AUGN
pere to be paid, and phans provided with several tens of years they dive which was owing to your honour
Subaistence from those lands. proclamation of the Great MI-
potentiary, that there was 2 wish of taking on Henan, especially that which was close to slide, to erect buildings on it. Yesterday we several individuals of your honourable nation
the ground before the ancestorial temple at
Honts, to survey that patch.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
of the re
volent as they are umnious. Whether sse versions were official or editoria Insttars boz. A statement facts could never be objected to; but no body of men can be expected to alt quiety poder the imputation of motires, which it is a disgrees to any man, bearing the name of Briton, to have imagined a body
of his country met capable of being impelled by
We may admit that a man buys his paper as his cuts.
tomers on his long cloths, or opfund, where he can get the best article but no man would buy a bale of long cloths if he knew it was fouled by rats, nor can a man be censured for declining to support a paper in which he has no confidence; for by doing so he becomes, as it were, answerable for the contents of that paper, or at all events
favourable to the views therein advocated. This is evi-
purposes.
dently a sore point with the editor of the Mail, although The houses on both sides of our ancestorial temple are he says he did reply to a private communication, that the habitations of men and women. To the left is a sandy
#the existence of the China Mail does not depend upot, the ground which bas recently been filled up, and originally Canton subscribers" for when they threaten no longer to countitated fields. At the increase the population be the victims of misinterpreted forbaaran se, by with hower and the difficulty of renting onses, it was re sold to divide this parcel of ground to fill it up, for drawing their subscriptions; he comes out in a laboured article, lauding his own superfority, and accusing the Thielt each had to contribute money, and than to erect Chamber of Commerce of a want of veracity, and of land- The ponds and ealtivated spots farmish the ex-ing the sauction of their name for unworthy promise peased for the sacrifices to the ancestors, and the support No apology for past misrepresentations!
of future amendment but a brazes-faced attempt to bully the Chamber of Commerce, and an endeavour to exalt his character by depreciating theira. The British Chamber of Commerce of Canton against the editor of the China Mail,-who can hesitate Had his articles bean of the temperate character he wishes people 'ai à distance to believe, there would have been no occasion for the Chamber of Commerce to find fault with him. The merchants in China have other things to attend to than take notice of the comments of a newspaper, unless there should be something very gross to rectify; and the steps they have taken in this matter show how much their forbearance has been trifled with.
of widowers, widows, xod orphans. If these widows and ombant were even well paid (for their property,) it would be afticalt for them to go elsewhers to obtain a livelihood, whilst nothing remains to them, but to cultivate the fields Ia person, that are before the ancestorial temple, and thus
maintain themselves.
We are aware that the Plenipotcotlary and Great Mi- nister issued a proclamation ordering the lobabitants quietty to go on with their respective trader. This sufficiently convinces as that you are actuated by love and benero- leace, and your extreme kindness influences the people and causes every one to remain quiet in the enjoyment of his property, and thus have a never-falling apport.
We have now heard some confused ramours, that the land on the premises before the ancestorial temple, as well as the recently reclaimed sandy ground, are to be bought. Still we ought to remark, that this place extends far into inhabited villages, and is not in immediate connection with the river. If this spot is really wanted, all our kindred will be deprived of their abodes This would also bot he to recordance with the previous proclamation to the people, ordering them quietly to go on with their respective trades, nor would it answer our constant expectations that (the purchase) could not take place. Our families in the various houses on bearing of it were #xceedingly terrised, and induced to address this petition to Your Excellency, humbly hoping that you will shews extraordinary bene volence and kindness, and grants the favent of not losing the resources for defraying the sacrifices of our an- eestors, and for providing the necessaries of life for several tens of poor orphans and widows, on which they depend, and we shall ever feel grateful for your great benevolence. Whilst presenting this at the Tribunal of the British Plenipotentiary and Great Minister, we trust the prayer will be granted.
The sous and grandsons of the late Tung-wan firm and all their kindred respectfully thas petition."
Taonkang, 27th Year, 4th.mooth, May, 1947) (True Translation,]
CHARLES GUPZLÁFF,
Chimie Secretary.
