SUPPLEMENT TO THE "FRIEND OF CHINA," NOVEMBER 2, 1844.
COPY OF MINUTES OF MEETING.
October 28, 1844. | At a Meeting held at the residence of Augustus Carter, Esq., 28th October, 1844. to take into consideration the propriety of addressing His Excellency the Governor and the Legislative Council of Hongkong, and the manner it which the same is to be carried into effect, upon the subject of an "Ordinance for Establishing a Registry of the Inhabitants of the Island of Hongkong and its Dependen- cies," passed the Legislative Council, the 21st day of August last. t
1st. It was proposed by T. W. L. Mackean, Esq., and seconded by Sam. Rawson, Esq., that T. A. Gibb, Esq., do take the chair. 2nd-It was proposed by Pat. Dudgeon, Esq., and seconded by John Holliday, Esq., that Augustus Carter, Esq., act as Secretary to this meeting, 3rd-It was proposed by R. Strachan, Esq., and seconded by Donald Matheson, Esq., that a committee be formed for the purpose of framing a Memorial to His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, by way of a protest or otherwise against the Ordinance in question as being arbitrary and unconstitutional.
Thos. Walton Hawkins, C. Milne,
Mark Denham, C. Hughesdon, H. Rutter,
Geo. Napier,
G. Húnie, J. A. Hulbert T. Jones, J. H. Tiedeman, A. Gutierres.
Char. Markwick, G. N. Norris, W. Henry, Framjee Jamsotjoe, Jno. Cairns, W. Scott, A. Maclean, B. Hunte, K. MeKennedy, Jno. Carr, E. Farncombe, M. McEwen, J. Phillips, E. Cohen.
Previous to receiving a reply to the above Memorial, the the commitee daembung well to send in the following second Commites deemed it well to send in the following second
Memorial..
A. M. Mathieson, F. P. Porter,
COFY OF MEMORIAL.
21
Hongkong, 31st October, 1844. To His Excellency the Governor of the Colony of
Hongkong and its Dependencies, and the Honorable Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
address you with reference to Ordinance No. 17 of 1844 entitled " An Ordinance for Esta- "blishing a Registry of the Inhabitants of the
Island of Hongkong and its Dependencies. passed the Legislative Council the 21st August last and published for the first time in the Friend of China of the 19th October to come into force the 1st November.
Tho it may not be strictly within our pro- vince to question the Policy of the publication of any ordinance, whether urgent or unimpor. tant its principles and details, not taking place until within the short space of twelve days of the period of its coming into operation we cannot but express our regret that an Ordi- nance so materially affecting both public and private interests, which appears to have been passed so for back as the 21st August last, should not have been made known to us un til within so short a period of our being called upon to acknowledge it as law-thus depriving as the opportunity of making that due represen tation of our opinions against such enactments as may appear to us to bear hard upon our in- terests; a privilege, which as being unrepre sented in the Legislative Council, we think is that we the Committee appointed at a meeting HONORABLE SIRs, It is with extreme regret our due considering the important interests we held the 28th instant for the purpose of taking have at stake in the Colony. To these cir-into consideration Ordinance No. 17, of 1844, cumstances we pray you to attribute the la- have to call the attention of your Excellency teness of our present address and not to any and the Honorable Members to the present indifference to the subject at issue. With alarming state of affairs in this Colony, and to these preliminary observations, we desire, request that immediate steps may be taken therefore to represent to you Excellency and to suppress the agitation that exists amongst the respective Honorable Members of your all classes in consequence of the publication Council the unfeigned, and extreme repugna of said Ordinance. nce with which we have read the Ordinance form the Committee for preparing the memo- in question and to enter our formal and de- rial, obtaining signatures and making arrange-clared Protest against the Principles that it ments for the presentation of the same. 5th. It was proposed by D. Matheson, Esq.
seconded by Sam. Rawson, Esq., that with reference to the present act considered as an infringement upon the rights and privileges of British subjects, that measures should be taken for the appointment of a permanent committee of three or more individuals to represent and watch over the interests of the merchants and others of the community of this Colony.
4th. It was proposed by John Holliday, Esq., seconded by T. W. L. Mackean, Esq., that
T. A. Gibb, Esq.
Donald Matheson, Esq. Sam. Rawson, Esq. Pat Dudgeon, Esq. Augt, Carter, Esq.,
6th-It was proposed by Pat. Dudgeon, Esq., seconded by Augt. Carter, Esq., that the proceedings of this meeting be sent to the local papers for insertion...
