PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
།༑།T། TcO.
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
78
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
but as Messrs. Tait and Co. were acting for Turner and Co., the agents of Hyde, Hodge, and Co., I could not interfere with pending arrangements.
7. The above and other reasons fed me to conclude that under existing circumstances, Amoy was not the port best adapted to test the question of a successful emigration to the British West Indies. During my stay at Amoy I had received favourable accounts from Namoa, eonfirming the opinion I had formed regarding it, on my last visit to China. The "Sir Thomas Gresham" having arrived, I made a conditional arrangement with the consignees, that if I found matters favourable at Namoa I would charter the vessel at 10%. for Demerara; but finding upon my return to Hong Kong that no instruc- tions had come out to me by the last mail, I was obliged to relinquish this project. On iny way clown from Amoy I spent a day at Namon, and found everything exceedingly favourable. The people strong and healthy, and willing to emigrate, and the Chinese authorities anxious to encourage it. Immediately on my return I put myself in com- munication with Turner and Co. on the subject, and it was arranged by Tait and Co. that the "Australia" which had arrived at Amoy on the 10th should take emigrants from Namoa. I was anxious that the "Clarendon" (arrived on the 1st December) should also go up to Namoa; but being ill-adapted for beating up the coast against the north-east monsoon (she was sixty-five days from Singapore), and as Messrs. Turner had been making arrangements to obtain emigrants from the neighbourhood of Whampoa, it was decided not to lose time by sending her to Namoa, but to ship emigrante from Whampoa.
8. You will perceive that this scattered emigration, partly at Amoy, partly at Namoa, and partly at Whampon, renders it impossible to establish any well-regulated system. I had at one time some thought of establishing my head-quarters at Cumsingmoon, or rather at Macao-from which Cumsingmoon is not far off, but I found Cumsingmoon monopolized by parties engaged in obtaining coolies for Peru (of whom Senor Sevella is the principal contractor); and Macao, by Senor Jorge, who is engaged on account of Cuba; and I have, therefore, decided to remain at Hong Kong, and set on foot an emigration from this port.
9. I shall addreas you separately with reference to some serious disturbances that have taken place at Amoy, connected with emigration, or rather with the manner in which it has been carried on from that port. But, I will state now as briefly as possible the reasons which have influenced me, under present circumstances, in fixing upon Hong Kong in preference to any other place- hitherto considered as better adapted for emigration purposes.
1. At Amoy there still prevails a strong feeling of irritation among the respectable part of the population in consequence of the recent disturbances, and of the abuses practised by the Chinese crimps; and this irritation might lead to cullision.
2. At Namon and Cumsingion and such other outlying stations there is an absolute want of supervision, consequently great facility for the perpetration of abuses. Besides which the great opium houses are decidedly averse to it, and will throw difficulties in the way, as (from the recent occurrences of Ainoy) they consider it would tend to endanger their property,-frequently of very large amount,-by drawing to these stations along with the respectable and bona fide emigrants, thieves, and vagabonda, and persons of dangerous character.
3. Whampoa is too near to Canton, and should any disturbance take place there in connexion with emigration, it might re-act upon Canton, and involve the national relations by endangering life and property. Macao possesses no peculiar advantages, and the moderate supply of labour that can be obtained there is already forestalled by the parties connected with the Cuban emigration.
4. In all these places emigration to the British West Indies will have to compete with other emigrations-particularly Cuba and Peru, and any prominent advantages held out to emigrants for the British West Indies will be immediately laid hold of and held out to the emigrants for Cuba and Peru-so that they would be induced to embark for those places, under promises not likely ever to be realized.
5 If the emigration be conducted from Hong Kong it may be placed under the strictest possible supervision, and every guarantee afforded to the emigrant, that the terms held out as inducements to him to emigrate will be fairly carried out in the sofony to which he is about to transfer his labour. Its establishment from this port will also prevent all question of a breach of international law on the part of England towards China, by the carrying on emigration on Chinese territory in violation of the Chinese laws, by an agent sanctioned and appointed by the English Government. The emigration agent will be placed under the immediate supervision of Government, and his accounts accurately tested and the port itself, as the great rendezvous of shipping, offers facilities for procuring vessels, that do not exist at any other port or place in China.
