CO885(1-2) — Page 334

C

CORRESPONDENCE

RELATIVE TO

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

No. 1.

Copy of a LETTER from JAMES BOOTH Esq. to HERMAN MERIVALE Esq.

Office of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, August 9, 1852.

SIR,

I AM directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade

to request you to transmit, for the consideration of Sir John Pakington, copies

of the following papers relating to the treatment of Chinese emigrants carried from their own country to Australia and America in British ships, viz. :—

Extract from the log of the "Lady Montague."

Two reports by the police on the case.

Report by the Liverpool Local Marine Board relating to the same case. Letter from Admiral Austen of 1st June 1852.

Letter from Dr. Bowring of 17th May 1852.

Lord Malmesbury's reply.

Letter from Colonel Lloyd of 1st June, with enclosure. Letter from Mr. Adams of 10th June 1852.

The hardship and injustice which, as these papers show, Chinese emigrants are now suffering at the hands of owners, charterers, and masters of British ships, appear to my Lords to call loudly for a remedy; and as the subject is one within the province of the Emigration Commissioners, they desire to bring it to Sir J. Pakington's notice, in order that be may have the opportunity of consider- ing whether any steps should be taken to meet the evil.

I am to add, that my Lords have been in communication with the Emigration Commissioners on the subject of the " Lady Montague," and have ascertained from them that neither the recent nor the present Passengers Act are applicable to the case of Chinese emigrants.

My Lords have also ascertained that neither the China Act nor the Foreign Jurisdiction Act give adequate powers to meet the evils in question; since, if any ordinance were passed under those Acts with reference to emigrants from China, it could only be enforced in or near that country, and would be of no force in any other country in which the ship might subsequently be found.

I am, &c., (Signed) JAMES BOOTH.

Herman Merivale, Esq.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

A

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO