TION
Emperor of Chine
üblio instrument exs-
NOT
the final approba- ong other stipulati ned right of entry to established under the The exercise of that right poned only until the population be more under the control of the this is to make nown, that the he be immediately made over ficers appointed to receive
will be withdrawn from forces will:} practicable speed. LOOD SAVE THE QUEEN,
Victoria, Hongkong, This 18th day of May 1846
No. 13.
JF DATIS,
By His Excellency,
A. R. JOHNSTON
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
cely fit for active service.
To2ah Regiment, now on the voyage from England, would have
replaced the 18th in this garrison; but after calling et Singapore they will now proceed direct to Bengal. The 13th embark at Chusan as before intimated.
The colonial revenue it user It is evident that the muin soare
in the cast, and, in their present state, are scaccious calumnies so long circulated by the inicions system.
authorities. We have never credited the oft affected by it repeated assertion, that the Government of Chi- revenue is the rent of public lands, and that any na has not power to curb the cantille of one considerable demand for building lots would in a few years enable the government to meet the ex- city. A government which for such a long pepenses of the civil establishment.
The true pl riod has held together a population of hundreds of the Executive would be, to encourage of millions, cannot be defied by the mere out- casts of Canton. We are satisfied that rather than permit a foreign power to retain Chusan" the Emperor would have decapitated the belf of the Canton mob.
We have been favored with the loan of a Sandwich Island paper of the 4th April, from which we copy the treaty between Great Bri- fain and that power, signed at Honolulu on the 20th of March. A treaty with France, of a precisely simliar nature was subscribed to by the representatives of the two governments on the same day.
The naturalisation of foreigners continues to engage mach attention; and is advocated by the government paper, though any advantage the country is to derive, from the natura- lisation of the three or four hundred desperate characters, who annually desert from American and other ships, la not shown. It may be that the Executive are apprehensive of the Texas drams being re-acted in the Pacific-foreigners Diplomatic Department.
first gaining a footing in the country, which GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
when they was strong, they seize as their His Excellency, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, own. In the event of an attempt at a revolu- ko, &c., mukes known for the general informati- tion, naturalised subjects could be dealt with at- on of the British Community, that his corresponere summary manner-but so long as the dace with the Chinese Minister in relation to insurgents owed lealty to another nation, such Commercial Breamers has terminated in His Ex.
a helpless power as that of the Sandwich Is cellency Keying acquiescing in the right of such
lands, would fear to deal with them according wessels to CRECY merchandise, as well as passengers
to their misdeeds. and letters. As the reluctance of the Chinese Government the increase of this spogies of traffic kas arisen.
en principally from a not unreasonable pa- prehension of danger to its own subjects in the crowded vicinity of trading cities His Excellency the Plenipotentiary sees the absolute necessity of holding steam vessels of all descriptions under the most effective control, with a view to preserving unimpaired the existing rights under the Treaty, as well as promoting the establishment of good feeling between the two nations. He truets and believes ther there will be no occasion whatever for the interference of authority; bit, in case of need, the existing law is sufficient for enforcing either compensation for civil injury, or penalties on account of criminal negligence or aggression-
By Command of His Excellency,
A. R JOHNSTON. Victoria, Hongkong, 18th May, 1846,
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
His Excellency the Governors pleased to direct that the subjonal Extracts from a Despatch lately received from the Right Honourable W. E. Glads tone, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, in reply to a Memorial from the Merchants, be published for general information.
