News from Whampoa (September, 1848)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu. September, 1848. Page 67.

China.—A correspondent under date of 14th May, thus writes us from Whampoa:— "Everything is at present quiet in China, still no one knows when or how soon there may be an outbreak. The feeling among foreign residents is, that they are living in the crater of a volcano. The Chinese are decidedly hostile to all 'barbarians,' and they show their hostility in many ways very annoying. During the past week the English Consul issued a circular, authorizing English merchants, to pay no more duties for the present to the Chinese, on the ground, that they had violated the treaty.— The consul has made certain demands which I think will be complied with. I am informed that the course taken by the consul has the sanction of the Governor."

Cruise of the Constellation (February, 1845)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: February, 1845. Page 22.

The following synopsis of this cruise we copy from the Baltimore American: 

"The U. S. ship Constellation, Commodore Kearney, sailed from Boston December 9th, 1840, and visited Rio de Janeiro, Cape of Good Hope, Johanna, Qiullah Battno, Penang and Singapore; and leaving Singapore February 5th, 1842, beat up the China Sea, touched at Ceicer de Mer, and arrived at Macao March 22d, 1842. 

During the time the Constellation remained on the China station, the following ports were visited, viz:—Macao, Hong Kong, Whampoa, Manilla and Amoy. 

The Constellation was the first American ship of war that entered the inner waters, having passed both bars of the Canton river, and anchored at Whampoa. Leaving China May 22d, 1843, the ship reached the Sandwich Islands July 7th, and, after visiting the islands of Oahu and Hawaii, sailed for Monterey August 28th. The ship anchored in Monterey Bay September 15th, and sailed for Valparaiso September 29th, which port the reached November 29th, 1843.

After remaining twenty-five days in port she sailed for Callao, and arrived there January 9th, 1844. She left Cullao on the 20th of January, and, after a pleasant passage of 52 days, unaccompanied by any incident of serious nature, anchored in Rio de Janeiro on the 12th of March, completing a cruise of three years from the date of her departure thence, on her cruise of circumnavigation. 

The Constellation arrived at Norfolk in 41 duys from Rio, having been absent from the United States three years, four months and twenty-two days. During her cruise, she logged, in 491 days at sea, 158,000 miles. Commander S. F. Dupont took passage in the ship at Rio de Janeiro."

Hong Kong, Wine and Beer (February, 1845)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: February 1, 1845. Page 22. 

Writes a correspondent from Hong Kong, November 20, 1841. "This part of the world is a great beer and wine drinking part, and those who cannot get wine and beer, take samshoo and brandy. Hundreds go home on account of ill health, caused for the most part by their wine-bibbing, and even if they do not go, are exposed to fevers and agues, and other ailments. Much of the frightful mortality among the troops and population of Hong Kong last year was caused, or aided by the convivial habits of the sufferers."

China (February, 1845)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: February, 1845. Page 21-22. 

The Natches, which arrived hereon Saturday, has completed a voyage round the globe in nine months and eighteen days, having left this on the 14th January last. She proceeded by the Cape of Good Hope to New York, in 95 days, where she discharged, took in a new cargo and sailed 20th May, returning by Cape Horn to Valparaiso in 71 days, the shortest paasage ever made. The run from Lima was accomplished in 65 1-2 days. Her previous voyage by the same route occupied nine months and twenty two days, or four days longer.— Hong Kong Register. 

The wife of the Rev. J, L. Shuck, Baptist Missionary at Hong Kong, died about the first of Dec. Capt. Engle, master of the American bark Valparaiso, died in China about November 10. He will be remembered at the Islands as having commanded the American ship Hopewell, Philadelphia. 

Mr. S. W. Williams, printer and agent of the American B. C. F. Missions in China, sailed for the United States November26th, but expects to return.

The French Commissioner to China, has concluded a treaty, similar, as report says to that between the U. S. and China.

Currency in China (July, 1857)

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: July 23, 1857.

European and American merchants have ever experienced much difficulty in obtaining the current coin with which teas, silks, &c., may be paid for in China. With the exception of bars silver, or lumps, called “shoes of Sycee,” the Chinese use no current silver coin in their commerce between themselves. They buy and sell by the TAEL, a measure of value equal to about $1.75-100 of our money, and of weight about one ounce and a third. They are so suspicious of all foreign coin, that in their trade with foreigners they will receive no other than the Carolus Dollars, and it is believed that at this time nearly the entire issue of that coin by the Spanish mint is in China.

Efforts have been repeatedly made to induce the Chinese Government to establish a mint of their own, but in vain: for it is alleged on their part, that the government suffer from peculation, and the people from a debasement of the precious metal.

The mandarins have often issued their edicts at all dollars (silver) should be received in trade, but the Chinese merchants have paid no attention to it, and have uniformly refused to part with their produce for any other than those of the Carolus pillar and stamp. Even those with the head and signet of Ferdinand, are not accounted receivable at par.

The consequence is, that the Carolus dollar has become the standard of foreign currency in China, and exchange on Europe and the United States is always regulated by that standard.

These inconveniences have so much embarrassed foreign trade that the English Government of the Hong Kong merchants have ascertained the idea of establishing a mint for striking dollars in all respects in weight and fineness to the Carolus- and the foreign merchants of all nations there have joined in memorials to that end. But it does not appear that this course of procedure would overcome or obviate existing difficulties, for the prejudices of the Chinese against all foreign coin, with the exception of the Carolus dollar, would not be removed. 

Generally silver, whether in the form of coin or in “shoes,” or lumps, is paid and received by weight. The chopped dollar -or Spanish dollar which is so cut up by the marks of Chinese traders that it cannot be told in the reign it was cast- is more valuable than the Mexico: and the fair and unmarked Carolus dollar more valuable than either; although each may be of the same weight.

It requires 108 taels weight of Mexican dollars to buy a 100 taels weight of Sycee, or pure silver; 101 taels weight of chopped dollars to buy 109 taels of Sycee; and only 74 taels of Carolus dollars to buy the same weight of Sycee.

