728525-1843-27-Apr-1843 — Page 1

THE FRIEND OF CHINA,

AND

No. 68 VOL. II.

WONGKONG

GAZETTE.

PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.

HONGKONG, THURIDAY, APRIL 27TH, 1813.

Price A4 monthly

Or 12, 3 yearly

laborious and commercial people, as devoid of nationalf-dimaishes its consumption and thr's small measure of prejudices as any of the juhabitants of Europe, and in gool is fully counterbalanced by the great encourage, The publication of the Hongkong Ga-whom you cannot discover, either the unsocialness of ment which is held out to the banetal practice of zetto under the authority of Government, the indoo, or the intolerant bigotry of the Mussulman smuggling will be discontinued from this date: but all be particularly forward, and while they crowd around Ching, will admit, that from the nature and im neose I must allow however that the lower classes seem to hose who are even but slightly néquainted with public orders and notifications appearing you, attempting hustily to drive them away, would length of its const, from the corruption of its officers, ...

The Friend of Chin and Hongkong probably be attended with unpleasant consequences:

and the universul demand for pum it is impossibla zette," with the signatures of duly autho-

that the Cunese Governm fit could prevent the intro- rized Functionaries of the Government are

duction of this article into the Empire. However obviously true this appears to ns, it is probable that a still to be considered as official.

considerable period will elapse before it is generally acknowledged in China, unless some means are devised to dirigate those exercising authorny there on subject. The Pekin Government could easily obtain considerable revente by taxing instead of prohibiting this article. Selfish considerations facilitate the acquisition of knowledge. I would recommend that a Chinese Paper be drawn,up, with the view of convin- cing the Chinese ministers, of the mauzold advan- tages of legalizing the trade in Opiùine ma

OBSERVER. 15th April, 1843.

By order,

J. Rohta Morrison, Acting Secretary and Treasurer Hong-Kong. March 23, 1842

CARONERS INQUEST —APRIL 3, 1843.

(Before Mr E. Farncomb, Coroner.)-

3. I was informed that the roopentioned at Canton are natives of the place, and that they are by no means a forinidable body, those that 1 w were poorly armed with bows and rusty match-loons. || Until these long-tall wariors are better armed, disci plined, and commanded, all the fortifications which are baing erected on the Chu Kiang would in the event of of another war, prove of little avail to them, tho' they certainly may be productive of a radiant slower of rilbands and medals to others. This inefficient state of the military is however a matter of serious consideration. for whatever may have been the origin of the tumult that terminated in the destruction of the British factory, it This was an Inquest held on the Body of a China--18 uncertain whether they could have kept the peace anan - who had been found on the shore near the and dispersed the mob, not that this apprehension

Harbour Master's Wharf.

justifies the Provincial authorities, because even on the supposition that they acted with a timely vigilance, if the Military are inefficient, the fault rests with them.

4. Adverting to that tumult I may stufe, that I

itating 13 into a new war and that as the affair was commenced with moleration, I hope it will be con- cluded with firmness. Pecuniary compensations will fully repair private losses, but I trust yet to see a public atonement made for the insult offered to our national flag. I do not require the punishment of a few obscure individuals, but I would demand that the high and responsible officers of government should be signally disgraced before the eyes of the whole Canton population,

5 Altho' the soldiery at Canton are un-warlike, the police are active and efficient, the Foreign Factories are for the most part closely surrounded with Chinese houses, yet they have been secure from robberies The system of espionage is carried to such lengths in despotic states, and especial China, that the Police can probably be brought to greater perfection in such countries, than where greater freedom prevails.

OBSERVER 10th of April, 1843.

The Jury on being sworn proceeded to view the Body at the Harbour Master's Wharf, after which, on their mecting in the Court, the Coroner produced and- read a certificate by Houry "Hulgate. Surgeon, which consider a wise discretion was exercised in not precip. went to show that the deceased met his death by drowning, and no evidence appearing the jury were -charged to give their cerdict, which was as follows, namely - Found Growned. There were severe hruiges on the face and bead of the deceased, which in the absence of evidence the Jury said they could not

account for.

'There were some suspicious papers found on the body, and the jury recommended that they should by sent to the Chief Magistrate for inspection, as thee

night furnish some information.

APRIL 10TH-BEFORE THE SAME.

This was an Inquest held on the Body of a China. man, who had been buried the day before, but was supposed to have met his death by violent means....

