728475-1842-23-Jun-1842 — Page 2

FRIEND

HE TRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE

CHINA' powers with whom we are now in negoti- ation for commercial treaties. The most disgusting features of our Tariff are how- ever now and for ever.

AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JUNE, 23rd. 1842.

"Ir Great Britain were to take possession of from Bengal,

Macao, garrison it with nativ

1200 enumerated article led. Out of nion; however, this intelligent traveller has been

duty is redu-

ALTHOUGH the lengthened residence of || ced on no less than 750ver the deluge less to Great Britam, owing to the humiliating

ILE. the Plenipotentiary on our Island, had of Cant, which has inundated us, we were no special reference to Hongkong, or its not surprised to find that no alteration is interests as the future Capital of Anglo- made in the Sugar Duties. From the China; but was occasioned by circum-contentedness or supineness of our mer- stances wholly referrible to the War now chants the monstrous inequality of the Ten in progress; still, it is but justice to m. E. to Duties is maintained. We are glad to see say that no proper representation was ever

a reduction in Coffee. Foreign grown will made or submitted to him whilst here, pay 8d instead of 1s 3d. British grown 4d which did not immediately receive due instead of 9d. On Timber the reduction attention. The case, brought to his notice henceforth will be very important. Canadian by the merchants, of the necessity of a 1s instead of 10s. Foreign timber and general standard of Value, and the conse- deals 25s and 30s instead of 415. Stage quent Proclamation, directing Mexican Coach Proprietors and letters of pleasure dollars to be accepted as such, will be fresh carriages are to obtain considerable relief in the recollection of our readers. The It is with unfeigned satisfaction that we Harbour regulations which were made and see so many of the recommendations of the circulated, and the augmented powers giv- much abused Import Duties Committee en by H. E. to our magistrates will also be accepted by a conservative premier. Public deemed of great utility. The appointment opinion now, is far too strong and enlight of the Land Committee (however well in ened not to compel any set of men in office, tentioned) could not be productive of the to progress in the right direction. The great advantages which some of our friends general character of the proposed revision conjectured would result, seeing that the is highly liberal, and our Tariff is classified Committee was restricted from allotting and arranged under twenty heads like the Lands to other than Chinese and philan- Prussian. With few exceptions the maxi- trophic objects.

mum duty on Raw materials is to be five per cent;-on articles partly manufactured, twelve per cent; and on manufactured ar- ticles, twenty per cent.

a

Tife erection of the Market place, and the clearing of our streets of the huckster population, was a very great benefit con- ferred on our town. The great utility of the market was tested at once, by the si- multaneous arrival of the fleet of Trans- ports.

We were pleased to find this sud- den and enormous demand was readdy met and without any important advance on the current prices. Our thanks are justly due to m. E. for the appointment of Post Master, who by the prompt perform ance of his duty has already earned the confidence of our community. The crown- ing act (although the first on the arrival of his H. E.) was the immediate suppression of Junk-seizing by our men of war. Other claims to our gratitude he may have earned for we entertain no doubt that his II. E. during his stay with us has moved the Hoine Government to make definitive ar- rangements with respect to our Island. At any rate, A would be a poor tribute to the well known sagacity of H. E. to suspect he had not claimed the attention of her Ma- jesty's Government to our legitimate require

inents.

By the "Vindictive" we have received a copy of the Times newspaper, dated Lon- don 12th March, by which we find Sir Robert Peel brought forward his Budget in the House of Commons on the 11th of that month; although of so comprehensive a cha- racter, it was well received by both sides of the house. To meet the annual deficiency he proposed a general Income tax of seven pence in the pound, or £2,18,,4 per cent ; which he estimates will produce £3,775,000 From this impost, all incomes of under £ 150 a-year-will be exempt: an additional duty on Irish Spirits of Is per gallon is im- posed, and seeing that Ireland has no as sexed taxes, Irish absentees resident in England will be subject to the Income tax. Additional Stamp duties in Ireland will b levied, so that from these sources an in of £310,000 is counted on. £200

is expected to be obtained from a new of 4s per Ton on the export of Coals to For- eign Parts.

