably greater than that of common air-so that we see that in cool climates, individuals living in the upper part of a house or on a precepitous acclivity whilst an inhabitant of a ground floor, or whose habi- near a marshy district, escape this noxious influence tation is on a level with the surrounding swamp, be- comes immediately affected. Under the influence of a vertical sun these denser vapours become rarified, and being attracted by the sloping hills, rise to a certain height, visiting in their course houses which had they been situated in a temperate climate might be con- unity to considered beyond the reach of such influence. Night best wishes turns, and with it descend the dew and condensed exhalations, covering our dwellings with a mantle of death.
to enforce im In addition to
official com- cation to Your Excellencies. I shall publish this letter, and instruct all British Consular and other officers warn all per- sons residing under the brity against, any infraction,
ing, of the Rules and Regu
have been lard down.
I avail myself o vey to Your I for your health arha
(Signed), H
TOTTINGER.
True Copy,
RICHARD WOOSNAM,
2. In the present case too we have a dense population lining our shores and contributing in no small degree to the impurity of the air and water. Added to these are the uncovered sewers and drains, the ravines coclaining animal and vegetable matter in a state of decomposition giving rise to a cloud of noxious vapour, With these sources of miasma the cause of the
Their Excellencies Kekung, Viceroy, &c., &c. &c Chingkeahtsai, Lieutenant Governor &c., sickness is apparent, the remedy appears to be equally
Canton.
NOTICE.
MAILS for Amoy, Chusan and Shanghai to be forwarded by H. M. Steamer DRIVER, will be closed at this Office at 5 o'clock P. M. Saturday 2nd December.
Post Office,
Victoria, 29th November, 1843.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor of the Friend of China.)
VICTORIA, 28th November, 1843,
SIR,
of Freemasons exists in the Colony. I ain
no Lodge or
It has long been__matter of surprise to me that sure that every Mason must have often regretted the absence of a place where brothen meet in harmony, and cultivate goodwill, charity and all the kindly affec: tions of our nature towards one another. I know that there are several old and distinguished Masons in the Island, well able, and I doubt not willing to assist in the goodly work, and Mr. Editor you must be well aware that we have more need for the exercise of
charity here than in many other places. Let me hope
that you will take the subject up, and let us hear
WHAT ARE THE TREEMASONS ABOUT."
(To the Editor of the Friendl of China.)
MR EDITOR
Lead you the accompanying remarks on the on the sickness which has durin
Tob bed this anal
plain. Let an embankment reaching to low water mark be made to extend the whole length of the town. The drains should be bricked in on all sides and they should open into the sea beyond low water mark, so that no emanations should be given off at their em- brochures.
The ravines which are at certain sensong nearly drễ, could not by human ingenuity, be rendered more frui** ful sources of miasmal emmations than they are at pres stat. Used as sewers by the Chinese and others, and containing in their beds masses of stone which admira- bly retard the passage of their contents, they like the drains are uncovered, These ravinesshould be diminished greatly in width so as to accelerate the passage of their contents toward the sea. They should at the least be level- led at their bottoms, and if constructed on the principle of a good drain for some distance from their mouth so much the better. To effect this desirable object, viz good and efficient drainage, who inhabitants would not gladly no amongst the European niary load, which must to effect the object be neces- sarily incurred. I can hardly fancy that it could be inhabitants to lend their aid in removing a nuisance considered a harsh measure to require the Chinese
(the lower orders) might also, without having their chiefly originating in their filthy habits. The Chinesa privileges as free Citizens encroached upon, be re- quired by law, to keep their houses free from the filth
forward, and give
present allowed to accumulate in and around them.
it must be remembered that the cold season is the only
If this
time when drains can safely be meddled with. opportunity be lost, then may we naturall prognos cate, that a return of the unhealthy season will brin a return of the sickness, daily deaths, and buriala 1843
The water is indubitably bad. The Chinese acknow ledge that even they, accustomed to use it, aufer greatly from as impurities. This evil is easily remedied
through charcoal will render it sufficiently individuals consider the trouble of purifying
13 the