If there is all this difference in the fineness of those several coins, we believe the Chinese have been the first to discover it. We incline to the opinon that the difference is to a great extent imaginary; and that it is attributable not so much to a difference in the actual values, as to the unconquerable prejudices of that remarkable people. 

This condition of the currency in China accounts for the enormous rate of exchange at Shanghae. Nearly two dollars in the formed drafts on England or the United States are required to propose one unbroken or unmarked dollar of the Carolus camp at that place. The necessity of a common currency there is very great, but we shall be slow to believe that it can be afforded by an English mint at Hong Kong, certainly not until the Chinaman's exclusive love of the Carolus dollar can be updated. 

-N.Y. Journal of Commerce.

*Lumps of silver cast in the form of the thick soled shoes usually worn by the Chinese women. 

Notes of the Week: From China (Cholera Epidemic in Shanghai, 1863)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: October 15, 1863. 

The ship Asa Eldridge arrived from Shanghae last Saturday, with the passage of about 43 days. By her we learn that the Cholea was prevailing very extensively at that port, and that there had been over 30,000 deaths from the plague in the city and its vicinity. So rapid was the disease that within twelve hours, and frequently within four hours, after it attacked persons, they were corpses. Of course no physicians or medicines could have provided for such an emergency, and the plague had its own way. It was found impossible to take care of the dead in the whole city and vicinity were one vast sepulchre. Dead bodies were daily seen floating down the river past the city, the same river from which the inhabitants obtained their drinking water. What will our Honolulu people think of this when talking of the unhealthiness of our city? So hot was it in Shanghae that foreigners could not venture out in the sun after 9 o’clock A.M., and business of almost every kind was suspended. Many of the merchants and foreign residents were leaving the city either temporarily or permanently, and we heard a gentleman say that ten thousand dollars a year would not tempt him to return and live there. This account may be too highly colored, and when the cool season returns, the plague will doubtless disappear and Shanghae regain its usual state of healthiness and trade. Over two hundred foreign vessels were in port when the A.E. left. 

Rebel Steamers in Chinese Waters (1864)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: March 19, 1864. 

The Tribune says: Our London correspondence contains some precise information on a point of importance, which has as yet attracted little or no attention. The news in a nutshell is this: at this moment there is a fleet of six rebel war steamers in Chinese waters. These vessels were fitted out in England by Sherod Osborne, an English naval captain. The crews were recruited among the officers and men of her Britannic Majesty's Navy. They were under contract to the Chinese Government, but when they reached China a disagreement arose between Osborne and the Chinese authorities, and the vessels were not delivered but thrown on the market and sold at auction- Osborne, officers, crew, guns and all -to Jeff Davis. It is intimated, not unnaturally, that Osborne had some slight expectation of reaching this result when he left England. Funds for the purpose are said to have been provided in part by the sale of the rebel ram in the Clyde. There are now but few American ships in East Indian waters, and it is thought that these, being thus thrown in company with rebel pirates, may be destroyed previous to an attack being made on San Francisco. In order to show their respect for British neutrality, the British crews take an oath of naturalization as citizens of the Confederacy when the flag changes. If, therefore, San Francisco should happen to be burned and plundered, John Bull washes his hands of all responsibility. 

Steam Across the Pacific (1864)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: Saturday, April 9, 1864.

We trust the day is not distant when we may chronicle the establishment of a permanent steam line between San Francisco and China via Honolulu, by Americans and under the patronage of the American Government. The line, about which so much has been said a year ago, appears to have been given up-why, we know not, unless it was because the vessels were found to pay better running between Chinese ports. In the Boston Commercial Bulletin of a late date, we find the following item. Capt. Forbes is one of the most enterprising Bostonians living, and it may be that the vessel he is building is to become the pioneer of a new line. As soon as the war is ended, American foreign commerce will receive a new and increased impetus, and will more than regain what was lost:

Capt. R.B. Forbes is having built for him a splendid propeller of about 1,500 tons. She is 254 feet long, 35 wide, 16 feet 4 inches deep, including 7 feet height of between-decks. Sje is of oak and is intended to run between San Francisco and China; but in her arrangements, she will be so constructed as to be readily converted into a sloop-of-war. She will be a full rigged ship, with Forbes' rig, having her topmasts ridded abaft the heads of the lower masts.

The Allied Armies for China (June, 1860)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, June 20, 1860.

In regard to this formidable force we clip the following from one of our late exchanges. It certainly looks like work ahead for the surgeons.

An impression prevails among the merchants and mariners, who are naturally more intimate with Chinese manners and customs tan any other class of men who visit the Celestial Empire, that the Emperor and his court will do anything (on paper) to prevent war, and, then will do with characteristic deceit, break the treaty. Cunning and treachery are prominent traits in the Asiatic character-their maxim and practice in international policy being to overreach, and not to carry out even their most solemn engagements in good faith. It is clear, however, that England and France are not in a humor to be trifled with. The combined forces of the allies will be a very formidable expedition. That of England will consist of eleven regiments of infantry, each one thousand strong, that is of eleven thousand; of twi hundred European cavalry; of seventeen batteries of European artillery from India, one Armstrong battery from England, say eighteen hundred men; of three companies of European engineers, three hundred men; of three battalions of marines, three thousand men; of a like number of sailors to serve on land, three thousand; of fine battalions of native infantry of Bengal, each eight hundred strong, or four thousand men; of three battalions Madras and Bombay, each one thousand strong, or three thousand men; of three hundred native cavalry; of one battery of native artillery, one hundred men; and two hundred native sappers and miners.

