184
Journal of Decurrences.
man in the boat of the ship Morrison, and the other losses and da mages sustained by his countrymen? We hope the ships will proceed up the river, and likewise go to Chusan and other northern ports.
10. Piracies have recently been very frequent on the river near the Bogue, and large numbers of these outlaws have been seized and executed by the Chinese government.
11. The settlement of Hongkong, as may be inferred from the following circular, continues to increase.
CIRCULAR TO H. B. M. SUBJECTS IN CHINA.
His excellency, sir Henry Pottinger, bart, her Britannic majesty's plenipoten- tinry,&c., &c., deems it expedient to intimate to all persons interested in the sub- ject, that it is his intention to appoint very shortly a committee, consisting of not less than three members, to investigate any claims that may yet be pending re- garding allotted locations of ground, of whatever description; and to finally define and mark off the limits of all locations that have yet been sold or granted on any
other terms.
The committee will likewise definitively fix the direction, breadth, &c., &c., of the Queen's and all other existing public roads within the settlement, and will be empowered to order the immediate removal of any encroachments that may be found to have been unauthorizedly made upon them, the expense of such remo- val being chargable to the individuals to whom the locations, in which they have been made, belong. The committee will further be instructed to turn its attention to the examination of the best points for laying down new lines of roads, beyond those that have already been marked off, with a view of providing locations, to meet the demands for them that may be expected from the rapidly increasing po- pulation of the colony, both European and native; and any suggestions that indi- viduals may wish to offer on this part of the committee's proceedings, will receive from it the fullest consideration; but it is at the same time expressly notified that no purchases, or renting of ground from the natives formerly, or now, in posses- sion, will be recognized or confirmed, unless the previous sanction of the constitut- ed authorities shall have been obtained, it being the basis of the footing on which the island of Hongkong has been taken possession of, and is to be held pending the queen's royal and gracious commands, that the proprietary of the soil is vest- ed in, and appertains solely to, the crown; on the same principle, the reclaim- ing of land beyond high water mark must be deemed an infringement on the ro- yalties of her majesty, and it is therefore positively prohibited by any private per-
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN of England.
gons.
Dated at Hongkong Government House, this 22d day of March, 1842.
HENRY POTTINGER, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.
12.
"The Friend of China,” No. 1, of the 17th, and "the Friend of China, and Hongkong Gazette," No. 1, of the 24th instaut, have reached us. The first, being in an incomplete form is to be consi- dered as a Prospectus merely to the other; into which, as may be inferred from the name, the Hongkong Gazette is to be in future nierged.
13. Disturbances in Húpe have been reported, but they do not seem to be very extensive. The military preparations of the Chinese, at the north are progressing.
14. The English expedition, according to our latest accounts, was remaining in statu quo, at the north; but we suppose operations will commence, probably on the Yangtsz' kiáng, as soon as the rc. inforcements arrive.
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