THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JULY, 21ST. 1842.
duction made whether the produce remai
We are unaware whether in the revised Tariff, there is any reduction of Import Duty on manufac tured Tabaeco, Hitherto it has been admissible upon payment of nine shillings per lb.; and no re- or Foreign states. Whilst we deprecate, in the We learn from the Friend of India that protective system, yet conformably with the whole at a late meeting of the Agri-Horticultural tenor of Peel's proposed enactment, we think there Society at Calcutta, it was suggested that should be a preferential or reduced duty on the ad- mission into England of Colonial Manufactured a Chinese plough should be imported. Its Tobacco. If the old duty of nine shillings per lb. introduction into India and general use is maintained on Foreign, 4s. to 5s, per lb. ought to was deemed worthy of trial by the Meeting, suffice on British Imports, In this case we look which authorised an order to be transmit- for a very considerable trade being called into ted to China for several ploughs. We are
tence, of which we nothing doubt, ere long, Island will be a considerable partaker, as Tobacco disposed to think many of the implements of various sorts and of the finest quality, is abun- used by the agriculturists of China might, dantly and cheaply produced in China. We know if introduced, prove successful in India.it is the general received opinion in Europe, that We would instance the chung, or ground Tobacco is only indigenous to the New World, and drill and the fung kicai or Fanning Mill as the names given
warrant the supposition, seeing they are obviously derived from the Spanish tabaco, the term which, according to Baron Humboldt, was used by the aborigines of Hayti, to designate the instrument employed in smoking the herb, and the adoption of which word for the plant itself (by the discoverers of the New World) henceforth consti- tuted its specific appellation.
We perceive by a letter, which lately appeared in the Singapore Free Press, that public attention is being directed to the alluvial Tin ores, which have been known to exist not only at Meigui, but indeed throughout the Tenasserim provinces and also on the Malayan peninsula. We adverted to this in- teresting subject in our No. 14. Since then, we are pleased to learn from the communication above referred to that the specimens of Tin Ore brought from the Kayen Country, have been reported on very favorably. A Mr. G. B. Tremenheere of Maul- main says that they give on the analysis, a yield of 78 per Cent of metallic Tin, This is very encour- aging, as from the report, and Cornish cognomen of the party reporting, we are disposed to think it fully entitled to credit. With the contemplated alteration of Duties, it may now be expedient and profitable to import Tin ores into England, and smelt them there as they do Copper Ores. This trade (the creation of the last few years) has now
of necessity go on increasing.
likely to be useful. The extremely simple guages seems to in most of the Oriental lan- become of very considerable importance and will
construction of Chinese implements is a great recommendation, and especially so, when a novelty in India.
We understand public expectation at Calcutta is on the tiptoe, looking for the forthcoming report of Mr. Cameron (the Law commissioner) to whom, Lord Ellen borough has committed the whole of the papers, in relation to the late disastrous af fairs in Affghanistan. Rumours greatly to the disadvantage of Sir Wm. Macnaghten are rife, and obtain credence in Calcutta. That something sadly disgraceful, will be elicited, we fear there is now no doubt; and it is reported that Eldred Pottinger has said, the English name was sunk be- yond redemption in Affghanistan.
Knowing this, we yet concur with Professor Pallas who says, in China the use of Tobacco is more ancient then the discovery of the New World. He cites what we hold to be good confirmatory evidence of his assertion, which we think we can philologically corroborate. The Tobacco plant by the Chinese is called in tso, which is a very old form, and has no euphonic resemblance or affinity to the Spanish appellation of Tobacco. As before said, its familiar use by almost every man, woman, and China produces an enormous quantity of this staple, child, is apparent to the most careless observer. We have said that some of the kinds are very su perior. The prices, as in Tea, are dependant on No sickly delicacy of feeling will we trust quality, and vary, we are told from 4d. to 1s. 6d, interpose to prevent a full and complete per lb. The quality most adapted for sale in England exposé. The Governor General comprecation of cigars. We know some of the musters would be the better qualities, suitable for the fabri- hends too well the responsible duties of his sent from hence, have been pronounced (by com- office, not to afford a guarantee to the pub-petent judges in London) to be admirably fitted for lic, that this inquiry will not be burked, the manufacture of real Havannahs. It may be as Many we know (now the tomb has closed well to mention that the English Manufacturer of on the implicated) wish the inquiry not to Cigars and Snuff has the enormous protecting duty be prosecuted, they would draw the veil of prising, that although the consumption of cigars has six shillings per lb. Hence it is not at all sur- oblivion over the past. They cite many so vastly augmented in England, yet the Foreign trite sayings and worldly-wise aphorisms imports for Home consumption exhibit little increase, which long unquestioned, are by most now and we find by the Blue Book, that the whole of held to be truisms. Such would realise the the duty paid quantify used at home, of Foreign vulgar cry of "do not speak ill of the dead". manufactured tobacco(i. e. Havannah cigars, Bengal With every feeling of charity for the fail- last three years has averaged under-200,000, lbs. and Manilla cheroots with fancy snuffs) during the ings of erring humanity, we would yet say We say nothing of the illicit import which however, public justice demands, that for the sake of is small, compared, with the native manufacture, the living, we should always speak the which now employs many hundreds of people in truth (albeit unpleasant) of the dead, be England. To meet this large and increasing trade, they whom they may, noble or ignoble.
we recommend the introduction into England of the finer sorts of Chinese Tobacco.