REPLY TO THE PETITION-FROM-HONAN. Sir John Davis. Her Britannio Majesty's Plenipotentiary. giver this reply to the Elders and Kindred of the Pwen fa. mily in the locality of Hoñan,
It is plain from your statement that all the late forment has arisen entirely from malicious persons spreading fales reports, and from mutual ignorance of each others meaning,
Whatever lands or houses are rented in China by the Eng. lish, must be by amicable agreement with the owners, and mecording to the laws of China. This has been invariably done at Shanghai and the other Porte, and also sa Canton from the first-why should there now be any change 7 I will take care that no Englishman shall attempt to take an inch of your land by force, and if families wish to remain on their paternal possessions, they must not be molested : still lesa is there any desire to violate ancestral tenaples.
Bat both at Honen and along the other ahores of the great river of Canton there must be certalcly vacant spaces ad. joining the water which the owners would wish to receive a rent for, because land built upon gives a better vont than if Jying unoccupied. The numbers of the Foreigners have in- creased with their trade, and two hundred of course cannot
to
find room where one hundred were recommodated. The Great Emperor of your honourable nation has agreed by treely to let them make bargains with Chinese proprietors for lands and Instees, and the people of Canton should not combine oppose the wishes of their own sovereign,
Some of the English toerchant object to the Honar foceli 1-others have already for some time rented warehouses tero by the tirer alde. Why should you object to their rant. ing more warehouses, If the villages and families are not dis. turbed 1 You ought is consult together, and propose some
place to the Mandarins where the English can occupy land. by the river side. The business can then be arranged, and all things proceed to tranquillity but if there is no mujtal Lion, 61 at Shanghai and the other Porta, how can Ray good object be effected 7
stake as to taking land by force, another has
the measureinent by the surveyor. I di. Coasa to let the surveyor act in conjunc
I
the Chinese officers; but the Consul, (opposing
return immediately to his business at Honan without the concurrence of a pordon of the late agitation,
true meaning in wh bout mutual com
The resumption of the Government printing by the ini after the fiery correspondence the editor had with the off- cials, to which he alludes, might arise from nobody having tendered so low as he did, or, perhaps, nobody having ten- dered at all, in which case the Goverment could not help themselves. It affords no proof of those "intrinsic me rits" in his paper of which he veants, though to what is paper excels those of his contemporaries it is difficult to expatiates upon bis "Labours to give an impartial view of diseover, unless it be the cool assurance with which be
public questions." The public are better judges of these matters than the editor of the Afail; it is for them to judge whether a paper is worth perusal or not, and the editor suppositions, that when the present subscriptions to his may rest assured that he will prove correct in one of his
paper have expired, very few of them will be renewed.
If the Mail's version of the late events to be taken as a specimen of the general reliance to be placed upon its reports, it will not tend to raise that journal much in pub lic confidence; and if it has been obtained through the boasted outlay of 1500 per annum, it is a matter of regret that so large a sum should be incurred to so very little purpose. I am, Dear Sir, yours truly,
A. BRITISH SUBIFCE.
Canton, 27th May, 1847.
NOTICE.
Ner Avertisements will be received et 4 Clock, on the evenings previous to publi entem, rizz Tuesdays and Fridaye.
England United States Galena
Bombay
Madras
LATEST DATES. March 25 Sydney March 6 Batavia Apri 6 Bingapore April
Manila April 14 Shanghai
C. of G.Hope - Jan. 22
March 3 April 25 May Ø May 10 May I!
THE FRIEND OF CHINA
AND HONGKONG GAZETTE, VICTORIA, BATURDAY, MAY 297, 1847.
We have been requested to intimate, that the ordinary monthly Meeting of the Asiatic Society," will take place on Tuesday next, the las of June, at à past 8 d'alook ATM,
BOMBAY.
