PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Encl. 4 in No. 22.
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Enel.6 in No. 22.
66
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
"I think it desirable that Her Majesty's Government should be informed of these infractions of treaty obligations, as throwing light upon our position and prospects in China Everything portends great forthcoming changes, both commercial and political, the foreshadows of which become more and more visible”
MY LORD,
Enclosure 3 in No. 22.
Superintendency of Trade, Hong Kong, Jan. 14, 1833.
IN reference to my Despatch No. 2, of the 5th instant, on the subject of coolie emi- gration from China, I beg to convey to your Lordship the expression of my growing alarm at the direct participation of a department of Her Majesty's Government in the collection and exportation of coolies from this country, and my apprehension that such participation may lead to the most serious inconveniences and dangers.
Your Lordship will have seen by my Despatch No. 131, of the 1st of October last, that when Messrs. Turner and Co. applied to me for an armed force to keep down the coolies who might be disposed to revolt, stating that they hall Government contracts for 1,000 coolies to be shipped for Trinidad, and that they anticipated similar contracts for the supply of many of the West Indian colonies, I expressed no small anxiety on the subject; and finding that the title of Government emigration ships had been publicly given to vessels not reported to me as chartered by Her Majesty's Government, nor, as far as I am aware, authorized to convey coolies on account of Her Majesty's Government, I wrote to Mr. Acting Consul Elmslie to inquire on what authority he had used the words "Government emigration ship," in speaking of the "Clarendon," lately despatched for Trinidad; and have the honour to enclose copy of Mr. Elmslie's reply.
On the 11th of the present month, Mr. White, the emigration agent, put into my hands a printed charter-party, being the acceptance by Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners of a tender of the ship " Martin Luther," bound to such " in China between Canton and Amoy inclusive," as shall be signified to the inaster of port the vessel by the emigration agent, or the Governor of Hong Kong, for the purpose of loading coolies for Demeram
I beg most respectfully to submit to your Lordship the opinion, that such a charter- party is an abnegation of our treaties with China, in direct disobedience to Her Majesty's Orders in Council of the 24th February 1843, and I presume, in consequence, invalid and illegal. There is no port between Canton and Amoy where trading is not wholly prohibited by treaty, Her Majesty's engagements being, that vessels shall proceed to no other port than the five specified; namely, Canton, Amoy, Foochowfoo, Ningpo, and Shanghai; access to all other ports having been specially interdicted. Mr. White, that the port to which it was intended to send the "Martin Luther" is I find from Namoa, in the neighbourhood of which coolies have been collected by an understanding with the Mandarins, as reported in my Despatch No. 4, of the 10th instant; but Namoa is clearly a port prohibited to British ships. I hope I may be allowed earnestly to represent to your Lordship, that the abuses and miseries of which so many examples are constantly presenting themselves in connexion with the collection, shipment, and transit of coolies will grow with the growth of the demand for them, in a country where the officials are so universally corrupt, the subordinate agents so reckless and rapacious, and the power of control so weak and inefficient; nor can I lose sight of the peril to which we may expose the enormous interests, both fiscal and commercial, involved in our relations with this vast country, nor of the bad impressions which may be made on the Chinese people as regards our national character.
My opinion is unchanged, that China is frequently in a condition to supply much superfluous labour to Her Majesty's colonies, but that advantage must be taken of circum- stances more or less favourable. It must not be supposed, that any number of ships which may present themselves will at all times be able to collect emigrants without the employment of means equally fraudulent and disgusting. The mischiefs which have been already done by the headlong precipitation of adventurers will not be soon repaired.
I observe by a letter Mr. White has shown me, that an opinion still prevails in- England and the colonies, that Chinese female emigrants may be induced to accompany the men; I beg confidently to repeat, that women can only be obtained by purchase as slaves, and that they must be clandestinely and furtively shipped. It is utterly abhorrent to the Chinese mind, that any free wonian should quit the country. It is, I conceive, quite out of the question, to anticipate that Chinese emigrants will become settlers and propagators of their race in foreign countries; and I think arrangements for their return home an absolutely indispensable adjunct to any reasonable or desirable scheme for supplying labour from China.
