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POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNMENT.
Peculiar circumstances rendered it imperatively necessary, that if any Government were established by England in China, it should be founded and conducted on decided and manifest Christian principles, and that an example at least should be given by those placed in autho- rity, to the nominal Christian as well to the professed heathen. Alas! from the very commencement of the Government at Hong Kong, religion in principle or in practice, in even its mere outward ordinary observances, has scarcely been a matter of subordinate or secondary consideration.
The English missionary, the American baptist, the Italian jesuit, the Indian moslem, the deistical Chinese, have each a substantial and characteristic stone structure, for the celebration of the religion they profess; but the Divine service of the church of England is still celebrated in a mat shed, the chaplain is grudgingly paid a stipend of which a considerable portion is expended by him in charity and education, a small allowance for house-rent has been recently stopped, (it was even suggested that he should provide and pay for a clerk,) candles were denied for evening service, and, had it been possible, the pittance accorded for performing the rites of Christianity, would have been diminished or cancelled altogether.
A sacred responsibility devolves on England in respect to her colonies: they will be either the instruments of her prosperity and pre- eminence, or of her ruin anddownfall.
It is fearful to see how soon the best moral principles are oblite- rated in a colony where the Governors and those in high authority and position in society pay little or no regard to religion, and how quickly a virtuous and rightly educated youth becomes dead to every Christian attribute. Inordinate pursuit of gain, isolation from domestic associations, and the demoralizing habits of what is termed "colonial life," sap, corrupt, and finally destroy many a gifted and guiltless mind.
Better for England to be deprived of every colony, and contracted to her own insular limits, than to neglect in the outposts of her empire those principles, and that Christian conduct to which alone, under the special favour of Divine Providence, she owes her peace and happiness at home, her power and prosperity abroad, and her domi- nion throughout the world.
R. M. MARTIN,
[A copy of this document was also given to Mr. Goulburn, at his request, 13th Nov., 1845.]
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APPENDIX.
CHINESE MANUFACTURES.
SHORTLY after my arrival in China, and with a view to the extension of our manufactures, I addressed the following letter to Governor Davis, to which his Excellency did not even deign to give me the slightest answer, verbally or in writing. The language which the Governor applied to the British merchants in China, forbad the hope of my succeeding in the object contemplated by further applica tion. The French and other foreigners adopted the very steps indicated in this letter:-
H. M. Treasury, Hong Kong,
June 29, 1844.
To his Excellency John Francis Davis, Esq., Governor.
(No. 37 A.) Sir,
WITH a view to making the manufacturers of Great Britain generally acquainted with the manufactures of China, I beg leave to propose to your Excellency that a sum not exceeding 500 dollars (1041. 3s. 4d.), be appropriated to the purpose of purchasing articles in domestic and personal use in different parts of China, for transmission to the Lords Committee of the Privy Council for Trade and Planta- tions in England.
Should your Excellency concur in this proposition, I would suggest that the articles be purchased in sets of six in number; one for reten- tion at the Board of Trade in Whitehall, London, the others for transmission to the Chambers of Commerce at Manchester, Birming- ham, Leeds, Sheffield, and Glasgow, or such other places as their Lordships of the Board of Trade may be pleased to direct.
The articles which I would propose to select would be-1st, materials used for wearing apparel by the lower classes of society in the northern as well as southern parts of the Chinese empire,-whole pieces to be purchased as made up by the native manufacturers, with the length and breadth, and the wholesale and retail price affixed to each piece, together with information as to the more or less general use of the article, the districts where it is worn, and such other details as may guide our manufacturers and merchants in the preparation as well as disposal of the commodity.
2nd. A selection of the materials worn by the wealthier and highest classes of the community; with the same remarks as in the preceding.
3rd. A selection of household, agricultural, or manufacturing arti- cles, where made of iron, brass, lead, pewter, or other metals.
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4th. Domestic and personal ornaments or objects of general use, such as paper for walls, hangings, or tapestry, coarse or fine lamps, glass, armlets, combs, &c.
5th. Articles in general use for the junks and maritime population.
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