CO885(1-2) — Page 377

Encl. 1 in No. 31.

84

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

2. It will be observed, that the full complement of 1,000 labourers required by Trinidad will probably be sent thither; that a large ship of 1,144 tons has been taken up for Demerara, besides those already despatched; that there is some difficulty in procuring ships, but none in procuring people; and that the emigrants recently procured are promising and contented.

3. Mr. White's suggestion with regard to procuring females is one on which it is not necessary to pronounce at once, as the emigration season will be over long before any letter can reacl: China, and it would be very desirable to obtain a more precise explanation of the plan before doing so. Of the importance of the object there is no doubt.

4. It appears from a private letter from Mr. White, that he considered his understanding with the West Indian Committee to be, that he should go out to superintend only the commencement of the emigration, and, accordingly, that he is about to return to England at the expiration of the present season, i.e., after March. This being the case, we do not see that any decision can be taken now on his suggestion. Our present impression, however, is, that it would be desirable to aim at family rather than purely female emigration.

We have, &c. (Signed)

Herman Merivale, Esq.,

&c.

&c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 31.

T. W. C. MURDOCH. FREDERIC ROGERS.

Canton, January 8, 1853.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 25th October 1852, with a copy of the charter-party of the ship "Martin Luther;" copy of the memorandum of agreement between the Commissioners and Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., in reference to the Trinidad emigration, and copy of the instructions to surgeons engaged in the African emigration.

The first paragraph refers to "a letter of the 23d instant, which conveyed certain instructions that had been subunitted and approved by the Secretary of State." This letter has not yet come to hand, but as his Excellency the Governor has been kind enough to furnish me with a copy of the "instructions" that were sent out to him, I am in possession of the information they convey.

I have made arrangements for embarking emigrants on board of the "Martin Luther" at Hong Kong, and the authorities will thus have an opportunity of inspecting the vessel, and of ascertaining in detail the system under which it is proposed to carry on emigration to the West Indies. There will be no difficulty or delay in procuring a full complement for the "Martin Luther."

The "Clarendon " left Whampoa on the 2d instant, with a full complement (257 adults), fine effective people. The people were so eager to go by her that they remained alongside the vessel in boats for three or four daya, rather than stay on shore; and at last upwards of 40 were rejected, being above the number the vessel could legally carry. Every man received ten dollars in money, and two suits of clothes. The people insisted upon having the vessel fitted up in the same manner as the vessels which had previously conveyed emigrants to California, and it seemed to give them perfect confidence when this was done to their satisfaction. I found them cheerful, und apparently content with everything, and I explained to them, through an interpreter, the probable length of the voyage, the work they would be required to perform, the wages they would receive, and that they had full liberty to leave the vessel if they wished to do so. I also had a few notices to the same effect stuck up between flecks, and a scale of the provisions they were entitled to receive as their daily allowance. I do not forward by this mail the papers connected with the " Clarendon," as I wish to show them to his Excellency Dr. Bowring, and to explain any point on which he may wish for information. There is a good surgeon on board, who was procured in Calcutta, the one who came out having been dismissed there for misconduct and intemperance.

Messrs. Turner and Co. are now in treaty for two vessels, one for Demerara and the other for Trinidad; and I give them every assistance for carrying out the arrangements maile by the Commissioners with Messrs. Hyde. Hodge, and Co. It is better to do so than by unnecessary competition impede their operations. Before I close this, I hope to announce that one, if not both, vessels have been secured.

I find it impossible to obtain interpreters either at Amoy or Namon for the emigrants who have embarked from there; I have, therefore, written to Penang, to his Excellency the Acting Governor, to request that he will be kind enough to give his assistance to procure four interpreters from there; two for Trinidad, and two for Demerara. They can be sent on either by some vessel that touches there, or by the steamers. There will be

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

35

some expense attending this, but it cannot be obviated. A few interpreters may be obtained at Hong Kong for the emigrants who embark from the Canton districts.