The English portion of the allied army will then consist of eighteen thousand three hundred European and seven thousand six hundred natives, a total of twenty-five thousand nine hundred men, adding to this ten thousand French infantry and cavalry, and say half as many mariners and sailors as the English contribution to the allied forces, or three thousand, and the total expedition will amount to thirty-eight thousand nine hundred men, excessive of the navy. These forces will proceed to north China, and probably advance to Pekin, in which capital, it is believed, the Europeans are resolved to negotiate. It is understood that China is to be required to defray all expenses of the two expeditions, whether the Emperor submits to terms, by way of avoiding war, or not. The nearest landing place on the coast of Pekin, is at a distance of a hundred miles, and the country to be traversed is described as marshy, and difficult for the passage of armies. On fit that the combined expedition will be under the direction of two diplomatists, twi generals, and two admirals. Will they agree in their counsels? 

Later from Victoria.

By the Jenny Ford, we have dates to the 30th April. We clip the following from our exchanges:

CHINESE TRADE DIRECT WITH VICTORIA. -The Norwegian ship Hebe arrived at Victoria on the 25th April, 62 days out from Hongkong. She brought 255 Chinese passengers, and an assorted cargo of China goods, of true value of $11,669, and is consigned to the Chinese house of Quang Lee & Co. nearer than San Francisco, and having the advantage of a free port, it would be strange indeed if Victoria were to allow her powerful neighbor to monopolize all the advantages of a direct intercourse with China. Two other vessels are loading at Hingkong for this port; one of them, the American ship Red Rover, was to leave on the 17th of March.

-Colonist.

Hongkong Estimate of the Treaties of Tien-Tsin (1859)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: February 19, 1859. 

The edits of the Honhkong Register in his paper of the 25th September, thus gives his opinion of the concessions of the English Treaty of Tien-Tsin:

It is not many days since one of the shrewdest politicians our here, on being asked his opinion of the Treaty of Tien-Tsin, observed “in that treaty there are ten battles.” Were there even an attempt made to carry it out, we fully believe that this would prove to be the case. But we are much mistaken if some time has not still to elapse before even this attempt is made. That some of the concessions that have been offered will be all be actually yielded we do not doubt. Ports which we have really had access to for years we shall now have a recognized right to enter. The privilege of developing the commerce of the Yang-tze-kiang we have accorded to us by treaty, and must get from the Tae-ping rebels when and as we can; while the great local sore of Canton, the source and origin of this and every other difficulty, will be unhealthily skinned over to break out and fester afresh at some not distant period, to derange again the whole constitution of our relations with China. Such, in a few words, we believe to be what would inevitably result from the attempted fulfillment of the treaty. But even so far the Imperial Court seems unwilling to go. Commissioners appointed, Commissioners coming, Commissioners waiting, Commissioners recalled, but ever and always, English and French Plenipotentiaries dancing attendance at Shanghae, treaty in hand and soliciting its fulfillment, such has week after week been the tenor of our news from the North.

This week the Celestial dignity, to amuse, we presume, and encourage our patience, exhibits a list of the staff by which the said Commissioners are to be attended on their journey southwards. This is the pageant, but behind there lurks the significant reality that even now the article which stipulates that the obnoxious designation of barbarians “E” should be discontinued, as applied to foreigners, is disregarded, and while our Plenipotentiaries are contentedly admiring their own great achievements, the Imperial sanction is given to the erection of extensive fortifications and defenses on the Peiho, avowedly erected for the purpose of keeping out the barbarians for the future.

It may be readily conceived that the fortifications are nothing in themselves. The fate of the Bogue Forts, admirably as they are placed, must, ere this, have proven even to those among the Chinese who are not blinded by the prejudice, that they can make no resistance to Western arms; but the intention, the animus, that this open announcement displays, speaks volumes. We have left the neighborhood of the capita; we have got our treaty under the threat of going to Pekin; and now, while we are waiting and talking, the Imperial Government will be doing what it can to avert the recurrence of such an unwelcome visit. 

Foreign Summary (Lord Elgin’s Report Quoted, 1859)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: July 7, 1859. 

NANKIN. -From Lord Elgin’s report of his cruise up the River Yangtse Kiang, to and beyond Nankin, as published in the China papers, we quite the following:

“From the ship’s tops we could discern the beleaguering hosts of the Imperialist army, crowning the hills in rear of Nankin, their encampments forming a complete and extended semi-circle round the devoted city which they have been so long and ineffectually engaged in besieging. In the course of the same afternoon, some flaunting rebels in gay colors had the audacity to wave defiant flags and fire gin galls at us, but when they brought a gun to bear upon us from a small redoubt, we considered the joke had gone far enough, and after two or three shots from the Retribution and Furious, a well directed 68 pounder from the former knocked the whole of their gingerbread Fort to smithereens, and sent its occupants scampering over the open plain, their long yellow and red robes streaming in the wind, in ludicrous dismay and confusion. That night we anchored near the rebel city of Taiping, from whence, in consequence, doubtless, of the affairs at the Redoubt, we received amicable overtures which however were very curtly responded to.   On the following day we were again delayed by shoals, and did not reach the rebel town or Woohoo till the afternoon of the 23rd. Here again our prestige had preceded us, and we were received with so much civility by the insurgents that some of us landed, and were treated with great politeness by their Chief, a Canton man of a low type, surrounded by a disorderly rabble of opium-smoking disreputable looking men and youth, the latter in preponderance, tricked out in the usual show of gaudy plumage. Altogether we were most unfavorably impressed with the general aspect of these gentry, whose religious knowledge consisted but of a confused jumble of the persons of the God head, and whose practice, to judge by the scourge they have proved to the country, the reputation they have left behind them, and their own admission, is far below that of professing Christians generally.” 

Letter from Hongkong (Correspondence Pac. Commercial Advertiser, 1859)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: June 30, 1859. 

HONGKONG, April 18, 1859

DEAR SIR: -The clipper ship Sea Serpent, Capt. Whitmore, arrived yesterday, and brought us full files of your valuable paper. It has been several months since we have heard from the Islands, and we were all glad to hear from you. Business here continues to be unusually depressed; everything is at a dead stand. With the exception of a few ships now on the berth for California, there is nothing doing. At present we have very few ships in port, most of them having left here in ballast, and many of them home direct in ballast. Should the dry weather which we now have continue a few days more, the rice crop will be seriously damaged, which will again give employment to ships to bring rice from the south. Calcutta, Penang, Singapore, and even Bankok, are full of ships, with nothing to do.

