No. 26. VOL. 1.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA,
AND DONGBONG
CIRCULAR.
GAZETTE.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.
HONGKONG, THIUREDAI,
TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.
Hen Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary &c. in China has extreme gratification in announcing to Her Majesty's Subjects in China, that he has this day concluded and signed, with t
the Chinese High Commis- sioners, deputed to negotiate with him; a treaty, of which the following are the most important Provisions.
1. Lasting Peace and Friendship be-
tween the two Empires.
2. China to pay Twenty one-Millions of
Dollars in the course of the present and three succeeding years
3. The Ports of Canton, Amoy, Foo chow foo, Ningpo, and Shanghai, to be thrown open to British Merchants, Consular officers to be apointed to reside at them, and regular and just Tariffs of import and Export (as well as inland Transit) -Duties to be established and published. 4. The Island of HongKong to be ceded in perpetuity to Her Britannic Majesty,
Her Heirs and Successors.
5. All Subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.
(whether Natives
or
BER 16TH. 1842.
THE following literal English Version of a proclamation in Chinese, issued by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary on the 5th of Ju- ly, and also a Circular to Her
Subjects in China, under date the seaty's July are published for general information. the 24th of
A. R. JOHNSTON, Deputy Superintendent Charged with the Government of Hongkong.
Govt. House, Hongkong, 9th September 1842,
tentiary &c. &c. makes this clear exposition for POTTINGER, Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipo- the information of all the people of the Country.
UNDER the canopy of Heaven, and within the Countries: of the multitude of these, not one is circumference of earth, many are the different there that is not ruled by the Supreme heavenly Father nor are there any that are not as brethren of one Family. Being then of one Family very plain is it that they should hold friendly and bro- selves one above another. But England coming therly intercourse together, and not boast them- from the utmost west, has held intercourse with China in this utmost east for more than two cen turies past; and during this time the English have suffered ill treatment from the Chinese Officers who regarding themselves as powerful and us as weak
Price # 14 monthly Or 12 yearly
Officers, Generals &c. in the several provinces, in The High Commissioner Yukien, and other High repeated instances, when they have found our peo- by evil men on shore, have being dead to all good ple cast by the weather on their Coast, or induced brought into their hands to a tyrannical and cruel and honest feeling, dared to put the captives thus death, and have deceitfully and falsely reported the cases to the Emperor, or lyingly published pro clamations to the people, wherein they have in- vented tales of lengthened contest and seizure of Vessels in battle with slaughter of many people. Thus falsely did Yukien declare last year, the cir- cumstances of the English occupation of Chusan; thus did the General Yishan pretend that he had Taotai on Formosa, when shipwreck had cast men that he had by force of arms recovered Amoy the destroyed many vessels; the Governor Yen Petao
́on that· Island, that he had gained a victory over last, that he had destroyed many vessels and killed thein in battle, and the General Yihking, in May a multitude of men at Chusan when not one vessel
was injured, nor a single man killed. These mul- tiplied false statements, misleading the Emperor and people and hindering peaceful arrangements, used to carry their goods to many places, and buy are a'third great cause of offence against the English. With reference to trade the English Merchants from and sell to the people generally, which was hurtful, But the Officers at Canton seeking to to the people wholly a benefit, and in no sense confine the profits to themselves, induced the Em- peror by false statements to restrict trade to Can-
who may be confined in any part of unwilling to enter into contest with them, had conduct-it, not even allowing intercourse with any
ebut them and the linguists appointed by the Go- of meddling in very matter extorting as they vernment. Thus did these Officers gain the power pleased, " and
ising everything under false statements to themperor. This is a fourth great cause of offence
borne such treatment for many years till in the the Chinese Empire to be uncondition-year 1839, the Emperor of China, having deter- ally released.
mined to prohibit effectually the importation of 6. An act of full and entire amnesty to be opinm sent a special Commoner Lin Tsesen, to
published by the Emperor under His Imperial Sign Manual and Seal to all Chinese Subjects, on account of their having held service, or intercourse, with, or, resided under the British Government or its officers." 7. Correspondence to be conducted on terms of perfect equality amongst the officers of both Governments.