A few women might have been procured to go by the "Clarendon," but the Captain objected to take them, on the ground that they would give occasion to quarrels and disturbances on the voyage, and the matter therefore was not pressed upon him. If the colonies are desirous to obtain a proportion of women, I think it would be better to keep this female emigration separate and distinct from the male emigration, and to send some women by a separate vessel. I am led to believe that they may be obtained from this district and elsewhere, by paying to them in advance-one year's to one and a half year's wages; and, from what I have seen of Chinese character, I have no doubt that this amount would gladly be refunded to the colony, by such of the Chinese emigrants as bad already obtained by superior industry a better position than their fellow emigrants. A few families night be obtained on these terms, but as the species of emigration is new, and would require tact and care in the management, it would be advisable not to attempt it with any vessel of larger tonnage than would accommodate from 120 to 150 persons, and the emigration should take place from Hong Kong, One half the number might be landed in Demerara, and the other half in Trinidad. Proportionate wages would have to be paid in advance for the children.

There is at present some difficulty in obtaining vessels for the emigration service. The captains, alarmed at the disasters which occurred some time ago, are unwilling to embark in it, if any other engagement can be found. There is a considerable demand for vessels to California, and the parties connected with the Cuban, and Peruvian emigration are disposed to take up any vessels that offer. This latter difficulty is not likely to last long, as, from the reluctance of English captains to take over a limited number of emigrants, Spanish and Peruvian vessels are preferred, and in time this emigration will be carried on entirely by vessels sailing under these flags. The "Sophia," an American vessel, purchased by the Spanish consul Senor Jorgé, sailed recently from Macao with 250 to 260 emigrants; her tonnage is from 270 to 280, and her destination the Ilavanna. The rigid enforcement of the English Passengers' Act, if adopted and carried out by the authorities at Hong Kong, would completely prevent English yessels from this source of profit; and the effect of this would be greatly to add to the wretchedness of the emi- gration, by restricting it entirely to Spanish and Peruvian vessels, whose captains have little compunction in carrying as many people as can possibly be stowed.

Although the emigration to California was discontinued for a time, and some hundreds have returned from there, it is now being resumed. One vessel left Hong Kong recently with 240 passengers and another with 150.

The rate of freight under present circumstances may be stated at 10l. to 121. for every emigrant landed in the West Indies. It is not likely ever to exceed 121. 108., and occa sionally will be obtained below 10. If the emigration agent were authorized to make a small advance on freight, say from 11. to 21. per man on the number of emigrants the vessel could carry, it would facilitate the chartering of vessels, and probably enable him to procure them on somewhat lower terms. This amount is intended to cover the expense of the vessel for fitments, water-casks, and disbursements while in harbour.

I am afraid it will be too late to do anything this season in regard to the Jamaica emigration without interfering with that to Demerara and Trinidad. The difficulty will be in regard to vessels, and not in regard to people, of whom from the different points now open to emigration any number may be obtained. Until this season, I had no idea of the tenacity and force with which the monsoon blows from one quarter; and it will always be desirable, when possible, not to extend the departure of vessels beyond the end of March or middle of April. A voyage of 40 to 60 days between this and Singapore is an affair of common occurrence. If emigrants leave after the 31st of March it will be necessary to furnish them with warm clothing for use in the southern latitudes when rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

S. Walcott, Esq.,

&c.

SIR,

&c.

I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES T. WINTE

Enclosure 2 in No. 31.

Ilong Kong, January 11, 1653. REFERRING to my previous letter of the 8th instant, No. 6, I have now to state, for your information, that the "Lady Flora Hastings," G17 tons, has been chartered by Messrs. Turner, per account of Hyde, Hodges, and Co., and that the arrangements for a charter of the Lord Warriston" have been so far advanced that they will probably be completed in the course of to-day.

The emigrants per Lady Flora Hastings" will complete the number required for Trinidad, and the Lord Warriston" will be sent to Demerara. She is a fine vessel of 1,144 tons, upwards of 8 feet between decks, and has been engaged in conveying cini- grants on previous occasions, and is in every respect well adapted for the service.

L3

Encl. 2 in No, 31.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON