THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
such a regulation by the Chinese, and our assent thereto, if not ignominious, savours too much of Canton Custom, to suit our taste.
ever
held this confinement, to a certe one of
the most personally degrading features of our inter- obstacles that mutual better acquaintance, out of course with China, and besides, one of the greatest which, great good to both Countries could not fail
to realt.
that we are
It is indeed much still to be confined to lepers among the Ch
and like the Jews in our cities, during the Middle ages. It ca
cannot be disguised that the same feelings which induced such treatment of the Jews, dictates the present Chinese Policy towards ourselves. It is true the natives have no apprehension of our "devilish sorceries and infidel spella" but by compelling us to abide in a specified spot, in their cities, they thus uphold the popular belief in our moral depravation and mischievous tendencies: besides confirming the gen- eral impression of our infinite inferiority, to the
habitants of the Central flowery land.
O, make the
Our history affords many instances of our pay ing large sums to Foreign states, for Commercial privileges and for philantrophic objects such, as for the Suppression of the Slave trade &c. &c.
China has yet to pay us 8 16,000,000 as a War indemnification, it would be very agreeable to the vanity of the Celestials, if we were to forego a portion of this amount, for permission to introduce British Goods, and to Export China produce, free of duty, for a certain time. The Shippers to China from England, and India, would gladly pay what might be required by the Home Government, to save it from loss by this arrangement.
adaptability to surrounding circumstances, and their correct appreciation of the advantages of a higher civilization than their own,
A reference to Singapore is alone necessary, to
mental connexion with the East India Company With our unaffected aversion to any Govern attest the correctness of the foregoing fremur.
(arising out of the nationally degrading associations which are identified with its Chinese Policy in past times) we yet should be right glad to have our future government as cheaply and as well administered, as Singapore, Penang and Malacca are at this day.
pulation is Chinese, and mostly of the worst class, In these dependencies the large bulk of the po- still, the British Laws are found. admirably suited to their necessities, and fully adequate to all the moral and social exigencies of this strange people.
her laws and language whither soaver her vic- It was a profound policy of Old Rome, to carry torious arms prevailed. It is now admitted to have been a capital error in English policy, to have guaranteed the maintenance of the laws, franchises customs, besides the authorised official use of the languages of Conquered countries. In India this practice has been carried out to an extent, which is universally regretted, and to the great detriment and deterioration of the native population. In Canada, after eighty years rule, we now talk of Anglifying the French settlers.
At the commencement of the Colony, a small effort on the part of the Government directed to this end, will suffice to give a permanent character to our institutions, and will besides induce an earlier ultimate predominance of British sentiments among the Chinese, not only on our Island but on the
land.
Hereafter, by a convention, the British Govern-main ment might agree, to pay a certain annual sum to the Emperor, for permission to Import and Export merchandize, free of duty. If Opium were lega lized, the Emperor might be safely guaranteed for the next ten years, double, nay treble, the amount he now derives from o our Trade. We have no doubt this contribution would be
ld be called the Eng- lish tribute.
c. We care not for a mere name, pro- vided we secure a substantial advantage. We much err inour estimate of the Chinese character, if some such an arrangement, would not be very attractive to the Court of Pekin.
Neither would the Machinery be at all cum- brous, to enable the Government to carry out our suggestion. We feel certain, that here, in India, and in England, there are many individuals, who would be glad to farm the duties, required to be levied on British Imports, so as to leave a profit, rather than a loss to the Home Government.
Our space admonishes us, so we must conclude our article by reiterating our conviction that after the frank avowal of H. E the Plenipotentiary, it will rest with the Merchants, whether or not we shall derive the anticipated advantages from the New Treaty. Did it not involve too much delay we should have been glad to have learned that a reference would be made, by Lord Aberdeen to Wm. Gladstone, the Vice President of the Board of Trade, or that one of his subordinates either Mr. Macgregor or Mr. Porter, were to come out with the ratified treaty. We should hail their resence here with much satisfaction, it even the
etails of the Commercial Treaty and Tarifi, should
that time be settled.
return prÜKS
ment the
duties on Chia rodu
Hucti They
"all duties on imports are duties on
foreign nations can
chase only.
on importation,
dity, would direct frectly have been purchased
stipulated in the new Trea
Officer hall alone take Committed by Brush Sub-
175
monstrances are unattended to, wo may send an armed Steamer to the Northern Parts of China, and so com- mand a hearing, but I think this is a cumbersome and inconvenient
of conveying memorials to
there, by a Minister at the Capital is in all respects far the unsuitable to the ordinary course of transacting the Emperor, necessary perhaps in extraordinary cased affairs? The usual method of transmitting memorials preferable,
The objection you have advanced, that the acquies- have compelled France, Russia America and other cence of the Chinese Court (to this measure) would powers to have sent accredited agents to Pekin, which, in the sequel must have proved a source of mutual in- volvement and intrigue de is entitled, to serious cong- and advantages and decide according as either pre- ideration. In cases like this, we must weigh the evils
ponderate.
