728474-1842-16-Jun-1842 — Page 2

Government Gazette 政府憲報 轅門報 All

+

50

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

NOTICE. HAVING had repeated complaints of the irregular receipt of the Paper by our Macao Sub- scribers, we deem it right to state, that except in one instançeTM our Print has been uniformly issued every Thursday morning and during the forenoon of the same day all copies for Macao have been regularly put up in separate printed cnvelopes, made into a package which has been pasted, ad dressed “ Superintendent's Office, Macao" and sent through the medium of the Hongkong Post Office, We are thus particular in our details as we fully recognize the essentiality in a newspaper of punc tual publication and regular transmission. We regret there should have been any occasion of complaint from causes over which we have had no controul. We shall be deeply indebted to our friends -by' immediately apprizing us should their copies at any time not reach them punctually.

all they hold dear and sacred Should they passively acquiesce in all the decrees and ordinances, which the occupants of Perin (albeit English barbarians), may impose, still our Diplomacy never contemplated, nor are we prepared to govern China. What then is to be done? We ask whether our quarrel cannot be given a dynastic or popular turn? If the present Tartar Em- peror continue obstinate, surely we could contrive to co-operate with the native må contents and appoint his Chinese succes To whom, on ascending the Imperial thr we could surrender in entirety, all conquests and possessions in China excep ting only Hongkong and some one or two other small insular positions to the north ward. These Islands most of course be de. FRIEND OF CHINAclared Free Ports, equally available and

AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JUNE, 16mm, 1842. -

accessible to the Merchants of every Clime and every Nation. Our indemnification and War Expenses, would be easily discharged; for China has no national debt. (It is no- torious we could now obtain it, if we would consent to leave the Emperor alone, and take it as a bribe or hush money from the Mandarins.) A liberal commercial treaty, should also be ratified with the new Em- peror. Such reasonable requirements, and conditions could be granted to us, without the new occupant of the throne being de- graded in the eyes of his subjects or of himself. The whole civilized world would applaud our moderation. Even the jealous rivalities of Russia, France and America would not be evoked.

tions, and the amount of our demand. ; the All acquittance of which would alone cause us ever to depart. At the same time we would make arrangements for perma- nent occupation, and would announce that the indemnification to be exacted by En- gland, would daily augment,

Our readers are well aware the two provinces in question are the two most fer

tile in China and altogether, one of the most favored. ions in the work. Abound- ing in everyth which can minister the wants and luxury of man, and inhab- ited by a people emmently skilful in all

of dis mechanic arts and

rious and

of coun

communication.

positions especially docile, commercial. In the same s try, there is not existing, we believe, an equal extent of natural and artificial water Near Hang Chow, the modern capital of Che Keang, the Grand Canal (after crossing seven degrees of lati- tude) terminates. The remote civilization and productiveness of this district is attest- ed by the early formation of what is still the noblest Hydraulic internal communica- tion in the World,

The cities of these provinces, which are of the first rank, (among them are Hang- chow, Ningpo and Nanking), are many of them approachable by Vessels of the largest class, and nearly all would be accessible to small vessels and Steamers.

THE long promised expeditionary force and armament, having at last safely arrived and been despatched to the North, (whither also his H. E. the Plenipotentiary has pro- ceeded) it now behoves us calmly to ask ourselves, what is the probable plan of the ensuing Campaign, and whether we can now exact from the Chinese a full indem- nification of our just claims: and having coerced them into a pacification, what gua- rantees can we demand for its present ful-

As before said, all that man wants or fillment and future maintenance These are questions of vast importance, and include

covets is here abundantly produced. Here considerations which should be treated in

FAILING the adoption of the foregoing also is situated the Chinese Arcadia and the spirit of the most liberal and compre-plan, we next inquire whether the present here the inhabitants enjoy a climate, repu- hensive statesmanship. We trust we have armament is sufficiently powerful to coerceted to be highly

l to the European those to direct affairs who are posessed of the Chinese into a Pacification. We hold

uets silk, sufficient mental endowments to enable them that it is, and would add that the admirable to rise with the occasion, not succumb to condition, health, discipline and good spirits impending responsibility, nor bedwarfed

of the several corps, with their well known by the altitude of the mighty interests in-

gallantry and efficient equipment (if well volved therein. We have only space for a directed) cannot but command success few cursory remarks and can but glance at England expects it, and has a right to do some of the prominent features of the ap- so. Literally, the eyes of the world are on proaching struggle.

this Expedition. The next few months may be pregnant with events of uncommon in terest and of the highest social import.

We affect not to be the depositaries of official secrets. We crave not to possess the arcana imperii. We ask our readers

Ir then, we do not in this campaign compel to accept the opinions we may express, as the Chinese to make peace, we must do our own, wholly uninfluenced or dictated

something of almost equivalent importance by parties who from position r may have

Else the honor of our Arms will be tarnish access to sources of information unattaina-ed our diplomacy despised and British ble by ourselves. Having premised thus influence diminished, throughout the world much, we may say it is understood that what must we do? We will now shortly Nanking and Shanghai will be captured, state what we think should and perhaps what

may be done.

whilst a simultaneous movement will be made on the Peiho River, and it is expected, no time will be wasted in following its south- ern zigzag course to the strongly fortified city of Tientsin, but the troops will be disem barked at the most accessible point of the Northern channel of the Peibo and will make a rapid advance on Pekin. The Cavalı and Horse Artillery (from the alleged character of the country) will it is supposed be here of singular efficacy and service.

گھر

UNLESS the Emperor then gives way, shall fight a battle, gain a victory, and oc cupy the Capital of the Celestial Empire But what then? Is our presence in the Imperial precincts to be the signal of the demise of the Tartar Dynasty and of a total revolution in China?

OWING to the system of Governm Centralization. Paris is France, the

fthe French

ASURING we gained nothing by the oc- cupation of Peking, we would then con- centrate the whole of the Expeditionary force in the embouchure of the Yangtze Keang and we would subjugate and the Provinces of Chekeang and l We are aware their unit amounts to some 60 Millions

any grounds

se at the that by so

ed

the world

constitution, and the Tea, Sugar &c would as urus be the most acceptable to English merchants. We should tire, were we further to dilate on the teeming wealth, abounding resources and exhaustless capabilities of these highly favoured provinces we must however men tion, two products which (if we are destin- ed to be the rulers) will be of inapprecia- ble importance to us, we mean Iron and Coal. With them, what may we not do? With the skill of our artificers, and with an intelligent and very teachable population, we can, at will evoke, the giant power of Steam and with such magnificent internal navigation who will say we cannot take and hold (aye against the World) these truly magnificent Provinces ?

Should peace not be effected this came paign, still if we have no little war - but. make the Yangtze Reang the scene bf Somewhat respondent. With

ved then the

to the Britt licate the

but be hon Wo dare prog

of a line of policy tempted to sketch.” Shonla diametrically

would yet hope

but do n

cess will rest

It is certain.

of the

Ssuch

com, an ener

duced

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.