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GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. His Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipoten- tiary and Supermtendent of Trade &C. &C. is pleased to direct that the annexed Circular to the address of Her Majesty's Consuls in Chine be published for general information,
**
By order,
ADAM W, ELMSLIE.
Victoria, Hongkong, 1st February, 1845.
CIRCULAR No. 1.
.
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
LATEST DATES.
Oct 18
Dec. SITE TORE MARIA Jany CHOREN SHANGWAL
Jany
ENGLAND
Oct. UNITED STATES Angt CALCETTA Nov. 23 BoMBAY STEY MADRAS BATAVIA
Jany Is
they see their error, and so forth. However verument; probably biased and prejudiced. 10 greatly it was opposed to our conviction we Such is not the truth, we would at all times But, my also came into this opinion, the more especially rather comment than censure. that it was said, government will cheerfully | Lord, we fear that unless Her Majesty's go Nov, 32% Foo.cuow. Da 29 cooperate with the inhabitants to cleavours vernment interpose in our behalf, one of the Sept 99
Ling to remove the restrictions which have been most promising of our commercial colonies Nov. 23
placed on our commerce, and in furthering the will be ruined-not willfully, but ignorantly
riuned, We know not the nature of the des prosperity of the island.
patches, Your Lordship may have received
ANOT
THE FRIEND OF CHINA,
AND HONGKONG GAZETTE VICTORIA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 1815 NOTIE--A Mail for England per clipper soloner "Zoe,
be closed de this Office at 3 2. M. Friday 7th lustant.tention has been chiefly occupied with pitiful 4th February, 1815.
Post Onco, Victoria,
Victoria, Hongkong, 31st Jany, 1845 Sir--I have to acquaint you that I have re- ceived the Commands of Her Most Gracious.be Majesty, conveyed through the Right Honor- The success of the pirates, who attacked and rob- able. The Earl of Aberdeen, sanctioning and bed the water bost near Green Island a few weeks confirming the following Ordinances for the ard, appears to have induced others to attempt Government of British Subjects within the similar outrage. On the evening of Friday Dominions of the Emperor of China, or within another water bont, anchored at that place, was any ship or vessel at a distance of not more boarded, by the crew of a boat, registered in than one hundred miles from the coast of China. Hongkong an I usually plying in the harbour. The Ordinance No. 1 of 1844, intituled, “An alarm was immediately giver, and the police nt “ Ordinance to render Her Majesty's Subjects West Pont, also the guard boat from E. M. S. within the Dominions of the Emperor of Castor, hastened to the spot, but the night being China, or within any ship or vessel at a disvery dark, the pirates to the number, it is shit, of "tance of not more than one hundred miles ten leaped overboard and escaped. Previous to doing from the coast of China, subject in all mittters, they cast into the water a gun weighing seventy catties, for which a block and socket was found on to the law of England, and to extend the board, also pikes, rattaus loaded with powder, and jurisdiction of the Courts of Justice at Hong fire pots, all evidently ready for immediate services kong over the same."
The Marine Magistrate caused the person who Ordinance No. 2 of 1844, intituled, "An was security for the boat to be apprehended, but on "Ordinance to give judicial authority to Her his examination nothing was elicited which would "Majesty's Consuls within the Dominions of lead to the beleive that, he was in collusion with the "the Emperor of China,”
bontmen. In the meantime, he has been allowed Ordinance No. 8 of 1844, intituled, Antwo days to produce the crew, failing to do which
fifty dollars) "Ordinance to restrain masters of Merchant he will forfeit the amount of surety ( * vessels belonging to Her Majesty's Subjects the bout being sold as a prize for the benefit of the
from leaving seamen and others in a destitute Queen
The present is a clear proof of the benefits derived "state in the Dominions of the Emperor of "China, and from refusing to convey distressed
from registration; by the capture of a registered boat, "scamen from thence to Hongkong or to Eng. the names of the crews are known, and they will in
future avoid Hongkong land, and also to provide for the good conduct of seamen within the same." Ordinance No, 4 of 1844, intituled, An «Ordinance to restrain Her Majesty's Subjects "from trading in the Empire of China, to the Northward of the 32d degree of North La- $titude,"
*
I have &c. (Signed) J. FADAVIS. To, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at
True copy,
ADAM, W. ELMSLIE.
NOTICE
attempts at taxation, such as marriage licences, burial licences, grave stone licences, auction duties and such like paltry imposts which can not raise any amount of revenue, but are suffi- cient to irritate the inhabitants, who feel vesed that the important functions of government should be thus played with.
