*
To the Editor of the Armend of Chind,
Hongkong, 18th March 1817,
I za uc surprised if your Correspondent's sup. polog that the ex could not be one of its subject days, bus sa itaas, and Dominie Davis, as he, feleitously calle ban, is right in this particular.
The po of the letter, however, the importam PET AV K, EN SU Exposition of pedantry and arrogance which richly deserves chastisement, and will doubt. jenim karaurably nouard by the Home Authorities je bo qts alwaya pealous of their privileges. «
Lama, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
A BOOK-WORM.
THE FRIENE OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
(
Attorney and Solicitor Generals, the Shendor Potri Ma stant, and oder officers who, uider chilisent de from these, are entranted with date or sunday date T this tast muty be added also the meglars of the C
porinity in those zatemics in witch the Engidalls all Exequine are gimine Aulies."...
THE LATE ROBERT THOM, ESQ., BRITISH CONBUL AT NINGPO,
(From the Chronicle )
It is with deep and unfeigned sorrow wo olsava among the China news an announcement a death of Mr Robert Thom, her Majesty's Co at Ningpo, on the 14th of September lust. rarely that we find a public servant so eminently filted as Mr Thom was for the charge wit which he was entrusted, or bringing to the perfor mance of its duties so large a measure of the ness and zeal. The removal by death of such a mam, in the prima of life, and in the midst of pro mines, afforded by his whole character and conduel, of services to his country more important and tha those which he had an opportunity of rendering, is an avont peculiarly afflicting. The following part- culars of his career, which we have obtained from an authentic source, will be interesting to those by whory he was personally known, and to his towar mon generally-
their respects in the Chief Magistrate, seaving fire Whether Sir James is to be the man or not, anje secured the services of a guide. In walking through thing is clear the next Governor of Hongkong the town, the poople were perfectly respectful and wild have a delicate and ʼn difjcult task before him, Na Enter — Your Correspondent “ An En quiet, with the receptight of a few idle pys. Cu if he is desirous to make this a commercio colony, Thenwag suggests an interpretation of D.Orenching the residence of the Chief Magistrate Our prosperity can never be placed on a solid bosta -on the brass mate faserted into the found they learned that he had gone to Canigo, and by mal the Executive have secuted the good opinion of pon stone of the new Church in Hongkong. Wont this time a mob had collected, exhibiting a bad feel the Chinese inhabitants. Unfortunately the rexa, ms D. 0. M. 8. be more correct? Templum)ing, by throwing stones into the house where the fore-toys Jegislation of late years the hurried enact." This last word appears igners had taken shelter Thres ferior Mandatisments ofdaive and there subsequent abrogation-the to have been omkred by your Dominie an purpose to arrived in a short time and endeavoured to pacify the illiberal commercial policy of the licensing system pake thingsinted. The V of the Ides is the people; but they had no influence over them, it boingthe granting to a Native monopolist the right of The Iding staelf, namely the 15th evident that mischief was intended. It was explain search the gross acts of injustice which have been counting * 1, the 14th 3, and so backwards to the ed to the Monarins that the Strangers bad merely perpetrated by the government. (as witness the regis. ith which is the popes of March,
Tanded to pay their respects to the Chief blagistrate, tration of bents) in breaking faith with the people And that the Authorities would be held responsible the delinquencies of the police, and above all the for any violence that might be offered. The result proceedings before the police Magistrates-have was that one of the Mandarins proposed to accom shaken the faith of the people in the purity of our pany them to their boat attended by his usual retinue, laws and the reelitade of our rulers. It is frue that some of his people boing in advance and some in the Supreme court stands a bright example of the the rear, the Europeans, as requested, keeping close tribunal of a Christian people; and that justice un- to bis person. The streets were thickly lined with defiled is thero administered alike to the rich and to people the whole way to the water, and an approx the poor-to the Christina and to thọ Deathon. Imate calculation finded on the time occupied, Best unfortunately before we were blessed with a Su- nearly 35 minutes fast walking, shows there were preon Count, the avil had been done, and oven now upwards of 19,000 men.
