38
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
On dit. Robie Burns' popular ditty of "Corn Rigs are Bonnie" was sung by "an unco queer chiel yclept Robie Peel before a very numerous assemblage on the 16th Feby.
Naval Estimates for1842-3 are £6,921,587.
Troops in India. Of all ranks 20,940. Horses 2805. Cost estimated for 1842-3 £871,656,13.2.
British Army. Of alFranks 122,568 beyond the years we shall have in Chinh
above annual cost £3,644,636,16,1,
Militia. A Bill is to be introduced to reorganize this force so as to make it the depot for the standing army.
Ordnance Estimates for 1842-3 are £2,184,549. ---Cast of a Soldier. La Presse states to be £26 per annum in England. In France £13. In Prus- sia £8,10. In Russia £5 and in Austria £9,10.
OF CHIN A AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, MAY 26r 1842.
information received by the Harbour Master has we are told, succeeded in capturing and bring.. ing to justice Eleven pirates, who have also receiv ed the same amount of punishment awarded in the case reported this day.
of this most important question.-Insular, or peninsular positions, (as is well put in the article we have copied from the Exa- miner, and which fully represents the en- lightened public opinion at home on this The affair of the Thistle took place in sight of subject) is all we require; all that for some the anchorage, and we have heard, under the eyes
The discon- of naval officer; who promptly tented temper of England, the morbid jeal-patched the young Hebe Schooner to the scene of ousy of America, the ill concealed aversion action. We are told the Young Hebe" was fired on by the retiring pirates. Such audacity, would of Russia, the deadly hatred of the War
seem to point out the necessity of some exemplary party in France, added to the present pos- punishment being immediately inflicted on the , makes it sheer mad- offenders, and also on the Villages which aid and ture of Indian politics, ness to think of now making territorial ac abet these maritime marauders. Otherwise, many quisitions in China. We, however believe will begin to think that these molesters of our Trade, Hongkong is destined, by the uncontrolla- are only executing the orders of the Chinese Au- ble force of circumstances, to become the thorities, whom we are told have interdicted com-
merce with our Island. base of moral and martial operations, which Whilst we applaud the measures taken to pro- sooner or later must revolutionize, or sub-tect those who resort hither we are constrained vert the existing state of things in China.—— to add that we wish more ample powers were vest- ed in the hands of the Chief Magistrate, or other Meantime, suppose we must be content to abide by
a Policy, which Napoleon must competent Island authority: in which case we have appreciated, when he called us a nation hold there would be no complaint of supineness; nor neglect of proper measures for the suppression of Shop-keepers. Henceforth we fear we (as alleged) of a daily augmenting evil.-With shall be nicknamed a nation of tea-dealers, every disposition to make allowance for our pres- state; we yet cannot refrain point- seeing that in an entirely groundless ap-ent provisional
to us appears an anomaly in thus prehension of not obtaining a supply of ing out this article, we have pursued a policy, which punishing the Chinese prisoners (whom we call otherwise, would be referred to intense stopirates) on the complaint of their fellow contrymen. England it has been the law for some centuries lidity or blundering ignorance.
to give up property within the realm if it had been Whilst we exceedingly doubt the exis- taken by pirates; but then any foreigner sueing tence of the more "comprehensive states upon this statute is bound to prove that his Sove- manship" which our contemporary says reign, or Government, at the time of the Capture, was on terms of mutual amity with the Sovereign.or "now obtains in England" we yet confident Government of the Captor. In this point of view, ly hope a greatly improved aspect of our
can the attack on the Thistle be correctly desig- affairs will soon be assumed Powerful rein-nated piracy? Is it possible the plundered Chi- forcements are at last on their way. Con- naman can say we are at this time on terms of siderable as they are, we cannot expect that amity with the alleged pirates Sovereign? Again, they will be able to make, a conquest or de- if they be really pirates, should not their Boats be destroyed, or rendered wholly inapplicable to monstration sufficiently important, to at once their former nefarious purpose? The Custom venture to ask that is well informed? And coerce the emperor into terms of pacifi-here has hitherto been to sell them by Public
Auc where is the man conversant with their soci- cation as it is said, is counted on by Lord tion as will be seen by an Advertisement in our al feelings, moral habitudes,and conventional Ellenborough. We do not share the opinions No. 8. Grave objections may be made to this usages? All of which are the elements of of some of our oldest residents, and those practice. Although we have not our Law Books political philosophy; by which alone we most acquainted with the Chinese charac- to refer to, yet we shall much err if there be not can duly estimate national character and ter, who confidently aver several years must statute which also regulates the appropriation of an express enactment to this effect in a recent national policy. In sooth, the most surelapse, before this War will end. If unfetter- captured Slavers. prising thing is the ignorance in China of ed by fiscal considérations, really possessed China; an English inquirer will only find it of plenary powers, and backed by ade- parallelled by the prevalent ignorance inquate support in India and England-we India of native affairs and native interests: nothing doubt H. E. Sir Henry Pottinger an ignorance which, we are glad to say, may yet succeed in bringing matters our respected contemporary is doing his to a successful issue within twelvemonths best to remove. Again, have not the pe- from this date. Whether we are to culiarities of the Chinese War been refera- have a speedy peace, or wheWar Originally £40,000; so if Editors in India do not
We have transferred to our Columns, an article on "Chinese affairs from the Bom- bay Times Summary of intelligence for the month of March. We have done this, in order to make a few comments thereon, knowing as we do, that the above paper is read and referred to in influential quarters, and in some of the Metropolitan clubs, it is deemed the best authority on Indian and Chinese affairs. Much credit is justly due to the accomplished editor, for the great amount of sterling information he lays monthly before his English readers. In reference to the present article there is much, very much to approve, and little to censure. But when, however, he specially notes the ignorance manifested by the Plenipotentiary and Admiral &e." As re- gards the Chinese who is there we would
ble to the fiscal part of the question? Al- though not touched upon by our contempo- rary, yet we are sure he will admit, that such an exceptional course, would not have been adopted, had not considerations of home interests, and tea duties, been per- mitted to unduly influence if not to domi- nate.... Confessedly the war is sui generis We hope in our historic annals, it may ever be so characterised.
