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THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,

FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONGKONG GAZETTE. HONGKONG, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER, BR. 1949

indignation which glowed in the invectives of the Poet Cowper, when he denounced like conduct, and which could be now justly applied to many of the Indian magistracyi

We understand that the Canton Mandarins have détermined on issuing Chops or Permite to the Foreign Residents, which will enable them to pro-

from the Shipping at Whampoa

be safe to avarice o

native boat on oralt oncession it will however r facilities of the

texpone

The welf may render

anv

catas

We hear much talk about the general return of the British merchants to Canton. After what has taken place, such a course indicates either great courage or contempt of Chinese vengeance. It would seem to be quite overlooked that we are active bel ligerents in the north, and although trade has been resumed in the south, yet the ca crection of forts above, below, and in Can- ton will quite convince any one who re-trophe remote, t not the less certain, Mo flects, that our present relations can only over it is hardly likely the local authorities will be construed into an armed truce.

generally connive at the illicit introduction of legal We would never advocate the principle Imports, It is well known that with regard to a that a British subject in a Foreign land prohibited article. Opium, the Mandarin boats will guarantee to safely and regularly deliver at at can be wronged in his person, or property, Canton for an adance on the Whampoa price without the right of claiming redress from of fifteen dollars or about three per cent on its the representative of his Sovereign, Still_value. it must be confessed that in returning at the present time to Canton, our friends may seriously embarrass the progress of pacifie negociations, and should the war be con- tinued, may also peril their own lives and the vast property, committed to their care, We cannot but think that an eminent firm here, best consults its true interest, also that of its numerous and influential constituency, (to say nothing of mercantile consistency and national honour) by con- fiding the portion of its business which is required to be done at Canton, to the care of Citizens of a neutral power.

We would call to mind the Notification of H. M. Plenipotentiary, dated Macao, the 19th August 1841; wherein he warns her Majesty's subjects, against putting them selves or their property in the power of the Chinese Authorities, and "if they do so, it must be clearly understood to be at their own risk and peril”

We much mistake if this Notification, would not (in case of consigned property at Canton being confiscated by the Chinese) render the Consignee liable for the loss. In somewhat similar cases it has been so ruled, and we think justly, by Westminster Hall. Well would it be if our friends, be fore proceeding to Canton, would bethink themselves as to the vast pecuniary respon sibility (in addition to personal risk) they may incur by going thither.

One other remark we would make and that is, whatever the fate of themselves or their fortunes--if even the most disastrous; by the publication of the foregoing Notifica tion they are not only barred from all claims for compensation, but we fear they would obtain little, if any sympathy from their fellow countrymen.

We have had an advertisement Calcutta, which contained a scheme --we have declined to insert it as we on not using our influence in ence

socially pernicious, and subver ity. At home, by common

ties, such a method of raising disreputable for any government or ind to continue the practice.

We are told, that at Calcutta the profito lottery are employed in public imp Admitting their full value, they are. í chased by the consequent demoralization people.

Some years since, owing to the in which laws w

supervision, pass gow Improveme have a Lotte prevent the re absurdity

It need hardly be said, that these boats monopo lise the whole of the smuggling trade or transit of Opium to the Provincial City,

The contraband trade in the Canton river is greatly on the increase, and many articles have now almost ceased to appear among the legal Ex- ports, for instance Cassia and Canton raw Silk On Tea, the government and local exactions on the commonest quality now amount to at least four pence half penny per pound. Hence it is not sure prising that a largo illicit trade in Tea, or rather its Export, has been called into existence.

A determination on the part of the British mer- chants not to return to Canton, but to carry on their trade here, would have the effect of removing much that is odious, and be corrective of much that tional interests. A few years hence it will be a is detrimental to the national honor and the na matter of astonishment, with respect to Hongkong, that advantages so manifold and sa manifest were not at once eagerly grasped at.