The U.S.S. frigate Powhatan has gone to Singapore to bring up the American Minister, and one of H.B.M.’s frigates has gone down for Mr. Bruce, the English Ambassador. They are both expected here in a few days. A large force is now ready to go with them to Pekin.

The U.S.S. Mississippi and sloop-of-war Germantown are at Japan, and it is probable the Mississippi will be in your port before you receive this, on her way to Panama, with the Japanese Ambassador. The First Lieutenant of the Germantown is here very sick, and is not expected to live from day to day. His complaint is abscess of the liver, which of which burst into the cavity of the chest.

No whaleships have touched here this season, which is something very unusual. We have heard of several at Nangasaki, in Japan; but the report was not reliable and very indefinite. For the principal intelligence I must refer you to the papers which I send you with this.

Very truly yours, * * * * *

The Chinese Physician Question (September, 1859)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: September 8, 1859. 

HONOLULU, Sept. 6th, 1859.

MR. EDITOR:  -Allow me through the columns of your widely disseminated journal to call the attention of our citizens to a manifest injustice which is perpetuated on our fellow townsmen, the Chinese, in the refusal of the Board of Examiners (or a portion of them) to grant a certificate for practice to a physician of that nation. That it may be just in the majority of instances, I will not deny, and in particular instance to which I wish to draw attention, there may be good and cogent reasons, also, for not granting the certificate, (for “who shall agree, when Doctors disagree,”) which I am not aware of, or have not been made acquainted with. My informants, and they are of the most respectable and extensive dealing Chinese merchants, complain that a physician of their own nation and lineage is refused a certificate or license to practice medicine, and that he will consequently be obliged to leave the country. The doctor in question, (for they say he is legally entitled to his diploma, having received it at Macao,) has had charge at one time of 365 Chinese passengers, from Hongkong to San Francisco; has practice among the Chinese population both in Macao and San Francisco, and has been here since 1852, and was very active and useful during the smallpox epidemic of 1853. They have the most entire confidence in him, both for their own families and the laborers on their plantations, and in the medicines prepared by him, according to the Pharmacopoeia of their country.  The Doctor also has the certificates of the leading firms of the mercantile houses here, to his good character as a man and a citizen. Can it be just, then, do you or does any other man of a nicely balanced sense of right or wrong, think, to keep from such a person a license by means of powers entrusted to a special tribunal composed of three physicians, (and I am told that the majority are for granting it?) Is there is no ulterior pecuniary gain to be derived from this stretch of power? Does it look as if it was forcing in the Chinese to purchase medicines of the Europeans? Has it not the scent of monopoly about it? 

We all know the Chinese of the “coolie” class are a troublesome and  and annoying set of people,  but no members of our community are more respected then the parties who complain of the treatment they are having meted out to them, in their choice of physician, a choice looked upon, and guarded by everyman, as his most special privilege to exercise.

It is the first instance, in many years Quintons I have ever known them seek the columns of the public prints, for an expose of grievances and I trust you will give their humble remonstrance a place in your paper 

TYPHAN

The California Anti-Chinese Act (January, 1859)

Source: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: January 6, 1859. 

Several months ago we called public attention to this act, passed by the California Legislature at its last session, pointing out its in justice and maintaining that it was impolitic for a great and Christian state to exclude the Chinese from the entrance within her ports, at the same moment that the United States, England, France, and Russia were compelling China, at the point of the bayonet, to aborgate this very same law of exclusion of barbarians. 

In order that our readers may see what the law is we give below the two most important sections:

SEC. 1.-On and after the first day of October, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight,  any person or persons of the Chinese or Mongolian races shall not be permitted to enter the State, or land therein, and at any part or portion thereof; and it shall be unlawful for any man or person, whether captain or commander, or other person in charge of or interested in, or employing on board of, or passenger upon any vessel or vessels, of any nature or description whatsoever, to knowingly allow or permit any Chinese or Mongolian, on and after such time to enter any of the ports of this State, to land therein, or at any place or places within the borders of this State. 

The penalties incurred by a violation of this Act are very severe, being,

A fine in any sum not less than four hundred dollars nor more than six hundred dollars, for each and every offense, or imprisonment in the country jail of the country in which the said offense was committed, for a period of not less than three months nor more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  

The object of the law was to check the immigration of the hordes of Chinese and Lascars which have been pouring into San Francisco for several years. There is no question that in many parts of the state of California the Chinese are very troublesome; but are they any more so than immigrants from South America or portions of Europe? 

The law, however, excludes not merely coolies or Chinese immigrants but also respectable Chinese merchants. We have here on these islands, perhaps a hundred Chinese merchants of good standing, and it is a well-known fact that at least one fourth of the trade between the support and San Francisco, and vice versa is transected on account of Chinese. Now the question arises, can these Chinese merchants visit San Francisco to purchase their stocks? The law most emphatically says no, and imposes a fine of $600 on the Captain who takes such passengers. 

Here is the manifest injustice of the law. Some six or eight resident Chinese merchants most of whom are naturalized Hawaiian subjects, have a four applied for a passage to San Francisco in the bark Yankee, for the purpose of purchasing goods there, intending to return in the same vessel. They are all respectable men, some of them doing a business of fifty to a hundred thousand dollars per annum. Capt. Smith of avers that the law forbids is taking them over, and we think he is correct. 

The Chinese Act is a manifest imposition on commerce and trade, and a disgrace to the State of California. While attempting to check an evil, it overshoots the mark it was intended to hit and injures legitimate travel and trade. We trust that some steps will be taken by our authorities to call the attention of the California state officers to the injustice of the law as it now stands, and if possible open some way by which our Chinese merchants can visit California.

