CO129-128 - Public Offices & Others - 1867 — Page 138

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THE LONDON AND CHINA TELEGRAPH.

We were just able, as we were going to press with our last, to announce the arrival of Sir Harry Parkes and suite in the Basilisk. The American and Dutch Ministers having returned before, the corps diplomatique usually resident in Yedo was made once more complete by the arrival of M. Leon Roches from Nagasaki in the Quarriere on the 7th inst. It has since re- ceived an addition in the person of M. le Comte de la Tour, who arrived in the French mail on the 9th inst. to represent in Japan the Kingdom of Italy; qud by the same opportunity | M. 'Kint de Roodenbeck, Minister for Belgium, returned from a lengthened tour in China. We hear that Mr. Eugene van Reed, an American gentleman who has resided here since the ports were first opened, is on the point of concluding a treaty with the Shiogoon for the Sandwich Islands, and Sweden will also soon be represented. The advantage accruing to either party to several of these newly formed alliances are not, at present, apparent, but no one can tell what the future may bring forth.

[Aue. 13, 1867.

remarkable as to be an absolute wonder: it would be most sels for the trade, they were inet, on the return of the ship regrettable were its progress now to be checked by hasty. in-and cargo to Shanghai, by a refusal to permit its discharge. not allowed to import cargoes from the North considerate action, by either Shiogoon, Daimios, or foreign "It was

in foreign bottoms; those cargoos could not be sold diplomatists.

here, but must be sent away," was thej reply received at an application on the subject. And the Taotal's office to here the matter rested; for more than eighteen months the northern trade has been closed to foreign shipping, no vessol except the two in question having been chartered since August, 1865. The occasion of Sir Rutherford Alcock's visit has been taken by the Chamber of Commerce to address a letter to him on the subject; but their action had been anticipated by his Excellency, who had addressed the Governor-General of Nan- king on the subject a few days previously. Tsen-kwo-fan's reply reiterates the false assertion of the Tsotai, that no prohibition against the employment of foreign vessels in the bean trade exists. He refers to the proclamation issued last year by the Taotai as a proof that no official interference has bocu exerted, and says H.M.'s Consul acknowledged that the behaviour of Chinese officials in the matter called for general gratitude. And now another proclamation has been issued, which has, we are glad to learn, had the effect of encouraging Chinese merchants to charter a whole fleet of vessels from hence to the northern ports and back. As, judging from pre- vious experience, they have doubtless not done this without ascertaining the Taotai's real intention on the subject, we may hope that the permission now accorded is genuine.

CHINA. SHANGHAI.

Dates from this port are to the 23rd June, two days later. The outward mail of May 10 was delivered on the 22nd June, with London telegrams to May 30. The following few items of news are from the North China Herald:---

The body of the second officer of the ship Lennox Castle, who had been missing for a fortnight, was found on the 17th June in the river. It is supposed that he was drowned on the 2nd June, as he left the ship about six r. on that day and A court of inquiry was had beou heard of him since. Dothing held to endeavour to ascertain the circumstances under which he met his death, but failed,

Further "correspondence regarding the new rules proposed by the Silk Guild has passed between the Chamber of Com- merce, the foreign officials, and the Tactai; also further voluminous correspondence regarding the employment of foreign vessels in the beau trade. The Tactai's late proclamation on the latter subject has, we are glad to learn, encouraged the charter of a number of vessels, and demand still continues. It remains to be seen whether the permission accorded is, this tiple, bang fide; or whether, on their return to Shanghai per-occupying some private seats. They were asked to remove by mission to land the cargoes will be again refused,

ouce

But two

The negotiations that have taken place during the last two years regarding the employment of foreign ships in the bean trade disclose an amount of duplicity on the part of the Chinese authorities as disgraceful as it was unwise. So long ago BS March, 1862, official intimation was given that the pro- hibition laid on the export of pulse and bean cake from the ports of Chefoo and Newchwang under the British flag had been rescinded, and a remunerative trade to

opened up. foreign shipping was at years later, when the danger which had induced the con- cession bad passed away, and foreign assistance was longer needed to prevent the Taiping occupation of Shanghai, the privilege accorded was secretly withdrawn. No open warn- ing was given of the change, but, in June, 1865, vessels arriving here with beancake from the North found themselves prohibited from discharging their cargoes; and shortly afterwards, on the 3rd of August, a formal notice was issued that all shippers in foreign bottoms would subject themselves to this penalty.

