Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 444

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Journal of Occurrences.

JULY,

extent its many natural productions, the implements of labor in their various forms, its manufactures and works of art and science,—this Meeting is of opinion that a very in- teresting, instructive, and useful addition to the Exhibition may be made from this country.

4. Proposed by Mr 8. Ponder, seconded by Mr Livingston,—That as the difficul- ties of personal intercourse with the authorities and with the people of China render it improbable that to any considerable extent they will be induced to exhibit the produc- tions of their own country, the amounts raised by subscription form a common fund in which every contributor shall be held to be represented according to the proportionate benefits or losses, when the articles shall have been disposed of.

5. Proposed by Mr H. Moul, seconded by Mr R. Carlowitz.-That the Finance Com- mittee be, and is hereby requested to take such measures as they may deem desirable for the collection of subscriptions in furtherance of the objects of this Meeting.

6. Proposed by Mr D. Kennedy, seconded by Mr D. Jardine.—That in the anomalous and unsatisfactory position which foreign residents occupy in this country, and from the impediments to all social intercourse, this Meeting deeply regrets that the contribu- tions which can be furnished from hence will neither adequately represent its multifarious productions, nor enable them to carry out the views of the Commissioners in the enlight- ened and generous spirit in which they were conceived.

7. Proposed by Mr Charles Ryder, seconded by Mr A. Sassoon-That these Resolu- tions be inserted in the Hongkong newspapers.

8. Proposed by Mr David Jardine, seconded by Mr A. Dunlop,-That the thanks of the Meeting be T. WALKER, Secretaries.

be given to the Chairman.

AMES

HORACE OAKLEY,

JOHN BOWRING,-Chairman.

A subscription paper has since been circulated among the merchants by the Finance Committee, and upwards of $8,000 subscribed. Considerable progress has also been made in collecting articles to be forwarded, and it is thought that the variety brought together even in the limited time allowed will exhib- it almost every branch of Chinese art and manufacture. The opportunity of of co-operating in the exhibition has been presented to Gov. Sü, but as was anticipated he declined having anything to do with it.

A system of licensing lea warehouses has recently been established by the governor-general, the objects of which are to be gathered froin the following edict and regulations issued by the district magistrates.

Petition of the old hong-merchants, Howqua and others, granted to establish tea warehouses, and regulations for levying expenses.

Fung, district magistrate of Nanhai, and Shauki, district magistrate of Pwán. yü, &c., &c., issue their perspicuous proclamation:-Whereas, the former hong-merchants, Howqua and others, on account of the abolition by Government [of the old co-hong], having caused the tea trade to be diffused and unsettled, so that there is no fixed point for the public items, having petitioned requesting the establishing of warehouses, and levying expenses for the convenience of maintaining a supervision of the tea trade, and the liquidation of their old obli- gations to the imperial treasury, we have had the honor to receive the reply of the Governor-general, directing deliberations to be held upon the subject, and after joint deliberation thereon, held at the time, we reported to His Excellency the result, who in reply directed that we should enjoin upon the warehouses to conform thereto. Now, it appears that the said tea warehouses, being without precedent, the proprietors invited all the tea merchants to meet and deliberate upon regulations by which to conduct them, and they (members of the tea warehouses) have come before us with their petition to allow them to fill the station. Besides complying with their request, and reporting the same to all (the high officers whom it concerns, as H. E. the Governor-general, the Governor, Superintendent of customs, Commissary of grain, and the Prefect), that the same might be entered upon the archives, and issuing our licenses to the said warehouese firms, and enjoining upon thein to act accord- ingly; we also, sincerely apprehending that the tea merchants, and houses engaged in foreign traffick, are not yet fully and universally informed upon the eubject. as it behooves us to issue a luminous Proclamation to this end, we do