Raw Silk from Koloa and Hanalei Received in Honolulu (July, 1840)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: July 25, 1840. Page27, Column 2.

Several specimens of raw silk from the plantations at Koloa and Hanalei, have been received at Honolulu lately, which for evenness of thread, strength and gloss, are unsurpassed by the best productions of the skill of the United States.

They are reeled from the pure American worm, and from the cross breed of the American and China. The white specimen which has the strongest thread, is from the American. The others are of the mixed breed, and give a finer thread of a delicate straw or dark orange color of exceedingly beautiful lustre. A portion of this was reeled by the native women, and proves beyond doubt their ability t compete, (under proper management) with foreign reelers.

The only hindrance to a large crop this season, may arise from the threatened scarcity of mulberry leaves.

Declaration of War Against China (June, 1840)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: June 27, 1840. Page 11, Column 1

We extract the following from the Waterford Chronicle of March 14th, received by the William, from St. Blas.

The Governor General of India has, in the name of the British government, declared war against China. His Lordship has advertised for 40,000 tons of shipping, for the transport of the troops to China, 14,000 of which were to be supplied by Calcutta, and the rest by Madras and Bombay. The expedition was to rendezvous at and is to sail from Calcutta. Seven regiments quartered this last Presidency had been ordered to prepare for embarkation, and the whole expedition was to consist of 16,000 men. Its destination was not known but it was deemed probable that it would be directed against Canton, or some other point on the coast, which forcible possession would be kept until the Chinese government should be brought to reason.

The last accounts from Canton are dated Dec. 8th. The Emperor had addressed to Governor Lin, a decree prohibiting the importation of British goods, and the trade with China was consequently at an end.

The Americans continue to pursue their trade unmolested, and their ships were arriving and departing as usual. -Times. 

CHINA: General Regulations (November, 1843)

Source: Advocate and Friend (Extra). Honolulu: November 18, 1843. 

GENERAL REGULATIONS.

The following Document was received by the latest arrival from China. -Spanish brig Iberia; arrived Nov. 4:

UNDER WHICH THE BRITISH TRADE IS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE FIVE PORTS OF CANTON, AMOY, FUCHOW, NINGPO, AND SHANGHAI.

1. PILOTS.—Whenever a British merchantman shall arrive off any of the five ports opened to trade, viz: Canton, Fuchow,, Amoy, Ningpo, or Shanghai, pilots shall be allowed to take her immediately into port; and in like manner when such British ship shall have settled all legal duties and charges, and is about to return home, pilots shall be immediately granted to take her out to sea, without any stoppage or delay. Regarding the remuneration to be given these pilots, that will be equitably settled by the British Consul appointed to each particular port, who will determine it with due reference to the distance gone over, the risk run, &c. 

2. CUSTOMHOUSE GUARDS—The Chinese Superintendent of Customs at each port, will adopt the means that he may judge most proper, to prevent the revenue suffering by fraud or smuggling. Whenever the pilot shall have brought any British merchantman into port, the Superintendent of Customs will depute one or two trusty custom house officers, whose duty it will be to watch against frauds on the revenue. These will either live in a boat of their own, or slay on board the English ship, as may best suit their convenience. Their food and expenses will be supplied them from day to day from the customhouse, and they may not enact any fees whatever from either the commander or consignee. Should they violate this regulation, they shall be punished proportionately to the amount so exacted. 

3. MASTERS OF SHIPS REPORTING THEMSELVES ON ARRIVAL—Whenever a British vessel shall have cast anchor at auY one of the above mentioned ports, the Captain will within four and twenty hours after arrival, proceed to the British Consulate and deposit his ship's papers, bills of lading, manifest, &.c, in the hands of the Consul; failing to do which, he will subject himself to a penalty of 200 dollars. For presenting a false manifest, the penalty will be 500 dollars. For breaking bulk and commencing to discharge before due permission shall be obtained, the penalty will be 600 dollars, and confiscation of the goods so discharged. The Consul having taken possession of the ships papers, will immediately send a written communication to the Superintendent of Customs, specifying the register tonnage of the ship, and particulars of the cargo she has on board, all of which being done in due form, permission will then be given to discharge, and the duties levied as provided for in the Tariff.

4. COMMERCIAL DEALINGS BETWEEN ENGLISH AND CHINA MERCHANTS —It having been stipulated that English merchants may trade with whatever native merchants they please; should any Chinese merchant fraudulently abscond, or incur debts which he is unable to discharge, the Chinese authorities, upon complaint being made thereof, will of course do their utmost to bring the offender to justice; it must however he distinctly understood that if the defaulter really cannot be found, or be dead or bankrupt, and there be not wherewithal to pay, the English merchants may not appeal to the former customs of the Hong merchants, paying for one another, and can no longer expect to have their losses made good to them. 

5. TONNAGE DUES. —Every English merchantman, on entering any one of the above mentioned five ports, shall pay tonnage dues at the rate of five mace per register ton, in full of all charges. The fees formerly levied on entry and departure, of every description, are henceforth abolished.

6. IMPORT AND EXPORT DUTIES. —Goods, whether imported into, or exported from, any one of the above mentioned five ports, are henceforward to be taxed according to the tariff, as now fixed and agreed upon, and no further sums are to be levied beyond those which are specified in the tariff. All duties incurred by an English merchant vessel, whether on goods imported or exported, or in the shape of tonnage dues, must first be paid up in full, which done, the Superintendent of Customs will grant port clearance, and this being shewn to the British Consul, he will thereupon return the ship's papers, and permit the vessel to depart. 

