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THE FRIEND OF CHINA, AND HONG KONG

EXTRAORDINARY.

PROCLAMATION.

GAZETTE.

HONGKONG, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 1842.

SIR HENRY POTTINGER, BART, Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, has, on his ar- rival at Amoy, learned, with extreme horror and astonishment, that many more than a hundred Subjects of Her Britannic Majesty, who were wrecked in the Ship Nerbudda and Brig Ann, in the months of September 1841, and March 1842, on the Coast of the Island of Formosa, have been

recently put to death by the Chinese Authoritica on that Island, who allege, that they perpetrated ins cold-blooded act in obedience to the Imperial

Commands.

of that Ship were abandoned by the Master and Mates of her, and also by an Officer and a small

It further appears, that there were altogether dred and seventy Camp Followers and seventy two hundred and forty Natives of India (one hun- Seamen) left in the "NERBUDDA," when her Master and Mates deserted that Ship, out of whom only the Head and Second Syrang have escaped with their lives, but it is not possible to determine how many were drowned, killed by Plunderers, died natural deaths, perished from ill treatment or Star- vation, or were beheaded by the Chinese Autho-

The Plenipotentiary has now further to he has obtained from a few of the ship- announce the following clear details which wrecked men, who have been sent over to Amoy, to be released agreeably to the

On board the Ship "Nerbudda," which was wrecked in September 1841, there were altogether 274 souls; of these, 29 were Europeans, 2 Manilla men, and 243 Natives of India.

Amoy,

Detachment of Her Majesty's Regiments who were proceeding in her to join the Expedition. It now appears, that the Natives remained by the Ship for five days after they were thus abandon- ed, that they then landed on rafts under the guid-Treaty. ance of the Head and Second Syrang, that, in thus landing, some of the men (both Camp Follow ers and Lascars or Seamen) were drowned or killed by Chinese who came down to plunder them, that all who landed were made Prisoners the moment they got on shore, and confined in heavy irons, under circumstances of great cruelty, All the Europeans, accompanied by 2 Had the unhappy people who have suffered on

in small parties, and in separate prisons, for about || Manilla men and 3 Natives of India, left this occasion even been Prisoners of War, taken eleven months, at the expiration of which period the Ship in the Boats as soon as she struck whilst fighting with arms in their hands, their masthey (with the exception of the Head and Second were (which is aggravated by a lapse of time of Syrang) were carried in Sedan Chairs to a plain. of India were left behind. These men re- on the rocks, and thus, exactly 240 Natives nearly a year) would have been a most flagrant a short distance from the Capital of the Island of violation of the acknowledged and well-understood Formosa, and there beheaded in cold blood, in mained by the Ship, which had drifted over rules and feelings which distinguish warfare

presence of the Chinese local Authorities.

the reef, and was lying in smooth water in amongst civilized nations, and contrast it with the

Kilung Bay, for five Days, and then landed mere savages; but, when Her Majesty's Plenipo-

description. In landing some men were sanguinary and inhuman practices and ideas of

on rafts, without arms or weapons of any tentiary calls to mind, that the unfortunate indivi- duals, on whom this foul deed has been committed,

drowned in the surf, others were killed by were inoffensive Camp Followers and Seamer,

plunderers who came down to strip them who neither were armed, nor had any means of de-

as they reached the Shore, and the rest fending themselves or of molesting others, and who

were seized and imprisoned in separate were, specially entitled, as distressed and ship

small parties, where they were left in heavy wrecked men, both by the laws and usages of China, to kindness and protection, the Plenipoten-rities.

irons, with hardly any clothing, and a very tiary has no language by which he can sufficiently

With regard to the Brig "ANN," it has been small allowance of food, from which priva- proclaim the sentiments of abhorrence and detes- ascertained, that she had fifty seven Souls on board tions many died after great suffering. Of tation with which he views this lamentable affair, when she was cast away, of whom fourteen were the whole 240 who left the Ship on the the recollection of which will remain as a stain Natives of Europe or America, two or three Por-rafts, only 2 men have been sent over to and disgrace in the annals of the Chinese Empire.tuguese and Malays, five Chinese, and the remain- Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary has al- der Natives of India. The Vessel was driven ready obtained positive official proof, that the high and dry (at low water) on shore, about mid-

