$20
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
t
To the Editor of the Friend of China.
Juno, 12th 1845.
DEAR SIRAs I am residing at some distance from Vic prin, it is entirely out of my power to call on you at pent, or it would have given my much pleasure to comply with your request. I fear that your durmiers as to my Scotch Orthography are correct and that some of the words are written erroneously; for instance I have spelled Wight, as Wicht," "Might" Micht," using the letter C in place of G. "Wud? I think also, ought to be either "Wad" or
Would By copy of the "Langs" have been mielaid and I make the above corrections from memory. It is so many years since I left the "Land 'cakes," that I find I have almost forgotton my "Vernacular," but as I have unwitting ly, as it appears, plunged your printer's devil into a Scotch mist, I send by way of compensation the following Vorses, Flothed in an English Gars, and which I trust will be found worthy of Receptation.
am Dear Sir,
Very truly your's
4.
moderate.
Į SWORE FOR THE SEX I WOULD DIE, When first on life's stage I began to appear,
Aad at Ladies to ogle and High, Bewitch'd with the aniles of each lot ly dear,
I swore for the Sex I would die,- With repture Igaz'd on ench fair parjan brow,
Rosy check and bright sparkling eye, And by soft dimpl'd chins, and Swan necks of snow,
I swore for the Sex I would die.
From beauty's sweet Up, 1 with ecstasy sipp'd,
The nectar that there seemed to lie,
And by each sylph-like form that sportivly tripped,
I swore for the Sex I would die.
When with ardour I've knelt, in pressing my suit,
The fair Maid looking bushful and shy
if I caught hat a glimpse of her dear little foot,
I swore for the Sex I would die.
But thou wert the fairest of flowers Isadore !
That ever in beauty did vie
+
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
Unintimidated by the notorious branding and mutilating act-No. 1 of 1845-the Masonic brethren in Hongkong have obtained a charter, and formed in the colony a new lodge, named the Royal Sussex Lodge." The "Royal Sussex" promises to be a strong and highly respectable lodge. It already has enrolled the names of many influential members of the com- munity, and it is not to be doubted that here as elsewhere, the benevolent intentions of masonry will be carried into active operation by the Worshipiul Master and Wardens.
tages of no ordinary magnitude the whole mind requires to be recast, and the ideas re- modeled.
Our attention has freq uently been direct- ed to the
manner in which some of our young bloods are pleased to display their equestrian accomplishments in the most crowd- ed parts of the town, to their own infinite de- light it may be, but certainly to the imminent personal danger of those who may wish to enjoy a quiet walk-in the cool of the evening. From their position in society, as well as from We have long delayed taking notice of this the ample means at their disposal, there is no nuisance, in hopes that others would impress portion of the wide spread domains of England, upon those amateur riders that, in the enjoyment where in an equally limited community, the of that, which to many of them is evidently a same material is to be found for the formation novel exercise, there are certain decent obser- of benevolent and charitable institutions, and in vances of society, which must not be overlook. most cordially wishing prosperity to the "Sused;or if they are overlooked that there is a police sex Lodge" we would express a hope, that to protect the community from theseJohnGilpin though first, it will not be the only institution like exhibitions. In this, however, we have been which can claim a purely colonial parentage. We disappointed. At the very time the streets are hope to see the Merchants Seaman's Hospital, most crowded, there are they, riding their tits the benevolent intentions of which, through helter skelter, three or four abreast,no man say- some inexplicable neglect, have been comple-ing them nay. This appears to be a growing tely frustrated, rescued from those who now evil, and we are aware that in more than one control it, and made in reality what it is instance people have been trodden down and but nominally, a Hospital for the relief of seriously injured our inpression is that at distressed seaman and others, who may not be least one Chinaman died of wounds sustained in circumstances to pay for medical attendance, from the very culpable carelessness of the also for the other expences incident to sickness. person who rode over him. A large sun: of money was granted for the en- dowment of the Merchant Seaman's Hospital, a site was granted by Sir Henry Pottinger or
When I told of the love which towards thee I bore, Captain Elliot, but the whole institution, build-upon the limited boundaries afforded for taking
I swore for the Sex I would die.
Years hare rolld on, and beautys bright charm.
Hath long cona'd to 'excite a sigh,
I swore for the Sex I would dic,
A.