Wg have received the Times of the 17th ultimo, from which we extract that portion of the market report that may affect commerce in this quarter. We have glanced at our papers (the file being incom- plete) and note nothing of political importance. -
The vessels loading for China wers the Forfarshire, Louise Family, Charlotte, Lanrick, General Food, Charles Grant, Coquetta, Sultana, Fairle, Eliza, Curaetjes Lowasjeg, and Anna Eliza
To give space for an excellent article on Ire shipping list-The same cause prevents the publi land, we have been obliged to leave out part of the
cation
of the manifests of vessels cleared for China as advised by the March mail. "In future thees do coments will appear regularly; also the expors car goes from Canton, with the shiptnents of Tee and Silk to Great Britain and the United States, ahod ing to the returns of the Chamber of Commerce. of These returns
returns are made up to the 20th of each and month, and we expect to have them in time for the
Overland peper
Behold
sidents of Canton, that the negotiations had brought to a satisfactory conclusion, the aving sealed to the reasonable of the British Envoy. The Notifi
ren
Were Humans onE
render nothing to clamour. worth one dollar, the merits of the case would be unaltered. It has been ceded by the o vernment, and cannot be given up to please the people.
led the nature of thess
Sir John Davis is in a dilemma, and wonta inds nearly all of them being ided for by the British and French
wish to involve the Chamber of Comme No little astonishment was felt and but we trust most sincerely that the Chur that Sir John Davis should have will avoid compromising themselves by China on purpose to arrange a few advice or opinions Had His Excelleres matters which had better been sulted them before he arranged the "new in the hands of the Consul. If astonishment," they would be bound to the br
their ability to extricate him from hi mont was felt at the results of the demonstra-
a stronger term is required to express culties; but as he failed to ask their ad public feeling on ascertaining that His Excel matters so nearly affecting their in.. loney was about to embark having while that advice been
secured the results, apparently satisfied that ho had performed an important service to his conatry, and placed our relations with China on a secure footing, by what he styled "the new agreement." Of the value of the "reasonable demands in the estimation of the Envoy, we may judge by the terrible threat under which they were obtained. We are informed that every arrangement had been made to scale the walls of the city, and from thence to pour down on its habitations shot, shell, and rockets, ren- dering its total destruction and the death of thousands on thousands of human beings almost a certainty. But we will quote Sir John Davis himself. Mere assertion on a point of such awful importance is as improper as it would be imprudent. Government Notifica- tion No. 9, dated British Consulate, Canton, 6th April, 1847, commences as follows,
"His Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipoten- tiary, &c., &c., has the satisfaction to announce, that at the last moment, and when actually awaiting the assault on the city, the Canton authorities have assented to his reasonable de- mands, and the impending ruin of this populous place has been happily averted."
This language is not to be misunderstood. It declares distinctly and emphatically that had the "reasonable demands" not not been com plied with, Canton would have been laid in ruins, and its inhabitants slaughtered. It is the more necessary that this fact should be kept in view, as it is the standard by which Sir John Davis's future sentiments and measures require. to be estimated. No man of a less sanguinary disposition than a Danton, a Robespierre, or a Marat, would resolve the destruction of a popu- lous city, were it not for considerations of the deepest importance.
We are therefore bound to believe that Sir John Davis looked upon his "reasonable demands" as involving the in no ordinary degrees Justice demands that honour as well as the rights of his sovereign
we admit this; though in our opinion the "concessions" were very insignificant, and the refusal to grant them would, in the eyes of God and man, have been no apology for the destruction of a city belonging to a nation against which we had not made a declaration
of war.
We now enquire how can Sir John Davis reconcile his notification of the 6th of April with his reply to the petition of the Elders of the Pwan family and his letter, (through Mr Mac gregor)to the Chamber of Commerce,requesting them to suggest another locality, as there were difficulties in the way of an adjustment of the Honao grant? This vacillation is inexplicable, In April, Honan was demanded; the sacking of Canton being the penalty of non-compliance. A convention was entered into, and in another month it was virtually a dead letter,-
power.
j
it
is hot to be expected that they of 8511-2 share the odiom, or relieve His Exes! from the responsibilities of his diplomacy.
