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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

"the time, and in the pursuance of my instructions, has or can interfere with their "operations, it is your province to provide a remedy for the evil. We shall be most happy, Gentlemen, to dispose of the remainder of those whom I may find it necessary to reject, in any manner you may have the goodness to propose, other than allowing them to remain, but at the same time I suggest the propriety of not sending any more of such disgusting cases on board. In conclusion, I would beg that whatever remon- strance you may hereafter have to make to any action of mine, that you will, with common politeness, address yourself to me upon the matter, that I may the more readily satisfy you, and save Captain Hurst very needless trouble. With many thanks for "the courtesy of your letter,

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(Signed)

"I have the honour, &c.,

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EDWARD ELY, Surgeon, Samuel Boddington.'' "P.S.-In order to satisfy my employers that I have not 'taken upon myself' extended privileges, I shall have the honour to enclose them a copy of this correspondence, in " addition to the regular journal required.

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SIR,

Answer to the above.

(Signed) " EDWARD ELT."

Amoy, November 18 1852. "HAVING been favoured this morning by a communication from you, regarding the rejection of certain coolies from the Samuel Boldington,' we beg to observe in reply, that we are quite at a loss to understand why you should have thought fit to address us on a subject connected with the business of the ship, as on such matters we are always in the habit of corresponding with the inasters of the vessels. As agents for the charterers of the Samuel Boddington,' we beg to inform you that we consider "ourselves entitled to select the time and place which may appear to us most convenient and fitting for the medical examination of the coolies who are to proceed in the vessel, and that we shall in due time notify you of the same, when it will be in your power to reject such men, as you many deem unfit for embarkation.

"On the style and tone of your letter it is unnecessary for us to offer any remark, and we are not disposed to object to your sending to your employers any copies of correspondence which you may deem fit; but we may mention, that we shall not con- sider it requisite to reply to any communication with which you may favour us on any subject on which we choose to correspond with Captain Hurst, with whom alone we can conduct the business of the vessel under his charge, and whem only we shall address.

Edward Ely, Surgeon' Samuel Boddington."

We remain, &c. (Signed) "TAIT & Co."

Considering that Messrs. Tait &c. were rather too forgetful that there were other interests in the world besides their own, and that they were labouring under a delusion as regarded my delegated power of rejecting, and also of my position in the ship, I have returned the following:-

• Tarr & Co.

Amoy, February 18, 1852

"YOURS of this morning is received, and I answer it only to dispel a wonderful "delusion under which you seem to labour. I had not expected that in our intercourse "I should be obliged to inform you that I am not connected with the ship 'Samuel Boddington' as an ordinary articled surgeon, as you seem to infer, nor in any other

"manner.

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I am, however, bound by an agreement with the agents of Hyde, Hodge,

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EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

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supercilious language there male use of, been rendered quite a lucid understanding. It is quite immaterial to me, therefore, whether you favour me with further correspondence or not, as you are now thoroughly aware of the nature of the case, and can take your measures accordingly. I have nothing more to say, except that in your future cor- respondence with those whom I respect, and esteem as friends, you will be pleased to avoid bringing my name in question in your legislative (1) directions; and that should you "exceed the bounds of gentlemanly conduct in any way in relation to myself, I shall "hold you individually as strictly accountable as though your acknowledged position "was higher.

" I am, &c. (Signed) "EDWARD ELT."

"Abstract" of Journal resumed.

Nov. 19th & 20th.-No more coolies; coll and rainy weather. 21st. Rainy day. At this rate I shall be obliged to reject a great many more men than I should otherwise, on account of colds and inflamination of lungs contracted for want of clothes. I have been to-day to the cooly hong of Messrs. Syne, Muir, & Co., and there I saw a number of those who escaped from Tails' boats on the 10th. Mr. Bradley, when I asked him the reason, gave no answer, only that, "we pay for our coolies." It is my opinion, and that of every one else, that the escape on the 10th was a preconcerted measure among the merchants themselves. Tait & Co. have a large contract to supply a certain number of coulies to the Spanish agents in a certain time. They have employed Syme and Muir to assist them, and now that Amoy and the neighbouring country is in a state of great disturbance, so that it will be doubtful if they can fulfil their contracts, " they are willing to sacrifice their honesty to other employers, to render certain the com- pletion of a more important contract. Mr. Mackay, of the firm of Tait & Co., told me this inorning, that they were afraid they should be able to get no more coolies for some weeks, and that I must not be too strict in my examination. Directly afterwards I was on board a Spanish ship, consigned to Tait, for coolies for the Havanna, and the surgeon informed une plainly, that they expected to get away in a week after our ship, and that Messrs. Tait lind told them their coolies were all ready.

