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 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CHINA AND THE CHINESE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 CLASS OF 1876 
 
 1918 
 
JV 8701.078" """"""y Library 
 
\<^y 
 
 'mil 
 
 XI 
 
 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023464013 
 
BRITIgH PARLIA MENTARY PAP E R g 
 
 on 
 
 CHINE?E EMIGRATION 
 
 CLEVELAND 
 19 16 
 
CONTENT? 
 
 > 
 
 Correspondence upon the Subject of Emigration from China, 1855 
 
 Return: Chinese Immigration, 1853 
 
 Emigration: Emigration from China to British G-uiana and Trinidad, 
 1858 
 
 Hong Kong: "Copies or Extracts of Correspondence between the Colonial 
 Department and the Governor of Hong Kong, and between the Colonial 
 Department and the Foreign Office, on the subject of Emigration from 
 Hong Kong, and from the Chinese Empire to the British Test Indies, 
 and to Foreign Countries, and their Possessions, since the 1st day 
 of January 1853" 
 
^J p ^ '' ^ 
 
 <^:'-^ 
 
 I. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 UPON THE SUBJECT OF 
 
 EMIGRATION 
 
 FROM 
 
 CHINA 
 
 Presented to the House of Lords by Command of Her Majesty. 
 
 1855. 
 
 LONDON : 
 FEINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS. 
 
LIST OF PAPERS. 
 
 No. 
 1. 
 
 2. 
 3. 
 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 15. 
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 17. 
 
 18. 
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 21. 
 22. 
 
 23. 
 24. 
 
 25. 
 
 26. 
 27. 
 
 28. 
 
 29. 
 30. 
 
 31. 
 32. 
 33. 
 
 34. 
 
 35. 
 36. 
 37. 
 
 38. 
 
 39. 
 40. 
 
 41. 
 
 42. 
 
 43. 
 44. 
 
 45. 
 
 Mr. Merivale to Mr. Addington 
 
 Four Inclosures. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir George Bonham 
 Mr. Merivale to Mr. Addington 
 
 Seven Inclosures. 
 Mr. Addington to Mr. Merivale 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Mr. Merivale to Mr. Hammond 
 
 Two Inclosures. 
 Mr. Hammond to Sir George Bonham 
 hir George Bonham to Mr. Hammond 
 Sir J. Emerson Tennent to Lord Wodehouse 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clavendon to Mr. Sulivan. . 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Sir J. Emerson Tennent to Lord Wodehouse 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 Mr. Hammond to Mr. Merivale 
 Mr. Peel to Mr. Hammond . . 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 Mr. Elliot to Mr. Hammond 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 Lord Wodehouse to Mr. Merivale 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowing 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammond . . 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammemd . . 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon , . 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 C)ne Inclosure. 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon . . 
 
 P'our Inclosures. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Sir John Bowrinp: to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 Two Inclosures. 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon . . 
 Sir John Bowriag to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclosiire. 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Eail of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclo5ure, 
 Sir John Bowring ;o the Earl of Clarendon 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 Acting Secretary Woodgate to Mr. Hammond 
 
 Twenty-two Inclosures. 
 Mr. Merivale to Lord Wodehouse 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring 
 Extract from a Letter from Mr. John Pardon 
 Burnett 
 
 One Inclosure. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Mr. Sulivan 
 
 September 15, 1853 
 
 September 19, 
 
 March 28, 1854 
 
 Page 
 
 April 
 April 
 June 
 
 June 
 July 
 July 
 
 July 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 August 
 
 June 
 
 4, 
 
 5,' 
 
 12,. 
 
 28, . 
 4,' 
 II, 
 
 15, 
 
 18,. 
 4, • 
 9, • 
 5,- 
 
 September 6, 
 September 7, 
 
 October 18, • 
 
 October 24, ■ 
 October 24, ■ 
 September 15, ■ 
 
 November 21, • 
 October 9, ■ 
 
 December 8, 
 November 10, ■ 
 
 November 25, • 
 
 December 22, 
 
 to Captain John 
 
 April 
 April 
 April 
 Mai'ch 
 
 March 
 March 
 
 March 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 
 May 
 
 July 
 
 7,- 
 
 7, • 
 
 23, ■ 
 
 2, 
 
 5, 
 6, 
 
 14.. 
 
