Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 709

18.12.

During the Year 1842.

687

ments of his imperial majesty, and not promulgate different opmions and coun- sels. However, at this time, there is Ye Yungtsai and others with him, who have falsely taken upon themselves the name of the Public Assembly_hall,* and have secretly printed a public manifesto. They have endeavored to raise and organize troops, and to subscribe for and collect money, which is full evidence that they really mean to excite a commotion. Wherefore we issue this prociamation to all gentry, scholars, tradesinen, and people, that cach of you most carefully watchi over himself and his family, nor on any account listen to these seditious in. stigations, lest you involve yourselves in legal criminality.

It is that we may

quiet and allay the minds of people, that we, the governor and licut.-governor, now publish this special and clear proclamation. Whoever presumptuously disre gards it, we shall instantly seize, and at the same time bring his offense to his majesty's knowledge. Do not therefore say that we have not told you beforehand. A special proclamation.

Note. This proclamation was pasted up in the Public Assembly hall. Yet Yungtsai is a native of the district of Tungkwan, upon whom the degree of master of arts was conferred by his majesty. On account of his age, 89, he could not go up to the capital, and therefore has not received, as has been falsely stated, the honor of a Hanlin.

7th. The minds of the people at Canton and its vicinity having become excited against the English by the instigations of some de- magogues, they were led to the commission of many excesses. We have gleaned the following particulars from the published accounts. During the morning of this day, a brawl commenced between, some Chinese and Lascars, in which the latter being pursued by the Chinese, were compelled to retreat for safety into the Creek hong. The mob rapidly increased in numbers by the addition of citizens ready beforehand, it would scem, for the commission of any violence. They commenced their attack about 2 o'clock by tearing down the brick wall on the western side of the Company's garden, and by forcing the door into Mr. Murrow's house; this they pillaged of its contents. Two ladies staying in it at the time, were on the first alarm taken to Kingqua's hong across the Creek, from whence the proceeded in safety to Whampoa.

Early in the evening, the British flag staff was set on fire, and burning up. wards till the whole was on fire; a shout from the mob when it fell told their triumph. Meanwhile the British factory was fired, and the verandah, chapel. belfry and skylight were soon burning furiously-the calmness of the evening too made the sight a beautiful one. Intimations of the designs of the people, and dan- ger of the foreigners, had been sent to Howqua before nightfall, but no efficient succor came, and such fire-engines as arrived were ordered off by the mob. The entrance to the Dutch hong was bravely defended by its inmates until the fire on both sides in the British and Creek hongs drove them out; five Chinese lost their lives here, but all within made their escape about 11 r. M. by the back passage. The three hongs were completely on fire by midnight, but as these were the same that were pillaged in May, 1841, comparatively few of the houses were tenanted; no one resided in the Creek hong, and only four firms in both the others. The first hong across the Creek was saved by the exertions of the scrvants and others in it, so that nothing else was burned.

The residents in the other factories were at first under no little alarm lest their dwellings should catch fire across Hog lane, but all apprehensions on this head ceased by midnight. Two ladies residing in the American hong went into Ming- qua's hong early in the evening, but during the night the square was completely in, possession of the nob. Most of the ringleaders, or those who appeared to direct the movements of the mass, satisfied with firing the British hong, en. deavored to prevent the thieves from carrying away their plunder. In the morn. ing of the 8th, the latter reassembled and resumed possession of the square, and

* So we translate Minglun Tang. This is the name of a hall in Canton, in which the people assemble to consult upon their grievances, and make their rèpresentations to the emperor or to lux officers.

There is such a hall in every eity and town in the empire. id assemblies in them for political purposes are allowed by the Penal Code.