786
ORIGINAL GORRESPONDENCE.
To the Editor of the Friend of China..
Victoria, 4th April, 1845. SIR,-Since I last addressed you, the Chief Magis- trate has been diligently enquiring into the conduct of the police with reference to the tax laid upon the frail sisterhood, and until the result is before the public through the columns of the government paper,
I deem it proper to be silent on that subject, congratulating myself, however, on boving brought what I consider a system of hidden extortion to light.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
departure has been accelerated by the news from Amoy and in consequence of the Vixen's bearing up for Hongkong."
crimes which according to our moral code may in and about the capital, Victoria, appear to be be of an aggravated nature, by them, may be entirely neglected by Government; and, though considered "trivial. It also, at times, may be there may be something naturally unhealthy in necessary to mete out justice in accordance the focality, there cannot be a doubt that draining, with the peculiar state of the colony, and in and a proper attention to the removing of carrion proportion to the offences committed by indi- and other filth, would materially diminish the sick- viduals according to the laws of their own
ness which has been so prevalent and fatal in country; but in no instance will the punish Kongkong. What is said by the Gazette respect- ments, or tortures, of the Chinese governmenting the health of the troops induces us to suspect be inflicted in this colony. Mercy requires that that a few lessons from our friend "the Grumbler” would not be wasted on the inilitary authorities the semi-barbarous race who are domiciled there, The great difficulty to be encountered in upon this island, should not invariably be tried the extending of our trade with China appears to
market. "The great disparity between the amount of exports and imports," the Hongkong Garette is of opinion, will prevent any great improvement in the rates of exchange at Hongkong. At Shangha the exports yet are quite limited." At Foochow foo nothing is known of the produce that will be brought forward for safe." At Amoy, Chusan ant Ningpo "the increased demand for manufactures is unquestionable, but the want of an export to counterbalance this additional import is severely felt." The Hongkong Guzette appears to be of opinion that the admission of free labour Bugar but confesses that of the capability of China to into Great Britain may supply this desideration, export any considerable quantity of sugar at a reasonable price nothing is known. The Gazette appears to forget that China is, to a great extent, a sugar importing country. Some important remarks will be found among our Hongkong extracts relative to the arbitrary and unconstitutional restrictions bail upon British mercantile shipping by the late Governor of the Colony, and continued by the prosent. These, together with the check upon the coasting trade by the mysterious un interpreted treaty, must check, in a great measure, the rapid progress longkong would otherwise But it is vain to look for redress to the Colonial-office.
Our Indian contemporary the Englishman, has taken upon himself the Herculean task of exposing, or pointing out the objectionable measures of the past and present governments of Hongkong. It is gratifying to find that our elder brethern in the east are thus exhibiting I am surprised that neither you nor the other local an interest in the well being of the young papers, have teken any notice of the names which have -been recently bestowed upon our streetst surely this is colony, and it is to be hoped that from the by laws of which they are comparatively be the finding of articles of export for the British
not a subject beneath the observation of the press-it is Englishman's established reputation, and ex-ignorant; Justice also requires that in some one I assure you that. I feel a deep interest in, having tensiv ecirculation in Europe as well as in cases, their own laws, with which they are ac- often noted in older colonies, with what pleasure a re. India, his labour will not be altogether un-quainted, should be referred to, and brought to membrance of the mighty dead is recalled when we hear availing Concurring with our contemporary bear upon peculiar offences. We are told of Pitt Street, l'ox Street, George's Street, Chatham in the sentiments he expresses, upon some sub that this clause is disgraceful to Her Majesty's Street, or others, honoured by the names they bear.
The streets of Victoria have very properly been jects of local importance, we most essentially Plenipotentiary and the Legislative Council of named after those who will pass down to posterity in differ from him in others, and without arrogat. Hongkong." Such may be the opinion of connection with the late war with China, or after the ing to ourselves the duty of setting him right the talented Editor, who rites so fluently leading members of Her Majesty's government; thus we have Pottinger Street, Gough Street, and Caine Street, upon points, where be may consider hun- upon a subject which he evidently does not un⚫ (but why not Parker Street and Saltoun Street?) of self better qualified to form an opinion, than derstand; but such will not be the opinion of the one class, and Wellington Street, Aberdeen Street, wo are to give him advice, we at the same time Lord Stanley whose sentiments upon this im- Peel Street, Graham Street & Stanley Street of the other with the advantages of that local knowledge portant point, are well known to those who All these are names known to the world, or deeply from which he is debarred, and opportunities for have given any share of their attention to co connected with the earliest days of the colony, and observing the working of certain measures lonial affairs. therefore they are in perfectly good taste, but which he can only know from hearsay, do not The limitation of the Jury to six, in Criminal Mr. Editor, judge of my astonishment to observe Cochrane Street stuck up on a corner near the centre of hesitate frankly to state our believe, that on the town!!! Surely this must be an April fools j.ke; more than one point the Englishman has taken cases, is also objected to by our Indian con temporary, The objection we look upon as who is the Cochrane thus fumortalised? Can up a false position. He appears, creese in hand, a frivolous one, In the first place, from to be running a muck after the Malay fashion: the few European inhabitants (civilians un China when the war was over? I sincerely trust not, and it is to feared that this indiscriminate slash connected with government) were the usual as I assure you that, I would just is lief see among the names of our thoroughfares those of Woosnam oring of the good and of the bad, will in no small nuinber of twelve required it would bear heavily Burgass. It may be that the honour was intended for degree neutralize the benefits that Hongkong upon the time of those who are qualified to the celebrated Lord Cochrane, now Earl of Dundonald, might have derived from his labours, had hesit as Jurymen; and in the second place we but if so, why not call it Dundonald Street? Can exhibited more prudence in his strictures, you throw any light on this subject? I am. Dear Sir,
Your obt. Servant.