than proseedings before the Magistrates are not such In general they seemed moderately quiet ; but a na to counteract the malign duences of oppression large number acted differently, and stones were plen and injustice. To eradicato from the minds of the tally thrown the moment the party left the gate of Chineso, opiniona which they have but too much the Mandarin house, as well as subserucitly at ne- cause to entertain, will be a work of time, and until Mr Robert Thom was born in St. Andrew Square, veral of the ongings and cross streets, notwitstanding these impressione are rooted out, no material impro- Glasgow, on the 10th day of August, 1807. H the presence of the Mandarin who shared the vement may be tooked for in the condition of Hong- had, therefore, when he died, just completed his danger. The party wore plesed in a boat affording kong. We confess that we do not expect any im 30th year. Having been destined to a mercamila tolerable protection by means of the ordinary bam. mediate increase to our commerce, even taking it life, he was for a twelve month in a respectable of boo covering, but the river being narrow the danger for granted that our new Governor should prove to fice in Glasgow, and afterwards served an appren was still imminent the mob appearing to increase, be all that is desirable-old and confirmed diseases ticeship of five years in Liverpool. During lan and doing their utmost to kill the foreigners by are not cured in a day--but a skilful Physician can residence there he first evinced his fondness for showers of stones from both banks of the river. do much when the complaint is not chronic If it is literary pursuits. He was a constant correspondent Happily the cover broke the force of the stones, and the wish of Great Britain that her young colony of more than one of the newspapers. In Jane, after being exposed to the fury of the mob for up-should gather around it a share of the trade of Chi- 1828, he went to Caraccas, where he spent about wards of an hour and a quarter, they reached the na, and drawy nourishment from the true source of three years. Ho there acquired a complote know. fastbont and got under way.
prosperity-commerce-she must for a time look ledge of the Spainsh language, and was a mther less to a present revenue thun to the future. She distinguished unt of his atacabin must not bind down her representative by stringent discussion with t
with the Roman Catholic priesthood orders to make revenue a sine qua non; but having and the amazing aptitude for general business which faith in his judgment, leave him to adapt such mea he displayed. Afterwards, he spent about a year gures as he deems necessary for the redemption of and a half in Mexico. Returning to England, be the colony. Hongkong has ample resources the spent the winter and spring of 1833 there. In July high rate of ground rents, and all that is required, of that year he went to Bordeaux in France, and is to render these resources available, This can from that place to Ching-hence, alas never to only be effected by encouraging a local trade-by encouraging the settlement of the native merchenis of China, a race of men who are peculiarly alive to their own interest, and had they but confidence in this government, they would at once see the advan- tages of investing in a place, where they were pro- tected in person and in property. ter.
NOTICE.
:
Mus vloertinesouls, will be received, until 4 Check on the evenings previous to publi. entom, vir: Tuesdays and Fridays.
Fagland US
Calcarta
20
LATEST DATES,
Dec. 24rdney Dec. Jany.
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THE FRIEND OF CHINA
AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
FICTORIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 2011, 1847.
NOTICE-The bours of Dicine Service in the Coro. BUL CHAPEL Bru, un Sundays al & past 10 A. 36, sod 4 P. M
mon Thxrumbya si G P.M.
Flotaris, High Nov,, 1840.
VINCENT STANTON,
Colonial Chaplain.
NOTICS-Uy Chares will be open for Public War. phop at 11 Clock A. M., and at half-past fi. O'gjock P. M., paring te winter months, beginning with the Est Novan- per 1845.
Verona, 15th October 1814.
The Editor of the China Mud has met with a serious loss-be has lost his temper; it is to be hoped, however, that he will recover it again, as his present made of procedure can pether be satufactory to his friends, creditable In hungell, nor add to the reputation of the Journal he conducts. Personni invective and pot house doparel is usually reserved for pa- pers of the lowest casto; and we apprehend. that in China, there are few who will openly countenance a person who vindictively indulges jo them, when he finds he cannot reply to the argument, or statements, of a contemporary.
The Mail makes no obscure reference to #ransactions which took place four years ago. Perhaps he will be more explicit, in his next
192070.
The subscription in Hongkong for Rober Kelborne--the person who brought to convic tion the man executed for the piracy on board the Priveler-amounts to $222; which with the Canton qubscription, gives him the very hand- some sum of $832. It is gratifying to see that the public duly appreciate the importance of the service rendered, and we anticipate that the liberality displayed in this instance will have a good effect.
The two men recently captured by Mr Caldwell in Canton under suspicion of boing concerned in the Chimmo piracy, we under- stand have made a full confession of their guilt. and have given the names of their accomplices as principals, and those also who designed and were accessories to the plot, which it appears was concerted many months ago, one or two of the crew of each vessel, acting in some ca- pacity as servants on board, being in collusion with the pirates, who were informed thro' them of the particular time favorable for the attack. The two prisoners having confessed to other piracies committed upon Chinese boats, and more directly against the laws of their own country, the Mandaring have refused to deliver them to
our Authorities, to be dealt with
The danger seemed pretty well over, although still pursued, but unluckily the fastboat grounded, and they wore forced to take to the small boat, and proceed with little to protect them, the covering having been pearly destroyed.
