No. 15.
30
SIR,
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
No. 15.
Cory of a LETTER from the Right Hon. Lord STANLEY to HERMAN
MERIVALE Esq.
Foreign Office, October 22, 1852.
I AM directed by the Earl of Malmesbury to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir John Pakington, the accompanying copy of a August 30, 1852. Despatch from Her Majesty's consul at San Francisco, on the subject of
Chinese immigration into California.
Mr. Aikin, No. 21,
Encl. in No. 15.
No. 16.
Herman Merivale, Esq.,
&c.
MY LORD,
&c.
Enclosure in No. 15.
I am, &c., (Signed)
STANLEY.
British Consulate, San Francisco, August 30, 1852. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Lordship's Despatch No. 4, dated the 16th June, with inquiries respecting the immigration of Chinese.
The immigration during the past year has amounted to about 18,000, and almost all have immediately left for the mining regions, where they have been engaged in working on their own account claims abandoned by American and other miners, or by working their claims on wages of two to three dollars per day; scarcely any have engaged in agriculture, and I am therefore unprepared to state whether they could adapt themselves to it. A large proportion have had their passage paid by Chinamen with capital, who accompanied them, but the reports are so conflicting with regard to the terms on which the money has been advanced, that I cannot give your Lordship any very reliable infor- mation, although I am inclined to think the heads of the parties have trusted more to the advantages to be derived by the trade they engage in with them after arrival, than by receiving any portion of their earnings, beyond the amount of advances and interest thereon.
The Earl of Malmesbury,
&c. &c.
&c.
No. 16.
I have, &c, (Signed) GEORGE AIKIN.
COPY of a LETTER from H. U. ADDINGTON Esq. to HERMAN MERIVALE Esq.
SIR,
Foreign Office, December 4, 1852.
I AM directed by the Earl of Malmesbury to transmit to you, for No. 127. Sept. 25. the information of Secretary Sir John Pakington, a copy and an extract of
Sept. 13.
two Despatches from Dr. Bowring, relative to the emigration of Chinese coolies.
Encl 1 in No. 16.
Herman Merivale, Esq.,
&c.
&c.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) II. U. ADDINGTON.
Enclosure 1 in 16.
MY LORD,
Hong Kong, September 25, 1852. IN reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 15, of 12th of June last, directing that certain queries should be sent to the various consulates, with the view of obtaining the best information as to the emigration of Chinese coolies, and of suggesting any remedial measures likely to put an end to existing abuses in furtherance of the instructions conveyed by your Lordship's Despatch No. 24, of 21st July, I have now the honour to enclose, 1st, copy of a Despatch from Mr. Consul Elmslie, dated Canton, 25th August, with one enclosure; 2d, a note, dated 26th August, full of valuable information, which has been furnished at my request by Dr. Charles Winchester, our first assistant in the Amoy consulate, who, in the locality which supplies by far the greatest portion of emigrants, has not only had much experience, but has given special attention to the subject matter; 3d, copy of a Despatch from Mr. Consul Alcock, dated Shanghae, 1st September.
From Foochowfoo Mr. Vice-Consul Walker writes, that there is no disposition in that neighbourhood to emigration; that the population, not being maritime, have little knowledge of and little confidence in foreigners; and that should any willingness to quit China be exhibited by the people, it would be immediately checked and condemned.
2
EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.
31
I have not yet received the official reports from Amoy and Ningpo. The question (with reference to legislation) is full of difficulties; not (it appears to me) as regards jurisdiction over British ships and subjects, for they, if violating the law, would be responsible to consular authority, within 100 miles of the coast; but as no aid or co-operation could be calculated on from the Chinese authorities, and as abundant places of shipment are everywhere to be found (the opium stations all along the coast for example), where there is no consular representative, I am afraid little can be done in China to check the frauds and irregularities to which the cupidity of the Chinese crimpe and agents are so disposed to minister. Strong Legislative enactments or Orders in Council might be held in terrorem over British offenders; but as far as foreign ships and foreign states are concerned, nothing but co-operation, zealous and honest, with Her Majesty's Government, will prevent the existence of the grossest abuses and abominations, though no amount of co-operation will, it is to be feared, wholly put a stop to the malpractices which are associated with the trade.
Lord Malmesbury, &c. &c. &c
SIR,
I have, &c. (Signed) JOHN BOWRING.
British Consulate, Canton, August 25, 1852.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's Despatch No. 68, of the 5th instant, enclosing certain queries on the subject of emigration from China, and I now beg to subjoin such information as I have been enabled to collect on the subject.
Query 1.-Has any emigration taken place within the last few years from the port of Canton? If so, to what extent?
Reply-Emigration has, within the last few years, taken place from this port to a considerable extent; but although the emigrants are shipped at Whampoa, Cumsing, Macao, and Hong Kong, I shall consider them as belonging to Canton and the surrounding districta.
In 1848, about 10 Chinese emigrated to California
ولا
In 1849,
900 In 1850,
3,118 In 1851, 3,508
21
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"
21
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17
And during the first six months of 1832, 15,000 left Whampoa, Cumsing, Macao, and Hong Kong for California. In addition to these, about 2,025 coolies have emigrated to South America, where, on arrival, they are generally hired out to the Peruvian Govern- ment, and employed on various Government works. A large portion of the coolies, however, are sent to dig the guano on Chincha Island, where, from the nature of the labour, they either speedily die, or undergo excessive misery and suffering. Many have been known to commit suicide.
The coolie traffic to South America seems now at an end, for since the three successive outrages which occurred on board the "Albert," "Victory," and "Robert Browne," no vessel can be obtained to proceed on that service, although many orders are in the
market.
Query 2-Is the emigration from Canton sanctioned or connived at by the local authorities? Are any obstacles thrown in the way of intending emigrants?
Reply. The authorities do not interfere in any way whatever with emigration. All measures connected with the system are carried on openly. Placards are distributed all over the country notifying the departure of vessels for California, and inviting persons to avail themselves of the opportunities thus afforded for proceeding thither. No obstacles are thrown in the way of intending emigration.
Query 3.-Are the inhabitants of the districts adjoining to Canton, in your opinion, well fitted for labour in a tropical climate like that of the West Indies?
Reply-The Canton people are the strongest, most intelligent and sagacious, and the most industrious and thrifty of all the Chinese; they work hard, live orderly, and take care of themselves; are more clanish than any other people in China; and are, I should think, the very best adapted for labour in the West Indies.
Query 4.-What is the average rate of pay per diem for agricultural labour in and near Canton ?
Reply-The Chinese live in such a patriarchal manner that it is somewhat difficult to answer this question; two dollars per mensem, with their rice, is the outside.
Query 5.-What is the general character of the people of Canton as regards industry and capacity for labour?
Reply-Is answered by No. 3.
Query 6.In the event of an emigration taking place on a large scale, is it likely that inen of respectable character and industrial habits would join it, or only the refuse of the population?
-
Reply. If to the West Indies, the emigrants would be agricultural labourers-by no means a degraded section of the people; and they would, from their saving and industrious habits, soon become landholders themselves; that is to say, if they liked the country.
D 4
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Wyimmin
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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