PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLC.O.
6
885
Encl 7 in No. 1.
Encl. S in No. 1.
10
SIR,
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
Enclosure 7 in No. 1.
Foreign Office, July 21, 1852, I HAVE to acquaint you, in reply to your Despatch No. 23, of the 17th of May, that Her Majesty's Government approve of Her Majesty's consular officers in China having, at the request of the American authorities, lent their assistance for the recovery of an American ship which had been taken possession of by Chinese emigrants, who were embarked on board of her.
Her Majesty's Government are not ignorant of great irregularities having been com- mitted in the transport of coolies from China in British ships; and a very painful case has lately been brought to their notice of great mortality having occurred among that class of persons embarked on hoard the British vessel Lady Montague."
Another case, that of the British vessel Susannah," has lately been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government.
I enclose copies of correspondence with the Board of Trade in regard to the first- mentioned case, with Her Majesty's authorities in South America in regard to the latter.
The existing state of the British law unfortunately precludes any effectual interference with transactions of this kind; but Her Majesty's Government have under their consider- ation whether it may not be possible to frame some enactment to provide for such cases, and in the meantime it is their wish that the British authorities in China shall pay close attention to the proceedings of British ships engaged in transporting coolies, and should adopt all legal means in their power to check abuses.
And Her Majesty's Government further desire that full reports may be sent home in regard to the manner in which the emigration of Chinese coolies is conducted, accompanied with any suggestions which may occur to Her Majesty's servants as calculated to put a stop to irregularities in the conduct of British shipmasters engaged in the business.
Dr. Bowring, &c. &c.
MY LORD,
Enclosure 8 in No. 1.
I have, &c., (Signed)
MALMESBURY.
Arica, Peru, June 1, 1852.
I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship, that on 27th ultimo the British barque Susannah," of 514 tons burthen, Joseph Lukey, master, anchored in these roads, having on board 309 Chinese.
Although not in my immediate jurisdiction, the circumstances connected with this ship, as detailed to me in the enclosed letter from Mr. Vice-Consul Nugent, appeared to me so grave that I considered myself warranted in requesting his assistance to obtain further information from the master.
I transmit, for your Lordship's consideration, a surnmary of the facts elicited. While Her Majesty's Government is adopting such stringent measures, in concert with other nations, to put down slave trade, it would appear that British shipowners set at defiance and evade the Acts of Parliament for the protection of passengers.
In connivance with foreigners, and under pretence of coming from a British port, they employ British vessels to trade in human beings, offering them for sale at any port where customers can be found.
It appears by the first clearance (copy attached) that the ship left Hong Kong with "Chinese emigrants," and certified by the acting harbour-master" that the master had rendered an account of his import and export cargo, and complied with the regulations of the port."
It turns out, on the contrary, that she left Hong Kong in ballast with no emigrants, but sailed for Kumsingmoon," and, under a charter-party, took 325 Chinese, handed over by an American, a Captain Endicot, without certificates, without any form or examination whatever.
2
She sailed without any medical attendant, and sixteen men died on the passage. The captain and his French agent here have sold some twenty-five of the Chinese here (who have mostly been sent to the interior) for 112llars each, and a promise on the part of the purchasers to pay the men four dollars monthly.
The ship has sailed for "Islay" to dispose of the remainder.
Accompanied by the vice-consul, I visited the vessel, and questioned the men. They have been seduced from their country under the ilen that they were going to " English- man country" for five years, and the deception by Captain Endicot or others has been so complete, and their confidence so implicit, that many of the poor crentures, while in my presence, hung around their neck a piece of tin with merely a number stamped on it.
It is just to the master to state, that they appeared well and happy, and with much confidence in him. Everything showed that he had treated them kindly, and attende, so far as the limited space would permit, to their comfort.
I have forwarded a copy of this Despatch to Mr. Adams, Her Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Lima
(Signed) J. A. LLOYD.
The Earl of Malmesbury,
&c.
&c.
&c.
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
Enclosure 9 in No. 1.
SUMMARY of Facta elicited concerning the Barque "Susannah."
Arica, June 1, 1852.