he be the Rear Adiniral of that name who was sent to
་
cannot perocive any reason, why six unpic. judiced men, are not quite as well qualified to return a verdict, upon the evidence taid before them, as twelve would be. It is true, that at home, twelve is the legal number, and with an abundant population the tax upon their time is light, here it would be oppressivo, and it is quite uncalled for.
ko. AN ENGLISHMAN. NOTE.-We presume the strect in question, has received the patronymic of the Rear Admiral now in command of the fleet in China, and not that of the champion of South America liberty, the gallant Earl of Dundonald.-ft in.tters very little, how. ever; posterity will only know one Cochrane, and though his fame is not immediately connected with China, the street will ever be associated with the memory of one of the bravest men in the British Nary.--Lord Cochrane, now Earl of Dundonald.
EDITOR F. OF C.
17
8 N N N 2 & 3
29 Sat,
30 Sun
NO NO NO NEES
27 Thurs. 29 69 71 67 68,5
.E.
modt.
28 Fri
29 83 66
Gusiy.
Rain.
29 94 56 | 48 51,1
Why.
Rain
moit.
Bain, dull.
22 8
METEOROLOGICAL TABLE FROM 21rn TO 30TE MARCH, 1865. Fare Watter Winds.
Month Month Week. Day of
Chinese day Day of
Barometer
Mean
24 Mon. 2076
25 Tuss. 29 68
Mat Min Mean. Thermometer.
68 66 66,8
70. 6667,6 day light
Remarks.
daught
---
Bar. Steady. Furious gusts dg, night furious gats from Steady. Rain during sight Bar Bar. Steady. Winds throughout a wa
<SE. & SW with continued rain. Evening 6ne sereno. wind Ely modt madt: coming in strong gusts from During the day sudden shifts of W at times
Rain at times dull through out.
NOTICE.
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LATEST DATES.
Dec. 7 SINGAPORE Mar. 6 Nov.
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15
Feby. SHANGHAI
19 Jan, 16 Facuow-Foo Jany. 29 Jan.
AMOY
Feby. Feb. 12
THE FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH, 1945.
The Courts, have now been openskfor shine months, for the trial of both civil and criminal cases. also for cases under the summary juris diction. The proceedings are open to the stric, tures of the press as well as of those wie have had a personal interest in thein, and were these courts, such as the Englishman would make his readers believe, he may rely upon it that, the three local papers would not be "silent; he may further rely upon it that, if they did so far forget their duty to the public, that public would fot, forget the duty it owes to itself.
We have inserted in another part of this day's publication some remarks on the frequent piracies in the witors of China fom the Hongkong Gazette, and we have appended to then a more particular account of Sir Edward Belcher's rencontre with pirates of the cost of Cilole than we have els the Philippines and new fiuinea, and from the south where met with. From the Straits of Malacca to
coast of Guinea to the Tenimber Islands, pitney is the profession of a large portion of the natives would be a noble undertaking on the part of Eng-- Tal and Holland-the only two real European powers in those waters-to combine to organize a permanent system of aggression on the pirat sanık piracy of the Eastern Archipelago until they were suppresse.l. The extension of colonisation by both powers would be the best basis of an offective plan of operations.
