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DEAR MR En Understanding that a subscrip- fion is on foot for the gallant Sergeant Atkins who acting under the orders of the Major General, in the most daring manner entered the house of a private indivi- slual a few night since accompanied by only and con- stable I send herewith one cush, as a mark of my ea- timation of his borofe conduct, I am given to under- stand that the manner in which he carried the staircase (not away) would have put to shame the stormers of Beringaparam, and had the Major General been aware of such a fine chance of displaying courage and for- bearance, he would not have lot pass the opportunity of leading this magnanimous attack in person.

I understand that H. E's aide de camp was actually peen to shed tears, during the soul stirring (to a mili tary man) recital of the courageona Atkins; While upon the subject, my dear Mr Editor, will you kindly solve the following problem. If it takes 9 policeman to carry the Major General's Compliments how many will it take to carry mine? I havo no means however of ascertaining the precise weight of either.

I will endeavour to forward you a list of subscribers In due time and remain

Your loving friend

PUNCH,

PS.—I intended to have remained incog, during my atay on this happy, island, but hearing of the deeds of a brother Balow I could hold out no longer. I have written: home to dudy, a true account of the gallant Affair,

To the Editor of the Friend of China.

September 18th, 1845.

Nothing extenuate

Nor set down ought in Malice.”.

Sm-When the Editor of a public Journal personally at.. tende a Police office, for the purpose of obraining information upon a question of general interest, the least his renders may expect from him is an impartial and accurate statement of the proceedings he has witnessed, t

How far your version of the case of Mr. Welch, as pu- blished in yesterday's Friend of China, accords with this reasonable principle, I shall leave yourself to decide.

By your showing, Mr Welch was prosecuted on the in. formation of Sergeant Atkins of the Police, formerly of the 18th Royal Irish, for having singing in his house between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clock at night, and for the offence was fined twenty dollars by Lieut. Armstrong, likewise of The 18th Royal Irish,

Now Sir, with all due respect for your motives, and with- but wishing in the remotest degree to impute to you either wilful misrepresentation or invention, I beg most positively to deny the accuracy of your statement.

In the first place Mr. Welch was not fined for having Singing in his house, BET FOR USING LANGUAGE TOWARDS THE POLICE SERGEANT THAT HAD A TENDENCY TO FROVOKE V BREACH OF THE PEACE.

Secondly, neither Sergeant Atkins nor Constablo Swim. per ever belonged to the 18th Royal Irish Regt.

This last assertion would scarcely merit contradiction, were it not that you have artfully, though no doubt inno rently, embellished and given a point to your narration, by ticking a Shamrock in the cap of every Actor on the ad- verse side, thereby imparting to them a character of brother bood which could not fail to create a diversion in favor of The Rooused.

The merits of Lieut. Armstrong's decree, I am by no means prepared to defend, but as an impartini Ciuzen, I will observe that, in all cases in which military officers are called upon as witnesses, it is desirable the Civilian Magistrate should preside upon the bench. Not that I would for a moment imagine Lieut. Armstrong capable of being wamped in his judgement by any such circumstances, but because, in ligation, the defeated party is always too apt to catch at any point which can minister to his wounded feelings by

all

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

Bands, or from a perversion of the FREE TRADS PRINCIPLE, 29 | present. The foreign buyers are not yet in the charge a very grave one, and as the most sim- in those of the community at large.

market for these kinds of tea, and the prices asked ple and direct refutation, we publish a copy of by the Chinese are beyond those ruling in England the proceedings, as taken from the records of and America by the latest advices. Since the ar the court. rival of the mail of 24th 3nly we have not heard of a single transaction.

Finally I would impress upon you as an axiom, that of branches of Society, Doctors, undertakere, and Janiar Ensigns are, in unseasonably healthy times, the most die- satisfied and obnoxious neighbours.

13

Bum.

BAIN DURING WEEK TWO INCHES

& SIXTEENTHS.

12

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I am Sir,

„ABSIT INVIDIA

Obedient yours

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Fine clear.

༣ ཐ ུ་g ལཚུ

1.20%

Changeable:

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NOTICE.

