728926-1847-28-Apr-1847 — Page 2

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

70

ود حقدك

Sugar,

Wa, sunte die let us k

EXPORTS.

11

from 20 to 10,000 pecute antigel', Cinnamon, 300,000 lbs. Anniseed, 3,000 piculs Roy Bilk,

1,200 Also, Cotona, neoča, spices, cardamens, kes i woods, rice, edible birds nusts, presions i gamboge, red dying wood, ivory, pearl, hot,

IMPORTS.

Mannfietured silks, porcelain drugs, line tens, apo 4, sundal-wood, un, opium, cottons, coarer woollen serges, camblets, iron, and arms.

The population is varionaly estimated at foo to 20,000,000. The majority of the inhabitants an of Malay origin, and are aid to be mild, doeste, inoffensive,

This is called, treaty in deatable,

trethe In the year 1843 the Treaty of Nanking was on

pose of bringing him to reason.

Grotius in his work Du Jare the Editor of the Friend of China,

"declaring war.“ tered into by the high Contracting parties, of which Canton, 21st April, 1847.

Five Ports were thrown open to the commerce of Belli at Pacis, says that, according to the Law of Ste-There are some statements in the China Nations and residencies at these cities forming the Nations certain things are required to constitute a ut of the 15th inst connected with the De Fruchet of the Porks-Canton, amongst others-

solemu or formal war-amongst others, the denied - mentration" or "Hostilities," which ever the recent allowed to the British and other Foreign Communi of a just satisfaction and a declaration of war," events in Canton may be termed, which seem panties, together with the right of entrance into and Has Mr Plenipotentiary Davis declared the Treaty ned for the porpess of wisrepresenting the facts. I therefore beg to offer a few words of axplana: within those cities; and it was further wisely eli boloon, Great Bribin nud China null and void- tion to your distant readers on the subject. In pulated by our thon Plenipotentiary (who with a far and the will take up arms against the infractor! the Clovernment notideation No. 10 His Excellency seeing mind suspected the integrity of that wily Hus hu made krown his declaration of war to the

neutral community at Canton in order to acquaint¦ gum lac, and gold dust. nation) that Chusan one of the possessions of the Sir John Davis says to H. M. Consul," You will Chinese Empire should be held by the British na- them with the justifientory reasons which authoriza lake care that the British Merchants reimburse the tion as security for the promises and Treaty enga. it-the causer why be is compelled to take up army-- and they the Chinese nation is his enemy that they proprietors of the Hogee lately pulled down at the

formance thereof, by the Chiness nation.

may conduct themselves accordingly? Why a eastern extramar of the river front adjoining the gements entered into, and for the punctual per

Editor, 1 should not at all be surprized if the Fo Creek " The House alluded to was The Official residence of a Mandarin as meat have been known

reign Ambassadors in London on receipt of the to B. E. who himself witnessed the demolition by

news of these proceedings should sond in to the For Majesty's troopa from the verandah of the Bri

Foreign Secretary notes emboding their indigan. tion and that of their respective Courts, at the Tish Consulata, and I presume it was done by his orders. I stood on part of the ground leased by

proceedings carried 50 in China by the "Legatus H. M. Gorerament from the Chinese and was only

apud Sings." permiand in be erected there by the lenient policy of Nr Lay then Consul at Clinton. Whether it was an Office for the administration of Imperial, or Municipal L, Fiscal, Civil or otbergrise, or one of the Chop-Hauses where bribes are taken for the emolument of the officials, I do not know, but in either case I am at a loss to understand why the obricus dictates of common justice" should compel the British merchants to reimburse the proprietors of the Roose any more than for the Guns &c. destroyed by the expedition:

a

In the year 1844 Mr Plenipotentiary Davis ar- rives in China to youre or nearly so after the ra tification of the Treaty in question, and finds that several of the articles thereof have not been fullled: -between the time of his arrival and the year 1840 he finds natters at Canton not only not in stuta quo-but actually worse than bofore the war : It being a notorious not that the foreign commu nity dare not put their feet inside the Gates of Can ton, nor

even so much as walk in their vicinity with any degree of safety, and that a high civil Of Acer of his government who had advanced only a few feat inside the sham gates (which the wily suburban Chinese of that city are in the habit of stewing strangers as the real ones)-had been bambooed :-In the face of this non observance of the Truly he gives up tothe Chinese the security he held for the due performance of the Treaty and

erguntes Chuson,

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Bishop Adran, a French missionary, refirard the jurisprudence, commenced public worke, surry. ed the coasts, promstad trade, established navad arsenals, and disciplined the army, but dying t