The Englishman animadverts severely upon the ordinance establishing our Supreme Court of Judicature, and appears to think that in lieu of the established laws of England, which are alienable to every subject who enjoys the por tection of the flag, "a simple system of civil law would be quite sufficient as far as it af- fected the Europeans, and that it would be "more desirable with regard to the Chinese." Such is the opinion of a leading Indian paper, but God forbid that we should ever have the simple form of justice be advocates introduced in Hongkong, We have had such simple courts, and such simple law long enough--at least so long that people would submit to be defrauded, rather than incur the certain expence of an appeal to this simple court, on the very uncer tain chance of having a sound legal decision. We have seen a military Governor and a mili- tary Lieutenant Governor sitting on the bench (one of them in full uniform) deciding upon cases of life and death--and this we were told was done by the civil law.-One poor wretch -ignorant of our language and without the benefit of legal advice was condemned to death-they had not the cruelty to hang him it is true--and this absurd piece of legal parado, the Englisman would term a simple system-- simple enough truly, and quite in consonance with the ideas of civil law which an eastern soldier may entertain, but widely different from those which control British colonial in-disable to themselves nor profitable to their country.et I." the inhabitants of Victoria are promised
terests.
There are cases every where, upon which there may be differences of opinion.
His Honour, the Chief Justice, labours under one disadvantage-he has no other Judge to con- sult with upon difficult points, but we firmly believe, that in most instances the criminal will derive the benefits of doubt that may exist.
any
(Frm the Colonial Gazette, November 16)
BRITISH DIPLOMACY IN THE FAR EAST,
The services of British diplomatic fictionaries. in the East seem to have been of late neither cre-
We have ou a former occasion directed atten ion The Englishman observes with "surprise to the doubts which have been raised respecting and regret
"that the proposed law reforms of the fidelity of the English version of the treaty England have not been introduced at Hong with China. From the remarks on that document, kong, as it would be easy and desirable to which we subjoin from the Hongkong Guzette, it prove the theories which have found favor with appears that the incorrect and mutilated official law reformers." We also differ from our con- translation of the supplementary treaty has enabled temporary in this opinion. Hongkong does not the Chinese to crush any attempt to establish a require to be made the field for testing new coasting trade from Hongkong. It is to be hoped theories; when reforms are made in English that not a moment will be lost after the assembling laws, or in the mode of administering them, of Parliament to institute a rigorous inquiry into then we shall participate in the advantages, or the truth of these allegations, and, if they are made.
good, to demand the disgrace of the incompetent, have to share the evils with our countrymen or the punishment of the treacherous official tran elsewhere, but in the meantime, all we require slator.
As a pendant to this official translation of
law as expeditiously and economically as cirtion of Mr. Dandeson Coates's pet treaty of cumstance will adtuit.
We are no enti-Waitangi, with a liberal translation of the "Maori" tled to the full benefits of these laws, faulty as of that ineffable document in parallel columns. In they may be in the eyes of our contemporary, the negotiation of that subline budesque upon and we challenge him to prove the reverse; treaties, Capt. Hobson put himself into the hand of the regular courts, as now formed are not half so expensive as the old simple court, and we also challenge him to prove the inaccuracy of this assertion. The duties of a Chief Justice are by no means light; for civil, and for criminal cases, he holds four distinct terms of court anually; he also holds a small debt court for, summary decisions where the sum does
7
Act III."
THEATRICALS IN THE Hoxeroxo, The Amateurs of theatrical amusements in Hongkong are to be envied for the variety pre sented to them in the course of an evening. The amusements are polyglot. Signor Dulle Casse", Jessee of the Victoria Theater, who modestly promises that he pledges himself to produce, to the utmost of his ability, every entertainment that his limited company can perform," announces a performance in five acts, with an after-piere. In tightrope dancing, in all its variety, by the young Ladies, Anna, and Emilie." The Signorina Anna, we are informed, "will, on this occasion, sit at table on the tight rope, and eat and drink, balancing the table, with bottles and glasses, the chair, and herself. Act 11" consists of Grand Halan duet, Povero Giovine' by Signorina Emilie and Signor Dalle Casse, with music accompaniment." is the Spanish dance, entitled Fandango," by Signorino Emilie "Act IV Grand Portuguese duct, Adeos Senhora que eu parto," by Signorini And Act V." Emilie and Signor Dalie Case." presents "Grotesque dance on stilts. by Signorint Anna and Emilie." The only performer in the.
Gertrude, aged 25. Of this amiable lady it is said that, after exhibiting different actions, she will sit on a chair at table, will eat and drink, use spoons, knives and forks, wipe her mouth, with a towel, open a bottle of wine, and drink the health of the audience; smoke cigars and drink wine till she breames joense.". At the bottom of the bill is a N. B.," in inating that "there will be no tumbling on this occasion," which is possibly the reason why the Signorina Anna does not, like Miss Gertrude, carry her drinking the length of becoming “jucose," That may be done with comparative impunity on the foor, but on the tight rope it might be perilous. Really, for so young a colony, Hongkong is advancing we question whether any of our obler colonies could rival its theatrical performances.
is constitutional law, and a dispensation of that the Chinese treaty we reprint the official transla afterpiece is the great Ourang-Outang, named
But
APRIL-
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE
ARRIVED,
2-Eliza, Paterson, Colombo. 2-Constant, Henery, Madras, 2-Nansburgh, Haberbeir, Bally. 4-Red Rover, McMurdo, Macao,
SAILED.
