Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 138

120

Journal of Occurrences

whatever flag, that may enter these ports, or on their cargoes. Her Britanine ma- jesty's minister plenipotentiary, &c., further notifies, that every facility for landing and disposing of merchandize, as well as ample protection under all ordinary circum. stances, will be afforded to all ships and vessels, of whatever flag or nation, that may visit the anchorage of Kúlangsú in the harbor of Amoy, and likewise that, in the improbable event of her majesty's forces being withdrawn froin the island in question, a sufficient period will be allowed for all merchants and others to remove their goods, as well as to adjust their accounts.

God save the Queen of England.

Dated at Hongkong, the 16th day of February, 1842.

HENRY POTTINGER, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. Adventure of Mr. Challaye.—As Mr. C. A. Challaye, the French consul, and Messrs. Monge and Jeanneret, were going from Canton to Whampoa on the 13th instant, in a native boat, the boatmen turn- ed out of the main channel to go through a small creek (commonly known as Lob creek), to avoid the tide, and as the boat passed near the Halfway pagoda, they improved the occasion to land and visit it, though against the advice of the boatmen. While engaged in inspect- ing the building, the people began to collect, and in such numbers that the party soon deemed it best to return; but by the time they reached the boat, the crowd was increased by many arined soldiers, who showed evident signs of a disposition to molest them, by laying hold of the boat, and becoming very clamorous. At this juncture, unable to make themselves understood, they were relieved by the arrival of two petty officers, who restrained the mob, and suffered them to embark; but scarcely had they began to move before the clamor revived, and shots were fired at the boat, but providentially without wounding any one. It was again seized by some of the soldiers, and the officers then requested the gentlemen to land and accompany them to their dwelling in order to escape from the enraged crowd; as soon as they left the boat it was pillaged of nearly all its contents. On arriving at the officers' dwelling, they repeatedly assured them that they were French, at the same time demanding to be sent to Canton, and requesting that no harm might befall the boatmen. Mr. Challaye informed the officers, that he was agent of the French government, but the crowd without could hardly be made to believe they were not English. At last, other officers arriving, they all left on foot for Canton, under a guard of five officers, and upwards of a hundred and fifty armed soldiers, the boatmen carrying what was saved from the boat. On reaching Canton, the company entered the city about 9 o'clock P. M., and were kept standing in the streets until the authorities, apprised of their arrival, made their appearance with Other two of the hong-merchants and linguists to identify them. officers came to the place, and at last the Tartar general and Yishán, with a crowd of attendants all in full dress also arrived, to whom a- pologies were made for the trouble caused them, which they returned by shaking hands à l'Européenne all round, when the two parties separated, and the gentlemen were conducted to the linguists' houses and then to their factories, where they arrived about 2 o'clock A. M. The guard of soldiers who had accompanied them to Canton in hopes of a reward took their disappointment very quietly, but it would seem that the officers did not possess much control over their troops.