By Order,
FREDERICK W. A BRUCE,
Colonial Secretary. Colonial Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 19th May, 18,
With respect to the Terms on which Lands have been disposed of, there appears to be nothing new in the present representation, and as the subject has been already exham. sed both in Sir Henry Pottinger's Despatches of March and May 1814, and Lord Stanley's answer of 19th November 1844, and in your own Correspondence with the fercanule Body, it would be superfluous in me to renew the discussion. I content myself, siberefore, with expressing my concurrelice o the general reasoning on this subject adopted or Lord Stanley, as well as by Sir Henry Pottinger and yourself. Tu regard to the position of Rates, the Mercantile Body tay Joean that as auch Rates are in the Country levied by Mu- nicipal Bodies, sad nut by the Imperial Legislam e. 11 is unconstitutional and illegal that they should be levied in Hongkong by the Colonial Legislature. But whether this be or be not the just construction of their language, in the Proposition itself which they have advanced" i car by no means concur. The circumstances of the Town of Victoria and of the cology of Hengkung generally are so different from any state of society existing in this Country, or any Brithish Colony, and they are likewise as yet se imperfectly developed, that it would be impossibis, perhaps at any time, certainly at present, to apply to them principles, or an intro. duce into them Institutions, which elsewhere are recognized and established."
"The Merchants in their Letter to Lord Stanley, I obser- we, not only protest against the proposed Taxation for dra- ning the Town of Victoria, but is against the 'Opiam Farm, Auction Dames, and other harrassing Taza ion recen sly imposed, a deercing the Chinese from settling, ond being destructiva of the incipient Trade: and they denounce as unjust the mending the Civd part of the community to pey any large proportion of the expenses of a Celosy beid rather as a Military and Naval Station than as a Place of Trude
It appears to are that in this repapaentation de Marcan- tile Body have a hugether mistaken the object of Great Bri- tain in the occupation f Hongkong. That occupation was decided on solely and exclusively with a view to commer- cial interests, and for the benefit of these engaged in the Trade with China As a Naval or Military Station, except the security of commerce, Hongkong ie annecessary. It would, herefore, be impossible for me to hold out to the Merchants selded in the Culony the expectation the! Her Majesty's Government will propose to Parliament that it hould parmanently impose upon Great Britain the whole of the pincipal portion of the expease of an establishment from which those engaged in the Trade with China are to derive the principel bene51; nor, enheequently, ca 1 accede to the request that the Opium Farra, Auction Dates, or other Taxes, which have received the sanction of Her Ma. jesty's Government, should now be taken off."
True Extract, FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE
Colonial Secretary, LATEST DATES.
April 14
Bateria
Apr 29 Singapore May o Manta Mar 25 Churau
May Shanghai May
OF CH
NO C
URDAY, MAY 23RD, 1846
cont
The government paper argues, that though people swear allegiance to the King, Consti- tution and Laws of the Islands, they may, at the same time, retain their allegiance to the land of their birth, as the oath, is unmeaning in "those who interpret it rightly and repulsive "to those who consider it literally as true." It is also argued, that though a rigid adherence to the oath of osturalisation is necessary in the United States, such is not the case in the Polynesian islands. The drift of the writer appears to be simply this. in the Sandwich islands foreigners taking the oath of allegiance, derive the full benefit of certain pri vileges which are with held from others who are more scrapulous, and at the same time the fore. gn subject may look upon his oath as unincaning and repulsive, and therefore only obligatory in so far as it suits his selfish ends.
notice is taken.
Of mis sable Majesty. Ramehameha, little He appears to be extremely docile, and moves as the wires are pulled by his pale faced kepers.
The advices from Tahiti are brought down to the end of February. The French force in the Society Islands appear to have been un- successesful in some fights with the natives. The particulars are given in the following para graph, which we also copy from the Polynasins of the 4th Utumo.