To the solemn mockery of woe, the con- ventional hypocrisy, suppression and per- version of truth, which mark the obse- quies of the rich and great: how much of the chicanery and villainy of the world is owing? The interests of morality would
of
We see no reasons why with proper care and selec: tion of suitable qualities of raw Tobacco, that che- roots rivalling those of Manilla should not be made on our Island. If well got up, should they not be largely saleable in England, for home consumption, they would be vendible (if at a moderate cost) in quantity, for export to the continent of Europe, of Cheroots in Manilla is a
Havannah, and
in
We can imagine in some situations it will now be far more advantageous to Export Tin ores (which have hitherto been practically prohibited) than send the Metal to England.
THE alluvial ores of Cornwall for ages past have m been dilligently wrought. (In the County they are called Stream works, and the process is analagous to Gold washing). Tin in the vein or matrix has been traced for miles through hilla and valleys, under rivers and even the depths of the Sea have been explored, and some hundreds of yards deep has the earth been penetrated, to raise this valuable product. Hence it will not surprise the reader that the returns from our Cornish Tin Mines are now obtained at greater cost and outlay, and that workers say) to the legitimate wants of the home the quantity raised is not adequate (as the Tin Trade.
We have been assured by one of the most experienced miners in Cornwall, that it only re quires the transfer of a little British Skill and Capi, tal to Banca, Malacca and our Burman provices to supply Tin from thence at a much cheaper rate than it can be obtainable from any other portion localities present such inducements for Mining of the globe. For ourselves, we believe these adventures, as to be almost wholly exempt from the great risk and gambling uncertainty, which too often characterise such undertakings in most other parts of the world.
A List of Transports taken up for the China Expedition and now employed.
Thames
Robarts Martha Maria Percy
City of Palaces Urgent
Wm. Money Westmoreland D. of Bedford
Lady Flora
Teazer
Warrior
City of London
Defiance John Fleming Tamerlane
demand that when dead (as of old with the The fabrication laent monopoly Wric
Egyptians) our conduct and characters should be judicially examined, then many a sarcophagus would be untenanted, and rites now accorded, would be justly denied.
In some such spirit as we have hinted at, we confidently hope the Affghanistan in- quiry will be prosecuted. No morbid tenderness for the feelings of survivors, no childish weakness in favor of party or per- sonal considerations, should be permitted to interpose, or in the smallest degree bias the investigation and report.
We thus hope Mr Cameron will not give an unreasoning adhesion to the cant of -popular sympathies. Let him do his duty fearlessly and he will earn the approval of the thinking few should he even lose (which we do not count on) the suffrages of the thoughtless many.
We have heard whispers of the blandish ment and seductions of modern Dallahs coupled with English perfidy and tre We would fain
Me to the
of Oriental imagin
indeed be, if all that
national honor should
reality, but unfounded suspic figment of the enemy,
In Spain, Portugal, France, and other continental states the vending of Tobacco itself is in the hands of Government, so that a cheap and good cigar in bond at London, be always in fair request. At Europe is a very covetable article, and would, if in Gibraltar there is a large trade in making a common sort of cigar for illicit import into Spain, They are made of American tobacco, It is estimated the cigar manufactory at Manilla gives a profit to the Government of upwards of $1,200,000 per annum, iously a large source of profit, as is also that in the this to us appears too large a figure; still it is notor-
Havannah to the Spanish Government. The value of the cigars exported from Cuba, at this time, amounts to more than the cost in bond, of all the Tobacco consumed in Great Britain and Ireland I Our readers will, we are sure, be disposed to ac- quescein the propriety of our urging the expediency by Governmental monopoly, unfettered by absurd of introducing this manufacture, which unburdened
restrictions, should on that ground alone (from the much greater economy of production) become what we have no douby it will a branch of industry not unimportant in the Island of Hong Kong,
Wm. Yates Blundell
John Wickliffe Surat Merchant Amelia Thompson Gertrude Asia Wm. Wilson Lysander Livingstone Faize Rubany
Burhampooter Cursetjee Cowasjea Victoria
Rohomany Walmer Castle
Runnymede
Maleh el Bahar
Pekin
Shah Allum Sulimany
Maria Thos Grenville Minerva
Warrior Coromandel Rustomjee Orient Ernaad Faize Allum Sophia Worcester Gipsey
Barretto Junior Palmyra
Thomas Coutts
Sir Robert Peel Forth
Flowers of Ugie Moira
incurred for this branch of the expedition will We are informed the Cost to the country no amount to nearly £400,000 per annum,
SHIPS AND STEAM VESSELS BUILDING IN WOOLWICH DOCKYARD.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.