We would most earnestly direct the at- tention of the Chief Magistrate to this nuisance, for through we would be the last to enroach ing, funds, control and patronage, have been necessary exercise, we opine that the comforts jobbed away to the colonial government and it of the many are not be sacrificed to the wild is fast sinking into decay. We will refer to enjoyments of the few, At home, in places of And those days are gone, when with love broiling warm, this subject at greater length, in the meantime public resort, were people, caught racing, or we would again express our best wishes towards lashing their horses like drunken clodpoles at a the "Sussex Lodge" and towards the gentle country fair, they would not only be laughed men through whose agency it has been called at by those who knew what is due to society, into being,
but they would very soon be in custody of the police. The Chief Magistrate might charitable The United States frigate Constitution, Com-hint to these youths, that when Gentlemen modore Percival, has arrived at Macao from In- «a riding go they ride quietly (unless in a dia. The Constitution is a favorite old ship, cele hunting field) or if they wish for a short gallop brated in American naval warfare. In 1812, they choose a part of the road where they during the war with England, she captured, disturb no one-but to gallop through streets, and afterwards burned, the British frigate Guer- or crowded avenues, is the sure sign a low riere of 36 guns; and the same year she cap-bred person. tured and sunk, the Java also an old 36..
6
STOVAL
ގ
Mon.
9
6
Tur
Wed. 11 29 87 86. 82:
84
8
10
H
Fri.
Sun.
12 20 78 87 82 85
13 20
779 89 82 | 84,2
142971| 90 || 84 | 87
15 29 72,2 89,84 | 86,2 N. NE
10 29 78 87 83 84
Chines day of
Month.
Max Min Mean.
85
དྩོ
urkibb
Elv.
Doderate.
Sly.
The
Do.
Do.
Do.
moderate
My.--
modernte.
9. Ely.
Fine elcar,
Fore part fine clear; later. dull puffy.
Fine clear.
NOTICE.
of
Day
VECTORIA,
HONGKONG,
Thermometer METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER FOR THE WEEK ENDING, H7 JUNE, 1845.
Hance
Meno
week. afonth of Barometer.
Wizde
Kore. Loner.
REMAGES.
Pluviomr. Inches.
New advertisements, will be received, until 4 O'Clock, on the evenings previous to publi- cation, viz: Tuesdays and Fridays.
LATEST DATES. ENGLAND
Mar. 21 SINGAPORE UNITED STATES Feb. t CALCUTTA May. 10.
BOMBAY
SYDNEY
MADRAS
BATAVIA
May, 22 MANILA April. 3 CHUSAN • May, 17 SHANGHAI May, 13 Jani, 16 Foo.crow-F00 Feb. 22 AMOT Feb. 19
May.
May,
The French frigate Cleopatra and Corvette Victorieuse, have left Singapore for Manila, and are expected shortly.
We hear nothing of the movements of the squadron now at Penang; there are in all eight penants, Vizt. Agincourt, Cruizer, Dedalus, Vestal and Wolf. The Wolf has a large quan- tity of spiece on board for Hongkong; she also had the mail of 24th February for Singapore and China-From this it was anticipated that she would have come on without delay. The Rear Admiral, however appears to be like a Hen with chickens-she is never happy unless they are under her, wing,
We regret to hear that there has been a great deal of sickness on board the Vestal since she left China. At Trincomalee, several of her crew died of a fever, which in its symptoms re- sembled the yellow fever of the West Indies- among the victims were Mr. Gregory the pur- ser, and the second master.
The Iris arrived from the coast yester- day. It rumoured that the Driver goes north. The Castor, we believe, continues in this port; Captain Graham, in the absence of the Rear Admiral,being in command on the station. The Plover and Young Hebe, will shortly return to the important surveys which are being made by Captain Collinson c. B.
The respectable Parsee firm, whose exten- sive premises near Messrs. Dent & Co, are now nearly finished, have determined not to remove to Hongkong; others, who contero- plated settling here, have changed their minds and remain in Macao, Two English firms within three months have abandoned the island confining their operations to Canton; and of the several new firms established within the past six months, none of them have even an office in Hongkong. In the face of these undeniable facts, we find our penny wise rulers busy in- venting new taxes and imposts. Betel and pawn are to be taxed, or made a strict mono. poly, and yet we are told that Hongkong is a
$7
SITTING OF THE SUPREME COURT,
13th June, 1845.
AN action was brought by Messrs. D. and M. Rustomjee and Co. against Messrs. Macvicar and Co. to recover the amount of Insurance upon goods damaged on board the Corsair.
A Jory having been chosen the Attorney-Ge- neral opened the case for the Plaintiffs. He said an Insurance had been effected on the 10th Oct. 1844, but to commence from the 4th. It was for the value of 13,600 dollars, and there were several Policies; In insuring 10,000 the de- fenders acted as Agents for parties in Bombay, and 3,600 was for parties in Calcutta. He felt certain that if the Defendants were merely act ing for themselves they would at once pay the sum, but acting for others they probably thought it necessary to be less liberal. They entered two pleas; first, the General issue, and second, that the vessel was not seaworthy, and that the goods were not landed after being damaged.