6. Considering the mutinies and disasters which have occurred within the last two years, on board of Chinese emigrant vessels, and the recent disturbances at Amoy, I believe that. public opinion in England will be better satisfied to learn, that the emigra- tion to the British West Indies is being conducted openly and fairly, and under every possible guarantee for the safety of the emigrants, from a British port, than if it were established at any outport away from the public supervision and control. Nor is it
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
79
necessary that the emigration should be actually restricted to Hong Kong, but the head-quarters of the agent being established there, arrangements may be made by him to obtain emigrants from other places, should circumstances render it advisable to do so; and these ho may superintend and control by occasional visits.
10. I have not yet made any arrangements for enigration from here, as I have been anxious to weigh the matter well before coming to a decision. I have consulted several of the official authorities and the residents; some are in favour of it, others who are against it, state, that there is a prejudice among respectable Chinese against Hong Kong, and that good labourers will not come here. I attach no great weight to these objections. My object is to put emigration on a footing such as has never yet been attempted from China, and I believe that good labourers will come, if respectable Chinese agents are employed, provided that they are treated on their arrival with consideration and kindness, and are assured of being taken on board of good English ships, provided with every comfort.
11. I went up to Amoy on the 9th instant to be present at the investigation into the causes of the recent disturbances there, and returned on the 20th. I go up to Canton and Whampoa to-morrow in order to see the "Clarendon" before she leaves. On my return I shall make arrangements to procure emigrants for the two vessels which you expect to arrive here between the 15th January and 15th February. I propose to send one, if not two, interpreters by each vessel, and to place every fifty emigrants under a head man, who will be responsible for their conduct. I believe some organization of this kind to be necessary, and that it will prevent the occurrence of those mutinies and disasters at sea which have so often of late cast a painful stigma upon Chinese emigration.
S. Walcott, Esq.
&c.
SIR,
I have, &c., (Signed) JAMES T. WHITE
&c.
Earl. 2 in No. 30.
Hong Kong, December 26, 1852.
Enclosure 2 in No. 30.
UNDER cover are four papers connected with the "Samuel Boddington."
1. Letter of instructions to the captain.
2. Invoice of clothing,
3. Invoice of stores put on board.
4. Clearing certificate.
And the same papers, with reference to the "Australia, all furnished at my request
by Messrs. Tait and Co., at Amoy, who are acting for Messrs. Turner and Co., in Canton, the agents of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co.
I have not the slightest reason to doubt, that all supplies stated in the invoices have been put on board, and all that I examined were of excellent quality. You will observe that the cost of provisioning each emigrant, per "Samuel Boddington," for the voyage, would amount to 11:02 dollars, and of the clothing to 212 dollars; estimating the number of emigrants at 330.
And that the cost per "Australia," would be 1970 dollars, and clothing 3-40 dollars; estimating the number of emigrants at 450. And this supposes all the provisions, &c., laid in to be consumed on the voyage.
Beef and pork should be sent here when vessels are chartered in England for the emigration service. These articles are generally expensive, and the supply is very irregular and uncertain.
In addition to the above papers, I request your attention to the letter of Capt. Hurst, in command of the "Samuel Bod-lington," having reference to the condition of the emigrants placed on board of the vessel by Messrs. Tait and Co., on the same subject.
Although Captain Hurst's statements are exaggerated, I have good reason to believe' that many of the emigrants were neither agricultural labourers, nor in sound health. I was not at Amoy when the "Boldington "left; but I obtained this information on my recent visit there from parties perfectly disinterested, and in no way connected with emigration.
On my first visit to Amoy, between the 20th October and 9th Noveniber, I had occasion to address both Messrs. Tait and Co. and Captain Hurst in reference to the quality of the emigrants, and to the number of boys who were intended to be reckoned as adults. Subsequently to my leaving Amoy, the people intended for the Boddington thought proper to run away (at least the greater part did so) without, so far as I am aware, any reason for their doing so beyond caprice, and an unwillingness at the last moment to leave their country.
Many of these came back to Tait and Co., and others engaged themselves to other parties; but from the number of vessels in the river waiting for emigrants, there was great difficulty in procuring the requisite complément for the "Bollington." She was under demurrage, and my information goes to this point, that persons were passed as emigrants who, under other circumstances, would have been rejected.
K 4