Chinese day

Mouth

Barometer. Mar | MinMean. Thermometer REGISTER FOR THE VICTORIA,

Day

METEOROLOGICAL

Day

Week. Month

WEEK ENDING, 14 SEPTEMBER, 185. HONGKONG, Winda

Pluviomr.

Fore. Latter,

squally.

Ely.

inches.

Duli.

HEMALES

New advertisements, will be received, until

O'Clock, on the evenings previous to publi cation, viz: Tuesdays and Fridays.

August 12

LATEST DATES. ENGLAND July 24 BATAVIA UNITED STATES June 15 SINGAPORE Sept. 5 CALCUTTA

August 23 MANILA August 10 August 30 BOMBAY

CRUSAN August 12 August 13.

August 18 June 13

MADAN SYDNEY

SHANGHAI

Silk-The Canton market has been cleared of all the first crop. Taotlee at prices varying from

B480 to 500.

EXCHANGE,

Our correspondent asserts that Mr. Welch after 10 o'clock at night, but for threatening to was not fined for having singing in his house horse whip the gallant Serjeant Atkins--who by the way has not the honour of being an ex Bills on London, at 6 months sight, have been in Serjeant of the Royal Irish-Now a perusal of quired for during the past few days at ds. Sc. to 4s. the information, as sworn to by Serjeant Atkins, 4d; we hear of sales of Barings Bills at 4y. 3d.. the proceedings of the court, ad the decision and now no first class bill can be had at a better rate of the Acting Assistant Magistrate, Lieutenant than is 31

Armstrong of the 18th Regiment of Royal Irish, FREIGHT.

leaves us quite in the dark on this point. It London, £4,7„6 to £4,10-Liverpool, £1,10s, appears, however, a matter of very little ins portance, whether it was for the singing, or for On Thursday, a coroner's inquest was held at the the judgement of the court is illegal, and the threat to flog the Serjeant. In either case. Military Hospital, on the body of Nath: Hudson, a private in the 18th. It appeared that the deceased demands that public attention be directed to was found drunk in the street about 8 o'clock on that tribunal. The fact of singing was clearly The threat to Wednesday he was first carried to the police sta proved-indeed not denied. tion on a shutter, and immediately after to the Mili-reward Serjeant Atkins's insolent intrusion with tary Hospital The usual remedies were applied, an application of a horse whip, was not proven, and a large quantity of some kind of spirits was unless by the testimony of the Serjeant and his drawn from the stomach. The man never rallied, co-adjutor Issac Swimmer, also of the police, and died about 4 o'clock in the morning. It was For the evidence of these worthies, we would the opinion of Mr. James Stewart, Assistant Surgeon give very little. After declaring upon oath that of the 18th, that the man died of congestion of the they gave the Major General's compliments, brain, brought on from excessive drinking, The it having afterwards been proved that they did evidence of Hudson's comrades, shewed that he had not, we submit that an impartial Magistrate, been drinking Arrack undiluted in a public house kept would take their evidence upon other points by a person named Christopher-that this liquor (poi with very great caution, particularly as it was son) is bought for about 1s. 3d. a gallon, and sold to not confirmed by disinterested witnesses. Lord the Soldiers and others who frequent the house, at is Cochrane states, that he heard Mr Welch make a bottle. VERDICT. The deceased's death was caused by drinking ardent spirits to excess, the same being use of the words, "if ever the Major General supplied to him at a public house called the "British sends me such an impertinent message again." Granadier."

but the conclusion of the sentence he did not. hear. Mr. Francis Marryatt did not hear all that Mr. Welch said at the window-he thinks he said something about horse whipping. Mr. Henry Fletcher Hense says, that Mr. Welch threatened to horse whip the Major General if he again sent such messages. It was upon this evidence that Mr. Welch, it appears, was fined for threatening to horse whip, the vera- cious Serjeant Atkins11. Most wise and righteous Magistrate. A very military Daniel come to adorn the bench of the civil court of Hongkong. Mercy it is, that he did not view the matter in a different light, and order the unfortunate Mr. Welch to be shot for having threatened to horse whip the Major General.

