728512-1843-09-Feb-1843 — Page 5

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SUPPLEMENT

OF THE FRIEND OF CHINA, 9TH

while I would seize him, if he dared to enter an- other. One or two large seizures and confisca tions, would tend more to put an end to bloodshed on the coast of China, than any Rulo or Law, however ably framed.

on

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FEBRUARY, 1843.

would yield at # 120 per chest 4,800,000 more; thus trebling the present Imperial Revenuo, from the whole foreign trade, on Imports, alone. I cannot, holp thinking the Imperial Commissioners Y. E. || is about to meet, might be brought to terms, even on the Ortum point, when the great pecuniary benefit, to be derived from it, is pointed out to them to say nothing of the atrocities that would be put ||

It may be that Y. E. has not the such restriction impose of British Shipping, in that case, I respectfully submit to Y. E. the propriety of urging the matter on H. M. Government,

for its immediate consideration.

an

by legalising this obnoxious trade. come now to Exports from China to Eu- Revenue might be expected from them. To begin rope, India &c. and will endeavour to show, what with the article of TEA, at 4 taels per pecul,it would to be 60 millions of Ib) to the Chinese Government yield (assuming the whole export of the Country $ 2,220,000

1,800,000 taels or

ALUM. the export of this article is from twenty-to-thirty thousand pls.- and it costs about & 2 per pecul; this at

per cent will yield ·

5

"

"

I come now to the Exports from China, the first and most important of which, as Y. E. is well aware is TEA. The Imperial Tariff lays only 4 per cent on this article, though the Canton exac- tions, have of late years, amounted to something like thirty. I quite agree with the Editor of the FRIEND OF CHINA, in rating the Ten Duty at & Taels per Picul, a rate would yield a large Revenue to the Emperor, and satisfy the European Trader. The uncertainty of late existing on this point, has been a great drawback to the Trade, and is perhaps the best, or one of the best argu- article, has of late been upwards of CAMPHOR the annual export of this ments, that can be urged in favour of the entire dissolution of the Co Hong system. To insure the 4000 pls, including what the junks car- payment of the Tea Duty, it would perhaps bey to Singapore, in ordinary times $ 25

is its value, this at 10 per cent yields necessary to impose a regulation, compelling every

CASSIAIS exported to the extent. Ship, carrying the article to Britain, or even to any of 8000 pls, this at my rate of $ 1 yields,, of its Colonies, to take with her a Certificate from (this article being entirely smuggled un- the Consul, at the port she takes in her cargo, der existing regulations, yields no duty.) certifying that her Tea was shipped in the regular RHUBARB on an export of 700 pls. way, and paid the Duty; any Tea arriving in Eng at 8 60 per pecul and a duty of 15 per land without such Certificate, ought to be subjected cent will give there to Double the China Duty, in addition (of course) to the English. American Vessels are compelled, to carry Consul's Certificates to the Uni-exported to the extent of 7000 p'ls, tho

the quantity has decreased of late. At ted States, from any Foreign Port they may load at, even their Bills of Lading are stamped at the an average value of 400 per pecul

and 5 per cent duty, this would give Port of loading, with the Consul's Seal of Office, and the consumption of the article in to show the real place of Shipment.

ALUM is an article of considerable export to England would in all probability on these terms increase, the present state India and is Subject to too high a duty, 5 per cent of the trade being very unsatisfactory. would make the trade more regular, certain and lucrative and be ample on such an article.

CAMPHOR.Is a valuable article of increasing demand in Europe and would bear a duty of 10 per cent the Chinese import some 2000 peculs of it into Singapore every year, the whole of which finds its way to London and the Continent of Europe.

CASSIThis article is all Smuggled out of China, owing to the very exorbitant duty, which amounts to no less than from 70 to 80

RAW SILK. As far as can learn wäs

SUGAR and Sugar Candy.—The ex-

of each, take an average value of 8.44 port amount, to about 40,000 peculs for both, and you have a duty at 5 per

cent, of

J

1

3,000

10,000

8,000

buyer of any quantity, safe conduct to his home existing wholesale system of corruption on the with his property, and to put an entire stop, to the part of European and Chinese Opium dealers. My opinion, is that no Chinese dealer would grudge $120, on every chest of Bengal drug (it might be less on Malwa and Turkey, the chests being smal- ler) were he certain of being permitted to carry his purchase home, unmolested by the gangs of low and unprincipled Mandarins that now infest Before concluding, I may observe, that the duties to be this, and every other branch of trade.

paid to the Chinese Government, under the New Tariff ought, in my opinion, to be

If higher ports opened to European tradere same at all rates are laid on at the Northern Ports, it will in- duce traders to stick to Canton and its neighbour- hood, which, in all probability is just what the Chinese Government wishes them to do.

the

CIRCULAR OF THE BRITISH MERCHANTS. In circulating "the annexed correspondence, with H. Ms. Plenipotentiary, the Committee beg to solicit communications on the subject referred to, in H. E's jetter dated 27th instant.

Macao, 28th January, 1843.

No. 46.

1

Macao, 27th January, 1843, Gentlemen,-I forward to you a translation of a 6,100 letter, addressed to nie by the Imperial Commissioner, ELEFOO and his Colleagues, and request you will oblige me, by furnishing me at your earliest convenience, with the information those high Officers require.