Previous to the departure of the Corsair from Macao, she was surveyed by Mr. Rickett, who is Surveyor for the Canton Insurance Office. His written opinion states, that she is a staunch new teak vessel. She sailed on the 1st of Oct. for Hongkong, and in coming across she ex- perienced very bad weather. Going out the Lemma passage she had very coarse weather, so as to carry away some of her spars and sails, and the sea made frequent breaches over her: Ou her, arrival at Woosung, the Opium belong- ing to the Plaintiff's was found more or less damaged. Notice was given the Defendants that the vessel had been damaged. After this legal notice no fault was found with the vessel. A correspondence followed about the vessel, and it was doubiful whether it would be better to repair her here, or to send her to India. It was after- wards said the vessel had suffered very soon after leaving the port, within 24 hours. The law on this point as laid down by the celebrated Lord Mansfield is that every ship ensured must be tight and strong; She may be injured within 24 hours, and yet the Policy remain good. It was after- wards decided in an appeal case before the House of Lords that if a ship be seaworthy when she
THE FRIEND OF CHINA free port! Property is to be assessed, though sails, though she be injured in the course of one
AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
from the usurious ground rent paid to govern- ment, rent is already higher than in any colony we possess.
FORIA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18xa, 1845.
Yesterday the Hon. Major General D'Agui- It is much to be feared that, unless.
very diffe Jar, Commander of the forces in China, ar- rent measures are speedily adopted, this colony rived from the north in H. M. S. Iris, Capas a place of commerce will be utterly ruined. tain Mundy, The Major General landed in There is now positively less actual trade than the forenoon and was received with the ho- we had two years ago, and the little that exists pours due to his high official rank.
is decreasing, yet we hear of fresh burdens, and This is the anniversary of the memorable we see the power which ought to make, display battle of Waterloo-the most decisive of noted to destroy. If it is the wish of Her Majesty's the most glorious in modern warfare,--Among government, to retain Hongkong solely as a civilians, as among military, the day will not garrison, then let the local authorities continue pass, without a bumper to the venerable hero as they commenced; but if they would make of a hundred fights the immortal Wellington.this a commercial colony, let them give us for at least ten years such a governor as the late The Gentleman who is to take charge of the Sir Stamford Raffles-let them give us men Hongkong branch of the Feninsular and Ori-of liberal views of commercial policy, anxi- ental Steam Navigation Company is now inous to extend the commerce of their country, the colony, as will be seen from our advertising and to add to her strength by increasing her columns. The first vessel of the monthly line, colonial prosperity. intended to form a junction with the vessels from Calcutta to Suez, will leave Hongkong in September.
In his relations of private life, a Governor may possess every excellency and every virtue, but if he was politicily eductated in the The facilities for correspondence that will narrow minded, exclusive, grasping policy of thus be afforded are very important; and the the East India Company, when she sacrificed labour much reduced, as from the present irre- the commercial interests of her country belore gularity in the arrival and departure of mails, the altar of Mammon, then we hold that us Go- several letters have to be writteń were one in vernor of a commercial colony, to be ruled by future will do equally well, or better. liberal polity, he labours under disadvan-
hour the Policy will remain good. The simple question is, was the vessel sound when she left the port? If so, I am entitled to call on you for a verdict, as his Lordship will tell you. The and he is not liable for any error in judgement, Captain acted as any intelligent man would do,
The Policy of Insurance was produced and admitted by the Defendants.
Captain Fraser was called as a witness and sworn;-declared he is not interested in the re sult of this action-be was master of the Corsair in October. She sailed from the Typa on the 29th September, and proceeded to Hongkong for the purpose of geuing Chronometers-knows the Corsair was in good condition when she left, staunch tight and strong-was seaworthy and insurable. She had been caulked throughout previous to her departure. The canikers were employed on ber for a week. Witness is ac- quainted with Mr. Rickett and knows his hand- writing-thinks the report of Survey shown him is his writing. In sailing to Hongkong they had violent weather. Arrived on the 3d October at Goon-left at noon of the 4th with fine weather at in the evening the breeze began to in- crease-at-two o'clock in the morning of the 5th it blew very strong at 4 bad a fresh gale with a very beavy head sea-the vessel pitched violently and strained-made a great deal of water-at daylight found they could not reduce the water, and bore up for shelter-anchored in a small bay close to the westward of Tyram.'
and remained there two days. On the 7th pro ceeded on the voyage-encountered a heavy gale near the Chusan Isles on the 24th in which the vessel suffered injury-lost the quarter boat-the ship made a good deal of water-at noon a heavy ses breaking on board, fore and aft—had both pumps going. When they arrived at Woosung and opened the hatches found the cargo damaged by salt water-the part belonging to the Plaintiffs was damaged-thinks about 29 chests, and that the value was about 8810 or $820—it was sold by Auction, and brought about two thirds of the price. The Corsuir did not suffer, more in the Lemma passage than any other seaworthy vessel would have done-her seams were loosened and" strained her bows were recaulked-Part of the water came from the covering board and stanchi- ons where she worked-Witness considered the propriety of returning to Hongkong and consult- ed Mr. Jamieson the supergargo-and in conse. quence of this consultation thought the cargo was not likely to suffer damage from proceeding on the voyage-Mr. Jamieson is a naval man- Witness knows Mr. Neave's handwriting-being shown some letters he thinks the signature to three of them is his-has frequently seen him write.