1-Cucique, Eldred, Whampoa. 1-Emu, Smith, Whampoa. 1- Pantaloon, Porter, Whampoa. 1 - Warlock, Jauncy, Whampoa. 3-Red Roter, McMurdo, Macio.
APRIL
the missionaries, to whom Mr. Busny, the "British resident" in New Zealand, was "accredited" by the British Government.
These reverend land- sharks appear to have treated Captain Houso exactly as any man deserved to be treated wlio was simple enough to place himself in their power. They affected to translate the legal technicalities of his treaty into the language of the New Zeal anders, and, finding no words in it for the purpose not amount to more than $100. The latter
they manufactured a language for the nonce, after court, usually we believe termed a court of the fashion of Geonos PSALMANAZAR. The chiefs requests having a separate Magistrate, is a assembled at Waitangi, and their missionary con- cheap and equitable tribunal-one where petty federates, deserve infinite credit for the way in cases are legally und equitably settled at once, which they kept their countenance while playing and for a mere trifle,-I we remember off this hoax on the credulous Governor. aright among the favorite law reforms, one is are we to be told that this miserable delusion is to to increase the amount of small debt cases to be hinding upon the British Crown! The Crown's £20 or £30; we have thus already derived right of sovereignty in New Zealan I does not rest the full benefits of one legal reform, without upon that treaty. The Southern Island, and the There has been no further intelligence receiv however encroaching upon the principles of whole of the Northern Island south of the Thames, ed from Amoy. The Fixen returned to this har-English law, which it is to be hoped will ever was taken possession of in the name of the British Crown independently of-without reference to- bour on Wednesday; on Tuesday when within remain inviolate in this colony. ninety miles of Amoy she broke some important The most extraordinary objection put forth that treaty. The treaty is in itself meaningles, part of her machinery, which compelled her to by the Englishman is to that clause of the ordi. and only serves as a pretest for lay and missionary bear up for this place for repairs, and it is nance which enacts that, the laws of England and sharks to deny the right which, by the mere questionable whether she will not require to shall be in full force in Hongkong, with the ex-sumption of sovereignty, vests in the Crows to all the waste-i, e, ownerless-Lands of New Zal-
- Flying Squirrel, Young, Sing, & Sydney, proceed to India for that purpose. The arrival ception that in criminal proceedings against na-
and.
→Spec, →→→ Whampoa. of H. M. S. Sumarang, Captain Sir Edwardtives of China it shallto a certain extent be lawful
in 85 days, Report of the Dunsburgh from Bally Belcher, has added to the strength of the avail to try the criminals by the laws of China. The
We have received our file of the Hongkong the 15th of March in Lat. 96° 20′ North, able fleet in the China seas, which at present Englishman appears to think that this is made Cosette for the month of July. We have endeavour Long. 129% 20 East, spoke the irons Barque consists of H. M. Ships Castor, Iris and an excuse for introducing the cruel punishmentsed to make such selections from these papers as Bichard Cubien from Liverpool to Chuan. –The Samarang with the Hon. Company's Steamer of China, and that the clause is opposed to the will convey to our readers a notion of the progress: Richard Cebulea sailed from Cork 21st October, Medusa. Of the other ships of the squadron, usual mode of dealing with the aborigines of and prospects of the colony. The first relation Rio de Janeiro 25th Dec. and Copang, Island of the Wolf has gone to Calcutta with freight, the British colonies. Nothing can be more op that obtrades itself is that, notwithstanding all the Timor, on the 4th of March.. Agincourt to Singapore with freight, and the posed to the truth than such an opinion. It talk in which state men of both parties indulge,
MANILA SHIPPING. Vestal to Madras for repairs (new lower is an invariable rule with Her Majesty's Secre- Hongkong, our English station on the coast of rigging.)
taries for the colonies in their communications China-the point d'appui of our commerce in the
ARRIVALA March 8th Barque Samue1 Ander- -in 55 days, and the Brig Sarah, train with colonial governments upon this point, to parts open to us in the Chinese empire is left by som from instruct them, that in dealing with the natives, the Colonial office to get along as well as it can, Hongkong in 9 days; 9th Ship Semiramis from they must bear in remembrance, that they are in just like other colonies. The offer is impartial Macho in 10 days; 11th H.M.S. Samarang from in 11 days; 14th Banque Cecilia (French) a great degree ignorant of our laws, and that in its anti-colonial spirit. The streets and roads
The Iris, Capt. Mundy, sails for the "north to. day (Saturday) or to-morrow. The Comman- der of the forces, visits the northern ports with and will return in the Iris; and we hear that her
:
1 --Harlequin. Morris, Macao.