22
Addresses of
to Chinese officers.
18
of a British subject, he shall no less listen to his complaint, and endeavour to settle it in a friendly manner. If an English merchant have occasion to address the Chinese authorities, he shall send such address through the British merchant's Consul, who will see that the language is becoming; and, if otherwise, will direct it to be changed, or will refuse to convey the address. If, unfortunately, any disputes take place of such a nature that the Consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of a Chinese officer, that they may together examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably. Regarding the punishment of English criminals, the English and Chinese Government will enact the laws necessary to attain that end, and the respective Consul will be empowered to put them in force; and regarding the punishment of Chinese criminals, these will be tried and punished by their own laws, in the way provided for by the correspondence which took place at Nanking, after the concluding of the peace.
Punishment of
XIV. A Govern-
stationed in each
port.
XIV. British Government Cruizers anchoring within the Ports.
An English Government cruizer will anchor within each of the five ports, that the Consul may have the means of better restraining sailors and others, and preventing disturbances. But these Government cruizers are not to be put on the same footing as merchant-vessels; for, as they bring no merchandize, and do not come to trade, they will of course pay neither dues nor charges. The Resident Consul will keep the Superintendent of Customs duly informed of the arrival and departure of such Government cruizers, that he may take his measures accordingly.
XV. The British Consul will be
"Security" for
British ships.
XV. On the Security to be given for British Merchant-Vessels.
It has hitherto been the custom, when an English vessel entered the port of Canton, that a Chinese Hong merchant stood security for her, and all duties and charges were paid through such security-merchant; but these security-merchants being now done away with, it is understood, that the British Consul will henceforth be security for all British merchant-ships entering any of the aforesaid five ports.
(L.S.)
HENRY POTTINGER.
Seal and Signature
of the Chinese Plenipotentiary.
Immediate
15. Aflips. Letter to Tomipe
Liv,
hoy. Song Hang.
95
.0.
ED
FR8644
Foreign Office, April 6, 1846.
I am directed by the Earl of Meder
to acquaint Lin Khanley
I am requested that you that the Law Officers of
the Crown have
wished to be made acquainted
expressed with the precise
nature
of the power at
present vested in the Chief Justice with reference
to a suggestion
made to them from this office, founded
on Sir Henry Pottinger's recommendation, that the Chief Justice should be empowered to proceed to the Ports in China, if necessary, for the purpose of trying offences committed by British subjects." This recommendation is contained in Sir Henry Pottinger's
the
spot serious
S... 2 W. Hope Ge
despatch