728480-1842-28-Jul-1842 — Page 2

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE

FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, JULY, 28TH. 1843.

We may proudly rely on the gallantry and discip. line of our Soldiers and Sailors, but all depends on the instructions from home. What they are, coming events will soon show,

We are much rejoiced to find, by a notice which THE Circular of H. E the Plenipoten-will he found in another part of our columns, that tiary which will be found in our first page, the necessity of establishing a Steam communi- details successes, the announcement of cation between China, the Straits, and India, is beginning to attract public attention. It is abun- which, cannot but be gratifying to our dantly obvious that with proper regulations, good management, and the hearty co-operation of our mercantile community, the undertaking could be rendered highly profitable. We have been pro- mised detailed statistics, which we are assured, would fully corroborate our assertion, and which, some future time, we hope to lay before our

readers.

The improvement of the Chinese in gun- nery is worthy of note, and sufficiently indi- cates that the longer the war is protracted, the greater will be the defensive capabilities of the enemy.

readers.

If some arrangement could be come to with the Spanish and Dutch Governments, so that branch Steamers in communication with the proposed line should regularly ply betwixt Manilla, Batavia and Singapore, it would tend much to the general suc- cess of the undertaking, and would, moreover, give it a really comprehensive character.

Retaining permanent settlements on the coast of China, the native energies of British md are guarantee for the early adoption of so powerful, and now so necessary, a medium of social commui- cation, as steam. At home we count upwards of 1100 steamers, and the number is rapidly increas- ing. There they have realized the prediction of the celebrated Dr. Darwin, who in the true spirit of philosophic prophecy wrote fifty years ago,

It is said Soochow is to be taken and that Nanking will afterwards be the next object of assault. The city of Shanghai which has been captured is at the mouth of the Woo sung, and communicates with the Great Canal. It is the port of Soochow, and may be deemed one of the emporia of the Yang tze-Kiang. Mr. Lindsay in his report of the voyage of the Amherst says the Woo-a sung river which gives its name to the vil- lage at its mouth, is in every respect one of the finest and most navigable in China. On its banks (greatly resembling Holland) much of the fine yellow-Nankeen Cotton is grown. Shanghai is situated on the left side of the river some fifteen or twenty miles up, which there is about half a mile wide. During seven days about four hun- dred Junks of from 100 to 400 tuns burden were seen to enter from the North. When Mr. Gutzlaff visited it in the Sylph, he found he says a thousand Junks moored opposite to the city.

Soon shall thy arm, all conquering steam afar Drag the slow barge, and drive the rapid car,

MANY of our Subscribers express surprise, that no edifice has yet been commenced destined to the performance of religious worship, according to the ritual of the Established church of England,

WE are glad to know that this delay has not been occasioned by the want of zeal, or apathy of the respectable members of this communion, but which must first be complied with. has been solely occasioned by official requirements,

the

The commerce with Japan is carried on from this Port, as well as from Chapoo, We believe some five or six thousand dollars, and we are told at the late capture, a Junk have already been raised, by voluntary contribu from thence, with a very valuable cargo, tious at Hongkong and Macao. It is understood was secured. Shanghai is said to be as in the Expedition to the North whither the subs. the list will be considerably augmented by friends large as Foo-chow-foo, and in commercial cription list has been sent. We are told H. E. importance ranks next to Canton. Besides the Plenipotentiary will, on the part of the Govern its large coasting trade, it carries on con-ment, grant a-like amount to whatever sum may siderable traffic with Siam, the Phillippines, be collected for this very desirable and much and the Eastern Archipelago

needed object. eligible site for the Church is It remains to be seen, what effect the already chosen.

WE

have noctarian feelings and rejoice at taking of this emporium will have on his praiseworthy exertions of the Propaganda Fide Imperial Majesty. Athough the prisoners, and of American Baptist Mission to whose lately kidnapped, have been surrendered efforts

and the munificence of the residents, we are and overtures of peace have been made; indebted for having Public Divine worship cele- we entertain no expectation of its leading brated on our island. to a Pacification. More, much more, must in Chusan, Amoy, and Ningpo, there are several WHILST on this subject we may remark that yet be done before the emperor will yield Catholic and some American Missionaries. to the necessity of negociating with us. yet we

As know no instance, We have before expressed our opinions on

of any person connected with the Established church, or Missio- the expediency of operations in the Yang-nary societies at home, who have proceeded tze-Kiang, we have unswervingly urged an advance on Peking as absolutely neces sary, to give full effect to the objects we have in view. Failing to do this, we must if we can, contrive to command (by occu- pying easily defensible positions) the Grand Canal and Yang-tze-Keang. In making all fitting arrangements for permanent pos session, we shall we think, hasten nego- ciations which would perhaps secure, for us, a full indemnification with an honor- able peace, As to the commercial stipp- lations, so much talked of, let us retain two or three small islands off the coast of China, the enterprise of our Merchants will do the rest.