 15, 
 
 18, 
 
 5, 
 
 16, 
 
 9 
 9 
 
 16 
 17 
 17 
 
 22 
 22 
 25 
 
 30 
 30 
 31 
 32 
 32 
 
 51 
 52 
 
 54 
 
 56 
 57 
 57 
 
 58 
 58 
 
 59 
 
 59 
 
 61 
 
 January 6, 1855 61 
 November 28, 1854 62 
 
 63 
 
 February 21, 1855 68 
 
 December 18, 1854 68 
 
 December 31, 70 
 
 January 21, 1855 71 
 
 February 3, 71 
 
 February 8, — 
 
 71 
 
 73 
 73 
 73 
 73 
 
 74 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 91 
 
 92 
 
 92 
 
 93 
 
Correspondence upon the subject of Emigration from 
 
 China, 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Mr. M&twah to Mr. Addin^tQn.-^-(Received Septemh&r 16j 
 
 (Extract.) Downing Street, September 15, 1853. 
 
 I AM directed to acquaint you, for the inforniation of the Earl of 
 Clarendon, that the Emigration Commissioners took advantage of the 
 simultaneous presence in this country of Mr. White, Emigration Agent 
 in China, Dr. Bowring, Consul at Canton, and Dr. Winchester, First 
 Assistant in the Consulate at Amoy, as v/ell as of Sir Henry Barkly, 
 on his return from the Government of British Guiana, to hold various 
 conferences on the best mode of adding to the security and efficiency of 
 Chinese emigration. Inclosed is a copy of the Commissioners' report of 
 the result of those conferences. 
 
 Great difficulty, it will be observed, was felt in devising any plan 
 which should be free from objection, for attempting to establish a general 
 control over all emigration from China in British vessels, whatever might 
 be their destination. The Commissioners describe, in paragraphs 7 and 8, 
 two projects of law which had been thought of for the purpose, but 
 without undertaking themselves to recommend their adoption. The Duke 
 of Newcastle did not feel prepared to advise the proposal of such laws to 
 Parliament. 
 
 But I am desired to state that, in accordance with the general opinion 
 expressed by all the officers practically acquainted with the subject, the 
 Duke of Newcastle has directed that emigration to the British West 
 India Colonies should be conducted solely under the management of a 
 responsible agent, and has instructed that agent to use every exertion to 
 make Hong Kong the common starting-place for Chinese emigrants 
 proceeding to the West Indies, only leaving him discretionary power to 
 have recourse to Amoy, if it should be found indispensable, and if thex'e 
 should be no reason to apprehend any abuses or disturbances there, or 
 any collision with the Chinese authorities, 
 
 I am desired to inclose, for Lord Clarendon's information, the copy of 
 a despatch addressed on this subject to the Governors of Jamaica, British 
 Guiana, and Trinidad, which will put his Lordship more fully in possession 
 of the mode in which it is proposed that the Chinese emigration to the 
 West Indies should be conducted. 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 1. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Mr. Merivak. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 (Extract.) Mf 27, 1853. 
 
 1. WE beg tp offer the following report on the future conduct of 
 Chinese emigration. 
 
 2. Under directions from the Colonial Office, we have commtmicated 
 [255] B 2 
 
with Sir H. Barkly, the late Governor of British Guiana; Mr. White, late 
 Emigration Agent in China; Dr. Bowring, late Superintendent of Trade 
 in that country; and Dr. Winchester, First Assistant in the Consulate 
 at Amoy ; and we annex the copy of a letter on the subject of Chinese 
 emigration, which embodies the views of the latter gentleman, in which 
 Dr. Bowring concurs. 
 
 3. We will first report on the general emigration from China which 
 is carried on in British ships, and next on that which is carried on to and 
 at the expense of the West Indian Colonies. 
 
 4. The abuses which have attended the general Chinese emigration, 
 especially to Cuba and Peru, need hardly be specified. It is alleged that 
 great malpractices are resorted to in the collection of emigrants on shore ; 
 that on shipboard they are ill fed, ill treated, and grossly overcrowded ; 
 and that they are treated lilie slaves in some of the countries to which 
 they are taken. 
 