Many circumstances have come to my knowledge which show that the emigration question is pregnant with hidden dangers. A coolie collector has just been beheaded at Canton on a clurge of highway robbery. Two others are under prosecution for misdoings in connexion with the shipment of cooliea. I should feel much apprehension if a Canton nub were excited against foreign merchants, on account of their connexion with the coolie
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
67
Bhipment trade. I have had some conversation with respectable parties, who have been discussing the acceptance of agencies for the supply of coolies; but I find prudent merchants less and less disposed to have anything to do with a trade which, though offering very large profits, is now attended with so many anxieties and perils, and has lately been associated with so many abuses and crimes.
I have thought it my duty to represent to Mr. White, he being now a servant of the Crown, that the " Martin Luther" can only legally load at one of the five ports. I have also pointed out to him that the Governor of Hong Kong, who is nominated in the charter-party of the "Martin Luther," to act in Mr. White's absence, has no authority in China, should any difficulties occur on Chinese territory. I have, moreover, given him a copy of Her Majesty's Order in Council above referred to.
I have, &c., (Signed)
The Earl of Malmesbury,
&c. &&
SIR,
JOHN BOWRING.
British Consulate, Canton, January 12, 1853.
In reply to your Excellency's Despatch No. 3, of the 6th instant, requiring me to state on what authority I have used the term "Government Emigration Ship" in speaking of the "Clarendon," I beg to say that the emigration agent mentioned the vessel to me as the "Government Emigration Ship," and Messrs. Turner and Co., the agents, have informed me that Government chartered the vessel of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., of London, for the purpose of proceeding to China for emigrants, and further, that Government have advanced the funds necessary for this object.
Messrs. Turner and Co. are not disposed to furnish me with any detailed information on the matter in question.
John Bowring, Esq.,
&c
&c
I have, &c, (Signed) ADAM W. ELMSLIE,
Her Majesty's Officiating Consul.
Enclosure in No. 22.
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to enclose copy of an interesting Despatch, dated 11th instant,
Hong Kong, January 18, 1853. with its enclosures from Mr. Officiating Consul Backhouse, on the subject, of coolie emigra- tion from Amoy. I cannot doubt that the mission of Her Majesty's steamer "Hermes," and the investigation of Mr. Secretary Harvey and Commander Fishbourne, have had the happy effect of checking abuses, restoring the public tranquillity, and will tend to the security and extension of the legitimate trade of that important port. Your Lordship will be prepared, by my previous Despatches on the subject, to consider whether there should be any, or what interference, with a trade which seems, like the opium trade, gradually shifting to places and ports where trading is prohibited by treaty, where it is placed beyond the reach of official control, and where no doubt the pressure of demand will bring with it the abuses of irregular and fraudulent supply.
I beg to enclose copy of the reply which I have sent to Mr. Acting Consul Backhouse's Despatch.
The Earl of Malmesbury,
&c.
&e.
I have, &c, (Signed) JOHN BOWRING.
British Consulate, Amoy, January 11, 1853.
SIR,
IN continuation of my Despatches Nos. 59 and 60, of the 20th and 30th and 27th of November last respectively, relative to coolie emigration and the disturbances arising therefrom, I have now the honour to report to your Excellency that affairs at this port have entirely resumed their former peaceful aspect, and that the foreign residents can, as heretofore, move amongst the native population without danger of molestation or insult.
This may partly be attributable to the main cause of excitement, having itself in a great measure disappeared, as well as to the inoffensive disposition of the inhabitants, who were aroused to a display of anger and indignation at the hardships to which they were undoubtedly subjected.
From the enclosed table, it will be seen that from the date of the late disturbance, November 21st, to the end of the year, only three vessels left this harbour with coolies; and their complement was complete, or very nearly so, when the outbreak occurred, while four have proceeded to Namoa to ship them there. Indeed, scarcely coolie is now to be obtained at this place; and I have reason to believe that the local a single authorities, although they have not moved officially in the matter, have taken means to deter the brokers by fear of punishment from the continuance of their malpractices
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