Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 80

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

63

No. 1.

To Her Britannic Majesty's Subjects. Macao, 20th January, 1841. Her Majesty's plenipotentiary has now to announce the conclusion of per- liminary arrangements between the imperial commissioner and himself involving the following conditions.

1. The cession of the island and harbor of Hongkong to the British crown. All just charges and duties to the empire upon the commerce carried on there to be paid as if the trade were conducted at Whampoa.

2. An indemnity to the British government of six millions of dollars, one million payable at once, and the remainder in equal annual instalments ending in 1846.

3. Direct official intercourse between the countries upon equal footing.

4. The trade of the port of Canton to be opened within ten days after the Chi- nese new-year, and to be carried on at Whampoa till further arrangements are practicable at the new settlement.

Details remain matter of negotiation. The plenipotentiary seizes the earliest occasion to declare that Her Majesty's government has sought for no privilege in China exclusively for the advantage of British ships and merchants, and he is only performing his duty in offering the protection of the British flag to the subjects, citizens, and ships of foreign powers that may resort to Her Majesty's possession. Pending Her Majesty's further pleasure, there will be no port or other charges to the British government.

The plenipotentiary now permits himself to make a few general observations. The oblivion of past and redressed injuries will follow naturally from the right feeling of the queen's subjects:-Indeed it should be remembered that no extent of modification resulting only from political intervention can be efficacious in the steady improvement of our condition, unless it be systematically seconded by conciliatory treatment of the people, and becoming deference for the country, upon the threshold of which we are about to be established. The plenipotenti- ary can only presume to advert very briefly to the zeal and wisdom of the com- mander of the expedition to China: and to that rare union of ardor, patience, and forbearance which has distinguished the officers and forces of our arms at all points of occupation and operation. He is well assured the British communi- ty will sympathize cordially with him in their sentiments of lasting respect for his excellency and the whole force, which he is ashamed to express in such in- adequate language.

-

་ ་ ་ ་

He cannot conclude without declaring that next to these causes the peaceful adjustment of difficulties must be ascribed to the scrupulous good faith of the very eminent person with whom negotiations are still pending.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary in China.

Circular. To Her Majesty's subjects.

Macao, 20th January, 1821. Her Majesty's plenipotentiary considers it incumbent upon himself to lose no time in assuring the commercial community that he will use his best efforts with her majesty's government to secure an early and entire advance of their claims for indemnity. And mindful of the interests of parties in India, he will not fait respectfully to move the Right Honorable the Governor general of India to second these purposes as far as may seem just to his lordship.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT. Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

No. 2.

PROCLAMATION. By Charles Elliot, esq, a captain in the royal navy, Chief Superin

tendent of the trade of British subjects in China, and holding full powers, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to execute the office of Her Majesty's commissioner, procurator, and plenipotentiary in China............ THE island of Hongkong having been ceded to the British crown under the seal of the Imperial minister and high commissioner Keshen, it has be come necessary to provide for the government thereof, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure.

By virtue of the authority therefore in me vested, all Her Majesty's Rights, Royalties, Privileges of all kinds whatever, in and over the said island of Hongkong, whether to or over lands, harbors, property, or personal service, are hereby declared, proclaimed, and to Her Majesty fully reserved..