nugatory. formation
sure upon of having would ear tlemen w
we now s
•pose or ar colonial considera
vernment, may view the amitiée as an indirect con- es, and repudiate the idea nnection with them. We the attention, of the Gen. give the committee, to what it is not their wish to op- ostile attitude towards our leniable, but if these rulers formation of the committee the community that they ce in the Executive, and if e) refuse to hold any com the" committee-then its ex- so for as it was created for certain Bes will not only be inefficacious, but will tate against that unanimity of feeling, which it is so desirable should exist between the Government and those who are Governed
19 8
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONG KONG GAZETTE.
their decided
565
sol foundered in the gale of Sunday week. For our own part, were the Memorial to go
the whole of the proceedings in connexion there. Himself, wife, and part of the crew were caround again, sooner than sign it, we would forfeit
with, it is the opinion of this Meeting, that tho ptured and harshly treated by som
he forefinger of our dexter hand. This resolution the Memorial may contain one or more words. fishermen. Upon the circumsta
has arisen not only as a matter of principle, but the application of which appear niisunderstood- also as a point of taste, for most assuredly the yet having been dictated by the spirit of the brought to the knowledge of Me
moment and all disrespect totally disavowed by Matheson & Co. they ordered the schooner truly admirable reply of Government, id, to the in- temperate Memorial of the great unsullied," a8
the Committee, nor ever intended by the Me- Gazelle-though partly loaded for a
morialists that this Meeting do approve of the proceed to the east coast for the purpose of res the Parian marble, to the decayed and slimy gra-
nite, amidst the malign influence of which we live.object or the Memorial and again beg to express cuing the Lady and the shipwrecked Mai who there was reason to fear had fallen into the hands of pirates. Before the Gazelle was ready to sail, Capt. Curtis, and party arrived in a native vessel; but though their escape was effected through other means, they consi- der themselves not the less indebted to the firm in question for their generous intent is Capt. Curtis would also warmly express thanks to His Excellency, Mr. Davis, who when made aware of the wreck, and capture of the crew by the Chinese, at once offered to dispatch the Government lorcha to their assis, tance.
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It is consolatory under present circumstances to think, that we sometimes use words without in tending to impato what they literally convey. ·Fak miliarity with particular phrases is very apt to bring them unwittingly to the point of the pen, especially in moments of mental excitement; and we all know how lavishly the terms iniquitous," unjust, and id genus omne," "have been bestowed upon our pet Trade by certain rigid moralists in England. The allusion to Sunchristian principles, must in like manner have escaped from the gloomy recesses of a mind oppressed with Opium pam.
Had it really proceeded from theological phise. distust, the rebuke would have been thou shalt no number the people."
Turning from the tone and spirit of the address, ve shall now glance at those still more objectiona
occurrences which the imprudence, to use no community have unhappily produced. natsher term, of some individuals of the European,
We allude to the combination of Compredores, and the consequent excitement of the lower classes of the Chinese pupulation.
We would respectfully suggest to this com mittee, whether the formation of a chamber of commerce, would not only better answer the present purpose, but that it would also in other respects be highly beneficial, in promot- We publish the following on the principle ing the commercial prosperity of Hongkong of giving publicity to the contributions of Another matter which was brought forward every respectable correspondent, so long as he does not indulge in personalities, whether we at the meeting cannot be too well known, or too widely circulated. It having come to the concur with him in sentiment or not. It is un: knowledge of a Gentleman present that His Ex- necessary for us again clearly and distinctly to avow our firm belief that the ridiculous charge cellency and Council were impressed with a. belief, that, in the recent emeute aniong the brought against certain members of this com
Without accusing any large portion of our fel Chinese inhabitants, they were instigated to munity of having instigated the Chinese to rebellow Countrymen of participation in these acts of their passive exhibition of resistance by Euro- lion is wholly unfounded. In our editorial of instigation, we think few persons will deny, but this day we declare our conviction that the that the lower orders of Chinese took their cus peans: this Gentleman and others there pre charge originated with some maliciously dispos from certain Europeans, through medium of their sent declared in the most emphatic manner There was no
ed persons; and were any further evidence re. Compredore prompters. The fact of a Meeting of that such was not the case. co-operation--no advice-nor any aid afforded quired that what we asserted is true we would those Compradores having been even tolerated them. The closing of shops and the strike confidently point to the emphatic declaration of upon the premises of a European mercantile esta
Mr. Matheson at the public meeting of Satur bishment, is quite sufficient in our opinion to make among the workmen was only a mode of re- sistance characteristic of the Chinese and day last, before which the assertions of an good this accusation. We only hope, that the par- it is a singular fact connected with this anonymous writer, however plausibly worded, ties, who have so well instructed their Chinese al- lies in the art of passive resistence, may never ex affair that, though every native shop in the must be perfectly harmless,
perience the fate of Frankenstein. The monster place was shut up, and every coolie had ceased REVIEW OF THE LATE PROCEEDINGS IN RE thus created has wrestled his first round with a to work, there was no rioting, no plundering,LATION TO THE REGISTRATION ORDINANCE power, which, if so disposed, might have crushed nor any noisy demonstration of opposition to
to their primeval nothingness both the Prodigy the Authorities.