221-Dr. Ely receives a letter from Messrs. Thit & Co., wishing the medical ex- amination of the coolies next day. In the afternoon Mr. Mackay tells Dr. Ely that in consequence of the city and country being “much disturbed" they could get no more coolies, and that those collected must either be taken or they (Messrs. Tait) must throw up the charter.

23.-147 coolies brought alongside. Those already on board commenced heaving wood, pieces of iron bolts, belaying pins, &e, at the Europeans and coolie brokers because they had been kept so long without clothes or proper food.” As soon as we had got things a little quiet, and the coolies allowed to come on board, I commenced the examination, and ont of every ten men I inspected, six were in my opinion not of the kind to make good labourers." Mr. Conolly continually told me, that they could get no more coolies; that they had enough to make up our number on board if I would not be so very strict; that I was rejecting excellent men, who only wanted a month's good provisions to regain their health; and that they should not pay for any men who might be deficient "because there were a great plenty to choose from." Dr. Ely then overhauled the whole 365 men and boys, and found only

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& Co. to remain on board said ship, select a competent cargo of emigrants from the men who may be offered me by Tait & Co. at Amoy, and to administer medical aid to those who may require it during the voyage to Denierara. Therefore the business which in your letter you are pleased to term the 'business of the ship' you will at length learn is my business, and that I being responsible only to Hyde, Hodge, & Co., and feeling myself "perfectly competent and willing to discharge my trust, I shall proceed as faithfully "possible in its execution, without giving you the trouble of dictating in what manner "it shall be conducted, or of troubling Captain Hurst with our differences. Notwith- standing that you consider yourselves entitled to 'select the lime and place which muy appear to you most fitting for the melical examination of the coolies," I am compellel again to inform you, that besides a final examination, I shall continue to reject, and carefully send out of this ship, every man who is unfit, on account of disease or other "cause to remain with the healthy men on board; and as we are neither a hospital ship, nor your receiving ship, although you appear to think so, it shall be done at whatever * time I myself deem proper, and I merely reiterate that such shall be my unalterable When you wish to know my authority for my proceedings, you can call upon "the mate of the ship, who will, no doubt, have the kindness to show you the copies of " my instructions from the agents of Hyde, Hodge, & Co., which I have placed in his hands for that purpose. I trust that the loss you have been at as to why I should address you upon the subject of your letter to Captain Hurst has now, independently of the

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14

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14 course.

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162 men

40 boys

Total 202 capable of embarkation.

"Mr. Conolly now in plain terms told Captain Hurst and myself we had but one ca two things to do, either take our complement out of the rejected numbers, or lose any recompense for a short shipment, as they, as agents of the charterers, considered they were quite good enough. Of course we could do nothing else than take them, and we have now on board 352 coolies, 150 of whom I had once rejected, and with whom I expect to have much trouble, and among whom I expect to have many deaths." Then follows a complaint that proper medicines were not furnished, on the ground that they could not be had, although their own brig, the Alligator,' brought from Hong Kong, only a few days ago, severnl well-filled chests of medicines, intended no doubt for the ships going to Havanna without surgeons.”

Then comes a grievous complaint of the want of clothing; two suits of thin cotton clothes for each person, and a inat to sleep upon, and a single cotton sheet, to “last through all weathers."

Then a charge tint the Chinese clerks plundered the coolies of ten out of the eleven dollars which, by their agreement, they (the colies) were entitled to.

24th-Amoy is in a state of grent confusion and alarm.” An army of armed Chinese had entered the city, killed several Europeans, &c. &c. "We have not been able to get our supplies, and are going away without them."

The disturbance, said to be caused by the coolie brokers, having enraged the community

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TPERE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

885

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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