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THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

ERLEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 227. 1812.

That the events of the 18th December 1839, did not make any very serious impression on the mind of our Contemporary, is pretty evident, since very lately, in an article full of courtoons expres sions to ourselves, and unwarranted disparagement|| of Hongkong (Vide the Cunton Registory October Br the late arrivals from Calcutta, we learn the forward movement on Ghuznic and Caubul, by 11th, 1849), He then said Why life and property Generals Nott and Pollock has been completely is far better protected under the pagan Govern successful. On the 6th September, Major Generalment of Canton, than under the Christian and British military-overnment of Hongkong; and Nott entered the Fortress of Ghuznie which was the unceasing vigilance of the authorities of Ma- found to have been evacuated by the enemy, who had been defeated in an engagement on the 30th Cap, cannot be too highly praised. What said Mr. Jardine in his speech at the magnificent, pub- of August

lic subscription dinner, given to him by the British, U S's and Parsee merchants, on his leaving Che

a He said as

On the 16th of September, Major General Pol- lock entered Caubul, and planted the British flag on the battlements of the Balk Hissar. He had encountered and defeated Ukbar Khan three days previously at Tezcen Nott was expected to of fect a junction with Pollock at Cambul, on the 18th of the same month. This combmed more- ment, seems to have been well executed, and although there had been some smart encounters, yet, on the whole, the resistance was much less than from the nature of the country, and the cha- racter of the population was to be expected; and the loss on our side was quite insignificant.

Ukbar Khan, is said to be wholly deserted by his troops, and to have fled towards Toorkestan with a few followers, pursued vigourously by Sir Richmond Shakspeare, who hopes to rescue the prisoners at least...............

We are glad to perceive so many of the prison. ers, have already come into Camp. It is very satisfactory to know, the wound received by the gallant Sale is but slight; it was from a spent ball. We hope the next accounts will inform us, of the rescue or restoration of the whole of the prisoners, the punishment of the assassins of our Envoy, the return of Dost Mahomed and our abandonment of the Country to his rule. The In- vasion of Bameaan by the King of Bokhara, may however cause our bestowing on him a well me. rited chastisement.

Having displayed our power, by inflicting a just retribution on the insidious and treacherous Aff ghans; it will as much consist with our national honor, as it will with our true interests, to recross the Indus, as soon as possible. Should the disturb ed state of the Punjaub, and the furious conten- tions of rival factions, render our interference necessary (which ere long we hold to be inevita ble) it is to be hoped that the Governor-General will not hesitate to uproot the mushroom dynasty of the Singhs; or rather doom them to the po- litical extinguishment of pensioned princes, and take the whole government of the Country into our own hands by incorporating it with the

British territories...

We have all along expressed our full reliance in the statesmanlike views Lord Ellenborough. It was the high handed self confidence of an energetic mind, competent to the task it had under taken; which led him to proclaim to his assembled friends, at the Farewell dinner in London; that he left England to GIVE PEACE TO ASIA and verily he will, perhaps has now done it. A happy des tinya most glorious mission.

Ir is with no disposition to take captions ex- ception, to any remarks which may be made by our Contemporary of the Canton Register, that we protest against the inferences, he deduces from the late émeute at Canton which outbreak was more. over provoked by the outrageous conduct of Bri- tish subjects.

It is not surprising that in a considerable city ike Canton, there should exist a large class, who would avail themselves of any favourable por tunity to destroy and plunder Bristol, Notting ham and Birmingham, have of late theatres of greater calamities from pop and yet, without occasioning any very serious in- putation on our national character.

Had the Canton, populace really

slaughter the "obtrusive barbarians been indeed a miracle, had one

tale It is quite evident, no

ever entertained, and we are hours after the ombreak peans, could even ther

being insulted, and the Trade been interrupted.

Hence 1 Contempora fearful sigu the injunctio the 13th Be 18477

Ember

Our Contempors how are the fected

the

ollows:

I have been a long time in this country and I have a few words to say in its favour; here [we find our persons more efficiently protected by laws than in many other parts of the world; in China, a foreigner can go to sleep, with his win pows open, without being in dread either of his life or property, which are well guarded by a most watchful and excellent police: but both are perilled with little or no protection in many other states.”

Our Contemporary, will pardon our saying, that we place far more confidence in his former calm, and dispassionate estimate of China and the Chi nese (fortified at it is by the experienced testimony of the honorable member for Ashburton) than in his lately expressed opinions, with reference to

recent events at Canton.