is still to drag its slow length along"one thing is certain, that our establishment on this Island is now fixed on such a basis that it cannot be abandoned.
Hence with Englishmen, whom we know will not belie their origin, nor y
nor yield without a struggle the palm of honest enterprise and honorable ambition to any section of their fellow Conuntrymen at home or abroad.. Hence it is—we dare predicate of THE seizure of the Junks within these Hongkong (adopting the language of our waters cannot be justified, it was confessed- Bombay Contemporary) that it will speed ly an enormous political blunder, as Fou-ily be converted into a mean of producing che would say. Further we are certain had the most stupendous effects on the desti vigorous measures at first been adopted, the war would ere this have been ended.
By this time, the foreign trade might have been concentrated on this Island, under the protection of our own flag, and if so with a saving of dues now exacted at Can- ton which only on the next seasons Export of Tea say 75 40,000,000 will amount to at least £1,000,000 Sterling, to say nothing, of the very heavy and augmented imposts we are compelled to pay on other exports, and also on the whole of our Imports, and which we are told will with Port dues and other exactions be nearly another million of pounds.
Could anything more demonstrate the necessity of a Free Port in this vicinage and the high desirability of declaring this Island a British Settlement? Yet it is not now and will not be declared a British Col- ony by the Authorities at home for some months, perhaps years they are now only beginning to see some of the beari
nies of man.”
"THE fact lately transpired before the Supreme Court of Calcutta, that the principal Editor of a daily Paper there (the Englishman) received £2000 per Annum, Rs1600 a month. The library of the Bengal Hurkaru, which is now for Sale and which was bought for the use of the Editors, Cost
soul
improve themselves it is not for lack of means or opportunity." We have extracted the above from the Bombay Times and we confess our friends in England had no conception of such munificent rewards for literary labours in India. Would that we had the bibliothecal advantages of the Hurkaru. With a genial climate, agreeable society, ing us at every step, we only yearn for a good gladdening evidences of prosperous industry meet- public library of reference and then with this Cap- stone to our felicity, we should conscientiously aver our little Island of Hongkong to be a "gem of the Ocean," and to our eyes at least one of the pleasantest in the World.
18
AFFGHANISTAN.
Lithographed Map of the present seat of THE Bombay Times Summary for March accompanied with a well executed War, as also of Scinde, the Punjaub, and a India. portion of the North West Provinces
of irritation to our trans-atlantic brethren. Creole affair. This is now a great cause It seems that the whole of Westminster Hall is unanimously agreed, that the law of England interdicted the delivery up to America of the crew of the Creole. Their
On the Margin of the Map there is being Slaves and Criminals, afforded no
a list of the Engagements and Casualties in ground for their detention.
Scinde and Gutchee since the 1st of Jany Orders were 1840. Beneath the title there is the follow- sent out by Lord Aberdeen for their libera-ing staggering recapitulation for its nu- derers of a Foreign Monarch, could not Sir Charles Wetherell said the mur-
merous European Readers.
foot on any part of the British Empire. On legally be given up to justice, after setting
all sides it was admitted, to be very desirable to adopt an international law, for the surren der of Criminals.
tion
the
FOOD
Cutle
Millions. Loss
EXPENDITURE since Oct. 1838 estimated at 15
British Soldiers and Camp fol lowers 15,000 luding
issioned Of ficers Camels about 50,00, Results A Pension to Lord Keene an and half a dozen Ki and disgrace and Civilization. exertions of this Print, wh uniform
We have in another part of our paper, reported ation of some pirates, who were cap- the Master of the Thistle whose con mghout the affair, seems to have been very
und deserving of commendation. From the mighty
The
Lord Auckland,
ends of India
has
applaud the much to its inced the insane lust
has retarded the develo urces of Hindostan
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