tion;

char-

A disturbance took place at the Canton Theatre in the Maloo in consequence of three foreigners entering the theatre and some Chinese attendants, but not understanding them they sat still. The audience then commenced leaving the theatre, throwing enps, &c., but there do not appear to have been any severe injuries received by any one.

An account is given of the formal opening of the new Racquet Court on the 19th June. The building quite comes up It has been erected at a to, if it does not exceed expectation, and comprises every com- fort and convenience for players. total cost, including the purchase of land, of about 13,000 taels.

A meeting for the discussion of missionary topics was to be held at the rooms of the Asiatic Society on the 24th June, which it was hoped would be the first of a series.

Twenty-three mow of land near Messrs. Gibb Livingston's wharf, having 300 feet water frontage, have been sold at auc- tion for 17 taels per mow.

It has been resolved to erect the following lights at or near the entrance to the mouth of the Yangtze :-

1-A Revolving Light of the first order on the North Saddle Island, at an elevation of 250 feet above the sea.

2.-A Fixed White Light on Gutzlaff Island, showing all

3-A Revolving Red Light at au altitude of 38 feet, visible all round the horizon at a distance of 12 miles on the present Light Vessel moored at the Tung-sha Bank.

4.-A Fixed Light, with short eclipses, visible 12 miles for the Kintoan Beacon, obscured on the land side.

Eventually, at the request of several native consignees, per-round the horizon at an elevation of 210 feet, visible 15 miles mission was grunted for discharge of vessols that had

over the Northern half, and 20 miles over the Southern half of been chartered previous to the date of the prohibi-

the horizon. but an intimation was renewed that none tered subsequently would be allowed to land their cargo. Shanghai was the only port at which this prohibition was en- forced, so it would appear that the local Government and not that at Peking is at fault. Vessels have continued to run from Chefoo and Newchwang to the southern ports without let or The thanks of firms interested in the shipping hindrance. trade are due to Messrs. Tilby and Co. for the persistence with which they brought these facts to the notice of H.M. Consul, and urged the address of energetic remonstrance both to the local authority and to Feking, while others abandoned the cause in despair. On the 15th June, 1866, the public notification by the Taotai, for which they pressed--that natives as well as foreigners were at liberty to employ foreign vessels in the trade-was at length obtained. The Taotoi denied all interference ou the part of himself or his subordinates, and We are indebted to the Shanghai Recorder for the following :---- officially proclaimed that "the conveyance had been autho-"A Chinese official recently arrived from Nauking expresses his rised of pulse and beancake in foreign vessels from Newchwang doubts as to the possibility of ever terminating the Nienfei and Tongchow." Better acquainted, however, than foreigners troubles. This, he says, is a different affair to the Taiping re- with the wiles of their own rulers, native merchants still de-bellion, in which the opposition was greater, but it was at least clined to believe in his Excellency's intent; and when at length concentrated, and the Government knew where to go and oppose two from among them were induced to charter a couple of ves- the insurgents. But with the Nienfei it is hopeless. So soon

We are glad to hear (says the Friend of China) that Mr Chaloner Alabaster, whose decoration of the Star of China we noticed before, is likely to receive a more substantial douceur in the shape of a thousand dollars from bis Excellency the Taoutai, this being offered for his services in establishing and carrying out so economically the institution known as the Mixed Court, the sum to be paid from the Court's fee chest, provided his Excellency the British Minister does not say nay. All we say is we most cordially wish he may get it!