Those kindly and charitable feelings de ceived many at that time, and our legisla doubtless, they showed the true sentiments tors are not now duly sensible of our furbo- and feelings of their writers-but if they cons arance. Have they since then adopted any tained opinions, which render coercion neces. one liberal or prudent measure in furtherance sary, those opinions are not to be relied upoa, of that prosperity ? We fear not. Their al-We express the sentiments of the European inhabitants, when we stato our firm convic- tion that an enforcement of ordmance No. 1 of 1845 would entail ruin upon us →wo also express their sentiments when we say, the ordinance is repugnant to the feelings of En- glishman, and that it is humiliating to think, that a British colonial government, with a large military and naval force, cannot control the inhabitants of this small island, without re- sorting to such arbitrary and cruel measures as imprisoning, branding and transporting those who are suspected to be bad characters, We are morally convinced that Her Majesty, ad- (visers will not sancion any such ordinance under any circumstances-not even if the is land was in a state of revolt, that however is a supposition too ridiculous to think of, but it is intolerable that such lays should be passed and permitted to exist for an hour. We are per- suaded, that a knowledge of the existence of such a law, will check, w is so much re- quired, the influx of respectable natives. The Chinese, a social people, have societics similar in many respects to ourFree-masons, Odd Fel- lows, Druids &c, and of one or more of such societies, they are generally members. We can- not for a moment suppose, that were a know- ledge of the existence of a law, such as that re- ferred to, circulated among them, they would intrust their property. persons and reputations to the tender mercies of those who framed it. No they would shun Hongkong as a polluted spot, and in a few years the island would be merely known as a military station, deserted by these whose energies and capital, if left unfettered by their ruleis, would have mada it an ornament to the Crown.
We are well aware of the advantages which are derived by any colony, when a wise, a liberal and an intelligent government, move hand in hand with the community in endeavouring to promote the general welfare-we are not ig norant of the existing necessity for such a co- operation here, but until there is a radical change, we most conscientiously declare that we despair of such a happy unity Personally the members of government may, and are so far as we know anything of them, perfectly unexceptionable; in their own way some of them are men of fair talents, but as legislators let their mutilated, abrogated and obnoxious ordinances speak for them. It is not alone that their valuable time has been engaged in laying on such taxes, as we could imagine would have engaged the attention of that gamusing variet Sancho Panza, had he actual ly been appointed to his ideal governorship, but they have also passed ordinances at issue with the constituted colonial laws of Great Britain ordinances which betray a spirit, a disposition such as we regret to see exist in a British colonal government-ordinances which It will give much satisfaction to note from the the home government will spura from them Police case which we publish to-day that, the with colitempt. We do not apprehend any Chief Magistrato is determined to punish those Contractors who break faith with their employers: very positive injury from such measures we The person fined is, we are told, a rather conspirely upon the blessed check which all colonies cious character among his countrymen, and it is. have upon foolish or stupid local governments- to be hoped, the example will have a salutary in vizt. that their laws must be sanctioned at home.But though we do not apprehend mis- fluence over them. We would suggest, that on a second conviction, he gets three months on the chief directly from these acts, we regret, we ronds; and this the more especially, that we hear deplore, that in the present state of the colony, he asserts to his countrymen that he was not fued the earnest, the parental care of the council is at all.
not solely directed towards nursing its young energies.
This is a fitting season-being that when rob beries are usually so frequent to antice the groat THE SUPREME COURT will sit for the Trial of advantages the colony has derived from a well or Causes under its SuMMARY JURISDICTION on Mon-ganised and vigilant police. Last year at the day the 10th day of February 1815, at ten o clock sime period, robberies were almost nightly; some.gislative council. Early in November they money.. Low Alork, Le Asow und Tsing Sjo.
A. H.
All Plaints must be entered in the Registrar's Office before three o'clock on Thursday the 6th day of February.
By order of the Court........
-ROBT. DUNDAS CAY, my bra gli Registrar, Victoria, 3rd February, 1845,
• Chief Police Office, 30th Jany, 1845. NOTICE. Is hereby given that from and after the 10th of February next. Persons having building materials on the roads of the Colony which obstruct the throughfare, the
Police have been intrusted to Summons before the Chief Majestrata of Police for a breach of Ordinance No. 5 in the Colonial department.
By order,
W. CAINE, Chief Magistrate of Police:
Commissariat Office, Hongkong, 1st Febrary, 1845. NOTICE is herchy given that the Bills required to be drawn by the Undersigned for the public will be issued at the rates of Exchange under
service, during the present month of February,
mentioned: viz bilan
Bills on the Supreme Government of India in exchange for South American Dollars, at the rate of 222 Rupees per $100, and in exchange for broken com at the rate of 230 Rupees per 103 Dollars weighing 71.7 Taels.
