2114
Journal of Occurrences.
JrLY.
156 pan of the recipients that H. E. Sú was the medium through which com- men cations were received at Peking. Even if such was the reply, and such found to be the rule, we still think the visits of national vessels of all flags to the south of the Pei ho should be multiplied, and if they dropped in at other ports on the coast, as they have the right to do by Art. 32 of the Ame- r.can treaty, all the better. The more often intercourse can be held with the authorities of this empire by foreign powers, the better for both parties, de- apite of the many difficulties in the way.
H. E. Gov. Bonham and suite and family returned to Hongkong the next day after the Reynard, after an absence of nearly three months.
H. E. Gov. Da Cunha, whose arrival was noticed last month, died of cho- lera on the 6th inst., having been sick only about eight hours. His death left the colony without a head, and on opening his instructions, the Provisional Council found that no provision had been made in them for such an event by devolving his negotiations with the Chinese authorities, on any other person. We suppose therefore they can only refer the matter to Lisbon. We extract a paragraph from the Mail upon his character, and only add in reference to the last sentence, that the settlement has been quiet since last autumn, and has rather increased in business during a few months past, though none of the large native establishments have returned from Whampoa.
Maçao is again without a governor, commodore Da Cunha, who arrived on the 28th of May, having died on the 5th of July, after a forty days' tenure of office. The Boletim do Governo has been published, containing the official intimation, besides an editorial art.cle on the subject, and a communication from an officer in the Portuguese Navy, be- wailing the loss which his country, and more especially the settlement of Macao, har sustained. With the limited opportunities we enjoyed of forming an opinion, we entirelv concur in regarding the death of Governor Da Cunha as a great calamity. He seemed to us a person of much intelligence, clearness of perception, and firmness of purpose, united to great prudence, and free from strong prejudice. Probably he might not have considered it his duty to adopt extreme measures until others had been tried, to advance the interests of the colony, and preserve the honor of his country; and we believe that had his life been spared, he would have done both.
The stones afloat about the peremptory demands made by him upon the Imperial Commissioner, are without foundation, for we can say confidently, that up to the day of his death, no communication had passed between him and the authorities at Canton; and we may add, that instead of breathing hatred and fury against the Chinese people, he was disposed to regard them favorably, and had already shown how he could augment the revenues of the settlement by protecting and encouraging them.—China Mail.
A meeting of foreigners was held at Hongkong on the 24th ult., and at the British Consulate in Canton on the next day, to take into consideration the best means of procuring specimens of the different articles of the produce and manufacture of China for the Exhibition of 1851. The proceedings of the meeting at Canton explain the inanner in which the objects of the Exhibition are intended to be furthered.
At a preliminary meeting of gentlemen held at the British Consulate, Canton. present, John Bowring, Esq. LL. D. in the Chair; Rev. P. Parker, M.D. Messrs. Carlowitz, Browne, Elmslie, Reynvaan, Ponder, Dent, Moore, Dunlop. Sturgis. Ellice, Livingston, Mid- dleton, Sassoon, Heard. Parkin, Sichel, Ryder, Kennedy, and Cowasjec Pallanjec, the following Resolutions were unanimously carried.
Proposed by John Dent, Esq., and seconded by W. Moore, Esq.
1.
That the Exhibition of the Industry of Nations, which is to take place in London in the spring of 1851, is entitled to all support and co-operation; and that for the purpose of collecting and contributing thereunto the various productions of China, the gentle- men present do form themselves into a Committee with power to add to their number.
Proposed by R. S. Sturgis, Esq., and seconded by A. Dunlop. Esq.
2. That Dr. Bowring be the Chairman of the said Committee.
Proposed by Dr. Parker, and seconded by A. Sassoon, Esq.
3. That James T. Walker and Horace Oakley, Esqe. be the Secretaries.
Proposed by John Heard, Esq., and seconded by Robert Browne. Esq.
4
That the Oriental Bank bè requested to act as bankers to the said Committee. Proposed by R. Ellice, Esq., and seconded by W, W. Parkin, Esq.