 5. It would appear difficult to deal with abuses which take place in 
 collecting foreign emigrants in a foreign country, having its own political 
 and judicial organisation, and jealously alive to any interference with 
 that organisation. Nor do we observe that Dr. Winchester, in the annexed 
 paper, recommends any such interference. Whether practicable or not, it 
 does not seem to be a matter on which this Board could offer any useful 
 suggestions. 
 
 6. In order to secure that the emigrants are properly treated on the 
 voyage. Dr. Winchester suggests — first, that heavy penalties should be 
 imposed on British ships taking emigrants from any other port in China 
 than those which are or may be open to trade with foreign countries ; 
 and secondly, that British ships proceeding from these last-mentioned 
 ports should be brought within the Piassengers Act. And as it is highly 
 conceivable that disputes may arise out of this emigration which may 
 bring foreigners into collision with the authorities or people of China, he 
 further proposes that the Superintendent of Trade should be invested with 
 the power of prohibiting emigration altogether from any given port, if 
 emergencies should arise requiring such a step. 
 
 7. The effect of enforcing any rigid regulations at the legal ports of 
 China might be to drive British ships to unauthorized ports where they 
 would be still less under surveillance than they now are at Amoy. And 
 this probability is strengthened by the fact that the tumults at Amoy 
 have already produced an emigration from the unauthorized parts of 
 Namoa and Cumsingmoon. How far the force at the disposal of the 
 Superintendent of Trade or British Consuls is sufficient in any sup- 
 posable state of the law to prevent such a result, is a matter on which 
 we can form no judgment. But assuming it to be sufficient, and 
 therefore that a law passed for regulating' emigration from the open 
 ports, and prohibiting it from all others would not be a dead letter, 
 we do not doubt that an Act of Parliament for that purpose would be 
 extremely beneficial. It is true that Her Majesty possesses unlimited 
 power of legislation by Order in Council for her subjects resident 
 within China under the Act 6 & 7 Vict, cap. 80; but regulations imposed 
 under this Act would be only enforceable within 100 miles of the coast, 
 and therefore not in any British Colony which the ship might reach, or on 
 the high seas where she might be stopped by British cruizers. The 
 British Passengers Act, however, would require modification in its appli- 
 cation to China. 
 
 11. The power of temporarily suspending emigration in British ships, 
 with which it is proposed to invest the Superintendent of Trade, might 
 operate to deter the better class of shipowners from engaging in a trade 
 liable to such a risk. But we feel a difficulty in offering any opinion on 
 a proposal which apparently rests very much on a political necessity, that 
 of guarding our relations with China from disturbance. 
 
 12. With regard to Dr. Winchester's further proposal, that emigration 
 in British vessels to foreign slave-colonies (in which emigration the great 
 abuses have occurred) should be prohibited, we would observe, first, that 
 in cases of determined fraud, such a prohibition would "probably be evaded 
 by a system of false clearances; and liext, that most embarrassing ques- 
 
3 
 
 tions must arise as to the form of slavery or degree of ill-treatment which 
 would justify us in preventing- emigration to this or that foreign country. 
 15, In treating of the West Indian emigration, we should, perhaps, 
 commence by stating what has already been done. Three ships have 
 arrived in British Guiana and two in Trinidad ; the subjoined table 
 shows the numbers embarked in each, the number of deaths, and the 
 number landed alive. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Embarked. 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 Landed. 
 
 British Guiana. 
 
 
 
 
 Gl'entanner . . 
 
 305 
 
 43 
 
 262 
 
 Lord Elgin . . . . . , 
 
 154 
 
 69 
 
 85 
 
 Samuel Boddlngton 
 
 352 
 
 52 
 
 300 
 
 
 811 
 
 164 
 
 647 
 
 Trinidad. 
 
 
 
 
 Australia' . . 
 
 445 
 
 13 
 
 432 
 
 Clarendon . . 
 
 254 
 
 3 
 
 251 
 
 
 699 
 
 16 
 
 683 
 
 Besides which, the " Lady Flora Hastings," calculated to carry about 
 320 emigrants, has left China for Trinidad, and the "Emigrant" for 
 Demerara. We regret to learn, however, that the " Emigrant" has been 
 detained at Hong Kong by a fever which has broken out. 
 