and its Producers are those Producers quite sure it may not one day turo its unnatural energies against themselves? This brings us to what has been inconsiderately denominated the weakness of Government.
The true cause for the Chinese having come to the determination of leaving the colony is now no secret. The proclamation which was stuck up on the 29th of October declaring that this tax would be levied on the 1st of Novem- ber was the first intimation they received of the poll tax, and from the ambiguity of the language the impression conveyed was, that the tax was monthly not annual. This was the true cause of the Chinese preparing to leave the colony. ́ ́ ̈A blunder on the part of the per- son who drew up the proclamation excited the whole commotion. The Celestials are a pas sive race and will bear squeezing to any ordi. nary extent, but when this blundering transla- tor would squeeze one half of their monthly wages out of them, then they thought it was time to return to their own country, nor would we blame them had they left in a body.
Had His Excellency been aware of the cir. cumstance which we have now stated, and had he further been aware of the moderation.
of sentiment displayed at the meeting, and the earnest desire evinced by some of the leading men in this colony not to thwart nor oppose the Executive, but to aid them by every means in their power, then we think His Excellency would have suppressed the uncalled for taunt contained in his Notification of Saturday and published in a Gazette Extraordinary of Mon- day. We unhesitatingly express our opinion that th assertion which has been put forth of the operation of British with the Chinese in- habitats of this colony is utterly without foun- dation, and we fear has originated with some evil disposed person, who would rather see His Excellency and the British community at variance, than see them in that perfect harmo- ny which is not only necessary for the welfare of the colony, but also for their own personal comfort, and to disturb which we look upon as a grave offence,
His Excellency does not judge correctly of
BY AN OBSERVEK.
Although our sentiments may not exactly har munize with those of the Editor of the "Friend of China," we trust to the liberality of that Journal for an introduction to the Public.
Divesting ourselves of all local emotion, save that incident to three days abstinence from solids, we now essay to examine the Conduct of the Eu ropean community of this Colony during the late emeute of the Compredores:
Time, Space, and inclination all dispose us to brevity, therefore without further preamble we shall at once enter upon the subject.
Admitting, for the sake of argument, that the Registration Ordinance was in many respects de fective-Conceding even that the Memorial to which it gave birth, filtered of us impurities, would the brave dans unreasonable, we yet maintain that the Proceedings of the British inhabitants of this Island have been throughout objectionable, and that certain Europeans, not the Government, have been instrumental in awakening a spirit amongst the Chinese population, which, ere long, they may have too much reason to laiment.
It may be said, why then did you sign the me. morial, every European in the Colony, unconnected with Government, gave his signature unreservedly? We would reply, several moderate and generally prudent persons signed their names, in approval of the abstract principles, who secretly lamented the language in which, amidst the delirium of dis satisfaction, those principles were put forth. But to proceed. The circumstances of this Colony áre in every respect unparalleled. Ferments, which in other settlements might go off as harmlessly as a Chinese cracker, are not to be indulged with im punity here, especially when the objects in dis- pute embrace the interests of the Chiness popula- tion equally with those of the European. It must condemn all remonstrance, and advise an uncondi. not be supposed that we would, for this reason, tional surrender of ourselves to Government, then by casting, as it were, our opinions into whatever mould authority may prescribe. For from it freedom of thought is the entailed birth-right of every uncovenanted Englishman, but this we do maintain, that such freedom should be exercised discreetly, with moderation, consistency, and duo
How, we would ask, has this weakness been ma- nifested? In hurling back with dignified contempt
memorial In suppres au offensive and inproper sing with a strong hand every tendency to forcible opposition? If these be the Characteristics of weakness, then we acknowledge that the Govern ment has been indeed preeminently imbecile.
But on the other hand, if the guardians of the Colony have been induced to suspend or modify their decrees in virtue of arguments submitted for their consideration or because they recognised, in the pasive resistance di ti instigated populace, crus which our peculiar position and circumstantes render eminently hurtful,-such as the suspension. for a time of all those public works which the health and general well being of the whole Coin- munity imperatively require should be executed without delay, then, we say, the measure of for- bearance is the wise and considerate act of a strong Government, which can afford oven to incur the suspicion of weakness,an imputation, that no feeble administration would have the courage to brave.