TART-The lastest advices from the Society Islands are by the maris, fapt He in. to the last of February We have unves brie, bt what we belierdeo be a- thentic details. va the unrtunate occurrences #eferred to to our last By the two appear that sonde natives ja the French interest ne tece.ved treatment on their countryinen, and that the Queen of Huahine. Arpara, had decrard supplying the French vessels of war with water and presies and wallisten to no friendly over- lures heery to re of the besute autitude she had as- sumed. the gram 1961) several hundred troops on che N. E. side of for whats lending to carry the nature en- Heberements on the rear But the Habine warriors, beaded by Ampats, lay in ambush for rhein, and as they were passing turotch a warrow ani inancate denic, attack ed the great andablage The calves were securely entrenebel behind the natural defences of their position, while the French were exposed to a galling fire. About tweaty fell in this action, and torty one were wounded, The native loss is said to be not over two happsed early January, and some accounts state the Joss on the French side as much higher. The sleamer re turned Tahidi with the wounded, leaving the Urania frigate a Hustone. The ghung still continued. With the exception of the chapel and mission house, the lowe had been wholly destroyed by fire The French were des- troying the bread fruit trees throughout the island, and it was expected that famine would drive the inhabitants en
This battle,
masse to Haitea, if they were enabled to get away. The resident foreigners are offered much in loss of property, and two, the pilut, Haris, and an Englishman, bars been
shut. The pilot who was employed by the French, is sald' to have been but by the Englishman who beaded the oa- tives in the defence of text town
The Talians, elated doubtless by the temporary dis- comfiture of the Frasch, have since made an attack apos them at Poin! Venos. An attempt upon Papeiti was. bourly expected, and preparations for a general assault on the native lines were making by the French.
A reinforcement of 200 troops had arrived out from France in the Seine, and three other mea-of-was ware ex- pected. There will probably be some hard fighting before the natives are entirely subdaed.
I
1
2.
merce in all its branches, to encourage the eig lament of Chinese as well as of fateiga Merentas and to remove every chstacle which checks to trance of native trading vessels. By doing t increased commerce, na increased fem-und far labi, and an increased revenge are the inernable res ... The attempt to intrelace the licensing system Singapore, before we had an established commer has been most unfortunate in its reseks Tarp are in many respects dissimilar; and even sagan was allowed five years to gather strength feare And then the entire cxp*** taxes were levied
of the evil establishment was not equal to che te venue now drawn from Hongkong in the simps fand rent
Another concession has also been obtained from the Chinese, or more correctly speaking. they have withdrawn frivolous objections lately put forward to Steam vessels carrying goods from Canton to Hongkong. For the future this is to be allowed. Steam vessels for a long time have been allowed to carry passengers and specie to and from Canton without let or hindrance; recently however the Corsair was prohibited from shipping a cargo of tea. Mr Gladstone states that the occupation of Hong- The Chinese say that it was a dread of the kong was decided on solely and exclusively wan danger arising from steam vessels passing view to commercial interests and for the ben n among the native boats in the river which in those engaged in the trade with China. We are plen duced them to refuse a chop to the Corsaired to see this admission, as from the pobey purs when alle wished to take tea on board None by the local Government, we were inclined to a ca but a Chinaman would perceive, that there was trary opinion, and had almost concluded that Hus. greater danger to be apprehended from a Steam kong was colonised from political motives and was vessel going to Hongkong with teas, than from solely valued by the British Government as a strong the same vessel coming from Hongkong with military position upon the shore of China. If how passengers and specie! The objection has been
ever, it is intended to brnent the commercial interrats, withdrawn; but it only shows how much we
it becomes necessary that the Govenment encourage require to be on our guard. lest our acute
trade, but their measures heretofore bare had an op- neighbours encroach upon our privileges.
posite tendency It may be expected that such being Colonies, a new era will down upon Hongkong, the sentiments of the RightHonble. Secretary for the and in place of Ordinances framed to depopulate the island, and regulations discouraging the free ingress. and egress of native shipping and native Merchants, we will now have the pleasure of reading Ordinan- ces holding forth inducements to those who carry their traffic to Macao and elsewhere, to come to Hongkong, and that a renegade Chinese will be deprived of the power he now holds of bullying every Juak that enters the harbour, unless those DL board confine their traffic to dealings with himself and those to whom he may rent out the privilege.
It is to be hoped that in his late negotiations, His Excelloooy has not overlooked the Supple mentary Treaty. The alteration of two of us clauses, and its promulgation among the inba- bitants of the five ports, are alike desirable.