 16. The British Guiana emigration is purely on bounty; that to 
 Trinidad under our agreement with Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co. The 
 "Glentanner" and " Lord Elgin" fell under no Government inspection 
 whatever. The remaining ships were more or less inspected, though 
 without any legal power of interference, by Mr. White. 
 
 17. Both in British Guiana and Trinidad the emigrants appear to 
 have given great satisfaction to their employers. Sir H. Barkly, in his 
 despatches of the 26th of February and 3rd of May last, describes them 
 as intelligent and energetic, with great respect for authority, and a perfect 
 appetite for earning money by labour. And the letters inclosed in Lord 
 Harris' despatch of the 22nd of April last give the same account of their 
 intelligence, willingness, and aptitude for work. And there seems every 
 reason for hoping that they may prove as valuable in the West Indies as 
 they have in the Eastern Archipelago, where they are described as 
 carrying prosperity with them wherever they go. 
 
 18. Trinidad has not applied for any more emigrants: but British 
 Guiana has applied for 1,500, and we are informed that 2,000 have been 
 promised to Jamaica. If the wish of the Court of Policy of British 
 Guiana is acceded to, we shall therefore have to take measures for the 
 eraioration of 3,500 adults from China. In recommencing the emigration, 
 however, it is necessary to take such steps as shall disjoin it, as far as 
 possible, from abuses, shall avoid the risk of collision with the Chinese 
 people or authorities, and shall secure proper treatment of the emigrants 
 on the voyage.' 
 
 19. With all these objects, the Court of Policy of British Guiana, and 
 the West India Committee, concur in desiring that Mr. White should 
 resume his post of Emigration Agent in China; and the West India 
 Committee are desirous that his salary should be increased to 1,500/., 
 which is the present salary of Mr. Caird ; Mr. White, on his part, engagirg- 
 to remain in China till the 3,500 Chinese now ordered are dispatchea to 
 British Guiana and Jamaica. 
 
 20. In these recommendations of the West India Committee, we beg 
 to express our concurrence. The extremely precarious nature of the 
 
employment would render it very difficult to find a person ready to accept 
 it, who united the qualifications of tact and activity with knowledge of 
 the wants of the West Indies, and of the circumstances of Chinese emigra- 
 tion, and who also had the advantage of possessing the confidence of the 
 West Indian body. And it is most important for the success of an under- 
 taking on which so much depends that Government emigration, at its 
 commencement, should be superintended by a gentleman possessing these 
 advantages. We may also point attention to the circumstance that, ot 
 the three ships dispatched after his arrival in China, two reached their 
 destination with a very trifling mortality, while the third was dispatched 
 under circumstances so unfavourable as to afford no fair test of the advan- 
 tages of Government super\^ision, if indeed such supervision can be 
 said to have taken place. In the ships dispatched without any such 
 superintendence, it will be seen that the mortality was deplorable. 
 
 21. We would submit, therefore, that Mr. V/hite should, for the 
 present, receive the same salary as the Emigration Agent at Calcutta, 
 whose operations, though no doubt of much greater magnitude, are also 
 much less delicate than those entrusted to Mr. White. 
 
 22. If Mr. White returns to China as Emigration Agent, it is ag:reed 
 by all with whom we have communicated that the head-quarters of the 
 emigration should be placed at Hong Kong, and that ships should be 
 solely dispatched from thence, until circumstances should render it prac- 
 ticable, without risk of abuse, to resume Government Emigration from 
 Amoy. This was the unanimous opinion of Dr. Bowring, Dr. Winchester, 
 and Mr. White, and, we believe, of gentlemen concerned in the West Indies. 
 
 23. A difficulty, however, will arise from the operation of the English 
 Passengers Act. 
 
 24. The space required for immigrants by the Indian law, and actually 
 allowed to coolies emigrating to Mauritius or the West Indies, is 12 super- 
 ficial feet per statute adult ; but the Passengers Act requires, in voyages 
 through the tropics, 15 feet. This Act has, of course, no effect in Chinese 
 ports, and therefore the emigration could be there carried on on the footing 
 of the Indian law. But in Hong Kong, as in all British Colonies, the 
 English Act is in force, and would have the effect of reducing the comple- 
 ment of ships employed in the Chinese emigration by no less than 25 per 
 cent., and, we are informed, of raising the cost of passage 21. or 3/. per 
 adult — a very material consideration when a transaction affecting 3,500 
 emigrants is in question. 
 