It is currently reported and beli Chinese, that the

Icinage of

mmed

may

labours, about which we hear so much among the thither, or indeed chosen our island as a scene of religionists in England.

In connexion with this subject and illustrative of the deep interest which is felt in the prosperity of our Colony; We have been informed that the much esteemed Lancelot Dent, Esqr. hearing at Singapore (on his way home) that it was contem-

retired

build a Church here, immediately trans- n order for 500 dollars in aid of the fund, the way, had been liberally con ited

I be

by the respectable firm from which he had just

ry glad to publish (gratuitously)

to the Church fund. Th to the Catholic Educational glad to

We subjoin an account extracted from the Singapore, Free Press of the 14th inst) of the losse by fire of the Vansutart, in Bombay harbour. We believe this is another case, unhappily too nume- rous, of spontaneous ignition. It is more than likely that part of the Cotton cargo was in a damp state, and it is notorious, that when so shippedes often leads to the burning of the vessel. Great pains have been taken to investigate and explain the cause of spontaneous combustion; but (if we may judge by the oft recurring instances) with little practical result in the way of prevention thereol.

* AMONG the most elaborate reports we have seen on this subject was one instituted in Russia, at Cronstadt, where a series of experiments were executed by command of the government, in order if possible, to elucidate the mysterious burning of a frigate, ou board of which it was known no fire had been for several days before. Among other interesting experiments made by M. Georgi (and one which may account for many conflagrations hitherto unexplained) was this. "He roasted quantity of Coffee until brown, and without grind- ing it, tied it up in linen, and set it by Nothing followed, He then ground two pounds of roasted Coffee to powder, and tied it up similarly. In three quarters of an hour it took fire, and continued burning until it was reduced to ashes." This is a fact which cannot be too widely made known.

DESTRUCTION OF THE “VANSITTART BY FIRE. -By accounts brought by the Pandora from Bombay we regret to learn that the Vansittart was unfortunately destroyed by fre carly in the morning of the 3rd ultimo She had on board upwards of 6,000 bales of Cotton and a large quantity of Malwa Opium, forming a very valuable cargo. Both Hull and cargo are we believe covered by Insurance. The following extract of a let- ter on the subject has been kindly handed to us by a friend..

"I grieve to announce the entire destruction of the Vansittart, by fire, last night, while at anchor on the middle ground, or outer ting this day for Chine, anchorage, previously to start-

The cause is not known bat must have originated with the Cotton in the hold, as after the smoke was first observed issuing from the hatchways about 2 A. M. the flames burst out imme- daitely with such unquenchable fury, as barely to give cape, the best way they could, without clothes, or ef time, for the commander and crews to effect their es-

fects. Many of the Lascars saved

s saved themselves on planks and pieces of timber, and were picked up after being cholera, two-hours before, after having been for some

hours in the water. The chief mute had an attack of

time a sufferer from fever and was saved with diffi. culty E ascertained to have perished."

Only the European carpenter and another are as

yet

In inserting the letter of the Constant Reader we are glad to acknowledge that the character and worthy of implicit belief. Still, as the matter re- position of the writer, renders his statement,

ferred to, was only an On dit, we think it was in a shape, hardly noticeable in so formal a manner. We take this opportunity of saying, that under the head of On dits, we insert the current talk, public cate public opinion, and popular sympathies, and gossip or bazaar reports which more or less indi-

hence on that ground alone merit a passing notice. By-the-way in to-days paper we give the full verification of one of our On dits in reference to Shanghai and which appeared in our paper of the 18th June,

FROM the Singapore Free Press we copy a list of the vessels which have suffered by the late gale at Calcutta We have not seen any detailed report nor are we aware

Meteorolo

enomena pred

cane. If any, we doubt no

ecorded

apidly approa appears

to the Nort

interesti

object

at an a

frends