Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 609

592

Journal of Occurrences.

magnates, and ministers, that assembled as a Board of Punishment they may determine the sentence for his crimes and report accordingly. Respect this.”

Farther report of the council. "In obedience to the above, we proceed to record our decision. Keshen when sent as a high commissioner to Canton to examine into and arrange the affairs of the barbarians should have applied the most atten- tive care and thorough ability and devised plans for the full settlement of every point. When the barbarian English became refractory towards his clear com- mands for arrangement, and manifested their wolfish dispositions, he ought straightway to have memorialized the court, requesting troops to be prepared in order that at an early day they might be exterminated. But he incoherently pre- sented them a place to dwell at, and for the time being gave Hongkong to them, which is the excuse they (the English) give for taking possession of it. In all matters where it was necessary to guard and watch, he made no previous prepa- rations, and consequently the barbarians have attacked and destroyed the forts in succession, and the very important place (the Bogue) cannot now be guarded. He has throughout been guilty of the greatest political errors, and it is in accordance with the laws that his case should be inquired into and deliberated upon, for it is owing to his not making previous preparations that we have lost our important passes, the city fortifications, and encampments. The law decrees im- prisoment and decapitation, and we hereby sentence him to be beheaded, but to be imprisoned until after autumn and then to be executed.

"Paou chung is a criminal who formerly resided with barbarians, and clandestine- ly acted as a comprador, but there are other and additional charges of lawlessness against him, and accordingly we distinctly sentence him to receive additional punishment.

"All of us. the ministers in council assembled, having adjudged and deliberately settled the whole circumstances of the case, in accordance with the principles of reason, make our record and present it up to the throne that the imperial will may be received and recorded."

4. Lin has been recalled and ordered on to the Yellow river, which has rebelled and overflowed its banks, producing great des- truction at the capital of Honan, laying it in ruins.

Kaefung foo, the capital, is situated in the midst of an extensive plain, four or five miles south from the river, and quite below its surface.

5. Affairs at Canton have continued undisturbed through the whole month, commercial business proceeding as usual, i. e., as those most interested will have it-' very badly.' The authorities seem au- xious to preserve the peace in this province; they also seem desirous of making a shown of defenses. If left alone they will doubtless refrain from hostile acts. Nearly all the troops from the other pro. vinces have left Canton, and a corps of native militia has been orga- nized in its stead, numbering two or three thousand strong. Many of these, it is said, are robbers and pirates, and of course are no great favorites with the quiet people of the provincial city.

The emperor has appointed a new commissioner, Tih-e-shun-poo, a Mantchou, who has arrived at Canton; he comes, it is supposed, not to make war, but to find out the truth regarding what has been done.

6. Hongkong seems to be gradually rising into notice. The num- ber of Chinese now on the island is said to be no less than 15,000, three times what it was twelve months ago. A granite jail has been completed, and a court-house is bing erected. Sickness has greatly diminished;" and a carriage and pair with coachman, &c., have just arrived from Manila to show off on the new road.”