HONGKONG, 6th July, 1850.
JOHN BOWRING, Esq., LL.D., Chairman of the Canton Committee.
SIR, The absence of two of our Committee has prevented us acknowledging sooner the receipt of your letter of 27th, in reply to ours of the 25th ultimo, as also of the letter handed us through you, from the other Consuls at Canton.
It is with much pleasure we learn that such active measures had already been adopted by the Foreign Community in furtherance of the object respecting which we were induced to address you, and that our suggestions and wishes relating thereto, had in a great measure been anticipated.
You will perceive by our previous letter, addressed to you in your Consular capacity, that we always considered that details and other measures must necessarily be left to Committees formed at the places where selections of articles had to be made, but we see no reason to modify our views, and agreeing with those expressed at the Meeting held here, that there should be one Central Authority for all China, as most approaching the rules laid down by the Commissioners in London, and being consequently a measure most likely, under the circumstances, to meet with their favourable interpretation.
It was also the opinion that the adoption of such a measure would remove the objection and necessity of residents at our Five Ports acting independently of those at the others, and give to the exertions that might be made by all, that character of unanimity and combination so desirable, and most likely to lead to a satisfactory result; and we trust, Sir, with you, that the purpose so nobly and generously conceived by the consort of H. B. Majesty, will be carried out here in the same spirit.
The Meeting that was announced here on the 13th, and which took place on the 24th of last month, was not in consequence of any intimation from the Government of this settlement; it was not until the Meeting had assembled, that we were made acquainted that any instructions had been received from home; and we were not even then aware that your attention had, through Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary here, been directed to the subject.
We were appointed as a Committee to act in the only manner in which it was thought we could be of use; at the same time it is very far from our wish to be considered the Central Authority, if it is thought desirable to place it elsewhere.
We and others here are only anxious that a Central Authority generally, and if possible officially, recognised, should exist somewhere; and that for the purposes of the Exhibition, there should be a common fund, both being requisite in our opinion to the effectual carrying out of the object in which we are all interested. But we think that the circumstance of Canton acting independently of Shanghae and other places, will rather tend to defeat than promote that object, and by no means give to the undertaking the appearance and character which we had hoped it would have assumed.
If however you can succeed, as you think you will, in obtaining the recognition of your Committee as the Central Authority for China, by the Viceroy of Canton, the difficulty will be removed; and we shall then be glad to afford all the cooperation and assistance in our power. We have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient servants,
F. T. BUSH.
CHARLES J. F. STUART.
A. CAMPBELL.
[MR EDGER, absent.]
CANTON, 16th July, 1850.
Messrs F. T. BUSH, C. J. F. STUART, A. CAMPBELL,
Honourable J. F. EDGER.
GENTLEMEN,-At a Public Meeting of the Community held at the British Consulate on the 9th instant, relative to the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1851, your letter of the 6th July to Dr Bowring, H. B. M. Consul, was read, and transferred to the Corresponding Committee.
As Chairman of that Committee, the pleasing duty devolves upon me to express to you the satisfaction that the community here have felt at the interest that their Hongkong friends are taking in the proposed contribution to the Exhibition.
The Committee here do not doubt, from the zeal displayed, that the object will be carried out satisfactorily, and they will at an early day enter into correspondence with the London Commissioners through H.B.M. Plenipotentiary for the purpose of having articles sent from China, properly admitted to the Exhibition, and of explaining to them the anomalous position of the Foreign Community regarding any recognition of their acts by the Government of this country.
You are in error, it is thought, in supposing that Dr Bowring, in his correspondence with the Authorities in Canton, expected to obtain a recognition of the Committee here as a Central Authority, as his communications with those officials were only in the form of a notice of the intended Exhibition, in conformity with instructions that he had received from H. B. M. Government.
The Committee here will be pleased to have the Hongkong Community cooperate with them in carrying out the object in which they are engaged, and do not doubt that the well-known liberality of that community will be shewn in this case as it has been in all others. The Finance Committee here have already raised a considerable sum, and the Subscription List will soon be sent to your place.