An unfavorable reply has been received to the Memorial from the Landholders of Hongkong in the Right Honorable the Secretary for the Colonies Those, who like ourselves. never anticipated its soc cess will not feel disappointed. As an act of courtesy towards Lord Stanley, it may have been advisable to lay our grievances before him, before they were brought formally before parliament in the shape of a petition. It has fallen to his Lord. ship's successor to answer the Memorial, and he his done so, in terms not very dissimilar, from those that might have been looked for from his predecessor.
The memorial self was much too general, and as referring to questions which had previously been definitively settled, it was open to objection. It is troduced prominently the land tenure and land rent, any alteration in which, oppressive as they are, can never be expected. of this part of the memo- rial Mr Gladstone deems it superfluous to take any particular notice, as he concurs in the opinions of Sir Henry Pottinger as well as those held by Lord Stanley and our present Governor. Any further ap. peal upon this subject we consider perfectly hopeless The holder of land have committed themselves by building, and heavy as the land rent is, it will be exacted, so long it bears a tenement the rent of which is equivalent that of the ground upon
which it is erected.
The Secretary for the Colonies may not be aware, that only a portion of the British Merchants avail themselves of the supposed advantages of a residence in Hongkong, and that the number is getting less, and will continue to decrease, unless means are adopt. ed to encourage trade A continuation of the pre sent system will leave Hongkong with few Mercan- tile residents, and if the trade of China must support the civil establishment, the non residents-the ab sentres-must also be taxed. We presume that this will not be attempted, though they are is possession ofallthea vantages which resident Merchants deriva from the occupation of the island, and that without having to support permanent establishments. These benefits are simply, a place from whence mails may be despatched and where they are received, with the further advantage of a change of air by
au occasional visit from Canton For the latter purpose, Macao is equally available, and there rent is cheaper, as from the high land taxes paid in Hongkong, the proprietors of houses cannot let them so cheap as they are to be had in Macao.
We do not think that those interested in the Co.
answer to the Memorial The sentiments in his despatch are those of the under Secretary, Sir George Stephen, a person who has ever made himself con- spicious by his illiberal views on all subjects which effect colonial tests His long experience in the Colonial of
thorough knowledge of the past, to bird unavoidable, and the
The point which series to be decidad, is the le gality of taxes levied by the Governor of Hong-lony should be at all discouraged by Mr Gladstone's kong, wah the consenti a Legislative Council. which is merely a council avise We deny that His Excellency can legally exercise this power, and we submit that a direct taxon PROPERTY, such as the police tax in Hongkong,zan only be levied by a Municipal corporation, or by the imperial parlament In the memorial the allusions to taxs-readers tion were too general, and in housing them Mr Secare colonies, is in a great degree bias- Gladstone sums them up as taxes for drawinged by the opinions entertained by his subordinate towa, the opium farm. auction duties and other harassing taxation There is only 000 DIRECT L upon property in Hongkong the police assessment -and that tax is the only one that we have ever as- serted to be illegal; and if submitted to, it may be made a precedent for others.
tion.
of a future appeal to Parliament.
(From the Polynesian, April 4) BRITISH TREATY.