Bills on the Lords Commissioners of Her Ma jesty's Treasury in exchange for South American Dollars at 51 ponce per Dollar; and in exchange for broken coin at 53 pence per Dollar, by weight as above.
Payments may be made in Rupees at 225 for 100 South American Dollars,
...
W. MILLER, Deputy Comy. Cenl.
BUILDINGS REQUIRED
FOR
MILITARY PURPOSES. THE Respective Officers of the Ordnance Department, are still open to receive TENDERS from Merchants or others, for the hire of Buildings for Military purposes, both as regards QUARTERS FOR OFFICERS and STORAGE FOR PUBLIC STORES; and comprising Build ings which are now to let, or which may be come available for occupation within a short period.
BEFORE THE CHIEF MAGIS PRATE. CASE No. 89. Laong Apút charged by Mr. O' 'ullivan with a wanton and malicious attempt to provent certain stone masons working at M:. O'Sullivan's House,
Jung Ayce stone cutter states about 5 or 6 days ago I went to prisoner's house to demand 141 dol- Men seldom commit one blunder, or ogears which he owed me for work, he told me if t delinquency which does not lead to another would leave off the work was then doing for the We prove our assertion by pointing to the le complainant, Mr. O'Sullivan, he would pay me the times fierce attacks upon houses being made by large bodies of armed men, now we scarcely hear tnnidly cancelled the law which they had hast were present when prisoner made me this offer. of a single robbery. It is rather singular that ly passed-following up this on the 20th of while the government are atansing themselves the same month, we have ordinance No. 20 empowering The Governor, with advice of the with preparations for martial law, chains, tran- sportation and branding, the police keep the atro-executive council, to place the island under clous characters, for whom all these comforts are intended, perfectly quiet and orderly. It is post tively indispensable that we have a few riots and robberies to keep our talers in countenance-they must feel quite sad that, after all their wise delibe rationis and diets (1) there is no chance of even row, funless it be among our own larking troops of sailors] which the police cannot quell without any difficulty.
a
martial law, and on the 26th of that month we have ordinanco 10—which by a characteristic blunder passed the council six days after is suc cessar No. 20-granting to His Excellency and the executive powers which belong solely to the legislative council. The Irishism displayed in the birth, of No. 20, is not worthy of notice, it is only one of many ex hibited in the Gazetty, but we fear that those ordinances will tend to deceive Her Majesty's It is now three months since the public feel-government as to the real state of this colony ing was aroused by an attempt of our local they will tend to convey an impression that the European portion of the community have rulers: to enforce an ordinance, which laid a
reasons to apprehend an insurrection among heavy burden on the Native, and contained a- mong its enactments a gross insult to the Euro- the natives. Than this nothing can be more pean inhabitants of the colony. By a simal preposterous: the idea of an insurrection in taneous burst of feeling which to the eyes of Hongkong calls to remembrance, that of a a weak government appeared preconcerted hurricane in a tea kettle, and may raise a simile, the aborigines and the colousts, alike met, and though it will not cause a dread,unless it be in the denounced the measure as one fraught with bosoms of our gallaut rulers. Far more ob evil to the colony, oppresive to the natives, and jectionable than these two ordinances is No. 1 degrading to that part of the inhabitants, who of 1845; we pronounce it to have no fellow in British colonial history, and it is also evidently born and educated under a free government, intended to impress Her Majesty's government felt that the unpardonable attempt to place them on a level with the lowest class of a sem with the imminent dangers which surround our rulers. We agam lay the ordinance be barbarous people, betrayed on the part of the fore our resers; let them peruse it and ask legislature, ignorance, if not something worse. We have heard that, what were then consi-themselves, whether an enforcement of it would dered idle threats of coercion, were frequently not depopulate the island. We say nothing of its sanguinary, un-English character-we at heard to proceed from those, deep in the secrets of government house, and when the never present take no figher grounds than those of expediency, and if it is expedient to pass and to be forgotten ordinance, No. 17 of 1841, was laid before the public, two months after it had enforce such laws, it is also expedient to aban
don Hongkong. passed council, and a few days before it was to have been enforced, and after people had con- sidered its tyrannical nature, it at once occurr- ed to their remembrance, that the long talked of, through lightly treated attempt at coercion, was actually to be made. We will not refer specially to all the measures adopted at that time, or to the strong testimonial of abhorrence put forth alike by European and Native, suílico it is to say that, the government with many grimaces ate their leek-the ordinance was abrogated—
The confidence of the governed in the go vernors, was much shaken by the spirit they had qvinced in passing such a law, and by the indecision, but indecision attempted to be co- vered with mock dignity--which they also ex- hibited in repudiating it. It was at the time proposed to send home a memorial, expressive of the feelings of the public, to Her Majesty in council, and declaring that they had lost faith in the government. The moderate minded part of the community objected to this. They argued, it is very true that our rulers have New advertisments, will be revived, smtil 4 passed this ordinance, bat we must rege- "O'Clock, on the evening precious to publiber that, they are yet new to the legislating ertin, vini d'ursılays and Fridays,
trad-give them a lule more experience-
Office of Ordnance 23rd October, 1841.
