CO885-(1-2) — Page 370

No. 24.

70

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO

They have risen upon the captain and crew, killed the mate, and were escorted into Singapore on the 22d ultimo. Mr. Jackson informs me that he took every precaution against irregularities and frauds, against which he says it is impossible to guard. The Agent for Syme, Muir, and Co. here says they have abandoned the coolie trade.

The Earl of Malmesbury,

&c. &c

&c.

I have, &c., (Signed)

JOHN BOWRING.

British Consulate, Amoy, February 3, 1853.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to make the following report to your Excellency of the circum- stances of a case which for some days past has occupied my attention. It is now, I trust, finally settled, and I hope in a manner that will meet with your Excellency's approval

On the 17th ultimo the British ship "Medina," Sandford, master, having complied with all the regulations of the port, received her papers from this Consulate, and cleared out with the purpose of proceeding to Namoa, there to ship coolies for Havanna, a practice which I have before had the honour of stating has of late become general; but on the captain's returning on board his vessel, the crew, or the majority of them, refused to obey his orders to heave up the anchor, upon which he applied to Commander Ellman of Her Majesty's steam sloop "Salamander" for assistance, and an officer, Lieutenant Smith, was sent on board the "Melina" to inquire into the matter. Having summoned the men before him, Lieutenant Smith examined each separately as to his grounds for refusing to proceed to sen, and the general complaint was, that the ship was "short-handed,” and such Lieutenant Smith considered to be the case. Captain Sandford, therefore, exerted himself to the utmost to supply the deficiency, and in the course of a few days obtained two or three English sailors and about nine or ten Lascars. The ship being now sufficiently manned, he again prepared to weigh anchor, and gave the necessary orders, which again the crew refused to obey. He thereupon laid a complaint against them at the Consulate for disobedience of orders. I accordingly convened a court for the 25th ultimo, requesting the attendance of Commander Elliman and the master of Her Majesty's steam sloop "Salainander," and a resident British merchant, to sit as assessors. The general defence of the crew now was, that they had heard the ship was to carry coolies from Namoa to Havanna, and in such a case they believed their lives to be in danger. One of two of their number further endeavoured to establish, as an excuse for their conduct, a charge of cruelty on the part of the captain, but this they entirely failed to substantiate: That, from the tragedies which have been enacted during the last few years on board of vessela carrying coolies, they had some grounds for their fears, is indisputable; at the same time it cannot be denied that they adopted an unjustifiable method of showing their unwil- lingness to proceed on such a voyage.

The captain of the "Medina," however, having admitted that his object was to proceed to Namon for the purpose of there shipping coolies, in itself an illegal act, as being in contravention of the treaties; and it transpiring, moreover, in the course of the evidence that he had in some instances neglected to comply with the regulations for the guidance of shipmasters, and, further, that he had in a certain measure excited the insubordination of his crew by his own act, in endeavouring in the first instance to carry the ship to sea without a proper compleinent of men; it was decided, upon mature consideration, to dismiss the case, the men being warned to return to their duty, and the master being warned that in proceeding to Namoa he subjected his vessel to the risk of confiscation by the Chinese authorities. In this decision of the court the assessors unanimously concurred. The men, now relieved of the charge against them, preferred their objection to proceed on the voyage, for the last-mentioned reason, viz., that they considered their lives would be in danger. It was evident they could not be discharged in Amoy, to the indefinite detention of the ship in the harbour, and the great loss to all concerned; but the agents, who had already sent to Hong Kong for another crew, undertook, on their working the vessel to Namos, to provide them with a passage thence to Hong Kong, But, presuming on the consideration that had been shown them, the men still persisted in refusing to return to their duty, urging that, once at sea, they were at the mercy of the captain, in whose promise they had no confidence, and that, even should they be sent to Hong Kong, the captain might, and in all probability would, defraud them of their wages, for the payment of which they had no security. It being explained to them with much pains that they were no longer dependent upon the captain, but upon the agents of the vessel, against whom, if they were wronged, they could claim redress, they urged fears, as puerile as groundless, that their lives might be in danger from the resentment of the captain which they had incurred. It was now evident that further reasoning was vain, and they were ordered on board their ship, a party of men from the "Salamander" being sent to get the vessel under weigh. The same evening, Saturday 29th, they, to the number of seventeen, re-appeared at the Consulate asking shelter, and, though otherwise orderly, refusing even to return on board. I allowed them the use of the prison for the night, and they remained there during the whole of the next day (Sunday) and the next night.

