if it is contrary to the policy of encouraging a local trade.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONG-KONG GAZETTE.
way be appointed to counteract them with a
strong
have any affair, they ought to submit the same dis- tinedly to the Governors and Lieut. Governors; but the said Barbarian Envoy requested to bring complaints before the censorate.
After the bulk of foreign goods is broketi, and the tonnage dues are paid, the authorities do not trouble themselves about the rapidity and slow- ing of the sale, yet the said Barbarian Envoy wished, that the duties on articles which could not
569
(for them) hat there can be no objection [to grant ing this request}.
The remaining demands have reference to the treaty of peace and do not concern commercial 2. It is evident, that whenever the factories are matters, and will by no means present obstacles to burat by accident, they ought to be rebuilt by the the execution of the law do i gar
Merchants that presume to repair [to other pla merchants themselves. Yet the said Barbarian Envoy brought again forward the old Hong law forces, except the five ports, for the sake of clandestino compensation and re-creation, requesting, that the trade and smuggling, and who introduce opiam with all other kinds of illicit articles, will be by the authorities should make good the loss,nd to #
Chinese local Mandarins proceeded! against and punished. This is one of the additional clauses; to which the said Envoy instantly acceded, and is a sufficient proof, that those Barbarians will obey the laws of the Celestial Empire, and hotdare to yield to their passions and act wantonly be down
The paragraph, in which it was agreed upon, that the Consuls of the five ports, should at the end of each year, give a clear account of their vessels and cargoes to the respective governors and Lieut- Governors, to be transmitted for examination to the Board of Revenue, furnishes sufficient evidenco that the said Barbarians will in their commercial pursuits abide by their
From all these reports and the present state of There is one fact connected with this subject which should be well understood colonial Shantung, it is very apparent, that the country Governments have no power whatever of around the capital is in a very disturbed state, and taxing the colonists, unless the colony has an that the efforts to quell the ruffians have signally failed. Even the capital has not been free from elective Legislature. This is one of the many. laws, referring to her colonies, which alike oble, and though the account ntained in a shows the wisdom and the generosity of En-morial of censor Tungpaon and Registrar Hwantsantang is very imperfect, we still give gland. In the hand of any Governor, the the leading points... power of taxation would give him a fearful command over the people, and would lead at no distant period to a sacrifice of that splendid portion of the British empire which is desi gnated "the colomes, Wherever a colony!! ment of the police agent there were at that time be sold within three years, should, betrefunded. Possesses a constituency as in Canada, Ja- Rice, and New South Wales that colony was an electate Legislature, possessing powers of local taxation precisely similar to those of the house of commons, This is carrying out Blackstone's principle, that no man can be taxed except he is represented, with this dif ference that by a liberal interpretation of
4. Notwithstanding the abolition of the Hong system, and the optional commerce of the Barba- rian inerchant with every Chinese dealer the said Barbarian" Envoy, still requested that far darins should build warehouses for them.
b. The Barbarians are allowed to go to five ports only and not to any other places, but the said Barbarian Envoy wished to have permission, to China.
Blackstone, we should say it places the elec. ever these weapons could only be intended for trade with nations that were at war of at peace withị defraud, the Revenue. and are not willing
tive franchise in the hand of every man, which se would regret to see done,either in England or any of her colonies.
7. When foreign nations are engaged in strife, China has no means of restraining them; yet the Barbarian Envoy resquested, that an enemy pursu ing a merchant ship, the Central Empire ought to protect and aid them in attaching the same.
8. Foreign men-of-war ought to anchor qutside the port, but the said Barbarian Favoy would it, that on their arrival, mutual salates, as a token of honor, should be fired both from the forts as well as the vessel.