(Signed) ›T. A. GIBB,
Chairman.
7th. It was proposed by John Cairns, Esq., and carried by acclamation, that the thanks of this meeting be given to T. A. Gibb, Esq., for his able conduct in the chair.
SHELLEY.
involves.
Principles-We do not hesitate to say as unjust as they are arbitrary and unconstitutional taxing British subjects unrepresented in the most iniquitous of forms, authorizing the most unheard of inquisitorial proceedings, without appeal or remedy, and placing the very power of residence to British subjects whose name may have hitherto been unsullied and unsus pected in the hands of any one individual.
Further We consider that the Law in question is opposed in its details to one of the great objects struggled for during the late was with the Chinese Empire, and against which special provision was made in the Treaty of Nankin-namely, the unchristan principle of holding one men responsible for the acts of another.
of this enactment if carried out will interfere Again-We would represent that the effect with the labor and consequent prosperity of (Signed) AUGT. CARTER,
the Colony-inasumch, as many of us have Secretary. entered in o contracts upon the faith of pur- Agreeable to which resolutions the Committee framed a chases male from your Government at enor Memorial, preceding it with the following letter to A. Emous rentals, which must now either be broken Shelley, Esq., Clark of the Councils.
or delayed from the demur that the contractor COPY OF LETTER FROM COMMITTEE TO A. s. will make to introduce laborors for their fulfil
ment whilst the despotism that is apparent in October 29, 1844. this act, will induce many respectable Chinese SIR-In pursuance of a proposition made at who have now sufficient dificulty in paying a meeting held yesterday, by R. Strachan, Esq. the heavy house rent in this Colony entirely seconded by Donald Matheson, Esq., that a to abandon the place, and deter others from committee be formed for the purpose of framing taking up their residence amongst us. And, a memorial for the signatures of the inhabitants Moreover We give it as our unqualified of the Island of Hongkong, to His Excellency opinion-that the carrying out of the details of the Governor and the Honorable Members of this Ordinance will be found impracticable, as the Legislative Council respecting Ordinance well as inefficacious for the object sought to No. 17, of 1844 We, the Committee ap-be in attained, that the principle that it in pointed at the said mecting request that you will ascertain from His Excellency and the Honorable Members, what hour they will be pleased to receive the Deputation to deliver the said Memorial, or that you will make arrange ments otherwise for its presentation.
As the said Ordinance comes into operation the 1st proximo, we hope that it will be found convenient to His Excellency and the Honor ablo Members to name some hour to-morrow.
We are, Sir,
Your obedient Servants, (Signed) T: A Gibb,
Donald Matheson,
To A. E. Shelley, Esq.,
Clerk of the Councils.
S. Rawson,
Pat: Dudgeon, August. Carter.
To the above letter the following reply was received,
COPY OF A LETTER. FROM A. B. SHELLEY.
Audit Office, Victoria,
30th October, 1844.
SI-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from several gentlemen who formed themselves into a Committee, amongst whom I observe your signature, and as it reached me too late yesterday evening to sub- mit it then to His Excellency the Governor, I have this morning done so, and have received is commands to intimate to you on behalf of Committee, that he will be happy to receive the Deputation, whose object is to present a Memorial to His Excellency respecting the Registration Ordinance," (a copy of which I enclose) at four o'clock this day.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. E. SHELLEY,
Clerk of Councils
igustus Carter, Esq
And the Committea accordingly accompanied the Slow ing Memorial as a Depamtion on behalf of the Bommunity. COPY OF MEMORIAL.
To His Excellency the Governor of the Colmy
of Hongkong and its Dependencies and the Honorable Members of the Legulative Com cil of Hongkong.
HONORABLE SIRS,—We respectfully beg to
volves is even more stringent than has ever yet been applied to a penal settlement and we confidently assert is repugnant to the feelings of every Honorable British subject. Protest against this Ordinance we would pray your With the above representation of our views of and Excellency in Council either to medify, its details so gives law to, or to cause the operation of it to be sua as to remove the intollerance of the principles that it ended until reference can be made to the Home Co. vernment as we cannot suppose that, such a measure can receive the sauction of Her most gracious Majesty.
We have the bonor to be,
Houurable Sirs, -.. Your most obdt. Servants," (Signed) J. A. GIBB.