AUG. 13, 1867.]

THE LONDON AND CHINA TELEGRAPH.

It is stated that the firm of Mackellar and Co., of Hankow, is in difficulties.

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as a force is brought against them, they disperse and are off to to show both the justice of the sentence passed upon the the mountains; while no sooner are the Imperial troops re- prisoners and the hardened nature of the criminals who pass moved than they are back again. The same person expresses through our courts of justice here in Hong Kong, Of the his doubts as to the reported successes of Li in the North, Tank-lane murderer it was clear that he had braced up his adding that these victories are always egregiously exaggerated." faculties to die as stoically as it is in the ability of a human being We regret to hear that the S.S. N. Company's now steamship to do; and it must be said that he succeeded to perfection. On Mancha, which left Shanghai for Tientsin on the 16th June, the scaffold he serowed up his face into a wrinkled and painful ex- had the misfortune to strike ou a rock off the Shantung pression, but said not a word. Cheong-sin-fook, Lee-koon-hing, promontory, and was compelled to return as fast as stearu could and Wong-asing, the three pirates and murderers, were the exact bring her.

opposites of Po-sang, their violence being as strongly marked as was the coolness of the other. They made no confession, but endeavoured to muistify the story of the piracy as much as pos The following little story, given by the North China fleruld, sible, each blaming the other, and all lying in the most bare- is curiously illustrative of Chinese social life, and though bearing faced manner conceivable. The only statement in which they the appearance of a romance is nevertheless perfectly true:-- could be said to agree, was that the fourth prisoner (he of the About thirteen or fourteen months ago, the mother of a young alleged medical proclivities) was not an active party in the lady residing outside the north gate of Shanghai city discovered piracy for which they were sentenced; and upon this additional that her daughter was enceinte, and that this condition had confirmation, coupled with the lesser weight of evidence agaiust been brought about by the trusted nurse of the family having this prisouer, he has been temporarily roprievod by the been in the habit of trading on the daughter's charms, making Governor. Perfect indifference and a species of brayado always some excuse to the mother of a visit to a neighbour to were maintained by these four piratical murderers until the account for the occasional absence of the frail one from the fatal information of Jast evening; when the three parental cottage. The mother, on making the above-mentioned doomed

men underwent 3 remarkable change. discovery, was so incensed that she induced some of her male yesterday morning two

Duly of them wished to fight each relatives to beat the nurse to death with bamboos. The friends other; but this morning their pitiable moanings disturbed the of the nurse thereupon took legal opinion on the case, which quietude of the entire neighbourhood. While they were being resulted in a petition being presented to the Shanghai Hsien, pinioned, they sobbed and groaned incessantly, and on being who (with that love of justice, we presume, which so eminently led out to the Gaol office, where they were led by the Sheriff, characterises a Chinaman) caused inquiries to be made into the they had to be supported by stimulants, which the Tank-lane matter, and bringing home the murder to the mother as the murderer refused with a shake of the head. Before proceeding instigator of the crime, condemned her to death. But the to the scaffold, a final attempt was made to draw some confes- mother being far gone with child, the sentence was allowed to sion from the pirates and to clear some doubts arising from stand over till the child should have been born and weaned, and the former confession of Po-Sang, but without this latter circumstance having taken place the other day, the cess. Po-Sang maintained that there were five sentence was carried out, the mother being strangled outside engaged in the murder of the clothseller; the south gate. A cord was placed round the unfortunate lin-fook stoutly refused to make woman's neck and gradually tightened till strangulation was