A meeting of the Chamber was held on the 26th to consider & communication from the Superintendent of Trade, stating that he had received a letter from Keying, inforraine birt that much difficulty would be experienced giving possession of the Honan grast, Superintendent wished to be informed where the Chamber was prepared to point out an other location, should he forego the cha Honan. The meeting passed two resolutions
FIRST. They could not point out any place so eligible as Honan, and that, if that location was abandoned because the mob objected to it, the same obstacle would be securing any other allotment,
encounter
SECOND.Should Sir John Davis deno upon accepting some other place in lef Honan, the Chamber expressed a willingng. to give their opinion as to its eligibility when required to do so.
We dislike all temporising policy, and are satisfied that in this quarter it has caused ag infinite deal of mischief. In the Chamber of Commerce there may be a few who are in elined to follow old custom, that is, to be guided by the wishes of one or two rich firms who have a local importance beyond what they are enti tled to. The time has gone past for such defe rence; and without encroaching one inch upon the privilege of opinion, which is the inheritance of every man, be he rich or be he poor, the merchants as a body will act independently and effectively. Of this we feel assured, and as votes are not weighed by syces, the voiceof every intelligent member of the Chamber will have as much influence as that of the mere mil. lionaire who can lay no claim to public spirit
IRELAND.
(From the Economist.) Disagreeing, as we have done from the first, with the policy pursued towards Ireland with a view to ameliorate, as far as possible, the present distress, arising from a failure of the potatostepp in two successive years, and, at the same Umare manently to improve the condtion of that county. as being an obvious violation of every well recog nised principle of government, to say nothing of political economy-having, at whatever persona sacrifice of feeling, lost no fair opportunity of ex pressing om dissent from the course pursued and of the accumulating mischiefs which necessarily urging, from time to time the innumerable evidentes attended it, and having seen, with bitter disapoint ment, that, regardless of all past experience-re gardless of the almost hopeless and inextricable. confusion into which Ireland has already been thrown-the same vicious and tempurising prin ciples are still to be persevered in-only extended go as to meet the increased magnitude of the evils they have so incontestibly tended to aggravate we that, on the contrary, it is a duty which our readers feel that no apology is required at our hands, but have a right to expect from us, in a case of such unusual importance, if we pass the bounds of mete criticism, and endeavour to indicate the coarse which ought to have been pursued, consistently with the principles which we have advocated, the truth of which has been denied by na ang moven
"For Folly dash'd to earth the victor's plume, Aud Policy regained what arms hail lost!" All the benefits derived by a successful war are being frittered away by a diplomacy which has no fixed and definite tendency-one month it claim rights that have been withheld the next it abandons them at the request of a few old men who write the Envoy a compliment
In receiving and answering the Honan peli-those who have most openly violated them. In ary petition. tion; Sir John Davis has committed a solecism, it being contrary to usage that ministers should receive petitions from the subjects of a foreign peror; but in Europe it would be an unpar- This may be overlooked by the Em- donable offence. It is true that the Envoy does not reside at the Imperial Court, and therefore he does not represent the person of his Sovereign, but merely the government of important distinction though in the present bis country. In some particulara this is an
case it a no apology for the brouch of national etiquette, as the representative of a foreign power whether Ambassador, Envoy, political Agent or Consul, is supposed to hold no politi- cal intercol With the people...
Tha
Tonan petition as undig. ency explains,
opposing, as we have done, the measures adopted both by the late and the present Governm stand in undertaking the task which we now pre
anch a duty. On a subject of such grave impe since ourselves, we have never for a moment let sight of the enormous responsibility which atta nes to effecting the vital interests of 30 large a part of our follow countrymen, we have ever felt that noth- ing short of the strongest convictions, and theclet perceptions of the mischievous consequences of the opposition we have offered to it; for though dotted system we have assailed, could have justified t
affectation if we did not constantly write a th with no official responsibility, it would be mainla conviction, that it would be impossible to cirealete erroneous views, through the medium of the in hal, without committing, to some extent, se fut on society,
Hilberto we have confined ourselves to a criticen of the me gros adopted, and an attempt to show.
trary to sound princip