...
The object of a truly firm and wise Government, will ever be to deliver not to subdue a misguided people.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
We are in possession of the Shipping and Morcantile Gazette, to the 26th of July from which we extract a few paragraphs which will be found under the head of shipping intelli
gence.
The ship Canton, hence 16th of March, ar+ rived at Simons bay on the 24th of June. Captain Crouch, commander of the vessel, died at sea on the 16th of March, the day the vessel felt this harbour. The following pas sengers had arrived inthe Canton and again left with her for Portsmouth on the 11th of
decided vpinion against the Ordinance in question, S
Upon the question being put to the vote. Mr. Bevan moved an amendment, “ That the Memorial e referred back to the Committee," bilt no party seconding this proposition. Mr. Bevan moved another amendment, “That the first Memorial be modified in its terme," Mr. Disandt seconded the same, and upon the ques tion being put to the vote was negatived no person holding up their hands in favor of The original proposition being again put was.
→Carried unanimously Fourth.It was proposed by Patrick Dud geon, Esq,, and seconded by R. Oswald, Esq., that the following Gentleman (-----
T. A. Gibb, Esq. Donald Matheson, Esq. T. W. L. Mackean, Esq. Augus Fletcher, Esq. Ş. Rawson, Esq. John Holliday, Esq. Augustus Carter, Esq. form a standing Committee with power to add to their number, any three of whom to form a
quorum for the purpose of taking such further measures with reference to this or shy other matter, as they may deem necessary, with a view of watching over the interests and representing the views of the Community to Government as occasion requires.
Carried unanimously.
Fifth. It was proposed by B. Hobson, Esq. and seconded by T. W. L. Mackean, Esq, that with the view of removing any impression that may be entertamed by the Government that the British Community have been connected with the late decided opposition evinced by the native population towards the said Ordinance the pre- sent Meeting beg most distinctly to state that to the extent of their information, it was a spon- taneous and voluntary act on the part of the Chinese.
-Carried unanimously. Sixth-It was proposed hy C. W. Bowra, Esq., and seconded by Franijee Jemsetjee, Esq.
That a copy of the above resolutions be for- warded to His Excelleney the Governor in Council, and printed in the focal papers.
-Carried unanimously-
(Signed) JOHN HOLLIDAY,
Chairman.
Hongkong, 2d November, 1844. Upon The Chairman leaving the Chair was proposed by Edwards, this Meeting and
that, la tarda, of this
are due to John Holiday, Ean. for his ole and im- partial conduct in the Chair.
(Signed) DUNCAN JAS KAY,
Secretary. At 8 r. M., the following letter was ceived-
Council Chamber,
Victoria, 2nd November, 1844. GENTLEMEN Your letter of the 31st ultimo, having failed to be delivered till the 1st instant, and consequently not till after your second Me- morial (in which no reference whatever was made to it) had been replied to, the Governor. and Council have only this day had an op- portunity of considering it.
I am directed on this occasion to acquaint you that the Governor and Council see with surprize and regret a reassertion on your part of which has already met with the strongest mark sentiments contained in your former letter, and they could possibly affix to if of their reproba-
tion.
Could the Governor and Council have fore- seen such an unbecoming persistance in the expression of your opinions, however volled by your disavowal of intentional disrespect, the Governor and Council would most assuredly have abstained from paying the smallest attention to your second Memorial.
Under these circumstances the Governor and
the feelings of this community, if he supposes respect towards the constituted authorities. July. Lieut. Col. Maclean, C. B.; Council deem it right you should know that all
Now the Proceedings under review appear to us defective in these essential particulars
McCaskill: Lieuts, Barbauld, Fairclough, and Shaw; Ensign Hickson, and Dr. Shanks; 214 men, 4 women and 7 children. H. M. 55th Regt. and Mrs. Crouch, family, and 1
further communication must cease between the Goverument and yourselves while such senti- ments continue to be maintained by you, and that you are indebted wholly in the ignoranea of the Governor and Countil occasioned by the delay of your letter of the 31st ultimo, for any answer whatever to what now appears to be in
they wish captiously to oppose his government. On the contrary, had he opportunities of hear ing the opinions of private individuals, be would ascertain, that many of his measures are highly approved of; and if in the present instance an arbitrary Ordinance, only suited for the most
The Fairly had not arrived. The Repulse despotic state, has been registed by a memo-partisans in a matter involving collision of opinion from Calgatts, put into Algon bay in dis mitted in such documents, an apology for theight have assembled with that dignified composure tress, and would be taken round to Simon's fact your third communication.
rial couched in language stronger than is per-
servant.