In the first place, the war which we have been car- rying on, was undertaken at the risk of Britain, unas- sisted by any other nation, and if we did obtain peculiar privileges, they would be the legitimate result of our
success. I do not believe however that our interests. require us to claim any peculiar right, all that we desire, is, fair commercial intercourse let the world at large reap the benefit of our triumphs. Apart from curity will consist, in the great powers mutually con- the peculiar situation of China, its integrity and se- trolling each other. It is this national jealousy alone, which has upheld the Empire of Turkey. The same watchful vigilance, will prevent any particular power, from gaining an undue ascendancy in China.
fear our Consuls, will have more difficulty to contend against, than is generally apprehended. The accounts which have been given of the friendly disposition of the Chinese towards us, seem to me inaccurate. There is certainly no army more bumane than the British, yet no one who knows the inevitable effects of war, will expect that the inhabitants of a captured town,
enemy, must not be mistaken for kindly feeling, nor their conquerors. The dread inspired by a victorious. ought we to forget the peculiar misery of war, in which those who suffer most, are often, if not always, the least guilty.
racter cannot but convince one, that there is every
But a small acquaintance with the native Cha-could, while the event is recent, feel favorably towards thing to hope from its great capabilities and aptitude for knowledge. The existence of an English Patois which is regularly taught in schools and is spoken by thousands, is in itself a fact of immense value.
Again, as long as the Opiuma trade.continues illicit, The English placards, which were exhibited by the it will prove a never ending source of embarrassment natives in deprecation of our violence on the banks and yet it yields such large profits, that no personal or Yang-tze-keang the facility with which the do-national considerations will prevent people from engag mestics acquire enough of our tongue to discharge ing in it. their duties the disposition and wish of the intel ligent classes of the Chinese to know more of us an our institutions; leads us to hope, that every exertion will be made to encourage the adoption of our customs, manners and language by the na tives; and the only effectual way, by which this can be attained, is by making all residents on Hong Kong, amenable to British laws, and to none other whatsoever.
New Zealand In our last week's Shipping List, we reported the arrival of the Jane Gifford, which is the first arrival from the new Colony. By this time, we have no doubt there are at least ten thousand of our Countrymen, located at Wellington. Nelson, Auckland and other parts of the two is lands.
Seeing therefore the difficulties which surround the commencement of our intercourse with China, instead of wacting for the progress of events, it becomes the part of prudent and provident men, to stipulate for every provision, that will enable us amicably to solve Chinese Government, towards all Foreigners, has long those difficulties. The arrogant demeanour of the been notorious, and now that the success of our arms, has rendered all opposition to our demands fruitless, why should we not require the adoption of a measure alike beneficial to bath Empires?
Montpellier, 24th
December 1842
Mr. Editor.-
OBSERVER,
In confirmation of a statement, which recently All accounts concur in the eligibility of New appeared in your paper relative to the system of you the fol- Zealand, as an emigration field, and we are glad piracy, among the Chinese here, I send
lowing to see that in England large numbers are on the
Three Chinese junks from Namo, called at Hong- point of leaving for that destination. It has been proposed by the Mr. George Rennie, to found akong on the 12th of the 11th moon, and paid to a new settlement on the Northern Island, and to
man in town, for their pirate pass, seventeen dollars
to be ere will thus
Il be a signal improve-
and Chronicle of the Council is in action at
for each junk, They proceeded immediately to Ma- cao where they sold their cargo for about two mand one hundred dollars, and on their return to this place on the 18th of December were at- by a pirate boat, with one hundred men and plundered of all including the money and other valuables, on application to the man who received the morey for their pass, he refuses to make good the loss sustained, on the plea that the pirates be- to another clan. This statement Ireceived this morning. from the men of the junks, and there is every reason to believe it correct. Hongkong 9th January 1843.
Yours &c. C. W
P. S. SINCE Writing the above "three junks
arrived from the east coast. On their en- into Hongkong harbor, two of them were while one made have been killed nder declare. direction
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