CO129-018 - Others - 1846 — Page 514

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BRITISH POSITION

the description and amount of goods, to be sent to the commissioner of customs at Canton, in a prescribed form, month by month."

This enactment, and these clauses, have, it is now fully acknowledged, struck a severe blow at the coasting trade; the duty and restrictions on the lorchas and small craft, rendering them too expensive, and the regu- lations on the Chinese vessels effectually prohibiting them from ever daring to ask for passes to trade with Hong Kong,

The supplemental treaty appears to have been most craftily designed for destroying any prospective benefit that Hong Kong might possibly have derived from the usual energy and enterprise of British merchants. Indeed, it is asserted by Mr. Gutzlaff, that while the treaty was negoti- ating, a proposition was seriously entertained of stationing a Chinese mandarin at Hong Kong, for collection of the duties to be levied here on behalf of the Chinese Government!

An examination of the Chinese tariff will show that the export duties levied by the Chinese Government are very heavy. On tea, the export duty ranges from 12 to 20 per cent.; on camphor, 12 to 15 on cassia, 12 per cent.; and so on in various proportions throughout per cent.; the tariff. It is also confidently stated, that the inland transit duties on British manufactures are still maintained at a high rate, and that our manufactures are thus effectually excluded from extended consumption in the interior of the country. The effect of transit duties in impeding the sale of goods has been manifested in British and in foreign India, where they are now almost entirely abolished.

The establishment of a perfectly free port to the northward, as, for instance, at Chusan, would tend to counteract these restrictions. The Chinese junks, when out of sight of their own ports, and unwatched, would freely purchase goods*, which the native traders would, through various channels, carry into the interior, without the Chinese custom- house stamp, which renders goods prohibitory, or which is an incitement to extortions at the different transit stations.

Irrespective of the value which I have endeavoured to demonstrate in my Report on Chusan, of the military and naval advantages, and of the geographical position of that island, its intrinsic worth as a station for extended commerce is unquestionable; and the large number of peaceful inhabitants engaged in husbandry on Chusan and the neigh- bouring islands, is, in itself, an advantage for the promotion of our trade.

On the fourth point, namely, the cession of a barren, unhealthy, and useless rock, at the southern extremity of the empire, it is almost unne- cessary to offer a comment, as few disinterested persons now deny that a great error was committed by our acceptance of Hong Kong. Time

• Since the above was penned, the "Hong Kong Register," a journal belong- ing to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co., contains, in an editorial article of 15th April, 1845, the following remarks:-

"A great many new houses and shops are building at Chusan, and a much larger number of boats and junks now frequent the harbour. Had we permanent possession of Chusan, it would be difficult to define the limit to which our influ- ence in China, and our trade to Shantung, the north of China, Corea, and perhaps even to Japan, might extend either in British or in native bottoms."

AND PROSPECTS IN CHINA.

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and events have confirmed the accuracy of my report upon the island; it is still devoid of trade, and without prospect of any native or European traffic; its insalubrity* is beyond a doubt; its inapplicability for colonization, unfortunate geographical position, even as regards the Canton river estuary, and its inappropriateness as a military station for the maintenance of British supremacy in China, are now pretty generally acknowledged; and many who have spent large sums in building, under the delusion that Hong Kong would become a commercial emporium, would be glad to get back even a moiety of their outlay.

The supplemental treaty, which throughout was framed restrictively and adversely to British interests†, destroyed the only chance, however remote, that Hong Kong had of ever becoming a resort for junks from the coast. The treaty was, however, almost supererogatory, for natural aud insuperable difficulties prevent the island ever being made worthy the name of a British colony. On a summary review of the past, it would appear that we have not derived the fair and legitimate advantages we had a right to obtain from the recent war, and that we have lost by diplomacy, the position which had been gained by the sword.†

1st. In money we have not been reimbursed for the expenditure incurred during the war; and we are still incurring a very heavy and unprofitable outlay on this coast.

2nd. The expected advantages from opening four commercial ports, in addition to the port of Canton, have not been realized: we are still restricted in our intercourse, locally and generally, and life and property are considered by no means secure, at Canton itself, within a hundred yards of the British factory; while ingress is still denied to the city of Canton, where the people are encouraged to treat us with marked con- tumely and insult, accompanied in some instances by robbery and vio- lence, within sight of the city walls.{]

507

again in Jany Youb

* During the year 1843, the deaths among the troops at Hong Kong were 1 in 31, at Chusan 1 in 294. By official returns printed in the "Friend of China" of April 16, 1845, it appears that the mortality of 1844 has been dreadful; on an average strength of 1800 men, the deaths were 373, and the invaliding 333-706, 1 equal to one-third of the garrison ! The survivors were unequal to one heavy day's march. Among the deaths were seven European officers; among the invalidings twelve European officers. Of sixty officers who lived at Chusan for eighteen months, not one died or invalided; and the troops are in as perfect health as if they were in England,

+ Her Majesty's plenipotentiary who framed this treaty, now declares "that he was an umpire between Great Britain and China.” It was supposed that he was sent here for the protection and advancement of British interests.

The prohibition of vessels from Hong Kong alone, going beyong the 32nd degree of north latitude, has not been adverted to; the injustice, imupolicy, and unnationality being so obvious. Such an edict, emanating from the Court of Pekin, seems quite consistent; but that it should be framed by a British plenipo- tentiary seems quite impossible.

|| In July, 1845, Mr. Backhouse, and some of the Consular officers at Canton, were pelted with stones and covered with mud when rowing on the river for exercise, within a few hundred yards of the British Consulate.

The following letter refers to an outrage perpetrated a short time previous to this minute being written :—

"To Francis C. Macgregor, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul, Canton. "Sir,

British Consulate, Canton, March 18, 1845. “About seven o'clock this morning, while walking for exercise along the north wall, on the outside of the city, we were attacked by several Chinese, who had