In the present stage of the Colony every friend to order should have discountenanced and soppres sed Chinese interference. It was therefore highly indiscreet to allow the Compredores to become
with the Government The British Community which would have so well become individuals who bay for repairs, aspire to the Council Chamber. They might have carefully dissected the obnoxious Ordinance, point- ed out its supposed deformities, in coils, clean, la: guarded terms, and earnestly solicited the patient attention of Government to their respectfully cou-
ched remarks.
Our last sentence we deem especially important, there being an obvious difference between an address merely professing respect, and one ne.. tually couched in respectful terms. this memorial and we have the following exsince:
Honorable Sira,
Concentrate
language may be found in the enactments of the Ordinance which it reprobates We can essure His Excellency that what the Merchants of this colony require, is permission to follow their important pursuits, under the friendly protection of the laws of their native country: but if any attempt is made at coercion, they will sacrifice the money they were induced to invest in property and return to Macao, where under, a foreign flag they will not be subjected to laws repugnant to their feelings, and utterly opposed to those cherished privileges of per- ronat freedom which is their inalienable birth- sight. We fear that at the council board, His Excellency leans more towards the opinion of those who have been brought up in the camp,
We have the bonar to bey and whose ideas of a government are drawD
Hannurable Si from military law, than to the milder, but more
The hikerto rusaified and insti correct opinions of men who are well acquaint-
portion of the Inhabitants of longkong • ed with the civil laws of our country, and who Now that the general Vuzee has almost painted, doubtless know that the Ordinance m question we feel samured essay of our fellow CitZLOS WIS will be repudiated by every member of Heracgateson in these confessions, Berg coming, Majesty's Government.
We have been requested by Captain Curtis of the American ship Pararon, to acknowledge in this public manner the liberality of Mears. Jardine Matheson & Co. Capt. Cunto" ves-
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We respectfully beg to proclaim that you ares Tyrants, wagse panci. conclave of arbitrary ples are unconstitutional inquisitoria!” qud
*iniquitous.
however, to give pais either to ourselved or piters we shall dweil es longer en tâms part of the mir jeet,
which must unavoidably hate tukasal every bi - there scrolled and unexpected cbxen, de peresine the chaste, dosified, yet not les rebake of GoTEFOANESSA.
a Public Inhabitants of Hongkong held the ad November upon the pre miges of Means. FLETenza, LARKINS & Co., to take into consideration the correspondence that baa passed between the Committed appointed at a Meeting held the 28th alto., and Ilia Excel- lency the Governor and Honorable Members of the Legislative Council relative to Ordinance No. 17 of 1844. ›
T. A. Gibb, Esq, Chairman of the Commit tee briefly explained to the meeting the object for which they were called together-After which.
First-It was proposed by. Robert Edwards, Esq., and seconded by T. W. L. Mackean, Esq. that Joon Holliday, Esq, do take the Chair.
Second - was proposed by Robert Strackan, Fag, and seeded by N. Dosa, Eag, that D. J. hay, Ec., do act as Secretary to this Meeting -Carried nosnimcaly --
Mr. Halafay having taken the Chair. Third-it was proposed by Angus Fletcher, Eng, mud cerated by T. V. L. Maekran, Esq. That after søperising the Correspondence and Mezoccola presented by the Deputation and Coreshee appared at a Menting held the 29th cho, mia Kacellaser the Governor and Honor. able Master of the Legitative Council, and bessing too the Clapimo his explanation of
I have the honor to he, Gentlemen,
Your Most Obedient Servant, ADOLPHUS E, SHELLEY.
Clerk of Councils.
Messre. T. A. Gros.
D. MATHESON. S. RAWSON.
P. Dodaros.
A. CARTER.
To which the following reply was sent- Hongkong, 2nd November, 1944.
Sin, I have the honor to acknowledge receipt at 3 P. x, of your letter of this date addressed to myself and the. Members of the Deputation who presented a Memorial on behalf of the Inhabitants of Hongkong to His Excellency and the Honorable Members of the Legislativo Council the 30th Virgo,
I am deputed by them in express their regret Bat His Excellency and the Honorable Mem- hore should so personally apply the terma used in that Memorial to the Coinmaltze as a body, feeling, however, fully borne out by the expres sion of a Busslation pamed at a Public Meeting: held this day, from which their duties as a Cotamitiée censed, they have now merely requeste eif me to acknowledge receipt of your teller.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your Obediens Servant,
"AUGS, CARTON,
Inte Secretary.