The capital is a place where people from all quarters assemble and therefore search ought from time to time be made after traitors! Even in the first year of Taoukwang, according to the state traitors, dear one of the gates. Very recently a number of vagabonds had assembled at the glass manufactories. When the police with a party of the military arrived on the spot, they found some bundles of arms, sprinkled with blood; but the culprits who were taken prisoners merely said, that they had been in the habit of making use of them, and would confess nothing more. As how- some murderous purpose, and the house, where the plotters assembled was close to the police station, 6,
6. The control of merchantmen, that have on the board of punishments is now to investigate tered a port an anchored, devolves upon the Con- this matter with great strictuess
SUL The said Barbarian Envoy However thought In Hongkong we have not a constituency fit
His Imperial Majesty has been pleased toit his duty to ask, that the Celestial Empire should to elect members of a Legislature; nor do we remit the taxes at all the places and districts exercise the whole power of protection and mana- believe there will ever be a sufficiency of Eu which last year suffered from the shortness of gement so that if accidentally any other nation. ropeans for that purpose. Were we to obtain crops. The utmost efforts to exact the revenue inflicted insult, China might be required to requite
were made, but failed totally, and the Court was this. an elective house of assembly to-morrow, re- stricted to Europeans, from our limited num- obliged to take credit by publishing a general re- ber, and the commanding influence of a few pittance on yellow paper, to exhibit the abounding houses, we would be kept in a state of turmoil compassion of the Great Emperor. The losses and agitation, to allay which, the elective pri- accruing to the Treasury are enormous, and can Were the at present not be made up in any way whatsoever, vilege would be gladly sacrificed.
There is morcover the defirit of this year, per- right of voting and sitting in the assembly ex-
haps the largest that occurred in this century, for tended to the Chinese, a fair proportion of the all the Governors and Lieut. Governors have disciples of Confucius would legislate for us: written to state, that the land revenue is short, and if they were a majority (a contingency for and cannot be collected as in years of yore. To which we may be prepared) we would probably make matters still worse, the grain junks on their soon have introduced some of those Celestial or
way up to the capital leaked, and great part of dinances which are peculiar to the flowery their cargoes-became wet, so that they must be land,"rivalling those of our late ordinance making sold instantly. All these circumstances combine Governor. But the idea of an election in Hong- to make this a very gloomy year, even in the kong is too absurd to be entertained. Before highest circles. In many districts the people
10. The Treaty is solely intended to promote another year passes over, we predict that His have offered open resistance to the tax gatherers,and Excellency well be instructed to call into Co. Government has not been strong enough to enharmony and friendship and to remove points of uncil with him, four to six. members of the coin-force its claims. Something however must be altercation before hand; but the said Barbarian done to relieve the immediate necessities of the Envoy, would have it, that when the two nations This munity unconnected with Government. will be the form of Legislature best suited to state, for the never failing expedient of selling of were at war, the removal and return of their mer
Fnder these fina, ehauts, for avoiding calamity, ought still to be the colony.
Their duties will consist of form-fices has also proved abortivo.
nicial difficulties which to an individual as well as mitted. ing laws, and regulations for protecting, or to a state are equally irksome, the advisors of rather encouraging commerce; but the power Tankwang found their future hopes upon fining of taxation will continue vested in the British their fellow officers, and for that purpose a series Government, at least until the colony is fit to of bye laws are now to be put in force, which must receive elective privilege, and that is a day involve some one or the other in an act of delin- too distant for contemplation,
quency. These wise heads. entertain not the It is by no means improbable that after the slightest apprehension, that the Mandarins will streets, roads, drains &c. are completed, a surt refund their losses by squeezing the people, and that this will again causefa reaction, but are quite of municipal corporation will be offered, or certain of the efficacy of their panacea. In the forced upon us. The inhabitants may have a
mean time many civilians are already in prison for town council, elected by themselves, with po debts to the exchequer, and Government has de wer to make and enforce municipal regulations, clared, that if they do not discharge within a They will have the assessed taxes entrusted given time their arrears, they shall lose their si to them, and out of these taxes they will be re-tuations. Some of the defaulters have assured quired to pay the expences of the police esta- blishment, repairing roads &c., The police will be under the control of this body, and in short they will have the powers of other mu- nicipal bodies, even to that of taxation for mu- nicipal purposes; and should their revenue fall short of the expenditure, they will make use of that power in a perfectly legitimate manner-
If our views on this subject are correct, we need have no apprehensions of Legislative tax- ation; though it is possible, when the revenue and expenditure of the colony are ascertained, that an Order in Council will assess house pro- perty to a moderate extent. Whether the home Government will give the town a corporation, without granting the inhabitants representa tives, is doubtful and the advantages to be do rived from the services of such a body is ques- tionable. The majority, of the limited number of our inhabitants, are too much occupied with extensive mercantile operations, to give any share of their attention to the comparatively insignificant though highly important-duties of a town Council.