The Committee have notified the Shanghae and Amoy Community through the Consuls and others at those Ports, of the steps that have been taken here, and have intimated to the former that they should leave them to act independently regarding funds, and the collection of articles they might wish to send to the Exhibition, but have expressed their readiness to forward such articles, should they wish to have them sent from this.
The arrival of the mail, and my absence from Canton for the past four days, has prevented me from having the pleasure of replying to your communication sooner.-I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
W. W. PARKIN, Chairman Corresponding Committee.
W. W. PARKIN, Esq., Chairman of the Corresponding Committee.
SIR, We have to acknowledge your letter of the 16th instant, in reply to our last communication to Dr Bowring, which was referred by him to the Corresponding Committee.
We observe that it is the intention of your Committee at an early date to enter into correspondence with the London Commissioners for the purpose of having the articles sent from China properly admitted to the Exhibition, and we regret to learn that our anticipations as to the result of Dr Bowring's communications with the Chinese Authorities have not been realized.
We also observe that your Committee have notified to the Shanghae and Amoy Communities, your readiness to forward such articles as they may wish sent for Exhibition, and that you leave them to collect their own funds and specimens.
We differ from your Committee as to the soundness of the principle involved in paragraph 6 of your letter under reply, namely, that the Committees at the different Ports should act independently of each other; as it will tend, we think, in many ways to lessen the value of the China contribution; but we have no doubt that your Committee have strong reasons for the course they are adopting.
In conclusion, we feel that, except as a Central Committee to correspond with the London Commissioners and advise with the Committees formed at the Consular Ports, and, as it were, to combine the efforts of the various foreign Communities, we cannot be of any great service in the good cause; and as your Committee have undertaken these duties, we have much pleasure in leaving them in your hands, trusting that this important and interesting work may be carried out in a manner to reflect credit on the Foreign Community of China, and worthy of the Exhibition. We remain, Sir, your obedient servants,
C. J. F. STUART
J. F. EDGER.
A. CAMPBELL.
F. T. BUSH.
HONGKONG, 6th July, 1850.
JOHN BOWKING, Esq., LL.D., Chairman of the Canton
Committee.
BCR, The absence of two of our Committee has prevented us acknowledging sooner the receipt of your letter of 27th, in reply to ours of the 25th ultimo, as also of the letter pandęd us through you, from the other Consuls at Canton.
It is with much pleasure we barn that such active mea- aures had already been adopted by the Foreign Community in furtherance of the object respecting which we were induced to address you, and that our suggestions and wishes relating thereto, had in a great measure been anticipated.
You will perceive by our previous letter, addressed to you in your Consular capacity, that we always considered that details and other measures must nec, ssarily be left to Com- mittees formed at the places where selections of articles had to be made, but we see no reason to modify our views, and agreeing with those expressed at the Meeting held here, that there should be one Central Authority for all China, ay most approaching the rules laid down by the Commissioners in London, and being consequently a measure most likely, under the circumstances, to meet with their favourable in terpretation.
It was also the opinion that the adoption of such a measure would remove the objection and necessity of residents at our Fire Ports acting todependently of those at the others, and give to the exertions that might be made by all, that cha- racter of unanimity and combination so desirable, and most Ekely to lead to a satisfactory result; and we trust, Sir, with you, that the purpose so nobly and generously conceived by the consort of II. B. Majesty, will be carried out here in the 83me spirit.
The Meeting that was announced here on the 13th, and which took place in the 24tb of last month, was not in con- sequence of any intimation from the Government of this settlement; it was not until the Meeting had assembled, that we were made acquainted that any instructions had been received fom home; and we were not even then aware that your attention had, through Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary here, been directed to the subject-
We were appointed as a Committee to act in the only manner in which it was throught we could be of use; at the same time it is very far from our wish to be considered the Central Authority, if it is thought desirable to place it else- where.
We and others here are only anxious that a Central Authority generally, and if possible officially, recogniserl, should exist somewhere; and that for the purposes of the Exhibition, there should be a common fund, both being requisite in our opinion to the effectual carrying out of the object in which we are all interested. But we think that the circumstance of Canton acting independently of Shanghae and other places, will rather tend to defeat than promote that object, and by no means give to the undertaking the appear- ance and character which we had hoped it would have as- sumed.