Thomas Roskelly, H. J. Carr, H. Clarke, Augt. Carter, Angus Fletcher, Dan. Fletcher, Alexander McGregor, Geo, Findlay, Robert Strachan, F. Woods you Adam Scott, H. Dundas, N. Duus, F. Funck. Crawford Kerr, D. Lapraik, Danl. S. Proctre, John Burd,
F. Saunders, John Holliday. M. Fischer.
Thos Kirby, H. B. Braham, R. Bremridge, Chas Bowra, W. A. Bowra, Thomas Bridge, A. H. Fryer, TA. Lane, P. Townsend, James Weich, o C. K. Stocker R. Baret,. W. W Piteber A Melville, Tursies Dale, Y. J. Murrow. Wa. Henry, Joo. Walter, Jna. Banelow,
T. A. Gibb, Alexr. Matheson, Dond. Matheson, Wm. Stewart, John B. Compton, H. Bowring, Wm. W. Maclver, J. M. de Outeiro, J. Goddard, Joao Ant. Barretto, A. da Silveira, F. A. Rangel, CF. Still, Joseph Jardine, Wm. Matheson, Augus. Howell, A. W. MacPherson, James Grant, Ths. W. L. Mackean, Pat Dudgeon, • Duncan Jas. Kay, W. H. Wardley, Alex. Abo Sinall S Rawson, G. R. G. Jones, Thomas Longshaw, G. R. Winslow, James Smith,
J. W. Vesy, Richd Oswald, Dan. Dimands, D. Hume, Auton Cacho, N. Boulde Marin Ford, M. Gabriel,
J. P. SL George, Jos Collier Jan M Murray, Saul Cobe,
rial has been prepared, desire me to say that they are willing to afford you an opportunity of making any alteration and amendments which, they feel persuaded, your own sense of propriety will on reconsideration dictate and supply.
I have only to add, that independent of the above considerations which weigh so impera- tively on the Governor and Council in declin- ing the reception of your address, in its present form, the standing instructions of Her Majesty's Government expressly require that all Repre sentations made to the Governors of Colonies should be "properly and respectfully worded." I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. E. SHELLEY,
Clerk of Councils.
To T. A. Gibb, Esq.
Donald Matheson, Esq. Augustus Carter, Esq. Patrick Dudgeon, Esq. Samuel Rawson, Esq.
COPY OF LETTER TO A. E. SHELLEY.
October 31, 1814. your letter, dated 30th instant, and regret to learn S18, We beg to acknowledge the receipt of that His Excellency the Governor and Honorable Members of the Legislative Council have deemed it necessary to disapprove of,and return the Memo- rial which we yesterday presented to them from the European inhabitants of the island of Hongkong respecting the Ordinance No. 17, of 1841.
your Honorable Members that for the present We beg to point out to your Excellency and all business is completely suspended; no boats Memorial is strong, it but represents the senti Thongh it is true that the language of the
numerous vessels at present lying in the we still feel was imperatively called for by the can be procured for discharging or loading the rents with which we were then actuated and what harbour; communication between this and urgency of the occasion, and which we may add Canton is stopped; the workmen engaged on subsequent circumstances have fully borne out; at the various buildings now in the course of the same time we beg distinctly to disavow the erection have struck work; the markets are remotest intention of addressing His Excellency already closed, and there is no doubt but that and the Elonorable Members in any other than the means will be taken to prevent supplies from most respectful torms. being brought to the island, instances having
We have the honor to be. already come to our knowledge of parties in
Sir, charge of provisions having been stopped on the way.
(Signed)
:
Your most obedient Servant,
To A. E. Shelley, Esq,
ཁ ་
TA. Gibb,
Donald Matheson,
S. Rawson,
Pat. Dudgeon, Augt, Carter.
Clerk of the Councils. And before an answer could be sent in to the above, the
If, as we were led to suppose from your Excellency in our conference with you yaster- day, the Ordinance in question is not intended to come into force for a period of two or more months, and then only to be carried out but partially; we pray that some official notification the excitement that prevails amongst all classes, may be promulgated at once, in order to allay following reply to the second Memorial was recojved. but especially that amongst the native popula- tion, as we have every reason to believe that a great part of them are prepared to quit the island, a step that if taken will involve the whole British community in enormous pecuniary losses and inconvenience, and we much fear that great difficulty will be experienced in inducing their return.