A stranger who for the first time passes up the Canton River cannot but be struck at the large fleet lying at Whampoa, which is wholly engaged in the contraband trade. He is irresistibly.com pelled from this exemplification, to acknowledge, that this crime which occupies so prominent a with one of our most eminent political economists, place in the criminal legislation of all modern states, wholly the result of vicious commercial and financial legislation. It does not originate in any depravity inherent in man; but in the folly and ignorance of legislators,”

Government, with the view of suppressing any

na-

kind of contraband trade with the Chinese or other Foreigners, for besides being an exceptional policy as we have shown, we may further add that any such attempt if made; would only have the effect of transferring the trade to the natives of other tins, who would be employed by the English Capitalists.

uch to be regretted that Governments are not sufficiently enlightened, to impose only such duties as should remove all temptation or motive for ling Fiscal regulations having reference to primary principles and sound reason would render any kind of contraband trade impossible, because unprofitable. The tariff of Sir Robert Peel (deplorably deficient as it is in many respects) Indicates progress, it is a step towards further

"A

improvement and so far encouraging At present the smuggler (demoralised as too often he is) is one of the most potent civilizers. He breaks down the walls of partition which separate nation from nation. He it is, who knits man to man, by the ties of mutual intercourse and self interest. In most countries the sympathies of the poor or rather the people are all for him, along our maritume coast at home he is the hero of almost every popular song or legend, and among our higher classes, to use the language of Adam Smith in his Wealth of nations, "To pretend to have any scruples about - buying smuggled goods would be regarded as one of those pedantic pieces of hypocrisy, which, instead of gaining credit with any body, seems only to expose the person who affects to practise them to the su- spicion of being a greater knave than most of his neighbours. Can we then be surprised that the popular feeling in all countries is with the illicit

trader, who whilst following his own ends is yet often the instrument (under Divine Providence) of promoting the social advancement and happiness of mankind at large.

SINCE our last issue we have had all kinds of rumours rife with respect to the northern 'expedi- tion. – As yet, no official intelligence has been re ceived from the seat of War. It is certain that a letter has been received here from Chusan, detail- ing a heavy loss on our part of officers and men. The obvious inaccuracy of the statements hitherto published and the one we have seen, renders us very anxions to receive the official report which we hope will remove much of the disquietude which now exists in certain quarters.

+

much unnecessary pain,

We should perhaps be the means of inflicting if we were to print the

events. Until we have a perfect authentication of statement we have been furnished with, as to late- the facts detailed, we forbear all comment on the progress and present state of affairs in the north.

We need not tall our readers that smuggling internationally is no crime at all. On the contrary, every government if it does not encourage, at least bours of Kowloon, have paid us visits during the We regret to learn that our predatory neigh- connives at snuggling when directed against its last week. One attempt on the Albany Godowns neig bour-never notices or punishes it, unless prac(wherem much valuable property was deposited)

gamst itself, "So entirely conventional is the facility is afforded by France, Belgium, and Hol offence, if offence it can be called. Thus every land, even to the exemption in some harbours of Port dutie clearance dues to those vessels ongag-

introduct of Tobacco. Spirit Bagland Some ra since Mr M Culloc

ch clandestine

a 1088 of least 1600.00 evenue

Preventive Excise and ustoms service, entail.

was of the most daring character. The robbers boat when aid arrived. It would be well if some were repulsed, but were able to escape to their kind of naval police could be established to pre- vent these outrages. Might not a gun boat or two (stationed near the opposite shore) suffice for our mightly protection from these incursions 1

We are told that Letters as late as he 8th June have been received from France.

understand,

at Bobbin net. they report, the life of Louis. Phillippe to be in His demise at this juncture it is fred, would lead to the

and

countries, and even in this kind ectured that the balance is in

hemselves into

past

great danger.

Policy under a new m

vor before

are very different pers

is now in his Sixty ninth for some time past from a drop

We hear that the Chusan, Captain Laird struck

imes

The

GA

way a part of her false av Opium Schoo

ted to have got on the of the Typa at Ma

the