If however you can succeed, as you think you will, in obtaining the recognition of your Committee as the Central Authority for China, by the Viceroy of Canton, the difficulty I will be removed; and we shall then be glad to afford all the cooperation and assistance in our power. We have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient servants,
F. T. BUSH.
CHARLES J. F. STUART.
A. CAMPBELL.
[MR EDGER, absent.]
}
CANTON, 16th July, 1850. Mesra F. T. Busa, C. J. F. STUART, A. CAMPBELL,
Honourable J. F. EDGER.
GENTLEMEN,-At a Public Meeting of the Community held at the British Consulate on the 9th instant, relative to the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1851, your letter of the 6th July to De Bowring, H. B. M. Consul, was read, and transferred to the Corresponding Committee.
As Chairman of that Committee, the pleasing duty devolves upon me to express to you the satisfaction that the commu- nity here have felt at the interest that their Hongkong friends are taking in the proposed contribution to the Exhi bition.
The Committee here do not doubt, from the zeal displayed, that the object will be carried out satisfactorily, and they will at an early day enter into correspondence with the London Commissioners through H.B.M. Plenipotentiary for the purpose of having articlesa sent from China, properly admitted to the Exhibition, and of explaining to them the anomalous position of the Foreign Community regarding any recognition of their acts by the Governiuent of this. { country.
You are in error, it is thought, in supposing that Dr Bowring, in his correspondence with the Authorities in Can- ton, expected to obtain a recognition of the Committee here as a Central Authority, as his communications with those officials were only in the form of a notice of the intended Exhibition, in conformity with instructions that he had re- ceived from H. B. M. Government.
The Committee here will be pleased to have the Hongkong Community cooperate with them in carrying out the object in which they are engaged, and do not doubt that the well. known liberality of that community will be shewn in this ease as it has been in all others. The Finance Committee bere have already raised a considerable sum, and the Sub- scription List will soon be sent to your place.
The Committee have notified the Shanghae and Armoy Community through the Consuls and others at those Ports, of the steps that have been taken here, and have intimated to the former that they should leave them to act independently regarding funds, and the collection of articles they might wish to send to the Exbibition, but have expressed their readiness to forward such articles, should they wish to have them sent from this.
The arrival of the mail, and my absence from Canton for the past four days, has prevented me from having the pleasure! of replying to your communication sooner.-I am, Gentle- men, your obedient servant,
W. W. PARKIN, Chairman Corresponding Committee.
W. W. PARKIN, Esq., Chairman of the Corresponding
Committee.
BIR, We have to acknowledge your letter of the 16th instant, in reply to our last communication to Dr Bowring, which was referred by bim to the Corresponding Committee.
We observe that it is the intention of your Committee at i An early date enter into correspondence with the London Commissioners for the purpose of having the articles sent from China property admitted to the Exhibition, and we i regret to learn that our anticipations as to the result of Dr
Bowring's communications with the Chinese Authorities! have not been realized.
We also observe that your Committee have notified to the Shanghae and Amoy Communities, your readiness to forward such articles as they may wish sent for Exhibition, and that you leave them to collect their own funds and specimens.
We differ from your Committee as to the soundness of the principle involved in paragraph 6 of your letter under reply. namely, that the Committees at the different Ports should act independently of each other; as it will tend, we think, In many ways to lessen the value of the Chius contribution; } but we have no doubt that your Committee have strong reasons for the course they are adopting.
}
In conclusion, we feel that, except as a Central Committee to correspond with the London Commissioners and advise i with the Committees formed at the Consular Purts, and, as it were, to combine the efforts of the various foreign Comma- nities, we cannot be of any great service in the good cause; } and as your Committee have undertaken these duties, we have mucit pleasure in leaving them in your hands, trusting that this important and interesting work may be carried out in a manner to reflect credit on the Foreign Community of China, and worthy of the Exhibition. We remain, Sir, Jour obedient servants,
C. J. F. STUART
J. F. EDGER.
A. CAMPBELL.
F. T. BUSH.
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