In confirmation of the views expressed in the Memorial we had the honor to present to you yesterday, as to the extreme repugnance with which this Ordinance is viewed, we beg to state that, numbers of the most respectable Chinese have represented to us that, they were induced to leave their friends and their homes and settle amongst us, to evade the arbitrary measures imposed upon them by their own government, out of many of which, none was more repugnant to their feelings and their in- terests than the principles contained in the Ordinance in question, and they declare that had it not been for the expectation of enjoying stood all living under British Rule have hitherto that freedom and protection, that they under-
fices they have. Again, therefore praying your possessed, they would not have made the sacri- reconsideration of the enactment,
We have the honor, to be,
Honorable Sirs,
most obedient humble Servant, (Signed) T. A. Gibb,
Donald Matheson,
S. Rawson, Pat. Dudgeon, Augt. Carter,
Hongkong, 30th October, 1844.
LETTER FROM A. E. SHELLEY,
Council Chambers,31st October, 1841. Centlemen, I have received the commands of His
Excellency the Governor and Council to acknowledge the receipt of your second letter of this day's date.
The Governor and Council-will be always ready to receive and to take into favourable consideration all communications
properly and respectfully worded, and I have it in command to inform you that as all seditious rioting on the part of the Chinese population has bety easily suppressed the Governor of the Registration Ordinance, and with this view to receive and Council are now prepared to reconsider the provisions all suggestions properly addressed to them either as regards the qualification of this measure of its ultimate abrogation if
found uecessary.
+
I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen.
To Mesare. T. A. Gibb,
Your obedient Servant, ADOLPHUS-E. SHELLEY,
Clerk of Councile:
Donald Matheson,
S. Kawson,
Pat. Dudgeon, Apgt. Carter.
In reply to the above two communications, the Committee sent in the following replies.
COMMITTEE'S REPLY TO A. E. SHELLEY'S
LETTER.
Hongkong, 31st October, 1844. Sing-We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this data conveying to us the reply of His Excel. Lency and thellanorable Mombers of the Legislative Council to our Communication of this morning and we have to request that you will tender to His Excellency in Council our best thanks for the courtesy and attention with which the same has been received and the gratifying promises which are hold out,...
We would earnestly pray that His Excellency may take the earliest steps, not only to calma the present excited feelings of the Chinese populace, but also to remove the causes of the personal deprivations and general stagnation business from which we are now suffering,
Weskould also hope that the propriety of the ultimató abrogation of the Ordinance in: question, the possibility of which is contemplated, will meet with His Excellency's most
Sm,-I have the honor to hand you the accom-favorable consideration, feeling confident that it will be
productive of universal satisfaction to all classes in the Cu..
We have the bonor to be
panying Memorial to His Excellency the Governor and Honorable Members of the Legislative Coun-lony. cil of Hongkong, and to request that you will cause the same to be presented with as little delay es possible.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant- AUGT. CARTER
A. E. Shelley, Esq.
Clerk of the Councils. Subsequently the following reply to the Gest Memorial was reckyved.
LETTER FROM A. E SHELLEY.
Audit Office,
Victoria, Hongkong October 30, 1844. GENTLEMEN, –1 have received the instruc- tions of His Excellency the Governor and Members of Council to acquaint you that on perusing your Memorial, herewith returned, the language of it has been found so objection- able, and so little in accordance with the respect due to the constituted authorities of the Colony that it is impossible to receive it
The Governor and Members of Council are antees at the same time to observe a modera tion in their proceedings on the present occa sion which they do not discover in the docu- ment before them, and being ready to entertain the excuse already suggested by yourselves of the very hurried manner in which this Memo
7
Sir,
Your meat obedient Servante, (Signed,)
To A. E. Shelley Esq,
Clerk of the Conncils,
T. A. Gibh,
Donald Matheson,
8. Hawson,
Pa. Dudgeon, Augt, Carter,
At a Meeting of the Committeejappointed the 28th instant, it was resolved that, stepa be taken to edla Public Meeting of the inhabitants of Hongkong,tp salemit to there the corres pondence relative to the Memorials presented to His Excel lesey the Governos and Honorable flamurs of the Legis-. labve Council,
T. A. Gibb,
Donald Matheson, & Rawan, #at. Dudgeon Aug. Carter.
bigned,
Hangkung, 31st October, 1844
A public meeting of the tulabitants of the land of Hoogkong, will be held on the primes of Mesars Plather, Larkins and Co, this day, Satacey, at half-pant two o'clock
take into consideration the correspondence that he passed between the Committee appointed the 29th alumo, and is Excellency the Choveredr in Conscit. has all insured will give their punctual attendance.
Comparing the importance of the subject, it is desiralite
Biziod, T. A, Cab.
Henghong, and November, 1841.
Donald Matheson,
Pan Drugs Augt. Carter,
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