CO885(1-2) — Page 361

Encl, in No 19

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

But besides this the assistant consul speaks of “a flood of 50,000 able-bodied men" as emigrating annually from the province of Fokein, under what are called native contracts. Only a few hundred Chinese have left Shanghac; but these numbers are sufficient to show that the Chinese authorities do not seriously oppose emigration. Indeed, it is said the attempt to do so would excite resistance, and greatly aggravate the disturbances which take place in the famines which occur periodically in China, and for which the officers attempting to enforce the law would be made responsible. The only interference which appears to be considered probable is that of exacting bribes from the Chinese crimps and agents, in case anything occurred which was likely to become a scandal.

14. There is reason to hope that the collection and conveyance of these emigrants may eventually cost less than the 100 dollars originally fixed as a bounty in Britisk Guiana; the conveyance being estimated at from 12. 10s. to 157.* a head, while the expenses of collection appear to be trifling. We feel much doubt, however, whether it will be practicable to reduce the cost of emigration so much as these figures would indicate. We learn from a letter lately received from Mr. White, that the bounty for Havannali is as much as 125 dollars, and that the profits of the contractor are not estimated at more than 10 dollars, leaving 85 dollars, or about 18., as the cost of collection and conveyance.

15. We shall not fail to bear in mind, so far as they have not been anti- cipated, the various suggestions of detail respecting the conveyance of the emigrants, which these papers contain, but with these it is unnecessary to trouble the Secretary of State. Those which regard the securing of Govern- ment superintendence have been in a great measure either anticipated by the appointment of Mr. White, or answered by Dr. Bowring.

16. Mr. Winchester also supplies some interesting information with regard to the prosperous emigration of Chinese to the Malayan Archipelago, and their less fortunate passages to America. The details which he mentions do not bear much on West Indian emigration; but it is, perhaps, worth observing that the planters in Cuba find it worth their while to import Chinese labourers at 125 dollars a head, in order that they may employ them at wages amounting to three dollars a month besides rations. The fact may throw some light on the cost and profits of sugar-growing in Cuba, the rival of our free colonies.

should 17. In conclusion, we have only to suggest that copies of these papers be sent to the colonies of Jamaica, British Guiana, and Trinidad, to whom every information must be important respecting the character and management of the immigrants whom they are about to receive.

18. We would also recommend that copies of Mr. White's letter should be sent to the colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad, with reference especially to Mr. White's intention, judicious as we think, to guarantee two or three back passages. We should, however, explain that the delay in sending out Mr. White's instructions, to which that gentleman refers, arose from the necessity of obtaining the concurrence of the Foreign Office, and that the employment of Messrs. Tait and Co. is a circumstance arising out of the bounty emigration of this year. If that mode of emigration is discontinued it will be open to Mr. White to suggest a different mode of proceeding for the next

season.

We have, &c.

(Signed) T. W. C. MURDOCH. FREDERICOGERS

P. S. January 11.-Since writing the above Report we have received your letter of the same date (7th instant), enclosing two further Despatches from Dr. Bowring, with memoranda from the consuls at Amoy and Ningpo, and from a gentleman named Parkes, who appears to act as Chinese interpreter at Hong Kong.

This latter memorandum and the Despatch enclosing it, contain some interesting information respecting emigration to the neighbouring countries, and especially respecting the organization of the Chinese emigrants in Java, under We should apprehend, a species of municipal Board of their own countrymen.

P.S. January 11.-The Consul at Amoy estimates it at 177.

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

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however, that such a system would be scarcely desirable in the West Indies; first, because the Chinese must to a certain extent be dispersed in small bodies through the sugar estates, and not collected in one large body; secondly, because we imagine it would promote isolation, instead of the amalgamation of the immigrants; thirdly, because the principal questions of law which would arise would be between them and their employers, which must be settled by British law and British judges; and lastly, because the law courts of the colony would, we trust, amply secure to the immigrants that justice and freedom which in Java can, perhaps, be only attained by this kind of imperium in imperio.

It will be seen by Mr. White's letter (annexed), that the proposal of Messrs. Turner and Co. to procure labourers in the neighbourhood of Canton, to which Dr. Bowring objects, originated with him. And we are aware that he expected to obtain a supply of useful persons from that neighbourhood; as he states himself to be in free communication with Dr. Bowring, it cannot be doubted that the advantages and disadvantages of the different localities will be fully considered. It is a question which evidently can best be settled on the spot.

The slender information given in the consular letters now forwarded so nearly coincides with what had been already received, that it merely requires the addition to our Report of two or three marginal motes, which will be found in their places. Herman Merivale, Esq.,

SIR,

&c.

&c.

Enclosure in No. 18.

Hong Kong, October 15, 1852. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I arrived here on the 10th instant. On the evening of that day I proceeded to Canton, in order to place myself in com- munication with Messrs. Turner and Co., who have been authorized by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co. to attend to the shipment of emigrant labourers for Demerara and Trinidad.

I returned from Canton on the 14th, and shall leave this for Amoy on the 17th; and I write this some days in advance of the mail, in case I should not find any opportunity of writing from Amoy.

The instructions which I expected to receive by this mail, v Marseilles, have not come to hand. I shall, however, not in accordance with what I conceive to be the spirit of my instructions; and shall meanwhile use every effort in my power to forward the emigration of labourers, and to place it on a satisfactory footing.

I had a long interview yesterday with his Excellency Dr. Bowring, the Superintendent of Trade. He stated to me fully the views which he entertains on the subject of Chinese emigration to the West Indies; 'and has no doubt of its ultimate success, provided the system be well organized, and fairly and honestly carried out.

Several cases of great mortality, of mutiny, and murder having occurred recently on board of vessels bound to Peru and Panama with Chinese labourers, he has thought it necessary to issue a notification having reference to British vessels engaged in the transport of coolies; a copy of which, marked A., is annexed for your information. As far as my information goes, all these cases have occurred through, and have been occasioned by, gross mismanagement on board, or had treatment on the part of the commanders of vessels engaged in the service. The food has been bad, or the supply inadequate, or the peculiar customs and habits of the emigrants have been unnecessarily interfered with. Harsh treatment has been followed by resistance, and mutiny and murder have brought the voyage to an unhappy termination. It is alleged that some emigrants, engaged to go to San Francisco in California, have been carried to Lima in Peru; and that others, engaged as agricultural labourers for Peru, have been, on their arrival there, transferred, in a condition little if at all better than slaves, to the Guano Islands, where many of them have sought in suicide a relief for their miseries. It is to be regretted that the Government of Peru does not take steps to regulate this emigration, and to put it on a proper footing. The labour of the Chinese is invaluable to the Peruvians; but the emigration as now conducted is open to every possible abuse.

The "Glentanner" left Amoy on the 1st of September, and the "Lord! Elgin" on the 16th. I have not been able to ascertain the exact number on board of each vessel. The "Lord Elgin" had left Singapore two days before my arrival there in the steamer on the 1st instant; and I was informed that the emigrants were all well, and had expressed themselves satisfied with the food and the treatment they had received. The "Samuel Boddington" is now lying at Amoy, and the " Lucknow left this for Amoy a few days ago. At present I am not aware when the "Samuel Boddington " is likely to get away All these vessels are for Eritish Guiana.

G 3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O.

سي سينيسا

885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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