any admission, and influenced the others also to keep their counsel by his determi- nearly effected, when the cord was loosened and breath allowed nation. As the bell struck six o'clock, the prisoners were led to re-enter the lungs; this refinement of torture was repeated, forth to the scaffold, near which were a number of Europeans, and it was only on the cord being tightened the third time that one or two companies of police under Mr. Jarman, and fifty the woman was allowed to die. Strange to say, during the penal servitude convicts ranged on one side of the compound. thirteen or fourteen months which elapsed between the passing Cheong-fook had to be pushed up the scaffold ladder by main of the sentence and the execution, the woman was not kept in force; and when all the condemned men had reached the plat- prison, but was allowed to live in her house outside the north form, there followed a scene which will not be soon for- gate, near the French concession, a "secure-man" having made gotten by those who witnessed it. Po-sang was

cool himself responsible for her appearance when wanted for the as a statue, with his painfully drawn-up features; but purpose of being put to death,

the other three swayed about uneasily, looked behind over the wall as if meditating escape, now noisily resisting the executioner and again moaning and groaning as before, Cheong- fook stamped and danced upon the platform, and cursed and swore at the crowd below, until it was feared some accident might happen to the scaffold, and he had at last to be bouud round the ankles with a rope. The voice of the Roman Catholic padre was drowned in the torrent of abuse from the scaffold; and it need hardly be said that the exhortations of the The Foochow Advertiser says: There is little change to

ministers of religion seemed to have not the slightest report in the tea market. As buying has continued on the effect upon any one of the doomed men, except perhaps same heavy scale, at about former prices. The only description | Po-sang, who now and

thon during the morning had in which a fall has been established is inferior Congou, which listened to what was said to him. At five minutes past six, is now in full supply. Total settlements to date, of Congous at a signal from the Sheriff, the bolt was withdrawn, the fatal aloue, are nearly 150,000 chests. The export is already jerk given, and the miserable victims were left dangling in the 11,500,000 lbs. and before the departure of the mail is expected air. Death must have been instantaneous, although the bodies to reach 14,000,000. Such figures as these, combined with the quivered for some minutes afterwards. All three pirates were exports from the other tea ports which are no doubt in the strong, powerfully built fellows, and would no doubt have given same rate, cannot fail to affect the home market, and we must very great trouble had not the necessary precautions been taken say that it surprises us that they produce so little effect on this in gaol and on the scaffold. With the exception of the objec market."

tionable fact that the stoue parapet and the lower bar of the scaffold again formed a rest for the feet of two of the prisoners, the arrangements were perfect. The scaffold was removed by eight o'clock-an improvement on former occasions, whep it was allowed to stand over Sunday.

FOOCHOW.

Dates hence are to June 23. The Taewan sailed on the 20th June. She met with a serious misfortune in her passage down the river Min. From Messrs. Gilman and Co.'s Circular of June 22, we learn that she had on board 789,500 lbs. of tea, and that she is on shore on the north bank "a total wreck." One thousand chests have as yet, it is said, been saved. Messrs. Giltaan and Co. are Lloyd's agents.

Mr. Watters, late HM.'s acting Vice-Consul at Tamsay, has been transferred to Foochow as third assistant, in place of Mr. Holt, who has been despatched to the former place to take charge of the vice-consulate.

HONG KONG.

From this port we have intelligence to June 29, No later mails or telegrams had arrived out since the date of our last advices. The Overland China Mail supplies the following news: Cheong-po-suu, convicted of the murder of a clothseller in Tank-lane, and three of the four pirates convicted at the May Sessions for piracy and murder on the high seas, were, on the 24th June, executed at the usual place in front of the Gaol. The scene was probably the most exciting of the kind ever witnessed in Hong Kong for many years past, and may serve

Messrs. Margesson and Co.'s Chinese shroff has been taken in custody on a charge of having embezzled monies to the amount of $420 within the last four months. The compradore of that firm appears as complainant in the case.

We regret to learn that a fatal accident occurred on board the Princess Charlotte while the coronation salute was being fired. One of the guns missed fire, and the firing party passed on to the next gun; the sponger who followed being unaware that the gun had missed," proceeded to sponge out, when the gun exploded, and blew the poor spouger from the deck-of