Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 706

684

Review of Public Occurrences

DEC.

other, but it is known, that they were all subjected to the most barbarous treatinent, and were scarcely allowed sufficient food to sustain life. In this manner above seven dreary months passed away, when it was announced to the eleven survivors, iucluding the two belonging to the Nerbudda (six natives of Europe and America, three natives of India and two Chinese, which latter individuals had been pardoned on condition of entering the service of the government of Formosa), that peace had been made; and they likewise then ascertained, that all the rest of their fellow sufferers in captivity and wretch- edness had been put to death on or about the 13th of August last, on the grounds stated in the plenipotentiary's other proclamation.

Among the sufferers is Mr. Gully, a British merchant, who was returning to Macao from the northward, as a passenger by the Ann. It is not possible to account for the lives of the six Europeans and Americans, and three natives of India, being spared; but it is surmised, that they were considered to be principal men of their classes, and were intended to have been sent to Peking to be there executed. This proclamation is now published, to satisfy the great anxiety and interest which has been universally felt on the subject of it. It is superfluous for her majesty's plenipotentiary to record the deep and sincere regret and sorrow with which he discharges so painful a duty. God save the Queen.

Dated on board the steam frigate Queen at Amoy, on the 26th day of Nov., 1842.

(Signed) HENRY POTTINGER, H. M. Plenipotentiary.

PROCLAMATION TO THE Chinese.

Sir Henry Pottinger, bart., her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiary in Chi- na, announced in his proclamation under date the 23d instant, that a number of her majesty's subjects had been cruelly and causelessly put to death by the local officers on the island of Formosa. The plenipotentiary has now further to announce the following clear details which he has obtained from a few of the shipwrecked men, who have been sent over to Amoy, to be released agreeably to the treaty. On board the ship Nerbudda, which was wrecked in September, 1841, there were altogether 274 souls; of these, 29 were Europeans, 2 Manila men, and 243 natives of India.

All the Europeans, accompanied by 2 Manila men and 3 natives of In- dia, left the ship in the boats as soon as she struck on the rocks, and thus exactly 240 natives of India were left behind. These men remained by the ship, which had drifted over the reef, and was lying in smooth water in 1.ilung bay, for five days, and then landed on rafts, without arms or weapons of any description. In landing some men were drowned in the surf, others were killed by plunderers who came down to strip them as they reached the shore, and the rest were seized and imprisoned in separate small parties, where they were left in heavy irons, with hardly any clothing, and a very small allowance of food, from which privations many died after great suffer- ing. Of the whole 210 who left the ship on the rafts, only two men have been sent over to Amoy.

On board the brig Ann, which was wrecked on her passage from Chusan to Maceo in the month of March, there were altogether 57 souls. Of these, 14 were natives of Europe or America, 5 Chinese, 4 Portuguese or Malays, and 34 natives of India. The brig was driven by the violence of the wind and sea so high on shore, that when the tide ebbed she was left dry, and the fifty-seven men quitted her and got on beard a Chinese junk, with the hope of being enabled to put to sea in her; but this could not be effected, and they surrendered with at having fired even one musket, or made the smallest resistance, to the Chinese troops that had come down to the spot. Like the unfortunate men in the Nerbudda, those who were in the Ann were stripped stark naked, and dragged in that state to the capital of Formosa, when they