There are abo 1802 his reforms sank into disuse

But the Plenipotentiary leaves this Island brinadat of ammunition, arrives at the Bogue Forts, and spikes the guns therein. This is war with a Ven-450,000 Christians in Cochin China, chicily of the

lower orders, and men of no influence. geance without a declaration: Report rapid as lightning reaches the Chinese at Canton of the hor tilities being carried on against their nation. Now Mr Editor, if the Chinese between the latter interval, and the arrival of the Troops had murdered every Englishman in Canton for the injustifiable proceed. ings adopted by the representative of the most power ful nation in the world, without notice, against Asiatics confessedly unskilled in modern warfare, would not Indictments for Homicide be good in Law against the first aggressor 7

Now Mr Editor I do believe that, whatever dif- ferences of opinion this community may entertain,

Perhaps the Legal Adviser can answer this. not regarding Mr Plenipotentiary Davis's capacity for ble situation (for there is a happy unanimity of

Well the Legatus apud Sines arrives by hook, feeling upon this point) but as to the duration of und by crook, right or wrong al Canton, and pu time he will be permitted to sully our Diplomatic blishes a Proclamation of his arrival there, and of relations here and mis-govern a now ruined, sepul- his intention not to quit the place until he has placed chral, but at one time promising Colony-there matters on a footing consistent with treaty engage- can be but one opinion as to how he would havements, and worthy of the British nation!!! The managed had Chutan been held by himself person infracted parts of the Treaty are required to be made alte Fr the payment of a private debt.

good--the Chinese Commissioner with his habitual complacency, and deep cunning agrees that land, for building-Cemetrics -(Hic Jacit Dominus Johan nes Davis)--should be had, and reparation for Mur- derous assaults, &c., &c., provided by the Treaty, should be made; and for these promises we have what as securities? possession of the Bogue Forts ? Whampoa ? or even a Chinese Bum Boat?

I now refer to the embarkation of the Troops. His Excellency directs Mr Johnston to say in reply to the letter he had received from the Bristish Re- sidents the very natural alarm which you there- In express is founded in a mistake, as it has been arranged that the Light Company of the tain R.. under Capt. Graves shall not quit &c."

This as section of B. E. is at variance with the General Order" read on parade wherein all the Troops except Capt. Gravis and one Serjeant of the 18th R. 1, and Lieut. Da Costa of the Royal Engineers with one corporal and three Privates of the Royal Sappers and Minors were ordered to embark, and

Let us suppose Mr Editor, Chusan in these days this is confirmed by the letter addressed by Captain of siomufic wonders to be transferred to a ceraia Bruce Assistant Adjutant General to the associatedİ

part of England--Somersetshire to wit--and that Gentlemen Volunteers, wherein after numing the

plum Sir John Davis, Baronet F. R. S. &c. &c. same parties to be lent he adis" for the purpose:c. &c., obtained temporary possession of it upon of rendering you every assistance in their power as regards the completion of pour organization and Mortgage for the dua performance of the stipuin. tions in the Deed therein recited, would he have other defensive arrangemems, and corroborated by the fact that Capei, Bruce came to be meeting when the letter to H . signed by 478 British Residents was on the point of being dispatched and stated that at has ruggesting it had been decided that a part of the troops should be left behind for our protecting, and then reqused to be permitted to add the words and the Light Company'' to the letter he had writ. ten CP. It mould be borne in mind too, that the Baggage of the Company left in Canton was sent away before the new arrangement was made, and the men were left two or three nights without aheir Berding &o.

General D'Aguilars well known care for the comfort et bismen wunid have been a safe goarsitte agabet such a contingency had not the Com- mander in Chief suddenly yielded to "he pressure from withou." Why I would ask did EL.E. request the Deputation who wound uputs him with the Jetter to prevent its publicauce? FL. E. acknow ledges that the ahim felt by the Merchants was natural; now the "General Vider" proves that it was his intention to pave them defenceles, how then are his acts, and bis luiters to be justified? I will not now discuss the impropriety of our being Jelt quite defenceless when the attack on the Forts was being made, but to leave 11. M. subjects, and the British Trade in that danger and disorder which his own acts bad produced, I think is without parallel in English Diplomacy. The Gentleman who the Editor of the China Muil elludes to as having by cheace met Captain Bruce, should have told the meeting called in exequence of the "Ge- neral Order," that he as the Organ of his H. E had his authority to state that the general order would be amended, but even though the Ednor of the L'Aina Mod dires presume to be in the accrets of H. E. it is generally supposed that the Command. ing Officer of . M. Forces is better informed as to their disposition than the Editor of a Newspaper. -1. am, Sir, your most obl. servant,

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up possession of the ground until such sti plats had been fulfilled, or rather would be not, if the unfortunate wight who had borrowed money thereon had not paid up in due time, have fore. closed and taken possession of the property-as by Law he would be entitled to do and why in the name of all that is just as regards the faith of Trenuca has he not acted thus as representative of and agent to, his principali our Sovereign r