7. EXAMINATION OF THE GOODS AT THE CUSTOM-HOUSE. —Every English merchant having cargo to load or discharge, must give duo intimation thereof, and hand particulars of the same to the Consul, who will immediately dispatch a recognized linguist of his own establishment to communicate the particulars to the Superintendent of Customs, that the goods may bE duly examined, and neither party subjected to loss. The English merchant must also have a properly qualified person on the spot, to attend to bis interests when his goods are being examined for duty; otherwise, should there be complaints, these cannot be attended to. Regarding such goods as are subject by the tariff to an ad valorem duty, if the English merchant cannot agree with the Chinese officer in fixing a value, then each party shall call two or three merchants to look at the goods, and the highest price at which any of these merchants would be willing to purchase, shall be assumed as the value of the goods. To fix the tare on any article, such as tea; if the English merchant cannot agree with the custom-house officer, then each party shall chose so many chests out of every 100, which being first weighed in gross, shall afterwards be taxed, and the average tare upon these chests shall be assumed as the tare upon the whole, and upon this principle shall the tare be fixed upon all other goods in packages. If there should still bo any disputed points which cannot be settled the English merchant may appeal to the Consul, who will communicate the particulars of the case to the Superintendent of Customs, that it may be equitably arranged. But the appeal must be made on the same day, or it will not be regarded. While such points are still open, the Superintendent of Customs will not delay to insert the same in his books, thus affording an opportunity that the merits of the case may bo duly tried and sifted. 

8. MANNER OF PAYING THE DUTIES. — It is herein before provided that every English vessel that enters any one of the five ports, shall pay all duties and tonnage dues before she be permitted to depart. The Superintendent of Customs will select certain shroffs, or banking establishments, of known stability, to whom he will give licenses, authorizing them to receive duties from the English merchants on behalf of Government, and the receipts of these shroffs, for any money paid them, shall be considered as a Government voucher. In the paying of these duties, different kinds of foreign money may be made use of, but as foreign money is not of equal purity with Sycee silver, the English Consuls appointed to the different ports will, according to time, place, and circumstances, arrange with the Superintendent of Customs at each part, what coins may be taken in payment, and what percentage may be necessary, to make them equal to standard or pure silver. 

9. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.—Sets of balance-yards for the weighing of goods, of money-weights, and of measures, prepared in exact conformity to those hitherto in use at the custom-house of Canton, and duly stamped and scaled in proof thereof, will be kept in possession of the Superintendent of Customs, and also at the British Consulate, at each of the five ports, and these shall be the standard by which all duties shall be charged, and all sums paid to Government. In case of any dispute arising between British merchants and the Chinese officers of customs, regarding the weights or measures of goods, reference shall be made to these standards, and disputes decided accordingly. 

10. LIGHTERS OR CARGO-BOATS.—Whenever an English merchant shall have to loud or discharge cargo, be may hire whatever kind of lighter or cargo-boat he pleases, and the sum to be paid fur such boat can be settled between the parties themselves, without the interference of Government. The number of these boats shall not be limited, nor shall a monopoly of them be grunted to any parties. If any smuggling take place in them, the offenders will of course be punished according to law. Should any of these boat people, while engaged in conveying goods for English,merchants, fraudulently abscond with the property, the Chinese authorities will do their best to apprehend them; but at the same time, the English merchants must take every due precaution for the, safety of their goods. 

11. TRANSSHIPMENT OF GOODS—No English merchant ships may transship goods without special permission. Should any urgent case happen, where transshipment is necessary, the circumstances must first be submitted to the consul, who will give a certificate to that effect, and the Superintendent of Customs will then send a special officer to be present at the transshipment. If any one presumes to transship without such permission being asked for and obtained, the whole of the goods so illicitly transshipped, will be confiscated. 

12. SUBORDINATE CONSULAR OFFICERS — At any place selected for the anchorage of English merchant ships, there may be appointed a subordinate consular officer, of approved good conduct, to exercise due control over the seamen and others. He must exert himself to prevent quarrels between the English seamen and natives, this being of the utmost importance. Should any thing of the kind unfortunately take place, he will in like manner do his best to arrange it amicably. When sailors go on shore to walk, officers shall he required to accompany them; and should disturbances take place, such officers will be held responsible. The Chinese officers may not impede native* from coming alongside the ships to sell clothes or other necessaries to the sailors living on board. 

13.  DISPUTES BETWEEN BRITISH AND SUBJECTS AND CHINESE.—Whenever a British subject has reason to complain of a Chinese, he must first proceed to the Consulate and state his grievance. The Consul will thereupon inquire into the merits of the case, and do his utmost to arrange it -amicably. In like manner, if a Chinese have reason to complain of a British subject, he shall no less listen to his complaint, and endeavor to settle it in a friendly manner. If an English merchant have occasion to address the Chinese authorities, he shall send such address through the Consul, who will see that the language is becoming, and if otherwise, will direct it to be changed, or will refuse to convey the address If unfortunately any disputes take place of such a nature that the Consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of a Chinese officer, that they may together examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably. Regarding the punishment of English criminals, the English Government will enact the laws necessary to attain that end, and the Consul will be empowered to put them in force; and regarding the punishment of Chinese criminals, these will be tried and punished by their own laws, in the way provided for by the correspondence which took place at Nankin, after the concluding of the peace. 

14. BRITISH GOVERNMENT CRUIZERS ANCHORING WITHIN THE PORTS —An English Government cruizer will anchor within each of the five ports, that the Consul may have the means of better restraining sailors and others, and preventing disturbances. But these Government cruizers are not to be put upon the same footing as merchant vessels, for as they bring no merchandize, and do not come to trade, they will of course pay neither dues nor charges The Resident Consul will keep the Superintendent of Customs duly informed of the arrival and departure of such Government cruizers, that he may take his measures accordingly 

15. ON THE SECURITY TO BE GIVEN FOR BRITISH MERCHANT VESSELS —It has hitherto been the custom, when an English vessel entered the port of Canton, that a Chinese Hong-merchant stood security for her, and all duties and charges were paid through such security-merchant. But these security-merchants being now done away with, it is understood that the British Consul will henceforth be security for all British merchant ships entering any of the aforesaid Chinese ports. 