Up to this period the number of people was great, and their determined hostility rendered the situation of the party truly alarming; but as the river widened they happily got free, without any serious jury, although every individual had been struck more than once. The Mandarin also escaped pretty well, but not so his followers and the boatmen, three of whom wore seriously wounded and a fourth slightly.
The party have addressed the British Consul at Centon on the subject, and particularly directed his attention to the noble conduct of the Madarin, to whom, under providence, they are indebted for their lives Not only did he accompany them through the town, but he exposed himself iq even greater danger by sharing their fate in the boat, standing up emirely exposed during a part of the time, whilst ha obliged those under his protection to remain as much as possible under cover. to fact it was evident that he was determined te protect their lives at the ex. pense of his own, and he did the utmost to effect the object in the most grnerous and courageous manner. In his reply to this gommunipation, Mr Macgregor states, that he will areas a complaint to Elis. Ex. cellency the Governor General on the subject of the utrage; and that he will bring under the police of His Excellency the only and generous axertions of the Chinese unifitare difficer who accompanied then into the bout and shared the danger with them.
mgkang Colonial Ordinances.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE OF TRE CHINA MALL..
噩
The Publisher of the Ordinances has not ex- tended to us the customary liberality of the press, by forwarding a free copy of the above useful work; but the omission has been sup plied by a friend who subscribed to several copies. The compilation of these documents is a labour which it is to be hoped will prave remunerative, as for rebrence they are extres mely useful, saying much research when it is necessary to refer to any particular ordinance in the files of the local papers-indeed so many been modified or disallowed, that it has become of the legislative acts of this government have a matter of difficulty to say what is law and what is not law; but the present compilation drawn up "by authority" will render a reference
easy',
£
return
Embarking as first in morcantile pursuits, he continued, nevertheless to
to devote his leisure roo ments, and hours stolen from 1est, to inake himself acquainted with the language, and literature of China. He landed in China in February 1831, and within two years from that period was capatt Many of our friends are so disgusted with the of speaking its language with considerale fluency. mismanagement of this colony that they are giving. He never allowed an opportunity of conversing it up in despair; and we regret to hear that with persons from all parts of the "Celestial Em the Canton Chamber of Commerce are adopting pire" to escape him. In the course of 1837 he destroy the little trade that is left, and render un measures, which will, it is thought, effectually was able, in the absence of Messrs Morrison and extension a matter of great difficulty, even should
Guzlaff, to plead a cause in the mandarin of court the government abolish their suicidal restrictions. letters and other papers, of interesting topics, in dialect. All this while he was constantly inserting We have before us a letter from a Gentleman who has the newspapers then published at Canton. The a considerable sum invested hers. Speaking of the year 1898 saw him first appear formally as un resignation of Sir John Davis he says he author, but under the pseudonyme of Sloth." is (Davis) will however, leave a person behind him bronchure was entitled. The lasting rescut,nom of "who is almost as groat a pet in the colony. Miss Kaon Levan Wang," being a translation into bellose the place is past redemption. We connat English af a Chinese inle, with copious notes. help thinking that many of our friends are too much This was, last spring, published at Leipsic, trans discouraged they have seen the very limits of bad lated into German, by Professor Adolf Bulger, government; but they have yet to see the effect of Mr Thom's translation of Evon's Fables into thes an opposite policy from that pursued by Sir John Chinese language," appeared early in 1840; and, Davis. If we refer to the early career of Bombay to dismiss his publications, bis Chinese and Fug we find a gloomy record; yet that small and sterile lish Vocabulary" in August 1843. This from on espot affording no produce for exportation and hard-anger and unceasing desire to be useful, he publish ly yielding a weeks consumption of corn for its ed at his own expense, and distributed gratuitonaly "inhabitants" is now one of the greatest emporiums among public bodies and individuals residing at the in the east. Let those who despair of the future fre ports. Another work occupied his attention prosperity, of Hongkong read the passage we now extract from McCulloch's Geographical Dictionary.