 25. We have before adverted to this question, and had hoped, before 
 reporting upon it, to have obtained some decisive experience of the Chinese 
 emigration. But this is not the case. In the three ships sent to British 
 Guiana a great mortality occurred ; but of these, the first and second had 
 long and harassing voyages, leaving China during the south-west monsoon, 
 the second and third carrie<l a greater number of passengers than was 
 allowed even by Indian law, and also suffered from bad water and damaged 
 rice. From these voyages, therefore, no sound inference can be drawn. 
 On the other hand, the " Australia," which took emigrants to Trinidad 
 with the allowance of 15 feet per adult, lost a very small proportion of 
 passengers, and might be adduced as showing the advantage of that rule. 
 But in the '' Clarendon," where the emigrants had only 12 feet each, the 
 deaths were in a still smaller proportion, being little more than 1 per cent. 
 
 26. The Committee in British Guiana who examined into the case of 
 the "Lord Elgin," recommend generally an adherence to the Passengers 
 Act ; but we do not find that Mr, Barkly considers the Indian law inade- 
 quate, and it will be seen that Dr. Winchester, who has a knowledge of 
 the Chinese, considers the allowance of 12 feet in a ship 6 feet high to be 
 sufficient. It should be added, that in the cooly emigration the mortality 
 has usually proceeded from specific causes, unconnected with crowding or 
 ventilation, and gives no reason for supposing that the space now allowed 
 is insufficient. 
 
 27. On the whole, therefore, we see no sufficient reason for adopting 
 a different rule in the Chinese and Indian emigrations ; and we woola 
 suggest that the space required should be reduced to 12 feet. 
 
 28. We are aware that much disappointment will be expwienced by 
 
those who are urging this emigration, unless these inconveniences can be 
 removed. 
 
 29. The questions, therefore, which arise, are: 
 
 (1). Whetlier Mr. White should be reappointed Emigration Agent on 
 the terms above described ? 
 
 (2). Whefchef the ■emigration should be confined to Hong Kojig, with 
 a power (perhaps with the concurrence of the Superintendent of Trade) to 
 extend it to Amoy? 
 
 (3). Whether the space required may be reduced to 12 feet per adult 
 by Act of Parliament ? 
 
 30. On these questions the gentlemen connected with the West Indies 
 are extremely anxious to obtain an immediate decision, as it is evidently 
 important that Mr. White should be enabled to leave England by the next 
 India packet (the 4th cif August), and that before that time an endea\our 
 should have been made, if possible, to take up shipping. The north-west 
 monsoon, which blows from September to March, inclusive, is the only 
 season during which it is advisable to carry on emigration, and if 3,500 
 emigrants are to be dispatched, the commencement of operations ought, 
 if possible, not to be deferred till the middle of October, as they would be 
 if Mr. White were detained till the end of next month. 
 
 31. The remaining points of importance which require notice (for 
 we do not trouble the Duke of Newcastle with questions of pare detail), 
 are the furnishing interpreters, and the obtaining women. 
 
 32. On the former point we can only trust to the Emigration Agent 
 to do what is possible. A few may possibly be obtained at the Missionary 
 and Government Colleges at Penang and Singapore. But from all we 
 hear, it is a matter of great difficulty, even on the Chinese coast, to obtain 
 the services of trustworthy English who can really speak Chinese, 
 or trustworthy Chinese who have a competent knowledge of English. 
 Mr. White is fully alive to the necessity of obtaining such persons, and of 
 course will be authorized to incur the necessary expense. 
 