11
514 tons burthen; built at Sunderland; owners, Messrs. Campbell and Nade, London, and Captain Lukey; came from California; in October 1851 touched at Hong Kong in ballast seeking for cargo; from thence, in January 1852, to Kumsingumoon, just opposite, 30 miles above Macao; no agents.
There are six or seven receiving ships--contraband opium-trailers,-as "The Bombay," "Ruperdle" (Captain Endicot), "Lady Hayes," "Sea Horse," "Nimrod," &c. &e, at Kursingmoon.
Captain Endicot chartered the "Susannah " to bring 325 Chinese to Arica and Islay,
there to receive orders.
He is paid 26 dollars per head, and the provisions furnished. Mr. Sevilla, at Kunsing- moon, was joint agent with Captain Endicot; Sevilla's brother is at Lima. The charter party binds the captain to go to Arica to an agent named Victor Vidambique, and at Islay to Mr. Sevilla, who will come from Lima for the purpose. The agent Vilambique has publicly offered the cargo at 110 dollars per head for a term of five years at 5 dollars per month.
Contracts are drawn up at Kumsingmoon with the Chinese in Chinese and Portuguese or Spanish. These contracts are transmitted to the agents, and given by them to the persons who purchase the services of the men ; but there appears to be no document in the hands of the men.
The captain is bound to keep the men for ten days between the two ports, and is to have a cargo of guano if he wishes.
On the 23d of May the provisions of beef, pork, and fish were expended, but there was plenty of rice, and the master lent them provisions.
The ship sailed with 325, but 16 died on board, chiefly of opium, and they generally
"died foolish."
The "Susannah" came out with troops to St. Helena froi Eondon, May 11, 1850:- from thence to Bombay with Company's stores.
From Bombay, in December 1850, to Whampon with cotton; from thence with cargo and Chinese emigrants from Hong Kong to California.
From Hong Kong only 198 emigrants were at that time shipped, then Mr. Mitchell, the deputy harbour-minster, acted as agent for emigrants; no contract or contract-certificantes were, however, given or received;" but the provisions, &c. were examined; although the captain of the port did not examine the vessel this last voyage, he knew that the captain was going to take in 300 to 325 Chinese at Kunsingmoon.
The "Susannah" is only the last of the ships which have entered on this new trade. The "Lady Montague" was about the first, three years since; she was about 650 tons, and took some 400 or more. The master says he understood that some 200 had died on
the passage, he believes to this coast and Callon. The captain was afterwards dismissed. The Victory" only left six weeks since, and after this the *Coromandel”; the "Marina" and others also trade on this const with 400 each.
Vessels are chartered for Callon, but it seems that the Chinese are landed under no cognizance at Chincha or the Guano Island.
MEM.-These statements were orally received from Captain Joseph Lukey, by me. in the presence of Mr. Vice Consul Nugent.
(Signed)
J. A. LLOYD, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires to Bolivia
Enclosure 10 in No. 1. My LORD,
Linga, June 10, 1852, COLONEL LLOYD has sent me a copy of a Despatch he addressed to your Lordship from Arica on the 1st instant, respecting the importation of Chinese immigrants in the British barque “Susannah"; and I have the honour to add to the papers sent by Colonel Lloyd, copies of the charter-party of the vessel, and of the indorsement made by Mr. Vice-Consul Nugent on the ship's articles.
The Peruvian Government has some time encouraged the importation of immigrants by a bounty of 30 dollars a head, and a considerable number are now to be found in this city and neighbourhood as domestic and agricultural labourers. Such contracts as I have seen, by which the Chinese are bound according to the laws of Peru, are to the effect that they shall be delivered to a master for whom they shall work for five years, with wages at the rate of four dollars a month, and are to be provided with lodging, food, and medicine, and medical attendance if required. The case of the “Susannah ” is entirely new to me. and I shall seek all the information in my power respecting the disposal of the Chinese, while any infringement of the Passenger Act will doubtless" find its remedy in England; but I cannot, without further inquiry, concur in the general consure east by Colonel Lloyd on British shipowners, nor in accuracy of his application of the stigma of slave-trading to the importation of Chinese immigrants.
I have, &c..
WM. PITT ADAMS.
The Earl of Malmesbury,
&c. &c. &c.
(Signed)
B 2
Encl. 9 in No. 1.
Encl. 10 in No. 1.
1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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