12
intendent of Customs will delay to insert the same in his books, thus affording an opportunity that the merits of the case may be duly tried and sifted.
VIII. Manner of Paying the Duties.
In the
It is hereinbefore provided, that every English vessel that enters any one of the five ports, shall pay all duties and tonnage-dues before she be permitted to depart. The Superintendent of Customs will select certain shroffs, or banking establishments, of known stability, to whom he will give licences, authorizing them to receive duties from the English merchants on behalf of Government, and the receipt of these shroff's for any moneys paid them shall be considered as a Government voucher. paying of these duties, different kinds of foreign money may be made use of; but as foreign money not of equal purity with sycee silver, the English Consuls appointed to the different ports will, according to time, place, and circumstances, arrange with the Superintendents of Customs at each, what coins may be taken in payment, and what per centage may be necessary to make them equal to standard or pure silver.
IX. Weights and Measures.
Sets of balance-yards for the weighing of goods, of money-weights, and of measures, prepared in exact conformity to those hitherto in use at the Custom-house of Canton, and duly stamped and sealed in proof thereof, will be kept in possession of the Superintendent of Customs, and also at the British Consulate at each of the five ports, and these shall be the standards by which all duties shall be charged, and all sums paid to Government. In case of any dispute arising between British merchants and Chinese officers of Customs, regarding the weights or measures of goods, reference shall be made to these standards, and disputes decided accordingly.
X. Lighters or Cargo Boats.
Whenever any English merchant shall have to load or discharge cargo, he may hire whatever kind of lighter or cargo-boat he pleases, and the sum to be paid for such boat can be settled between the parties themselves, without the interference of Government. The number of these boats shall not be limited, nor shall a monopoly of them be granted to any parties. If any smuggling take place in them, the offenders will of course be punished according to law. Should any of these boat-people, while engaged in conveying goods for English merchants, fraudulently abscond with the property, the Chinese authorities will do their best to apprehend them; but, at the same time, the English merchants must take every due precaution for the safety of their goods.
XI. Transshipment of Goods.
No English merchant-ships may transship goods without special permission: should any urgent case happen where transshipment is necessary, the circumstances must first be submitted to the Consul, who will give a certificate to that effect, and the Superintendent of Customs will then send a special officer to be present at the transshipment. If any one presumes to transship without such permission being asked for and obtained, the whole of the goods so illicitly transshipped will be confiscated.
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XII. Subordinate Consular Officers.
At any place selected for the anchorage of the English merchant-ships, there may be appointed a subordinate Consular officer, of approved good conduct, to exercise due control over the seamen and others. He must exert himself to prevent quarrels between the English seamen and natives, this being of the utmost importance. Should any thing of the kind unfortunately take place, he will in like manner do his best to arrange it amicably. When sailors go on shore to walk, officers shall be required to accompany them; and should disturbances take place, such officers will be held responsible. The Chinese officers may not impede natives from coming alongside the ships to sell clothes or other necessaries to the sailors living on board.
XIII. Disputes between British Subjects and Chinese,
Whenever a British subject has reason to complain of a Chinese, he must first proceed to the Consulate and state his grievance; the Consul will thereupon inquire into the merits of the case, and do his utmost to arrange it amicably. In like manner, if a Chinese have reason to complain of a British subject, he shall no less listen to his complaint, and endeavour to settle it in a friendly manner. If an English merchant have occasion to address the Chinese authorities, he shall send such address through the Consul, who will see that the language is becoming; and, if otherwise, will direct it to be changed, or will refuse to convey the address. If, unfortunately, any disputes take place of such a nature that the Consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of a Chinese officer, that they may together examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably. Regarding the punishment of English criminals, the English Government will enact the laws necessary to attain that end, and the Consul will be empowered to put them in force; and regarding the punishment of Chinese criminals, these will be tried and punished by their own laws, in the way provided for by the correspondence which took place at Nanking, after the concluding of the peace.
XIV. British Government Cruizers anchoring within the Ports.
An English Government cruizer will anchor within each of the five ports, that the Consul may have the means of better restraining sailors and others, and preventing disturbances. But these Government cruizers are not to be put on the same footing as merchant-vessels; for, as they bring no merchandize and do not come to trade, they will of course pay neither dues nor charges. The Resident Consul will keep the Superintendent of Customs duly informed of the arrival and departure of such Government cruizers, that he may take his measures accordingly.
XV. On the Security to be given for British Merchant-Vessels.
It has hitherto been the custom, when an English vessel entered the port of Canton, that a Chinese Hong Merchant stood security for her, and all duties and charges were paid through such security-merchant; but these security-merchants being now done away with, it is understood, that the British Consul will henceforth be security for all British merchant-ships entering any of the aforesaid five ports.