The Law of England in the forgolog illustrative case, which Sir John Davis as a private Gantle. man ought to know-and the Law of Nations, wtects Sir John Davis as Plenipotentiary in China ought pre-eminently to know, are in this case

phantica), ----

Monsieur De Valtel, the greatest writer upon International Law in his Chapter upon securities gavn for the observance of Treaties -states that "A & nation may put some of Ear Possessions into the "binds of another, for the security of her pro- muses, deids, or Engagem pts-but if this debt *he not paid at the appointed time, or if the Treaty be not fulfilled what has been given in security may be retained anul appropriated or the mortgage sel- zed, at least until the debt be discharged or a just compensation made," and he then quotes the inglance of the House of Savoy having mortgaged the Country of Vaud to the Cantons of Bern and Fribourg and those Cantons finding that no pay. ments were made, had recourse to arms and took pressession of the Country, and that they have since retained possession of that Country, as well for the payment of the debt as for the defrayment of the expenses of the war and a just indemnification. I shall not Mr Editor take up your paper by any ceraments upon the indignities the British commu- nity at Camon have had to suffer from the time of the delivery of Chusan to the Chinese Government to the present moment, for a day of reckoning mus rei arrive, but will at once come to the times of the late Expedition!That Sir John Davis had every right, in the event of strong remonstrances regarding the breaches of the Treaty beeing unheed. The doom of the above House was sore what hasteneded by the Representative of the Chinese Sovereign by the discovery that two Boldiers had been there supplied

at Canton, to declare war against the Chinese na with that maddening spirit Sam-boo.

tion cannot admit of a Zoul—but did Sir John Davis choose to do so?-did any individuni in this leland (save and except the war party)-did the British merchants at Canton whose Interests, were so deeply involved-did even the Deputy of the This communication was too late for last Plenipotentiary resident at that city get the sligh. issue. The two points it takes up are of suff-test information of the intended movements! cient importance to render the publication of the letter advisable, although it is too late for the overland mail,

Burros P. of 0.

谢

ONE OF THE CANTON VOLUNTEERS.

↑ It was in compliance with a private request made before Mice-Generi D'Aguilar that Capt. Graves and the Ser- baal were permitted to remain to perfect we in par Drill- and Lieut. Du Creta with the Sappers and Miners were left to make Sorveys and plans.

To the Editor of the Friend of China.

flad the Americans, French, Dutch do, at Canton, who owe no allegience to the British Crown, been previously informed of the intended warfare, so as to enable than to remove their per sona and property from the scene of spoliation 7 Surely the learned Gentleman who framed the Ins Victoria, 27th April, 1847. dictments at the last Admiralty Sessions-some of Era The able Leitert of Vindez published to which are being FEARED AND BLAZED to be sent to sufficiently demonstrated the Sir John Jervis and Bir Fitzroy Kelly with the being and about to be suffered view of being hung up in their Libraries of prece

munity at Canton by the dents in Criminal Pleading far surpassing those of luccaneering expedition, Archbold; aurely he ought to have been able to Lin which that Expedi- bave sel bis great Patron right upon the well

die noto-known Law of nations.

and as such. It is just porable that El. Joan's Library mights.

erpenses TE-AI

Phave it his prizatė there the fee works as those of

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A French Catholic Bishop settled at Cochin last year, but he was badly treated, and competted abandon the field of this missionary labour. In consequence of this, the Corvette Victorieuse, Caps, R. de Conville, visited the river flue (we believe) on which the capital is situated, to demand redress, and was compelled to use coercive measures, sinking several war Junks, and killing, it is said, about men. The Victorieuse arrived in this harbour from Cochin on Sunday, and her recent visit will not smooth the way for Sir John Davis.

·

The Editor of the Mail appears to have been taking lessons in strategy from his distinguished chief. In his second edition, got up expressly for European and Indian circulation, the ind mation of his being the "official organ" which has adorned the front of his broad sheet for up wards of two years, quietly disappeared. It was no doubt thought advisable to launch the second edition under false colours; and that the deception should not be exposed, or the statements criticised, the Register and Bind of China received their exchange copies an hour and a half before the packer sailed, or sixteen hours after publication.