It will be remembered that on a recent occasion a man died in the Military Hospital who had also got drunk at the "British Granadier" no doubt on this precious Arrack at is, a bottle, and his death at the time caused some discussion. The former victim had a scuffle with a comrade-who also had been drinking in the British Granadier and the comrade was tried on a charge of manslaughter. It appears to us that, these two cases, occurring within a few months, in same house, demands some enquiry. It is only proper that the spirits should be examined, and if Publicans supply Soldiers, or others, with dele- terious liquids that they be punished.

It is with regret we observe the number of small public houses opening in all directions. For the sake of the fee, licences are but too easily obtainable, and we fear that the corrupt compounds with which Our correspondent asserts that, in their ovi- the Soldiers are there supplied, causes more deaths dence, Mr. Welch's witnesses do not agree. than the climate. It would be vain to attempt to We only ask him to read their evidence again, deprive, people of spirits if they will have them, and satisfy himself, that they perfectly agree in but surely it is the duty of the Magistrates, to see the point which Mr. Welch was desirous to that they are not supplied with that which is a prove, namely, that the policemen came into his positive poison. Perhaps the best security, would

house in an insolent manner and delivered a be the licensing of only a few houses to rospec discourtuous message. Their evidence as to the table Europeans, who would give bonds not to sell threat made after the policemen were on the Arrack, Samshoo, or any other of the dangerous spirits distilled in the cast. Good West India Itum, street does not disagree, except in this decent second class Brandy, or Geneva, could all be that the one witness heard the words used with laid down in Hongkong at from 3 to 48. n gallon, reference to a certain person-the other, pro- ing the Soldiers, Seamen, and others, from the fatal window, did not hear the sentence clearly. effects of the poisonous spirits, which is but too often supplied them at a profit of from 500 to 1,000 per

respect,

Kisungen anpolatable resalt the appearance of prejudico THE FRIEND OF CHINA affording the publicin an ample profit, and protect-bably being at a greater distance from the

Ör partiality,

In the present case, no doubt many consider Lieutenant' Armstrong to have been biassed against the Defendant. Had the judgment been different, it is more than probable that womb military men would have attributed the acquital to an unbecoming desire of popularity.

Thus it is evident, if the acting Chief magistrate conceived for a moment that the case in question was likely to assums at all a military character, he should have dealt with it him. bolf; but there is on the contrary, every reason to believe, that this functionary viewed the affair as one purely between the Defendant and the Police Sergeant, and as such, left its investigation to the sitting magistrate of the day. Therefore the circumstance of Lieut. Armstrong having decided the matter, can only be considered "an untoward event.”

With respect to the part taken by the Honble Major Ge beral in this transaction, I have been at some pains to ascer tain the truth,

On the night in question, the Major General was disturbed by loud singing, which he thought proceeded from an ad. joining Tavern. There boing a focal ordinance prohibitory of such noises, after certain hours, in houses of public enter- tainment, and believing the night to be more advanced than it really was, the Major General sent for a Police Sergeant

to check the disturbance,

On the Sergeant's arrival it was discovered that the sing. ng proceeded not from a public house as was first supposed. but from the private residence of Mr Welch,

The Major General not being very well, and availing himself of the privilege, which, not only high position, but

even YEARS carry with them in all civilized and well ro. gulated communities, where the unbought graces of life preponderate over vulgarity of sentiment, desired the Police Sergeant to preseut his (the Major General's) compliments to Afr. Welch and request un abatement of the noise.

Now Sir, you have the head and front of the Major Gene. al's offending, as both the General's Aid-de-Camp and the Police Sergeant have attested, and I leave it to your own candour, Mr Editor, to decide, whether, a palito message, gent under such circumstances, deserves the colouring it has received, I should hope unintentionally, at your hands.