85
12
intendent of Customs will delay to insert the same in his books, thus affording an opportunity that the merits of the case may be duly tried and sifted.
VIII. Manner of Paying the Duties.
In the
It is hereinbefore provided, that every English vessel that enters any one of the five ports, shall pay all duties and tonnage-dues before she be permitted to depart. The Superintendent of Customs will select certain shroffs, or banking establishments, of known stability, to whom he will give licences, authorizing them to receive duties from the English mer- chants on behalf of Government, and the receipt of these shroff's for any moneys paid them shall be considered as a Government voucher. paying of these duties, different kinds of foreign money may be made use of; but as foreign money not of equal purity with sycee silver, the English Consuls appointed to the different ports will, according to time, place, and circumstances, arrange with the Superintendents of Customs at each, what coins may be taken in payment, and what per centage may be necessary to make them equal to standard or pure silver.
IX. Weights and Measures.
Sets of balance-yards for the weighing of goods, of money-weights, and of measures, prepared in exact conformity to those hitherto in use at the Custom-house of Canton, and duly stamped and sealed in proof thereof, will be kept in possession of the Superintendent of Customs, and also at the British Consulate at each of the five ports, and these shall be the standards by which all duties shall be charged, and all sums paid to Government. In case of any dispute arising between British merchants and Chinese officers of Customs, regarding the weights or measures of goods, reference shall be made to these standards, and disputes decided accordingly.
X. Lighters or Cargo Boats.
Whenever any English merchant shall have to load or discharge cargo, he may hire whatever kind of lighter or cargo-boat he pleases, and the sum to be paid for such boat can be settled between the parties them- selves, without the interference of Government. The number of these boats shall not be limited, nor shall a monopoly of them be granted to any parties. If any smuggling take place in them, the offenders will of course be punished according to law. Should any of these boat-people, while engaged in conveying goods for English merchants, fraudulently abscond with the property, the Chinese authorities will do their best to apprehend them; but, at the same time, the English merchants must take every due precaution for the safety of their goods.
XI. Transshipment of Goods.
No English merchant-ships may transship goods without special per- mission: should any urgent case happen where transshipment is necessary, the circumstances must first be submitted to the Consul, who will give a certificate to that effect, and the Superintendent of Customs will then send a special officer to be present at the transshipment. If any one presumes to transship without such permission being asked for and obtained, the whole of the goods so illicitly transshipped will be confiscated.
·
13
XII. Subordinate Consular Officers.
At any place selected for the anchorage of the English merchant- ships, there may be appointed a subordinate Consular officer, of approved good conduct, to exercise due control over the seamen and others. He must exert himself to prevent quarrels between the English seamen and natives, this being of the utmost importance. Should any thing of the kind unfortunately take place, he will in like manner do his best to arrange it amicably. When sailors go on shore to walk, officers shall be required to accompany them; and should disturbances take place, such officers will be held responsible. The Chinese officers may not impede natives from coming alongside the ships to sell clothes or other necessaries to the sailors living on board.
XIII. Disputes between British Subjects and Chinese,
Whenever a British subject has reason to complain of a Chinese, he must first proceed to the Consulate and state his grievance; the Consul will thereupon inquire into the merits of the case, and do his utmost to arrange it amicably. In like manner, if a Chinese have reason to com- plain of a British subject, he shall no less listen to his complaint, and endeavour to settle it in a friendly manner. If an English merchant have occasion to address the Chinese authorities, he shall send such address through the Consul, who will see that the language is becoming; and, if otherwise, will direct it to be changed, or will refuse to convey the address. If, unfortunately, any disputes take place of such a nature that the Consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of a Chinese officer, that they may together examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably. Regarding the punishment of English criminals, the English Government will enact the laws neces- sary to attain that end, and the Consul will be empowered to put them in force; and regarding the punishment of Chinese criminals, these will be tried and punished by their own laws, in the way provided for by the correspondence which took place at Nanking, after the concluding of the peace.
XIV. British Government Cruizers anchoring within the Ports.
An English Government cruizer will anchor within each of the five ports, that the Consul may have the means of better restraining sailors and others, and preventing disturbances. But these Government cruizers are not to be put on the same footing as merchant-vessels; for, as they bring no merchandize and do not come to trade, they will of course pay neither dues nor charges. The Resident Consul will keep the Super- intendent of Customs duly informed of the arrival and departure of such Government cruizers, that he may take his measures accordingly.
XV. On the Security to be given for British Merchant-Vessels.
It has hitherto been the custom, when an English vessel entered the port of Canton, that a Chinese Hong Merchant stood security for her, and all duties and charges were paid through such security-merchant; but these security-merchants being now done away with, it is understood, that the British Consul will henceforth be security for all British mer- chant-ships entering any of the aforesaid five ports.
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