at the time of his decease. His productions were highly esteemed on the Continent, as well as in this "Bombay is next to
the oldest of our country. Witness the high applause bestowed on "possessions in the east, and was ceded to Charles him by Professor Stanislas uten the first Chinese I. as part of Queen Catherine's dower, in 1601; scholar in Europe by Professor Buzin, in the but the Portuguese government refused to deliver Journal Asiatique de Paris, his Memoire sur la our hands. At this period it was extremely un- Mozzolante, &c. and in this country he enjoyed "it up, and it was not until 1664 that it came into Chinois Vulgaire, &c., by the polyglot Ondina
healthy, and subject to the depredations of the the friendship, as he had acquired the esteem of "Mahratta pirates. In 1868 the city and island that most ablo, qmiable, and distinguished man, "were transferred by royal letters patent to the E. I. Sir George Thomas Staunton
Company at an annual rent of £10, and shortly "after realized to the company a revenue of £2,823 a year. The seat of government was removed thither from Surat in 1686, and two years after wards, Bombay was closely besieged by the Moguls "There were ordered us withdraw by Aurangzebe,
which they did in the
he succeeding year, but plague, piracy and rebellion continued for many years "to devastate and disturb the colony,"
14
Our Headers may be anxious to know whether the resignation of the Governor will lead to other changes equally desirable. Upon this point there is Chief Magistrate legally qualified to perform the no certainty, but we anticipate the appointment of a onerous duties of his office and the retirement such as fit him for pisil employment, and whose re. of the Colonial Secretary, whose attainments are not
The number before us contains the ordi mances of 1844, in all twenty two of these twelve were passed by Sir Henry Pottinger, mine by Sir John Davis, and one (the celebrated during the short period he was at the head of during the short of the executive in the absence of the Governor. OfSir Henry Pottingeretwelve ordinances,two were disallowed, we repealed and one amend- ed; Sir John Davis's mine ordinances are peredetion of office in prove a bar to what is indes for the particolar crime of which they acknow-effort for the better securing the peace and down to three: Major General D'Aguilar's ledge their guilt, and for which they were pursued and apprehended
We hear that Mr Caldwell will start imme: Canton, wilive formal demand from defreed up may be suc
and we
mor that these met
valuable services tracked them to would be the majority of the
ded by the in- iwell who has in all fire bood to justice the ted in the same crime.
10
quiet of the Inhabitants of the town of Vioto "ria and, its vicinity during the night-Time" retains an ornament to the statuto book, and an evidence that great men are not above at- tending to small matters.
We presume that the publication of the or inances for 1dd5 and Course and in the me those who have not al themselves WILD 2
will follow 10 GE would advise
ent tomber.
灞
It was as a public character, however, still mare than as a literary one, that Mr Thom nerited and obtained, distinction. Hia valuable assistance ren- dered to Government, even while a mercluate, is recorded in evidence given before a Committee of the House of Commons, in 1841, and afterwards publiahed. In lume 1840, he embarked in the Government service. On the of July of that year, he nearly lost his life at Amoy, while engaged in carrying in a flag of truce, Honourable mention of his conducting this occasion is made in the des patches of Admiral Elliot and Captain Brouchier, December, 1840. Indefatigable were his exertions which appeared in the London Gazette of 1513 at Chusan and the neighbourhood, during the and Mrs Noble particularly engaged his sympatis winter of 1840-41. The cases of Capt. Ansirather and stimulated his exertions. The spring of 1841 pensable for the wellsrs of the colony-securing the Magazine for use quotes a passage from a recent Captain Scott, in his despatch, which was published confidence of the Native population. Simmond active, and courageous in his country's cuer saw hun again on the Canton river, zealous, and
Colonial Office Circular which we anger. It will in the Gazette of 11th June, 1841, hears the most be observed that it provides for sweeping dismissala decided testimony to his merits and exertions. His from office when there is a change of Governor, exertions during the siege of Canton, are noticed though we would regret to see it carried out here to in Sir Hugh, now Lord, Gough's despatch, gazetted a greater extent than the prosperity of the colony in the following October. Sir Hugh he accomm- imperatively demands.
panied over the battle fields of Amoy and Chinhai, the former fought in August, the latter in October, held during her 1841. At the latter action, he was the means of
gaving the lives of 500 Chinese, la circumstance," writing concerning which he said, "that gave him. more pleasure than if he had been eppointed En peror of China. Ala civil administration of the Linhai from October 1841, till the most interesting and bril
realful history. Not only
approtation of his s don with applause by blipoo, when he was Ung in August, 1842, Robert Thom), 1v1unandarinealup at you a great name in ng with Mr Gotzia,
You will understand and cause it la be that, hereafter, the teatre of coloni Mapy pleasure will not tenure during good behaviour; will be cele
Algona to retires
as any ancient roolives Br pub expediency of that meine but th alabe Dovernor will be could any alterations
the
erally known,
tent to such officers
offer
city and distric
and the late Mesare Morrison and Lay, at the lim