140,000

9,000

$ 2,396,100

Total Revenue on the few exports named by me, add to which many other articles of which I have taken no notice, and Y. E. will see, that the dollar per pecul would render the trade Cent-a moderate Scale of duties laid down in this sketch, | Safe and would yield to the Imperial treasury four times stop Smuggling—this rate e would be about 12 per what it now derives from the whole foreign trade. cent on the average

age value of this country. I do not hesitate to say that four taels per pecul RHUBARD. It seems strange to see so low a

on TEA is a rate, that the article can well afford, duty as 1 per cent, laid on this valuable article and that will satisfy nine tenths of the purchasers, by the Chinese; it is in great demand in England Could your Excellency succeed in establishing a and the Continent of Europe, and would bear a Regular System of levying duties, putting an entire duty of 15 per cent well.

stop to the numerous and vexatious exactions, now in full operation, there is little doubt, but that the Revenue from the foreign trade, would soon amount to ten millions of Dollars, a state of things that would open the Emperor's eyes, and probably lead him to look upon the long despised Barbarian, with a little more complacency.

RAW SILK.On this article, there are some vexatious restrictions in China, of which Y. E. is doubtless well aware. That they do not answer the purpose intended by the Chinese is also known, Their being vexatious and useless are two good rea- ea- sons for doing away with them. A duty of 5 per cent would probably be a fair rate, allowing purcha- sers to Ship, in one or more vessels, as may suit

their convenience

SUGAR-5 per cent on the export of this article seems to me, from what I know of the rates levied elsewhere, to be has much as it can well bear

These are the principal articles of export from this empire and I will now trouble Y. E. with a few remarks on the value and importance of the

trade.

To go through the articles in the order I have placed them, we must begin with.

Raw Corton. Take the annual import at 300,000 bales, each worth 28 this will give 88,400,000 at 10 per cent gives 840,000

COLTON Goons 600,000 pieces are about the annual import, and the average value nearly 3. rives & 1.800.000, at 10 per cent vields

COTTON TWIST China takes off 12,000 pecu

8.25 gives 8300

e.pre-

||

On the subject of Port Charges I can speak with confidence from personal experience at various ports. On all Ships entering any of the duly au- thorised Ports I would levy a tonnage duty of half a dollar per ton, register measurement; this ought to cover every thing, except the charge for pilotage, which I would ate at 875 for every Ship of, or more than, 1000 tons Register, and 8 50 for those of smaller size, tilis to be charged each time they enteror leave a River, and no master of a Merchant vessel ought to be suffered to re up or down any River, or leave any dangerous Roadstead without a pilot.

N, B. Tonnage dues are usually charged once in six months, that is, if a vessel enters any port in Chinn more than once in that time, she only pays ton age dues at the first port she enters, and 180,000 goes free at all others, till the stipulated

30,000

7,600

1000 130

1000 at 6

22730

11,000 ent

16.400

$28

per cent 19

15.600

expires.

Nearly the whole of the duties proposed by me invad valorem, it is of course necessary come plan I be adopted, for firing rates, on which to levy

Perhaps the fairest would be

Jast

beg to suggest, that this letter and its accompani- ments should be circulated generally, and that all Bri- tish Merchants should be invited to address communi. cations to me (either direct or through you) on the subject.

I take this opportunity to forward with the same. view as to circulation, and for general infomation, a letter which was addressed under my authority to Messrs Bell & Co., on the 29th of last month.

I have the honour to be,

Genlemen,

Your most obedient servant,

HENRY POTTINGER.

H. Ms Plenipotentiary

Messrs MATHESON, BRAINE, BURN,

THOMSON, and LIVINGSTON.

ELEPOO, Imperial High Commissioner, &c. &e, KEKUNG, Governor of the "Two Kwang," and LEANG PAOUOHANG, Governor of Kwangtung, &c, make this communication of their views.

In the Treaty recently concluded in Kiangnan, it is stipulated that, "at all the Ports which are to be "thrown open for the resort of British Merchants, there "shall be established a fair and regular Tariff of Ex- "port and Import Customs, and other Dues, which "Tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated (by "the Ebard of Revenue,) for general information.'

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We find, upon examination of the subject, that on all Goods Imported aud Exported, by the Merchants of any foreign countries, the Duties to be levied are laid down in an old, already existing Tariff, but that the Hong Merchants conducting Foreign Trade, have in the till they amount, in some cases, to several times the sum process of years, gradually added charge upon charge,

of the Tariff dues. Under the head of miscellaneous

charges, there are things affecting the Tribute payable. to the Emperor, and sundry contributions to the public. service. There are also some things which the Hong Merchants find pretext for charging, to the personal advantage of themselves It, of course behoves, that these things should be examined to the bottom, equita- ble arrangements should be made regarding them, and that the Tariffs should be reduced to one standard, so that the whole may be sent up to the Board of Revenue, and

it be published to the Customs Officers of the several Ports, and conformity thereto commanded in receipt of all Customs Dues, that thus the Hong Merch- ants may be prevented from finding any screen, for licit and gain hunting practices, to the creation of

practices, to the creation

evils and offences.

High Commissioner and his Colleagues, have fore, called upon the Superintendent of the Mari- ime. Ousto Canton, to direct the

feed

and

the

Here is a

at my lowest rate

i revenue of

deral

mor

$120, in to

1 OPIUM hich to get regulation