In this, as in every other community, there are those amongt us who, would object to taxation in any form. but they are neither the most numerous, nor the most influential part of the community. The public have been indignate at the apathetic indifference with which our late ruler, neglected those public improvements, which health and comfort alike required, but now they are going on rapiddly, and when completed any reasonable assessment for keeping them in repair will be met cheer- fully.
Tranlations from the Pekin Gazelle, and of Chinese official documents.
their superiors, that they could not, even if they saved every farthing for the whole time of their natural life, satisfy the demande of Government. The simple reply is, that they shall not leave the prison.
9. The official correspondence ought to be re ecived and severally examined by the nearest Go vernor and Lieut. Governors, the sail Barbarian envoy nevertheless requested, that the states papers of their country, should pass either through the Cabinet of the Capital or the Supreme Boards,
per-
Many of the items present obstacles -or can scarcely be carried into effect, or would constitute abuses, others are mere trifles, or erroneous views, with quite a sufficient variety of gain seeking and cunning designs. Your slave therefore directed Hwang gantung and the deputies, to reject one by one each article, and not in the most distant man. her accede to them. At most some points have beett more than a thousand, at least others five or six times discussed. It was than, that the said Bar barian Envoy submitted to reason, and being at a loss for what to say was willing and agreed to have (the objectionable clauses) expunged.
About eight tenths of all the trading regulations, now established, agree with the recent stipulations of last year."
(Exceptions are :).
When a vessel has paid the tonnage dues, but is not able to dispose (of her Cargo) she may The Chin kenng-foo gentry who saw part of go to another port, without being obliged to pay the wall of their city blown up by the English, again port dues. have repaired the breach by joint subscription, and. If a merchantman has anchored in a harbour, the most zealous in this work are to receive pecu- but not yet broken bulic and wishes, within the liar marks of the Imperial pleasure by being allow space of two days to proceed to another Emporium, ed to wear badge of rank,s
she will pay no tonnage dues.
From sundry parts of the Empire well authen- ticated reports of the damage done by the rain constantly arrive. The province where the im perial residence is fixed, is by no means excepted, The water broke through a dyke, doing great injury, so as to occasion a vote of several ten thousand taels to reduce it to its former channel, The Governor Naneking, a Tartar as well as the nearest local Mandarins are made responsible, and will have to pay towards the repairs. The former has in the meanwhile been two steps degraded, though a personal friend of the Emperor's, and will no doubt do his best to re-construct what the elements have ruined. ·
- A junk, that lately came from Formosa, states, that the insurrection on that island is not yet quelled, and that the people are still in arms against the Mandarins.
CONCLUDING REemarks or KevING RESPECTING THE AMERICAN TREATY, IN HIS MEMORIAL.
TO THE TURONE.
The original copy of the Treaty, presented by the said Barbarian Eavoy, contained 47 stipula tions. Of these some were difficult of execution, others foolish demands, whilst several of the most important points of the treaty were omitted. on the list. The sense of it was moreover, so meanly and coarsely expressed, the words and sentences were so obscure, and there was such a variety of errors, that it was next to impossible to point them out.
Your slave Keying therefore directed the Tres surer Hwang, and all the deputed Mandarins, to hold interviews with (the American Envoy) for days together, to discuss the matters verbally, and severally decide what stipulation ought to be grant- ed or rescinded, lessened or increased. Thus 34 regulations were agreed on
The robberies, according to the report made by the Governor of Chihle, having increased to a con- siderable degree, more vigorous measures are now proposed. It is very evident, that the police has not only treated these marauders with liniency, but also combined to aid in their nefarious prace fices. Such was the statement of a graduate who purposely repaired to Peking to put the Govern ment in possession of all details. Instead how.