Vattel states that if the enemy on the declars. 4tion of war offers equitable conditions of peace we

The Mail approves of the Canton expedition as a matter of course; and his admiration of are bound to refrain from hostilities; to these "oflers, however, are to be added securities;" for Major Caine's career during the week he held we are under no obligation to suffer-purselves to be the awfully responsible office of acting Gover amused by emply proposals and further. “ as tỷ nor is unbounded. The Major has never been "the conditions themselves besides the principal sub accused of modesty, but the adoration of the ject, we have a right to demand a reimbursement Mail, even to him, must be oppressive Sir of the expenses incurred in our preparations for John's glories on the Canton river are obscured "war" but I imagine the Legatus, if a thought before the radiance of Major Caine. It is true embodying the latter passage had at that time, come

that the latter functionary had not an opportu into his head, must have dismissed it from pure shame, well knowing that where there was no de forts, but he did all he could, he captured the nity of spiking guns and blowing up defenceless claration of legitimate war, it would out Herold ship's guns in the bazaar. Had we been Herod to demand reimbursement for a Buccaneering attacked by several thousand lawless ruflains," Expedition.

the woman, children and treasure would have been placed in the 18th Barracks, guarded by the troops off duty (about 200) with geos, howitzers and ammunition” &c. &c. All this was to take place after the inhabitants had been butchered by the several thousand ruffians." The Editor of the Mail modestly says that be ing absent be depended upon the information of others, to wit, information from the Major himself. Sure are we, that a greater tissue of nonseuse never appeared in print, and as the Major has been confirmed in his appointinent, he ought to have expunged the pleasing flattery" from the second edition. Four bundred troops were left in garrison, add three or four hundred police, and we have a force of from 700 to 800 men more than was in Hongkong when wo were waging a legitimate war with China.

But the Farce does not yet enda House is pulled down by the exprese directions of the Plenipoten tiary, and with singular modesty, unparalleled in diplomatic movements, in ancient, middle, or mo dern times, he calls upon the British Community at Canton to reimburse the owner of the house for his (Davis' own) Extravaganza's, over which they had no control, and for which, in accordance with the Law of Nations as laid down by Puffendorf, Vattel, and others, remuneration should be made by the Government of the nation to which the owner belonged-that is the the usual formalities of war having been previously made,

I do believe, Mr Editor, that the British Commu bity at Canton would sacrifice their fortunes, and peril their lives for the honor, and glory of the British Nation in a just cause, but I do hope that they will, to a man, refuse to pay for the whistle of a modern Quixote.

I fear, Mr Editor, that I have taken up a far greater portion of your space than might be equita- ble in respect of the other more important matters usually inserted therein; and I shall therefore con- clude by asking. What are the British Merchants about in Canton, many of them,able, talented, all of them practical men of business? what I say are they doing regarding the late Expedition? Hare they met together! Have they passed Resolutions ? Have they forwarded those Resolutions to the British What I ask are our Community in Parliament? this Island doing are they up and stirring ? Surely an Eastern, cloudless sky, has not blunted their in- tellect or damped their native energy.

"CLUM, NON ANIMUM, MUTANT QUI TRANG MARK OVERST."I remain, Mr Editor, your obedient Servant,

NOTICE

New advertisements, will be

Clock, on the nezing cation, mis

Engiand United States Fab Dalcutta Bombay

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Every man is entitled to form opinions for himself, which if they cannot be respected, are not to be assailed in a reckless way. But when a public paper puts forti erroneous sta- temente calculated to mislead, it would be a false delicacy that allowed them to pass. There are one or two paragraphs in the Mail to which we direct attention,

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Finer. We were not a little surprised to hear great disappointment expressed by a portion "of the mercantile community, when it was "announced that Canton was not to be born. "barded. To hare laid it in ushes might have "produced a temporary activity in the home "market, but the destruction of the city and the

slaughter of its inhabitants, would have para lyzed, if not utterly extinguished, the trade " of the principal emporium of foreign com received, until a "merce and had the mob retaliated by burn- the Factories, any

s, any claim for compensation must have been a hopeless one

SCRUTATOR

LATEST DATES. Feb 24 Sydthey 4 Batavia March 6 Singapore March 13 Manila March Shanghai

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C. of G.Hope Jan.

publi

Jany 20 March 1 April '13 April 10

THE FRIEND OF CHINA

AND HONGKONG GAZETTE VICTORIA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28 18472

51.

If

The whole

of this is incorrect the insinuation that the British Merchants in Canton wished for the destruction of the city and the slaughter of the inhabitants that the home market should in- prove is malicious to a degree. The British Merchants, almost to a man, disapproved of the expedition and censure it in the strongest man- ner-they look upon it as disgraceful to their country—as a cowardly invasion of the Chinese territory, undertaken by the Plenipotentiary after he had ascertained that no opposition would be met an his advent, and abandoned when actual warfare become unavoidable. The Marchants say. Sir

In Davis cannot be justi did but he should not have

was repared to go fr

Invaded Chine upon ould hot bara ran arantee for the ful- new agreemei* Hurt as contempli- Uose with Chi- destruction of ghter of the inhabitants, they regret that the armed forcs ever catered

He