It being desirable that a General Convention should be substitute for the various Instruments
of Mutual Agreement at present existing betwe Great Britaib and Sandwich Islands, the following Articles have, for that purpose and to that intent. Government of Great Britain and the Sandwich been mutually agreed upon and signed between the
Treaty, or Conventional Agreement, now existing Islands, and it has born determined that any other between the respective Parties, shall be hencefor. ward abrogated and considered null and no effect
An appel to parliament is now unavoidable, and we trust it will be made with the least possible delay, and that its prayer will be restricted to one specific grievance. The most important certainly is the opium farm, and as it is possible that His Excellen- ey may also be of opinion that the tax should be Mr Gladstone is well aware that the power aa- placed in abeyance for a few years, that the Colony sumed by His Excellency is unwarranted, and a may have a fair trial, it is desirable that to his corres direct violation of the rights secured to British sub-pondence with the Colonist office he approve of the jects, whether residents of the United Kingdom, or petition. The other grievance to which we have re does not appear clearly to understand the proposition Executive-may very properly be made the subject of the colouies. The Secretary for the Colonies terred the power of taxing property assumed by the advanced by the memorialists on the subject of taxa Fle does not assert that the Legislature have the power of taxing property-nor does the memo. rial distinctly allude to a direct tax on property, and indirect taxation on trade, & distinction which should not have been lost sight of the old argument 33 brought forward that the circumstances of the colony of Hongkong are so different from any state of society existing in other British possessions, and they are so imperfectly developed, that it is impossible to The immediate surrender of Chnsan is de-apply to the principles, or to introduce Institu termined upon, and, la the main, we are glad tions, which elsewhere are recognized and esta of it; not that we for a moment doubted that blished. We cannot concur in the soundness of this Great Britain would keep faith with China, and argument. Hongkong as a Royal churtered colony restore the island pledged to her under certain forms a part of the British empire, and the inhabi conditions, but others have expressed such a
tants claim all the rights and privileges of British doubt.
subjects. Until some special act of the British We have entertained an opinion that pre-fects, it is vain to tail of the existing state of so parliament deprives us of the privileges of aut ous to restoring Chusan to China, Canon ciety as precluding Englishmen from their rights should be opened to the foreign inhabitants. as Englishmen Whether a strict interpretation of the words of by the Secretary for the colonias, is a favorite with y residing within the Dominions of the King of
The argument brought forward
ART. II. The Subjects of Her Britannic Mays. the treaty rendered this compulsary upon the those who have endeavoured to enact the most bar. Chinese has been questioned, though the spirit barous laws in the colony, to which laws European tion in regard to their Civil Rights as well se
the Sandwich Islande, shall enjoy the same prece of the treaty certainly provided for such a re- mhabitants were to be amenable. It is however, & fal- their persons and properties, as Nauve Suljett sonable privilege, and the
and the justice of the demand acious argument. was admitted by Keying years ago. The ques challenge a comparison with that of any colony; and grant to British Sobjects the same rights and p“,
The European population will and the King of the Sandwich Islands engages tion of right is set at rest by a public document the native population is industrious and orderly, only vileges which sow are, or bereafter may be grant bearing the sign manual of the Emperor, requiring good treatment, and an impartial magised to at enjoyed by ang other Foreigners, Boly.cs (about to be transmitted to England for the tracy, to attach them to the government approbation of Her Majesty) which concedes
of the most favored Nation. the point. The opening of the gates is however deferred until the population of Canton shall be more under the control of Government or in other words! finite period. Te cannot help tha formediate
of the gata been insisted upon if the ceron
on if rely been gone through, and Eur
entered a victory would have been.
the recally mob of Canton, Bud the
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ARTICLE I. There shall be perpetual peace pod amity between Her Majesty the Queen of the the King of the Sandwich Islands, their Heirs en i United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, art Successos,
crime whatever shall be judged otherwise than by ART. IL No British Subject accused of sty
proposed by the British Consul and accepted by the a Jury composed of Native or Foreign Residents. Government of the Sandwich Islands.
The Right Honble. Secretary alludes to the pro- test made by the Merchants against the opium farm as deterring the Chinese from setting and destroying the incipient trade of the colony. The opinions entertained by the Memorialists have been but too correct, ae is verified by the decline to commerce, the decrease in population, and the strong Sandwich Islands shall be extended to nil British ART. IV. The protection of the King of the dosire thanifested to let their houses by those who Vessels, their Officer and Crews. It case of Ship bearablished themselves on the island, with its actual wreck, the Chiefs and Inhabitants of the different abandcament by others, some of whom leave their parts of the Sandwich Islands thail succour them houses vesant. Th
These ate all concurrent proofs of the and secure them from plunder. jury that has been done by the licensing system.
The Salvage Dues shall be regulated, in case of dispute, by Ar-
of foreigners partially vindicated from the airos It is not the population alone that suffer by this per- bitrators chosen by both parties.
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