We clearly pointed out whatever was compre, ever of receiving any reward or praise for bis hensible to reason, in order to dispel their stupid loyalty, he was suspected of having joined the as-ishorance, and to put a stop to (delusive) hopes, sociation, and no effective measures were taken to whilst expatiating with strictness upon the most suppress the daring of the outlaws. A similar re- binding of the statutes, we were obliged to polish port was forwarded to the cabinet by the famous those passages which were scarcely intelligible, so Hegan who is now again raised to the general as to render the sense somewhat more obvious, in ship of Leaonfung, which is one if the most trust order to remore all ambiguity and only after four worthy employments to which any Mantchoo can timesaltering the copies, we adopted (the paper.) attain. He describes the evils which oppressed the Amongst the original paragraphs of the said country, in vers vivid colours, and complains also Envoy, it would appear that there were ten, which about Chinese squatters, who have taken possesit was impossible to grant, although the demand sion of a great deal of territory. To remedy the was made with firmness. prevailing disorders, he begs, that able officers
1. Whenever the Consuls of the various ports
The said Barbarian Envoy would agree to all the particulars of the tariff established last year, but merely remarked, that lead was a product of their country, and that it was certainly exorbitant, that it should pay 4 mace duty, which is three times more than iron pays, and therefore proposed a reduction. Your Slavo taking into consideration, that foreign lent is not a staple article, and that his request is reasonablu, lowered the duty there- fore 1 mace 2 candarecu per pecn, to which the said Barbarian Envoy instantly shewed obedience.
Whilst respectfully forwarding the memorial, we subjoin this provisions of this treaty agreed upon, with an accurate explanation of all the par ticulars.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENDE.
ARRIVED. Novemven 2-Mermaid, Gill, Manila at Macao.
6-Sidney, Scholefield, Shanghai. 6-Mayurem Duyarem, Piddicombe, Whampoa. 7--Thomas Crisp, Metcalf, Shanghai. 7--Osprey, Hunt, Macao,
SAILED. NovemOur 6-Good Success, Leslie, Bombay.
6-Jolin. (Swed), Osterberg, Whampoa, 6-Lady Adams, Hale, Manila,
-Duilius, Underhill, Whampoa.
Thomas Crisp, Metcalf, Macao. 7-Posthumous, Milner, Singapura.; 7—Buckinghamshire, Bombay.
UNDER DESPATCH.
For Bombay Mor, Earl of Balcarras.
·Corcyra, and Curseljce Corasjee. Singapore and Culcatta Edmonstone Rustomjee Cowasjec, Sulimany, Cowasjce Family, Resolution and Red Rover.
England, Hindustan, Persia, Aden, Castle Eden, Euphrates, John, O' Gaunt, Mercury, and Uruguay.
Madras, Defiance.
Manila H. M. T. S. Aligator, Singapore, Cacique, South Seas, Lady Leith, Sydney, Spy.
"Now York, Oncidd
Siam, Mayarem Dayaren
Manila and Van Diemens Land, Osprey, Chusan and Shanghai, Kelpie.
Passengers per Valparaiso from New York Rev. Dr. Devan and lady, American missionaries for Hongkong.
The Sidney from Chusan November 1st Jolt there the Ariel and H. M. S. Agthcourt, Vixen, Wolfe, und H.MT. S. Sapphire, spoke on Hatinst, beig Harlequin off Kito Point and the brg Amelia
Gorwghs Passage on the same day. Passenger per Buckinghamshire for Bombay.
in
3. When a merchantman has entered the port, paid the whole of the duties, and wishes to proceed with the landed goods to another port, to sell the same, she is exempted from paying tonnage. dues, W. Dale Esq. and duties, a second time.