The angmented revenue from these sources to £4,38

sum £2570.

estimated

ted to the

our trade

|

copy

pro-

and declare it a free port, it would be one of the most flourishing places in the East". In this opi-

misinformed, for Macao would be worse than use

tenure on which it is held from the Chinese, and its want of a suitable anchorage for any but vessels of the smaller class. If any island is taken posses- son of, it should be in a central part of China, CHUSAN for instance, as suggested by Sir James Urmston, formerly chief of the Company's factory Then indeed might we hope to see it become one of the most flourishing places in the East; f continues Mr. Holman, the Chinese are so fond with foreigners if they could be assured of receiv of smuggling, that they would not hesitate to trade

ing protection and there is no doubt that they would use all those arts of bribery with them own countrymen, which would be necessary to promote their own ends, and which are so irresistible to equivocal integrity of the Chinese. By these means, therefore, there is not a doubt that a very ex- with China, and very important advantages secur- tensive and productive trade might be established

ed to the British nation. When these facts are so self-evident," well may the writer add, it is won- derful that some measures have not been taken to from the insults and obstacles which are now so secure the commerce and to protect the merchantsTM much complained of, as well as to lower the bul lying and imperative tone which the Chinese at present think fit to adopt in all their mercantile transactions.

the

Such earnest representations have not

THE above extract is taken from a pamphlet published at London in 1836

in 1936 entitled “The present position and prospects of the British trade with Chi- na by JAMES MATHESON ESQ." It is unnecessary to tell our readers, that no better authority is cita- ble on all that belongs to our commercial relations Nor having received a

with the Chinese Empire, Hongkong now real- posed tariff we cannot specify the full ef- unobtainable at Macao. The possession of this

of the

izes the desiderata mentioned and which

are fects thereof on the China Trade. From Island and its permanent retention as a commer- all we gather, our trade will benefit in a

cial emporium, may now be considered as un fait much less degree than any other by these accompli. For years past, the occupation by us of beneficial changes. The consumption in insular positions on the coast of China, has been England of China Silk manufactures, may Chambers of Commerce and Oriental associations pressed on the attention of Government by the by the reduction proposed (some ten per at home. cent) be a little increased; as also the finer been without their effect in the proper quarter qualities of grass cloth, which will be ad- as also the obviously grave inconveniences which missible at half the old duties. A variety would now result, from capricious ed chow-chow will be imported into En-to Lord Melbourne say: "It would be of the great

s suspensions of of articles which are here expressively call- the Trade by the mandarins at Canton. The Glasgow East India association in their memorial gland on much easie terms, and the aggre-est advantage to British Trade in that part of gate amount of these articles exported from the world, were his Majesty's Government to ob China will much increase. But no sub-tain one or more of the Islands near China, as an stantial or important advantage can accrue to us, that does not involve a reduction of duty on our staple article Tea. Now that a further reduction on Coffee (as we prog- nosticated) has been made the justice of our demand for a revision and alteration of the Tea duties is considerably increased and we hope will be urged in the proper

quarter.

THERE seems no doubt now of the assassination in the Indian papers; but we have not yet seen of Shah Soojah.

Circumstantial details are given any statements which satisfactorily account for his untimely end. One narrative states that when the Shah was shot, he was on his way to succour Sale, and raise the siege of Tellullabad question of treason to hus benef made out Should it be prove tens the ceased Shah, it is affirmed in wel

osed Dost Maho

ored

shoul

insugate

moreover that

en wer

ALL the demands

goes to r

for the

of duties

hips, Oonstellation drawn from the Rive

omands were we have

Commodore is thinking

emporium for carrying on commerce free from the exactions, control, or annoyance of the Chinese it is guaranteed by the very heavy and recently Government". As to the full success of Hongkong, augmented Imposts and dues of the Port of Canton, which in the aggregate on Exports and Imports millions of dollars per annum. now amount we are informed to nearly Seventeen This enormous sum is payable by the British Trade, We are assured

the location of our merchants in this Free Port would immediately effect a saving of one fourth of these exactions, with a certainty of their being still further diminished, to fully one half, few months. Some nearly the sum total might be saved, if proper en- our sanguine friends, say,

couragement be

to the Chinese to resort ither. In 1836 Mr. Matheson said that at ton "the regulations of trade pre so to secure the most grievous, and sitions and asks "how.

ence the 19 hot vel against the de

informed quar and

will be re- these him. If it

at Akbar Khan

Commodore

comme sacrifice of his

How singular

emarks now, and they are very credit

must

sagacity and far sightedness w

ore strikingly shown by

the head being the

We are

the Brinah Island of

will be required by Brazi

pam and other