CO129-034 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [9-12] — Page 45

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KOMAANDRESARZAMENTERARUMARAN KERAKONEM Imely ..

43

EXHIBITION OF THE INDUSTRY OF

ALL NATIONS.

Correspondence between the Hongkong and Canton Committees.

HORORONG, 25th June, 1830. John Bowaino, Esq., LL.D., H. B M. Consul; R. B. FORBES, Esq., U. 8. Consul; and the other Foreign Consuls, Canton.

GENTLEMEN,At a Public Meeting held yesterday for the purpose of devising the best means of procuring specimens of the Produce and Manufactures of China, to be sent to the Exhibition of all Nations, to be held in London in 1851, a Committee of the following Gentlemen, the Hon.ble Mr Edger, Mr Bush, U. S. Consul, Mr Stuart, and Mr Camp- bell, were appointed to do all that to them appeared neces- Eary to further the objects for which the Meeting was held.

The Rules laid down by the Committee in London, require that a Central Authority in each country should be consti- tuted by the Government of that country. As regards China, therefore, the Government of Peking would require to be applied to. This, however, would not in all proba- bility lead to any satisfactory result, as the object would not be understood, and au application might even tend in some measure to defeat the efforts that may have to be made to obtain the specimens required.

It seemed therefore advisable to the Meeting, that n Central Committee should be appointed in this place, in order to conform as near as possible to the rules laid down in England, that that Committee should advise with the Committees which will be necessary to form in Canton and Sanghae, should correspond if necessary with the proper parties in London, and receive and forward from this, the articles that may be collected.

With that view the present Committee has been consti- cuted, to be a connecting link and central point, and to assist as far as they are oble in promoting the general object.

It is one in which nearly all nations are interested, and which they are expected to promote; it is one therefore, it is to be hoped, that will engage the attention of all in China, in which all will unite to carry out with energy, and if with combined effort, it will no doubt be effected in a matiner worthy of the Foreign Commimity.

We cannot expect that articles will be forwarded by Chi- nese; we must therefore do so for them.

Purchasers must be made and Committees will require to bo appointed to make proper and suitable collections,

The Committee intend inviting parties here to put down in Paper the amounts they will guarantee towards the funds that niny be needed; and slumld, after the sale of the articles in London, any loss occur, which is not likely, it will be divided proportionally to cach, according to the amounts put down.

The Committee would recommend the same course to be followed at Canton, and the Manager of the Oriental Bank has kindly and liberally offered to advance the amount that may be thus guaranteed.

As the time now remaining for carrying out the objects we have in view, is very limited, you will no doubt agree with this Committee, that the nieastires that may be neces- sary should be adopted without delay; and although the aid and interference of Governments are purposely dispensed with, we would still hope that you will not object among your respective Countrymen, to assist in organising a plan with which all will be willing and anxious to cooperate.

Trusting that the importance of the object we have in view will be a sufficient apology for addressing you on this occasion,-We have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servants,

For the Committee,

A. CAMPBELL.

}

BRITISH CONSULATE, CANTON, 27th June, 1850, GENTLEMEN,-I have the hoteur to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 25th instant, and am nuch gratified to fad that the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations has excited so much interest.

I imagine the official communications which have been? made to Hongkong are from the Colonial Department.

Our instructions have been received from the Foreign } Office, through Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, who has already, in conformity with those instructions, communicated with the Linperial Commissioner, as I have done with the local authorities, and with such other influential Chinese as are likely to assist in advancing our common objects.

In conformity with the directions I received to take such measures as I deemed most advisable for interesting both the British and the Foreign community, I requested all the Foreign authorities and Consuls with the leading merchants present in Canton, to assemble at the British Consplate on the 25th instant. The call met a universal and most cordial response. A large and influential Committee was immedi- ately formed-various Sub-Committees were charged with the management of the details I bave reason to believe that the appeal for pecuniary co-operation will be liberally and even munificently met; and among the Sub-Committees is a Committee of Correspondence charged with the duty of communicating with the Committees of Hongkong, Shang- hae, and any other localities with which it may be desirable to hold intercourse. I have the honour to enclose a copy of the proceedings for your information; and as your own views may be somewhat modified by what has taken place here, I am quite sure that your aid and co-operation will be highly valued,

Mr Forbes, who has most cordially lent his very valuable assistance, is now at Macao. Tho French, Dutch, Prussian, Peruvian, and Chilian Consuls are on the Committee, as is Dr Parker, the United States' Chargé d'Affaires. We cannot as yet say what amount of assistance we may derive from the Chinese, but we do not despair of some success among them, and have taken the necessary steps for that object.

In euntries so remote as this, the mode of action cannot be strictly limited to the rules applied by our Government where Diplomatic relations are free and unrestrained, and where the disposition to co-operate is strikingly and so Bu encouragingly manifested.

venture to anticipate that we shall be able to forward no unworthy contribution to the Exhibition, and I am sure that every favourable interpreta- tion and every reasonable facility will await our combined exertions.

I do not delay a post (not as the Chairman of the Canton Colomittee, but in my Consular capacity) in replying to your letter; and I can assure you that I shall be delighted to do every thing in my power in furtherance of a purpose nobly and generously conceived, and which ought to be carried out in the same spirit. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

A. CAMPBELL, Esq.,

JOHN BOWRING.

and the Commillee at Hongkong.

·H. B. M. Consul

CANTON, 7th June, 1850. SIR, Your letter, dated 25th instant, addressed to Dr Bowring and all the foreign Consuls here, on behalf of the Committee formed at Hongkong for assisting the views of H. B. M.'s Commission for the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations to be held in London in 1851, has been communicated to us, and the letter which Dr Bowring proposes to write to you in reply will inform you how warn bas been the interest exhibited here on the same subject at a Meeting held at the British Consulate on the 25th inst.. when a Committee of Canton residents was formed and plana organised for the better carrying into effect the views of the meeting.

We would beg to refer to Dr Bowring's reply in which we fully concur, and hope an active and friendly cooperation of the Hongkong and Canton Committees, along with other * Committees formed in other parts of China, will tend to offer interesting and complete contributions towards the

I realization of the grand plan in vicw.—We are, Sir, your most obedient servants

ROBERT S. STURGIS, for R. B. FORBES,

Arch, Campbell, Esq.,

Hongkong.

U. S. Vice-Consul

ROBERT BROWNE,

H. N. M. Consul.

H. G. T. REYNVAAN,

Vice-Consul de France.

W. W. PARKIN,

Peruvian Consul. RICHARD CARLOWITZ,

Prussian Consul.

TO.