On board the Brig "Ann", which was commands issued by the Emperor for putting tonight, and the whole of the fifty seven Individuals wrecked on her passage from Chusan to death Her Britannic Majesty's Subjects were quitted her at daybreak next morning, and took Macao in the month of March, there were drawn from His Imperial Majesty by the gross possession of a Chinese Junk which was lying in altogether 57 Souls. Of these, 14 were and merciless misrepresentations of the local Au-Creek or River near the spot, with the object of Natives of Europe or America, 5 China- thorities on Formosa, who, with the object of per putting to sea in the Junk; but the violence of the sonal aggrandizement, bascly and falsely reported gale prevented them even making the attempt, men, 4 Portuguese or Malays, and 34 to the Cabinet at Peking, that both the Ship Ner- and they surrendered, without even firing a musket, Natives of India. The Brig was driven budda, and subsequently the Brig Ann, had gone to the host of armed Chinese who had been as by the violence of the wind and sea so high to that Island with hostile intentions, an assertion Bembled round them, about three o'clock in the on shore, that when the tide ebbed she was not more lying and false, than manifestly absurd, afternoon of the same day. They were instantly left dry, and the fifty seven men quitted her since neither of those vessels were Ships of War, stripped, and marched some distance without a and got on board a Chinese Junk, with the or had, when wrecked, any troops or other fight-particle of covering, exposed to a cutting North hope of being enabled to put to Sea in her; East Wind. Two men died from cold, and sev- eral others dropped from the same cause and but this could not be effected, and they fatigue, and were carried on in baskets to the surrendered without having fired even one Capital (about 90 miles from the spot where the musket, or made the smallest resistance, to Brig was wrecked), where they were separat-the Chinese Troops that had come down ed into small parties and put into distinct to the spot. Prisons in irons. Subsequent to this, the parties had little communication with each other, but it is known, that they were all subjected to the most barbarous treatment, and were scarcely allowed sufficient food to sustain life. In this manner above seven dreary months passed away, when it was announced to the eleven Survivors, including the two belonging to the "NERBUDDA" (six Na- tives of Europe and America, three Natives of India, and two Chinamen, which latter individuals had been pardoned on condition of entering the service of the Government of Formosa), that Peace had been made; and they likewise then ascertain ed, that all the rest of their fellow sufferers in captivity and wretchedness had been put to death, on or about the 13th of August last, on the grounds stated in the Plenipotentiary's other Pro- clamation.

ing men on board of them.

a

Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipoientiary no intends to respectfully, though firmly, submit the real facts of this dreadful affair to the special notice of the Emperor, through the Imperial Commission ers and Ministers, and to demand, in the name of his sovereign, the Queen of Great Britain, that the local Authorities on the Island of Formosa, whose false and pitiless misrepresentations have led to the horrid event which has called for this Procla- mation, shall be degraded and (condignly) painsh ed; and, further, that their property shall be con- fiscated, and its amount paid over to the Officers' of the British Government, to be applied to the relief and support of the families of the innocent men who have been put to death on false and fou! accusation. Without this just atonement Her Bri- tannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary is not prepared to say, that the event which has occurred, and which it becomes the Plenipotentiary's unwilling duty to report to Her Majesty's Government, will not be the cause of a further serious misunderstanding, or, that it may not even lead to a renewal of hos- tilities between the two Empires, which would be greatly to be deplored, as involving this Country and its people in fresh misery and evil, for the crimes of a few shameless and unworthy miscre- ants in power, who have, from base motives, im- posed on their own Sovereign. Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary however trusts, that the Emperor will, in his wisdom, see the justice, as well as policy, of making the retribution which is herein pointed out; which is due both to England and China, and which will avert further calamity. This Proclamation is now published, to satisfy That all persons may know the real state of the the great anxiety and interest which has been case, this Proclamation is published in the English universally felt on the subject of it. It is super and Chinese languages for general information.

fluous for Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to record the deep and sincere regret and orrow with which he discharges so painful a duty.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Dated on board the Steam Frigate QUEEN, at Amoy, on the 23rd day of November 1842, corresponding with the Chinese date, 21st of the 10th Month in the 22nd year of ToU-KWANG,

[Signed] - HENRY Pottinger

HM Plenipotentiary.

PROO

TACION

TO HER BRITANNIC

78 SUBJECTB.)

Like the unfortunate men in the "Ner- budda", those who were in the "Ann" were stripped stark naked, and dragged in that, state to the Capital of Formosa, when they were separated and confined in small par- ties, which had little communication with each other, but were all treated with ex- treme barbarity and almost starved.

Out of the 57 Souls who were cast away in the "Ann", 8 have just arrived at Amoy. Of these, 6 are Natives of Europe or Ame- rica, one a Native of India, and one Chi- naman. A second Chinaman is alive, and is said to have staid at Formosa of his own choice.

Among the sufferers is Mr. Gully, a British It thus appears from the preceding de- Merchant, who was returning to Macao from the tails, that two hundred and thirty seven Northward, as a Passenger by the ANN. It is not fersons belonging to the "Nerbudda", and possible to account for the lives of the six Euro- peans and Americans,

ricans, and three Natives of India, orty six belonging to the "Ann, have being spared; but it is surmised, that they were either been put to death by the officers of considered to be principal men of their classes, the Chinese Government on Formosa, or and were intended to have been sent to Peking have perished through ill treatment and to be there executed.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Dated on board the Steam Frigate QUEEN at Amoy, on the 26th day of November 1842.

[Signed]

HENRY POTTINGER H. M's Plenipotentiary,

PROCLAMATION.

7TO THE CHINESE.) SIR HENRY Pottinger, Bar'T, Her jesty a Plenipotentiary in Chi- lamation under

number

starvation.

These atrocious and appalling facts are not to be refuted or questioned, and, that all may judge of them, and contrast the conduct of the Officers of the British Go- vernment (who set all their Prisoners free), this Proclamation is made in Chinese. Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary trusts, however, that the Emperor will yet make the only atenament that remains, and there-

avert further evils.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. Dated on board the Steam Frigate "Queen", at Amoy, on the 27th day of No- vember, 1842, corresponding with the Chinese date the 25th day of the 10th month in the 22nd year of Taoukwang

(Signed)

RICHARDE

HENRY POTTINGER H. MA» Plenipotentiary.

(True Copies)