N. B. “Schedule-tariff of duties on the foreign trade with China," omitted for want of room —[Ed.

"Free Sailing" (Excerpt: Overland Mail) December, 1844

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: December 18, 1844

We copy the following from the Friend of China and Hong Kong Gazette, August 17th. 

“Fast Sailing.—The beautiful American ship Montauk, Commanded by Capt. William Mac Michael, arrived from New York, on the evening of the 8th instant, having made the unprecedentedly short passage of 87 days. 

This is the shortest run on record to China, from England or America, and taking into consideration the comparative distance from those countries, the Montauk has surpassed, by about seven days, the passage of H. M. S. Vindictive, whose arrival in 89 sailing days from England, was, at the time, thought to be without parallel. 

The average run of the Montauk has been a fraction over 177 miles per day, since leaving the U. States. 

We learn that she has not had a fair everage chance for a passage, particularly in the trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and that she also met with light and unfavorage winds in the China Sea." 

Capt. Payne, of the U. S. Brig of war Perry, now in this port, was a passenger on board the Montauk. The Perry arrived on the 10th inst. from Mazatlan. It appears therefore that Capt. Payne has been less than seven months from the U. States  to these Islands, by the way of China and Mexico. He remained in China 21 days, and on the coast of Mexico 15 days. Making only 176 days that he has been at sea on the passage from New York to China, from China to Mazatlan and from Mazatlan to the Sandwich Islands. Distances logged, 26.984 miles, averaging 153 1-4 miles per day.

SUMMARY OF THE TREATY OF WANGHIA, SIGNED JULY 3d, 1844 (1845)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: February, 1845. Page 23.

BETWEEN THEIR EXCELLENCIES HON. CALEB CUSHING AND KEYING, COMMISSIONERS RESPECTIVELY ON THE PART OF THE U. S. Of AMERICA AND CHINA.

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: February 1, 1845

Note.—This Treaty was ratified by the Emperor of China in August, and the ratification notified by H. E Keying to Commodore Parker, Sept. 14th. It was soon after published by the Chinese authorities, and its provisions go into effect without any further delay. This summary is taken from Keying’s memorial to the Emperor, which contains the entire Treaty.

Art. 1st. This provides for a perfect, permanent, and universal peace between the two nations. 

Art. 2d. This provides that all duties an imports and exports, shall be fixed and settled in a Tariff, which is made a part of the treaty; and that those duties shall never exceed those required of any other nation whatever. All fees are abolished. It secures also, to the United States, any and all privileges and advantages that may at any time hereafter be conceded by the Chinese to any other government or nation. 

Art. 3d. Secures free access to the live ports of Canton, Amoy, Fuchau, Ningpo, and Shanghai, for all citizens of the U. S. with their families and vessels. 

Art. 4th. Provides for the appointment and recognition of Consuls and other officers, at all these ports, for their official intercourse and personal correspondence, on terms of equality, and for redress in case of insult or injury.

Art. 5th. By this the citizens of the United States are permitted to import from their own or any other country, and to purchase and export to their own or any other country, all manner of merchandise not prohibited by this treaty, paying only the duties specified in the Tariff. 

Art. 6th. By this article, the tonnage duties are fixed at 5 mace per ton on vessels over 160 tons, and I mace only per ton on vessels under 160 tons. Measurement duties, &c, are abolished. It provides also that a vessel having occasion to go to a second port to clear off her cargo, shall not in that case pay tonnage duty a second lime. 

Art. 7. This exempts from tonnage duty all small craft, carrying only passengers, letters, provisions, Sic, not dutyable. 
Art. 8th. By this it is made lawful to hire passage and cargo boats, and to take into service pilots, compradors, linguists, writers, and all manner of laborers, seamen, arc. 

Art. 9th. Provides that the Chinese may appoint custom house officers to guard vessels in port, which officers may live on board, or in boats alongside, but are to receive no fees or provision from the ships. 

Art. 10th. This makes it incumbent on the parties concerned to report within 48 hours after coming to anchor in either of the five ports, the name of the ship, &c. , and imposes penalties for a neglect of the same. Due reports being made, cargo may be discharged in whole or in part. Or if it be desired, the vessel may, within 48 hours but not later, leave the port without paying tonnage duty, provided she has not broken bulk. After 48 hours, tonnage duties shall be held due. 

Art. 11th. Provides for the examination, discharge and lading of goods, and for the settlement of any disputes regarding the same. 

Art. 12th. By this, sets of standard balances, and also weights and measurses, according to the standard of the custom house at Canton, are to be provided at all the ports. 

Art. 13th. Provides that tonnage dues be paid on admission to entry; import duties on the discharge, and export duties on the lading of goods, and either in sycee or foreign money. Transit duties on foreign merchandise shall not exceed those at present established, wherever such merchandise may pass into the interior. 

Art. 14th. This article regulates for the transhipment of goods from one vessel to another, while in port. 

Art. 15th. This provides for free commerce with all subjects of China at the live ports, and disallows all monopolies and injurious restrictions. 

Art. 16th. By this article all responsibility for the debts of merchants is denied by both governments, while each engages to use all proper means to obtain payment of debts, and redress for frauds, &c. 

Art. 17th. By this article, houses and places of residence and of business, also churches, hospitals, and cemeteries, and sites for building the same, are secured to citizens of the United States. At the several ports and in their immediate vicinity, till citizens are allowed to pass and repass; but they are not permitted to go among the villages in the country. 

Art. 18th. By this article it is made lawful for citizens of the United States to employ scholars and people of any part of China, to teach any of the languages of the empire, and to purchase all manner of books. 

Art. 19th. This provides that the citizens of the United States snail receive and enjoy, for themselves and all appertaining to them, the special protection of the government, whose officers are to defend them from all insult and injury on the part of the Chinese. 

Art. 20th. This provides for the reexportation of merchandise, which can be done only to the other open ports, and this without any additional duties. 

Art. 21st. Criminals, of whatever nature or degree, shall be prosecuted and punished by their own governments respectively. 