NOTICE.
Tsung Asye, swara, states - I am a st he can- tractor and formerly worked as Mr. O'Sullivan's house for the prisoner, I ain now doing some work foother contractor, the prisoner offered to pay me the money he owed my if I would leave off, the work I was then dong for the complain, I heard him make the same offer to the last witnession Jung Ayce went to demand some money from the prisoner, the prisoner said that if Jung Ayee would wave of the work be was then about for Mr. Usul- livan that he the prisoner would pay the money otherwise that Jung Ayee would have to get it from Mr. O'Sullivan,
La Asow sworn states--I was present
» Mathew O'Sulliyan sworn state's -I have pre- duced the last witnesses to prove the damage done to my building by the prisoner stopping the wirk and that more damage would have been incurred had the prisoner succeeded in getting the witness Jung Ayen to stop the work, the prisoner on a has in the present instance attempted to do the former ocession stopped the work for 6 weeks and
state that if the prisoner had sapcealed in the wan- same, which I hope has been provented, I wish to ton attempt; 1 should have suffed great loss."
M. O'SULLIVAN.
DEFENCE,
I do that I made the offer to the stone cutters;
this is a fal e charge that they be brought against me. I have no witnesses.
SENTENCE.
To pay a fine of 133 dollars to the Green and to remain in prison till the money is paid.
W. CAINE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE CANTON.. * OFFICIAL REPORTER.” 1844, December 28th Scang chang heen, the Officiat. "WHEREAS the Triad Society and other secreting Assistant District. Magistrate of San shway, Societies prevalent in Chins exist among the Inhabi- } reported to the Governor General bis arrival an tants of the Island of Hongkong and whereas these three years mourning, (customary at the death of Association have objects in view which are incompat parents) and that he had delivered over the rol tible with the maintenance of good order and constiers Chin-a-uch and others, in all 18 persone. It mute! authority and with the security of life and prð perty and afford by means of a secret agency facilities pears by the report of the Assistant Conan. day to the Goverunt that these people had plander- for the commission of crime and for the escape of of dant of the Kwang chow Department made this fenders.
1. Be it therefore enacted and outained by the trel the reasel which was conveying the New your's vernor of Hongkong with the advice of the Legis ative day's add.ess of the Governor General to the Em- Council thereof that from and after the passing of this peror, The District reagistratą and Aszi-wint Ordinance if any pers m or persons. being of Chinese District meghairate of Non hae reported to the origin in the said Island or its Dependencies simil be a
Governor that in the night of the 25th the Chumus member or members of the Trial Society or other e Tra-warehouse in the Leen King streg near the secret Societies as aforesaid he she or they in' conse
Factories hebres band down, and the two quence thereof be guilty of felony and being
neighbouring buildings pulled down to extingitis victed thereof shall be able to be fimprisoned for any term not exceeding three years with or without hard labour and at the expitation of such term of imprison. ment that such person shall be market on the sight chest in the masses nigal in the case of Military Desertors and be expelled from the and Island.'1; 17
the fire. Ang
29 Kia jn, the Police Inspector of Sur kr, waited on the Governor to report that he had been deputed to examine the various forts on the river.
seems 1815.
Con these days Woo We believe that a copy of our papaz is for:
January 8th and 9th, • On these. warded to the Colonial Office Wuld this article ting hien an Expectant Disser magistrate, Chang met the eve of the Gentienten who is at the so-beam Assistant Distract magistrate of Nan head of that branch of the pabes service, we hie, Segaza kum, an expectant Secretary to the would say to him, my, Lord, read not Lissa- Superintendent of Finances, Yuen yita née Our tement Fightly as one merely writes by a Joating Tossarer to the Superintendent of Customs uraalit opposed to the measures of a local go, and Lew sou leac Treasurer to the Superintendent
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