Cross examined-Left Macao on the 29th Sept.; had a strong breeze with reefed topsails on the passage-On the 1st Oct. had 6 inches of water this is not more than ordinary-on the 24 had 10 inches-on the 3d at one time there were 20 inches-on the 6th there where & feas 6 inches-the hatches were well secured when they went to sea-sometimes they pumped twice and sometimes three times a day-the general amount of bilge water in such vessels is six inches
there is 18 inches between the flooring and the bottom of the vessel and six inches between that and the bottom of the well-Witness did not as- certain whether the Opium was damaged on the 3d-will not swear it was not then damaged.
Mr. Lamont deposed that he is a ship builder knows the brig Corsair knows Capt. Fraser who applied to him on the 10th Jany, to look after his brig-she was then lying in this harbor -made a minute examination of her to see what repairs she required-she was in a very shaky state about her topsides, on account of stress of weather as witness believes-all the oakum was hanging out of her seams; some of her stanchions and covering boards were split-all the water she made on her voyage must have come from her upper works-there was no rotten wood in her, and no more decayed iron than is common for vessels of her age-knows Mr. McKenzie nt East Point he is at present ill and unable to attend the Court-knows his writing-being shown a report, recognises his writing and signature.
Cross examined.-Some vessels are fastened with iron and some with copper Teak ships iron-fastened are equal to English oak ships cop- per-fastened her fastenings were in a proper state when witness examined her-the heads of the bolts were covered with chunam; this is common in India-this prevents inspection; but a proper surveyor could tell by looking at the bolts inside whether they were in a proper state -the repairs cost more than 5,0008 but did not amount to 10,000,-thinks it was-between five and seven thousand-the value of the ship would be between 12 and 14,000-very extensive re- pairs were required-she was not then in a fit state to carry perishable cargo-Witness took off all her topside-put some Iron knees into her- these were recommended by the surveyor-it was against witness's opinion the surveyor was Captain Langley-knows him to be a man of ex- perience in naval matters her bottom required no repairs, and she is now as good as when she left the stocks-her opper works were originally strong the plank was 24 inches thick-Iron fastenings are one-fourth stronger than copper- teak vessels are generally fastened with iron- Witness thinks it was strese of weather that ren- dered the repairs necessary.
Mr. McKenzie's report of the repairs was read, and corroborated Mr. Lamont's evidence.
Mr. Henry Foreman deposed that he is com- mander of a Schooner-remembers the 1st De camber last at the time was called on by Capt. Fraser to survey his cargo-recognises the re- port he then made, which was read to the Court -it recommended 28 chests to be sent to Macao and sold by Auction for the benefit of the con cerned-Captain Lungley's report of this Opium was read-13 chests were rendered wholly use- less, and 15 much damaged.
Cross examined-when the Corsair arrived at Woosong she had been in heavy weather and must have had two or three tect water in her hold-a vessel will make from 6 to 8 inches a day.
Mr. Charles Jamieson being sworn declared he is a ship master-went as super-cargo in the Corsair-saw her before she left Macao, but did not particularly examine her-thought her a good regsel-The weather in the Lemma passage was enough to injure a sea worthy ship the sea was heavier than the wind-she shipped a great many seas-thinks the water came in forward- believes the vessel suffered, no more than any other would be liable to-ran into a bay and repaired-the Carpenter stopped a leak-Capt. Fraser and witness consulted and thought it bet- ter to proceed on the voyage-did, so on the grounds that she was making no water of any importance.
Cross examined-witness had a salary per month-knew she had water in her well, but did not know how much.
Mr. Goddard for the Defenders said, the claim that was made upon them to-day, was for the wet«: ting of opium on board a vessel that was ensured by his clients-They wished to take no technical objections, but to have a fair and honorable trial.
They did not refuse payment until they saw from the log book how much water the vessel. was making during the voyage, which led them to believe that she was not seaworthy. The original application for Insurance was not made till the 10th October, but was made to apply from the 4th the day of her learing Hongkong.
Alex: Matheson, enq, being sworn deposed that it is customary in time Policies to state the date on which the risks commences and the