Whether the Police Sergeant delivered the message in the manner and terms prescribed by the General, is not to the purpose, so far as the General himself is concerned, but En justice to the Sergeant and corroborating Policeman I would observe, that Mr Welch's own witnesses do not agree In their version of the affair; a fact which, I think, should not only bave induced you to pause cre you charged the two Policemen with wilful and deliberate perjury, but which should likewise bave led Mr Welch to bring forward the esidence of the other Gentlemen who were at bis party on the night in question,

The sentence pronounced on this trial is no doubt severe, perhapa illegal, and I can only auribute this severity to Lieut, Armstrong having rather inadvertently allowed lum. self to be influenced by that principle of military jurisprs. Bence which admits of the production of previous convictions Against a prisonera⠀⠀

This appears obvious from Lieut Armstrong boxing re- minded the defendant of a former proceeding, in which ho

(Defendant) was fired twenty dollars for sending an eb, seane message by a Policenian is one of the Magistrates of

the Colony, who had thought it necessary to remind Mr Welch of the ordinance prescribing cleanliness in the Town.

hights

fu ropclusion, Mr i ditor, I cannot forbear offering to you the humble tribute of my praise, for your very judicious dis countenance of military Bands after cermin hours of the In this climate, and especially at this season, every persoa is more or less a valetudinerian.

Undisturbed resen is the great valta of human bf, and therefore interaction of natural rest is to one man, as great so infliction, and as little to be reconciled with the ac

KITIES OF OUR Fourrow, as the raising of tunes is to sunther. I do not hesitate to say that eoises which would rely be soft cause at Singapore, and viber legislaside placza, am in this low-impervious and weyleding climate testers EXPORTIONS Conseguently, Mr Editor, yen will demente nel a fat from discs he sees

beht from human infrally,--by discllaring rch bons of our Eatural rest; and dis: too, whether the po

Bacre arise from a movNOPELT, 25 in the cases of military

i

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音

i

AND HONGKONG GAZETTE. VICTORIA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2078, 1845,

John Burd, Esq, has been appointed Danish Consul in Hongkong.

Mr. Whipple, Asst Surgeon of the Agincourt, has been promoted by the death of Dr. Tucker.

Mr. Reid, Surgeon of the Agincourt, has received. the appointment of Deputy Inspector of Hospitals, vice Dr. Wilson, gone to Europe.

S. Caster. Mr. Haynes, Master of the Vestal, is A naval court-martial sits to day on board H. M. charged with getting that ship ashore at Baramban. gau, on the Coast of Borneo.

CANTON,

Our Canton correspondent writes us under date the 16th Instant, with a few particulars regarding the market, which is a little more active.

IMPORTS.

Shirtings.--For grey goods the market is quiet. During the week a few thousand pieces have been placed at a further reduction In white shirtings demands for these goods. we hear of no transaction; holders are firm in their

Yarn.-The sales are large. During the week 700 bales have been spid at the highest quotation. Say Nos. 16 to 24, at 29 per picul; Nos. 36 to 42

at $37.

cent.

The gyrations of the China Mail are truly won derful Last number he fairly excelled himself. He has at length found out that His Excellency, Sir John Francis Davis, cannot levy an assessment on property, and naively admits that he entertained during these said months he has repeatedly asserted doubts upon this eight or nine months ago, though that, without representation government has an inherent right to levy taxes. This subject, with a few ex tracts from his London correspondent's letter, which knew from personal experience, we defer until our is corroborative of what we have often said, and

next issue.

|

The only part of Mr. Welch's conduct, which is at all censurable, is connecting in any way the name of the Major General with a threat to commit a gross indignity upon his person. Years, standing in society, and character, should all protect him from such language. We doubt not, that if Mr. Welch, in a moment of excite. ment, used an expression of the nature referred to, he in cooler moments regretted it. We Citizen, whore house has been entered in an must make allowance for the feelings of the

illegal way by men acting under Military or ders, and an insolent message delivered in the presence of his guests. If, under these circums tances, the Citizen makes use of language which, asour correspondent elegantly expresses himself, would not be tolerated in civilized and well "regulated communities where the unbought graces of life preponderate over vulgarity of "sentiment" it is to be remembered that the

provocation was great. An indignity had been cast upon him of a grievous nature.

An in- dignity, which no British nobleman, would dare to commit upon the most humble citizen, within the bounds of the island of Great Britain.