Passenger per Thomas Crisp Lenox Esq. These are some slight changes in the regulations Passenger per Sidney, I. P. Livingstone Esq, of last year. But the circumstances of the times Passengers per Mermaid from Manila Mr. and of yore, when there was only one mart viz: Canton Mrs. Stanton sailed from. Manila on 2nd October open, differ from the present, when trade to five in company with the "Antony Anderson" experien, Emporiums is permitted. The said Barbarians there.ced a heavy gale of wind on 24th and 25th lost fore will, whenever there is no demand for goods fore top mast, the latter lost Fore Yard, Fore Top in one port, sell them at another, for this is the Sail ditto Jib-boom and several sails and sprung the unvarying conduct of speculators, and it would main Yard. Passengers on board Mr. Anthony not be right to restrain them, nor would it be pro- Anderson and Mrs. King. per, that after having paid the duties and port dues, to levy them a second time. In order therefore, to meet the spirit of commerce, we ought to make conditionally some alterations, and still go on making strict inquires, to obviate abuses.
1. At the ports where they trade, we allow them to rent ground for erecting themselves chapels, and for a burial place.
2. They also requested, that Scholars of the Central Empire should teach them their native language, and assist then in their literary labours, as well as to buy all kinds of Chinese books.
Your Slave refused this at first to them, but the said Barbarian Envoy again remarked, that the Portugese at Macao as well as the English at Hongkong could both build chapels and choose a burial place, so that the living might sow the seeds of their happiness, and the dead hide their bones somewhere. At tho commencement few of their Countrymen came to China, and did not dare to ask the grant of a burial place, and it would be putting them into the back ground, if they were at this time not permitted to rent grounds for these establishments, spent de
As for the request to allow Chinese scholars to buy books, this was an old affair, and they there- fore requested, to enter it amongst the provisions of the Treats, and words to that effect.
It appears on re-consideration, that the said Bar- barians themselves reat the ground for the burial place and for building chapels, and it would not be right to refuse this daily and obstinately. Still we must distinctly explain the prohibitions, that they do not forcibly rent, and nahlessly take possession, in defiance of the peculiarity of circumstances. If the geatry and people are indeed unwilling, the said Barbarians will have no further pretence.
We have no means di asczisining whether it has always been the case, that scholars bought books
The Muric from Singapore arrived in this port on 2nd Inst. with nineteen Chinese passengers on board. Experienced a severe hurricane on the 18th 19th and part of 20thrulto. from W. N. W. to W. S.-W. Barometer fell to 28' 90 lost suit of saila blown from the Yards, Jib and Flying Jib bonms main topmast and overal other damages, a heavy sea broke over the quarter on the second, day "nit washed away the Binnacle, skylights. &c. three feet water in the hold. Also on the 25th another gale from West to S. W, which nearly disabled her, all her rigging foreward being gone and on the âlst when crossing from Laconia to Flong. long with a strong wind and heavy sea found in consequence of her previous straining that there was 3 feet Water in the hold and that the Pumps were insufficient, had to throw overboard about a hundred Bags of Saltpetre and Betel Nut. ***?
The Kestrel from Bally fell in with a heavy gals of wind in Lat.9° 45 N. and Long. 133-30 E. on the 21st and 22nd. October, the gale com- menced at E. N. E wore round to the westward and ended at S. W. Cut away Spars Sails &c. and received other damages.
Passengers per Clarissa fröm Calcutta arrived bofe on 2nd Inst.-Calder Esq. Experienced two severe gales first on 18th and 19th Ult, in Lat. 130-45' N. Long, 1150 30' E. Barometer 290 40'.
Second gale on 24th and 25th in Lat. 190 N. and Long 110 E. Barometer ranging 20 25 the gale commenced at N. N. W. Shifted to the Wes- teward and 5. W. threw a portion of the cargo overboard, sprung main mast and Bowsprit lost sails bunte co, and carried away the Bulwarks &c..
Passenger per Swedish Brigantine Bull T Shellaback Esq. reports having been to the south Sea Islands and that a schooner had been taken by Pirates the Crew not hurt but the Captain and One passenger missing.