Art. 22d. This provides for tiro neutrality of the United States' flag in case of war between China and any other country. 

Art. 23d. This requires the Consuls at each of the five ports, to make out annual reports of the trade, for transmission to the Hoard of Revenue at Peking. 

Art. 24th. Communications to the Chinese, from Citizens of the United States, shall be made through the Consuls. And so those from the Chinese, for the consuls, shall pass through the hands, and have the approbation of the local authorities. 

Art. 26th. All questions between citizens of the United States, or between thorn and subjects of other states, shall be sett led without reference to the Chinese, or any interference on their part. 

Art. 26th. Merchant vessels and their crews, in the five ports, shall be under the jurisdiction of the officer of the United States; and tho Chinese government will not hold itself bound to make reparation for any injury done to the same or to any citizens of the United Slates, by any foreign power. But the Chinese government will do all it can, to protect from robbers and pirates, to seize and punish all offenders of this sort, and to recover and restore plundered property. 

Art. 27th. This provides for cases of shipwreck, and requires that all persons and property shall have every possible protection, ships refitted, property restored, &c. 

Art. 28th. No embargo shall be laid on the citizens or vessels of the U, S, under any pretense whatever. 

Art. 29th. Deserters from on board American shins shall be arrested by the Chinese and delivered over to the Consuls or other officers. And any Chinese criminals who may take refuge on board ship, or in the houses of citizens of the United States, shall be delivered up on due requisition being mode by Chinese officers. 

Art. 30th. This prescribes and defines the terms of correspondence, which are in all respects those of equality and reciprocity. No presents shall ever be demanded of one government by the other. 

Art. 3lst. Communications from the government of the United States are to pass to the court of China, by the imperial commissioner charged with the superintendence of foreign affairs, or through the governors-general of Liang Kiting, Liang Kwang, sic. 

Art. 32d. Ships of war are to be hospitably received at any of the ports of China, and all facilities afforded for the purchase of provisions, making of repairs, ice. 

Art. 33d. Those who attempt to trade clandestinely at the ports not opened, or to introduce opium, or any other contraband article into China, shall be loft unprotected to the action of the Chinese government. Art. 84th. This provides for modifications of the treaty after a period of twelve years, and that no individual state of the Union shall send ministers plenipotentiary to  China.

Chinese Sugar (1844)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, November 23, 1844.

The rapid increase of the demand for British goods in China since rthe close of the war and the opening of the ports, and the prospect that the demand will be increased to a much greater extent as the people in the northern provinces of that populous empire become better acquainted with the cheapness and excellence of British manufactures, render it a matter of great consequence that the number of articles received in return from that country should be increased, and it is, therefore, satisfactory to learn, that there is a prospect of our receiving a considerable quantity of sugar form China under the new scale of duties mentioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his speech on the Budget. We see from Mr. Bernard’s interesting account of the voyages and services of the Nemesis, that there are large sugar manufactories on some of the large Islands in the Canton river, and we learn from our friends who have resided at Bombay and Singapore, that Chinese sugar and sugar candy, of excellent quality and moderate price, and imported in large quantities into India and the Indian Islands. From a statement in one of the Singapore papers, it appears that 5,889 pikuls (133 1/2 lbs. each) of Chinese  sugar were imported into that port in 1843, chiefly in Chinese junks, and as the sugar had to be sold in competition with the cheap sugars of Manilla, Java, Siam and Cochin China, the price cannot have been excessive. The belief of the several well-connected persons is that Chinese sugar is to be imported into England to a considerable extent. 

The Edict of the Emperor of China Relative to Christianity and Christians (1846)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, March 21, 1846.

Keysing, Imperial Commissionaer, and Viceroy of Canton and Kwang se provinces, respectfully memorializes [the Emperor] as follows:

It appears that the religion of the Lord of Heaven is honored and observed by the various nations of Europe, mainly with the view of exhorting to the practice of virtue and repressing vice. Ever since the Ming dynasty, it has made its way into China, and has not yet been prohibited, but because some of the adherents of that religion in China have made a handle of their religion to act viciously, therefore the officers of government, on discovering the same, have punished them, as is on record. During the reign of the Emperor Keaking, it was first determined to distinguish these and punish them for their offenses, the sole object of which regulation was to prevent the professors of the said religion in China, from practicing wickedness, and not with the view of issuing prohibitions against the religion of foreign and European nations. Now, according to the request of the envoy of the French nation, Lagrene, that the various professors of the said religion in China, should be exonerated from blame, it appears suitable to secede thereto; and it is proper to request that the henceforth, with regard to all persons, whether Chinese or foreigners, professing the religion of the Lord of Heaven, who do not create disturbances, nor act improperly, it is humbly entreated of the Imperial benevolence to grant that they should be exonerated from blame. But if such persons resume their former ways, and, independently of their professions, commit other crimes and misdemeanors, then they will be dealt with according to existing laws. With regard to the French, and the subjects of other foreign nations, who profess the aforesaid religion, it is only permitted them to build churches at the five ports opened for foreign commerce, and they most not improperly enter the inner land to diffuse their faith. Should they offend against the regulations, and overstep the boundaries, the local offices, as soon as they can apprehend them, shall immediately deliver them over to the consuls of the different nations to be punished. But they must not rashly inflict upon them the punishment of death. This is in order to manifest a tender regard for the common people, so the wheel and the chaff is not confusedly mixed together and that reason and law may be equitably administered. That which is requested is, that the good and honest professor of the aforementioned religion may be exempt from punishment; it is reasonable, therefore, that a respectful memorial be presented, intreating that by the Imperial favor the above suggestions may be carried into effect.

On the 24th year of Toan Kwang, 11th month, 19th Day, (Dec. 1844,) was received the imperial reply, saying,

“LET IT BE AS REQUESTED. RESPECT THIS.”

On the 12th month, and the 25th day, (Feb 1, 1845,) the order arrived at Sachow, (capital of Keaugnan.)