EMIGRATION OF CHINESE COOLIES.

71

On Monday morning early I despatched a request to Commander Ellman to furnish a party of marines to convey them on board of the "Medina," in charge of whom they were in the course of the forenoon removed.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday the 2d instant) they again returned to the Consulate, and expressed their willingness to work the vessel as far as the Straits of Namoa, could they be assured of their wages and of being provided with a passage thence to Hong Kong. I therefore deemed it expedient to call upon the captain to render an account of the wages due to each man and to draw bills upon the owner of the vessel for the various amounts, —these, with the men's register-tickets, to be deposited in my hands, and giving them their wages' bills,-which would place it in their power immediately to desert the ship. Each man has been furnished with an account, showing the balance of wages due to him, the bills for which, as well as their tickets, it is my purpose to forward to the harbour- master in Hong Kong by the first opportunity, from whom they will receive them on reaching that port. This has been explained to them, and they have been furnished with a letter to the harbour-master on the subject. The "Medina," I believe, will sail from Amoy to night.

Trusting to find that your Excellency approves of my proceedings in this matter,

I have, &c., (Signed) J. BACKHOUSE

Dr. Bowring, &c. &c.

No. 24.

Copy of a LETTER from H. MERIVALE Esq. to Lord WODEHOUSE. MY LORD,

I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to acknowledge the receipt of

Downing Street, April 14, 1858. Mr. Addington's and your own letters of the 1st, 9th, and 30th ultimo, and 7th instant, transmitting, by desire of the Earl of Clarendon, copies of several Despatches received from Dr. Bowring, having reference to the extensive emi- gration of Chinese which is now in progress to various countries; and more particularly to a riot that had occurred at Amoy, arising out of this emigration. As regards the emigration of these people to the West India colonies (the only emigration for which this Department is responsible), I am to request that you will remind Lord Clarendon that it was instituted subject to the condition (which was explained to the West India body), that if the Chinese authorities should forbid it, it should forthwith cease.

I am to add, that although there seems reason to believe that the Chinese authorities would not object to it, if it could be carried on without abuse, yet, on the other hand, whenever Lord Clarendon shall see reason to think that it is impracticable to carry it on in such a manner as to prevent abuse, and the interdiction of it by the Chinese Government, it will remain for his Lordship to notify his opinion to that effect, and for this Department to put an end to the emigration carried on with public money.

I am to request that you will also acquaint Lord Clarendon, that as the emigration to the West Indies has come to a conclusion for the present season, and that as Mr. White may shortly be expected in this country, the Duke of Newcastle proposes to send copies of these papers to the Land and Emigration Commissioners, with instructions to consider them with Mr. White on his arrival, in order that they may submit such suggestions as may occur to them in reference to the continuance of the emigration next season.

You will find, from the enclosed extract from a letter from Mr White, that he considered it possible to confine the emigration to Hong Kong.

As regards eniigration to the Australian colonies, the Duke of Newcastle is not aware of any precautions which he can take beyond those that, as already made known to you by my letter of the 1st ultimo, he has recommended to the Governors of those colonies.

The Lord Wodehouse,

&c.

&c.

1 4

I am, &c.,

(Signed)

II. MERIVALE.

Dec. 26, 1852.

See p. 77

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TPERNIC.O.

· 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

1