We do not view the General's conduct in this

The China Mail quotes a passage from our co- hamns, written a few days after Mr. Davis' arrived, and insinuates that it was then our interest to praise individuais, or with communities, of a generous dis- Mr. Davis and censure Sir Henry Pottinger. With position, a stranger ever receives a kindly welcome. If any good quality is known, it is brought forward -if they know nothing they do not judge of his cha meter, until they have seen his actions. So it was with Mr. Davis. But for his book, we never had heard of him. "We thought his book the beat that had affair, through the same medium as our corres been written on China, and we think so still. Of pondent, and therefore we have come to a himself, we were inclined to judge favorably different conclusion. If the General can listen merely from the circumstance of a man in his posi. tion, with no other recommendation than Chinese to the noise of a military mess until past mid- experience, having obtained the appointment.

We night, and if the other neighbours bear it with- were disappointed, however, in our expectations of out complaint, bis interference with the amuse- Woollens. For this class of goods the market is his government-fearfully disappointed-but we ment of a Civilian, at an early hour in the even- without enquiry, with the exception of Long Elba, an need not parsue the subject. Those who have reading, is objectionable. His true, that with hisusual assortment of which would command 88,70, long our columns, can best judge, whether we have per urbanity of manner, the General sent his com prices. Camlets are particularly dull of sales.

formed a duty imposed on all independent papers-pliments to Mr. Welch, though that important Opium-For the Bengal drug there is an enthat of protecting, to the best of their ability, the part of the message, the policeman did not con- quiry on time bargains; Pama at 6756, Benares public interests from the encroachments of govern descend to deliver, but he appeared to have $645. Malwa is less sought after. Some exactions ment.

forgotten that, the police are not under his con« in the interior has caused a large quantity to be re

We would remind the China Mail (if we may trol, and that inordering them, he wasencroach- turned on the Canton market, which for a time will compare great things with small) that even the ating open the rights of the civil authorities of the operate unfavorably on prices.

famous Charles the second, was welcomed on his land. When made aware of his error, we arrival in England by the shouts of a generous peco might at least have expected, that further pro- FXPORTS.

ple, who believed him all he ought to be, bat they were deceived. If the China Mail refers to his ceedings would have been suspended. It may reading in ancient history, he will recollect of a be said that Sergeant Atkins was the prosecI- Tibering, who had a senate to enaction and his Sejanus tor, and not General D'Aguilar. This is truc, to prize and admire his action; he will recollect that, but it would have been satisfactory, had the Nero was recival by the people of Rome with Magistrate permitted the witness (Atkins) to applause--that he was a scholar and a musician-answer the question put to him by the Dofen- and that be too had an obedient senate. We recall dant, as to whether in bringing the prevention, these hinge to the recollection of sorcontemporary.or he was acting under the advice or orders of because a timilar state of affairs exista in Blongkong, another party. The bench decided that the but merely to show, that in all ages, new Rulers question was irrelevant-according to our have been well received that bad Rulers have had humble judgment it was much to the point. their parasites, and submissive legislatures-and that literary men have not always been good Governors

Teas. During the week a considerable business has been done, principally in the better kinds of Congou and the best remaining Souchonge. For rather strong to strong blackish leaf Congan 30 to 33 trels has been the ruling price, and for one or two favorite chops higher prices have been given, Souchongs have been secured at a long figure for the good and best around kinds the price was from 47 to 52 els--Good common Congous are now offered freely, and from the apparent anxiety of the tamen to realize, lower prices than these at present demanded-say 20 to 22 toels-most very shonly be looked for. Indeed until some very importan change takes place, no business can be done in com- en Corgon. The July accounts from England were very marorable, and there is little hope of an A correspondent in an elaborately written improvement in the home market for 9 to 12 costs communication, charges us with partiality in the stlase Capers, Pain O. Pekoe Pelice and all version we gave of the proceedings before the cher Canson made green teas are ungalaubte un police court on Saturday. We coonder much of the Military Chicf, with the harmiem a-

Our correspondent is wrong, in moposing that we would decountenance military bands, or that we have any demre to see a cheek put on the enjoyments of the military men. Such an inference cannot be drawn from our re marks. What we dislike, is the interference ·