Only one word more. Our opinion is, that it is far more likely that the commercial facilities, will be greater at the new Consular Ports, than at the old emporium, Canton. At the former, we are known as a powerful, victorious and magnanimous nation; at the latter (thanks to the huckstering are only policy of the East India Company) we known as a nation of shopkeepers. Mr. Matheson has truly said, that the grievous humiliations and ruinous exactions to which the English were ex- posed at Canton, were in reality self imposed; that

*The thorns which we have reaped, are of the tree We planted. They have toru us, and we bleed."--

Wrrn many it seems to be a matter of surprise, that the inhabitants of Canton Province should feel indisposed to have us the occupants of lands and houses, and participants of the delights and privi

of the natives of the Central flowery land. It is leges quite natural such a feeling should exist, and judging by the past, conduct of Europeans towards the aborigines of Asia, Africa and America; John Chinaman's apprehensions, are not so wholly chi- merical and ridiculous, as many would have them to be.

With all the outraged nationality and inveterate prejudices of the Chinese, we much question whe the their greatest outbreak on occasion of the Treaty will be equal to the Sacheverell tumults or High Church riots; which have disgraced our English History, and if many of the Celestials, do believe us Foreigners to be little better than ogres; let us not forget that one half of our own coun- trymen, wrongly nourished similar sentiments to- wards the other half,, only a few years since, as the raw head and bloody bones stories, which the hideous fanaticism of the opponents of Civil and Religious liberty, put into circulation, just prior to the Emancipation of the Roman Catholics, wil abundantly testify.

As to the official degradation of the Imperial Commissiouer, New keen, given as recent and im portant intelligence in a Macuo Paper, it took place whilst the Expedition was in the Yangtze keang, and was occasioned by his having trans- mitted false reports to li. Imperial master.

We are much obliged to our Contemporaries of Sydney and Melbourne their Journals. We have received file the Herald to the 14th teber and the Port Phillip Patrit to the 8th month. We hope to avail ourselves contents Our Australian Cor.

us for telling

last we had no

tion should be transfer. newspape

en we brote

6 the Column

HANGHAI

from

38)

that

METALS.

Our very imperfect. in metalliferous the natives. Besides silver Tin and considerable imports into great Depression at times commodities brought

and Tin, we are affected in the Cant position on the month of the mighty

pro

acturing

make acquaintan

on this subject is China abounds ich are wrought by ous metals ; Quick

North are often iton which cause a

the same

TS. Lead y been thus aghat from its

muent near the is most favour- the various Whilst this

Cuniz, affords the rse with the most

aleo with its most

most opulent cities and..

believe we shall

with many new articles, of not unimportant value, as exports, and among them we think will be some of the metals, which are pro- duced in the Western Provinces intersected by the Keang river. It is ascertained that the Chi- nese use a Phosphate of Copper (a rich green malachite) which they pulverise and use as a Pig- It is not unlikely that the Ores of Tin and ment, Copper may be exported (as dead weight, the Freight would be much less, than is paid on large quantities of Copper ore sent from South America to England) to some extent. The smelting of Foreign ores m England, is a rapidly augmenting trade, and the alterations made by Peel's Tariff will give it a considerable impulse. On this ground alone, we direct attention to the ores of Tin and Copper in China, * COAL, will it is said be an export from Shang- hai, if so, we think it will be only to the Consular ports on the coast, and possibly to Hongkong, for the consumption of the Steamers on that station.

Some of our friends, whose judgment demands respect, affirm that a vast amount of the Coasting trade of China will be done by us, as we can Sail our Craft so much cheaper, than the natives can their Junks This may be so, but we would class these anticipations as remote eventualities, not im- mediate contingences, of the approaching change in our relations with the Chinese.

We cannot however but believe, that Hongkong will be the seat of a vast Foreign and Coasting trade.

there for Orders, the heads of the firms will call is obvious that all vessels sent to China, engaged in the trade will make it their residence, and despatch their large vessels, as required, to the several consular Ports; besides making up assorted cargoes in smaller craft. Further, every variety of product will be brought thither from the main- land by the Junks, and our own coasters; and will be shipped from thence, to all quarters of the World. It is not too much to aver, that two or three years cannot elapse before a much greater trade will be carried on at Hongkong than at any other existing Free Port.

Having thus glanced at the probable exports of Shanghai, before we enter into the question of probable imports into this emporium; it behoves us generally to consider the extent of population of the Port and its vicinity, to look at the state and condition of the inhabitants; whereby we are alone able to estimate their capacity, for the con- sumption of British manufactures.

class, it 1

nts

No better criterion of general national prosperi- ty, can we think be found, than by a comparison of the proprotion which the middle the other ranks of a community. large number of its middle class other nation in the World can Extreme poverty and wide- in China (despite its va of Seasons: the cons dation; rather than the ch mng classes, as in Euro

It must not be ex ent and the vane is independent of ot necessaries comf

Hence, 1

life

iple vent for pus Import duties Cmust under ell

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tten that Ch

that