On the Jury being sworn they proceeded to view the Body, after which, the following evidence was produced :-

Jumes Donolly, a Policeman, says - Yesterday there was a letter sent from Mr Jamieson to Serjeant Colling of the Police respecting a dead Chinaman, and I was directed by Serjeant Coling to have the body buried, which I did. I found the body lying on the hill, at some distance above Messrs Jamieson, & Co's house It was covered over with matting and appeared much swollen, there was also blood ahout the face.

have

William Horley, Policeman, sworn, says-1 was directed by Major Caine to give notice to the Coroner about the Body, and I caused it to be disunterred by that Gentleman's order. I have heard that Mr Hight wrote to the Chief Magistrate, mforming him that he saw some Chinamen dragging a Body down the hill near his house and he thought there had been a mur der committed. This is all I know of the casit,

William Lockhart, Surgeon, sworn, Rays = seen the body and it appears to be that of a Chinaman 30 years old. It is very much swollen and having been dead should say about four or five days. There were several marks of mury on the face and limbs but all apparently were caused after death the body had been drugged along the ground. position was so far advanced that no opinton be formed of thec ause of his death. Verdichte Dead

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SIR,

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE FRIEND OF CHICA

1. As it appears to me desirable

the people of Canton towards our

with every other circu

state of that city should be ma the following remarks, with th my share, however small to t

2. Notwithstanding the occurred from the

with the Chinese

much of

elgue

itself

some of th

Across their

oldfers

and

justly complain of The cers pass you without noti are unusually crate In Burope.

offensiveness would not exci

you recollect the un reznéd

Government and it officers

Foreigners in thes

equally unwearied.

fication I confess, suc

at vili.

meano

surprised ine. This peculiar race are essentially

OPIUM QUESTION.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE FRIEND OF CHINA.] SIR,

1. In reflecting upon our future intercourse with China, the opium question presents many difficulties. It is one of those thorny and unsatisfactory (except to those who deal in it) subjects, which people willingly resign to the wisdom of authority, and sagaciously reserve their opinions, until the course of events discloses the soundness or unsoundness of the policy pursued.

2. Legalizing the trade in Opium, would at once | remove all difficulties but as the most convenient things are frequently denied us in this world, we must make what provision we can against the more ugly

alternative

There can be no doubt that the Pekin Govern ment has an indisputable right to prohibit the trade in Optum, and every compulsory effort to contravene this fight, ought to be denounced by right thinking admire the liberal and enterprising character British merchants, many of them like those of - mas well be ranked amongst the the earth. But if any, under the

nature of

men.

aucient

of its being contraband,

EXTRACTS.

A CHINESE MART.

The Mai-mai-tchin is a small rectangularly-built hamlet, having two principal streets, which cross each other at right angles, at the end of each of which is a gate, looking towards the four points of the compass.- lids surrounded with a wooden wall, which is its only fortification, The streets are exceedingly narrow and ill-paved, so that two camels can barely pass each. other as at Catro; but there is a great difference in the height of the houses of the two plaes. Here they are very small, all of one story, and of woved; the roof inostly of the same material, though the more inferior sort are covered with turf; they have no windows towards the street, and consist of two small rooms, one of which serves for a warehouse and shop, the other for the oecupant to live in. On the other side, the wnidows are composed of oiled-paper, painted with different devices, and sometimes of Russian tale. There is in general a great air of cleanliness, and the fucniture of the houses is often of a a superior description. They are heated with stoves, like the Russian houses. which are needful, small as the apartments are, for the cold is very great, and in spite of all they are not well warned. A great display is made of all the nonde.. script articles they have for sale in the shop, and in those of the higher class of merchants, there is great order in stowing away their bedding and household furniture, all of which are in one common, sitting, eating and sleeping room. The uuniber of the inhab. itants is about fifteen hundred, all males, no

o Chinese women being allowed to go there; a few common Mongolese women are seen aboilt, but not many.-Re- collections of Siberia in the years 1840 and 1841, by C. H. Cotterell.

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, PARIS. An interesting paper from M. de Humboldt was Intely

The informs the Academy that the prepa read. ratory labours for cutting a canal across the 1sthmus of Panama are advancing rapidly. The commission appointed by the government of New Grenada for the construction of a canal to unite the two oceans has terminated its examination of the localities, and has arrived at a result us furtunate, as it was unexpected. The chain of the Cordilleras does not extend, as was supposed, across the Isthmus, and, on the contrary, a valle very favourable to the operation has been dis covered. The natural position of the waters is also favourable Three rivers, over which an easy control. hich they may be ablished and which may be made partially would be connected with the canal. The cessary would not extend to more than Ingeth. The fall may be regulated by locka, 198 feet in length; and the total canul will be 49 miles with a width of the surface, and 55 feet base, the depth * The canal, when executed, will ssels of from 1000 to 1400 tons. ate of M. Morel, a French en-

st of this canal would be only 14 noiding the purchase of two steame Messenger.

Sir Henry Pottinger will not It is rumoured at the

y considers his claim to to have been underrated. --

Se Henry Pottinger is to be ap- eral st Hong Kong Ibid.

ervades the military circles ordering home the 26tli many who justly claim

rivilege Du

sq, late secretary to die Go-

at Bombay, expired suddenly at his in Regent's Park, aged fifty-one years,