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8. On the Emperor's assent being received to this Treaty, and the payment of the first $6,000,000, Her B. M's Forces to retire from Nanking and the Grand Canal, and the Military Posts at Chin- hai to be also withdrawn, but the Islands of Chusan and Kulangsoo are to be held until the Money Payments and the arrangements for opening the Ports be completed.
བཟའ་
conduct the arrangements for that purpose; and tual offenders of each nation, in place of consult that Officer finding himself unable to seize the ac- ing and concerting measures with the several na- tional Officers residing. Chima (as it was his pro- per duty to have done,) had the audacity forcibly to confine in Canton the English Officer and peo- ple, at the same time threatening them with death. His object was by extorting from them what opium there that year might be in China, to gain favor with his Emperor and the English Officer at Can- ton seeing this position of things, commanded the English Merchants in the name of their Sovereign that they should deliver up, for the ransom of them- selves from this position of extreme danger what Here is one great offence committed by the Chi- ever opium they might have in the Chinese water nese officers against the English.
There are besides many minor grievances that not be enumerated. excite indignation and wrath, but that here need
&c. has been sent out by command of his Sove- Because of these grievances the Plenipotentiary Feign to demand redress and satisfaction. Wherr these are obtained, peaceful arrangements may be made and the former friendliness of intercourse may be renewed. But until then, the High Offi- cers who command here the conbined Naval and
Land Forces will continue, as commanded also by their Sovereign, to maintain the cause of justice
shall appoint a high officer with full powers to ne- and to contend with all their power for the en- forcement of such redress. When the Emperor gotiate and conclude arrangments on his own re- sponsibility and not till then will hostile operations be stayed.
redress and satisfaction above spoken; namely, Now three principal things are required, for the compensation for losses and expenses, a friendly and becoming intercourse on terms of equality be-
In promulgating this highly satisfactory inteligence, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c. purposely refrains from any detailed expression of his own sentiments as to the mand of a combined Naval and Land Force, and residence of Merchants, and as a security and
surpassing skill, energy, devotion, and val- our, which have distinguished the various grades, from the highest to the lowest of all arms of Her Majesty's combined Forces, -during the contest that has led to these momentous results. The claims which have been thus established will be doubtless acknowledged by the Highest Authorities In the meantime, H. M's Plenipotentiary congratulates Her Majesty's Subjects in China on the occasion of a Peace, which, he trusts and believes will, in due time, be equaly beneficial to the Subjects and in- terests of both England and China.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. Dated on board the Steam Frigate "Queen" in the Yangtze Keang River, off Nanking, this 26th day of August, 1842,
(Signed),
HENRY POTTINGER.
H. M FURNIPOTENTIARY,
The sovereign of Great Britain, in consequence of this and numerous subsequent acts of injustice, appointed as her Envoys, the Admiral Elliot, and Elliot the Superintendent at Canton, to whom joint ly full Powers were given for the settlement of af- fairs with China. And having in counderation the many past acts of injustice of the Chinese Officers, Her Majesty directed the Admiral to take com- to quarter it at one of the Islands on the Chinese Coast her instructions being, that if the Chinese Government were willing to admit its errors, afford redress, a peaceful arrangement should be concluded; but otherwise, recompense were refused, that tice should be raised and it war. The Admiral &c. here the Peiho and there prese Minister of Great Britain Governor Keshen transmit
of all the ministers to P
wrote to the Admiral stati concerned Canton,
far off, and if the Admira Canton, it would not ne The High Eb-1
Bented to met
grand instance
England.
tween Officers of the two Countries; and the ces- sion of insular territory for Commerce and for the guarantee against future renewal of offensive acts. If these three things be acceded to, there will be no difficulty in the settlement of any minor points. That the people may know our objects, and not be misled by the false representations of their Of ficers, to commit acts of hostility that would bring home to their own persons and families the horrors the Plenipotentiary &c. proclaims for ge- neral information This clear exposition...
Dated in the Yang tsze keang the fifth day of July in the year 1842.
(Signed)
(True copy)
HENRY POTTINGER H. M's. Plenipotentiary.
G. A. MALCOLM Secretary of Legation.
OFROULAR.
TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN....
CHINA
Majesty's Plenipotentiary &c. &c. in China fction in promulgating for the in- Majesty & Subjects in China, the and suowess of the Expedition, his last Circular of the 24th of
ag-detained by bad weather baung, until the 6th advanced up the rer
Istre a sumptu
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