 33. With regard to women, Dr. Bowring and Dr. Winchester 
 deprecate in the strongest manner any attempt to set on foot a purely 
 female emigration. They say that such an attempt could only result in a 
 wholesale purchase and shipment of prostitutes ; that it would be in violent 
 opposition to Chinese law and custom, and might very probably lead to 
 collision with the Chinese authorities ; and finally, they state their antici- 
 pation that the presence of such women on shipboard would lead to the 
 most violent quarrels among the male emigrants. All this, even inde- 
 pendently of the authority on which it rests, our own experience of emigra- 
 tion would lead us readily to believe. But Drs. Bowring and Winchester 
 do not see the same objection to encouraging the emigration of females as 
 wives to the male emigrants by some special bounty. They do not indeed 
 think that attempts of this kind will lead to much result, female emigra- 
 tion (except of the least creditable kind) being wholly unprecedented ; 
 and they urge, with obvious justice, the necessity of caution in any steps 
 of this kind. As, therefore, Mr. White is not without hopes that such an 
 emigration may be gradually set on foot through Hong Kong, we think 
 that he should be authorized to embrace any opportunity that might offer 
 of inducing emigrants to take out wives with them, even though for that 
 purpose a considerable increase should be necessary of the customary 
 advances to male emigrants, which now amount to two months' wages 
 i.e., eight or ten dollars. 
 
 34. We annex printed copies of Mr. White's proposed notices to the 
 Chinese, forms of agreement and instructions to captains of vessels and 
 surgeons, which appear to be drawn up with care and judgment. We are 
 not aware, however, that they call for any comment from us. 
 
6 
 
 Inclosure 2 in Nq. 1. 
 Dr. Winchester to Dr. Bowring. 
 
 (Extract.) Oriental, July 22, 1854. 
 
 IT appears that the present object of the "West Indian interest is to 
 confine the proposed emigration for the next season to the port of Hong 
 Kong. There seems to be no reasonable objection to this, provided the 
 parties abstain from attempting to embark females. 
 
 Hong Kong is certainly quite as much, if not more suitable as a 
 station than either Macao or Cumsingmoon. 
 
 The Passengers Act empowers the Governor of Hong Kong to establish 
 such changes in the scales of accommodation and diet as the peculiar 
 nature of the emigration will require. 
 
 The acts of the parties carrying it on will be under the supervision of 
 the magistrates. Arrangements for. imparting full information to the 
 coolies brought by the native agents from the mainland may be easily 
 enough made. 
 
 I think that the objections to the embarkation of females are insur- 
 mountable. 
 
 The families of emigrant Chinese never have hitherto accompanied 
 them ; any one acquainted with Chinese habits of thought and disposi- 
 tions will at once see the improbability of any attempt being successful or 
 productive of other ends than trouble and dissension. It is true a few 
 women might be obtained, but in what manner and of what class? They 
 must be bought outright in the stews of Hong Kong, Macao, and Canton. 
 I do hope that Government will not permit its Colonial agents to enter 
 into the market for the purchase of prostitutes. Such a practice would 
 throw disgrace and opprobrium on the whole scheme and the English 
 name in the eyes of the Chinese. 
 
 A few details as to the way in which the numbers of this unhappy 
 class are kept up, will disclose considerations more than sufficient to deter 
 the Government from allowing their agents to tamper with this matter. 
 Female children are little valued by the Chinese, and among the poorer 
 labourers are considered an incumbrance, many of whom are got rid of 
 by infanticide, but many more are sold at various stages of infancy to 
 bawds and other nefarious characters. 
 
 Some few, when grown up, are sold as concubines and second wives 
 to Chinese; others, and by far the greater number, are either let or sold 
 to houses for purposes of prostitution, A perusal of the judicial pro- 
 ceedings in the Hong Kong papers will lead to a full acquaintance with 
 the accidents and accompaniments of this system. I have read many 
 cases similar to the one I am about to detail: — A was indebted to B, and 
 being unable to pay, made over his concubine to him, in pledge, for a term 
 of years ; B did not retain her in his own family, but let her out for the 
 term to C, who took her to an establishment in Hong Kong. A follows 
 his concubine, and complains to the English magistrate that his wile is 
 illegally detained from him ; and on inquiry, the facts of the case came 
 out. In this way, there are three liens on this wretched woman. It is in 
 this system that it is proposed to mix up the English name. 
 
 Hong Kong is at too great a distance to be suitable as a depot for 
 for emigration from Fokien ; and if it were not so, it would not be 
 desirable to use it as such. The disputes and dissensions between the 
 people of the two provinces, consequent upon the general dislike enter- 
 tained by all other Chinese to the Cantonese ; their clan feuds ; the great 
 difference of dialect ; — would render it highly dangerous to embark them 
 together in the same vessel. It does appear to me, however, that under 
 certain provisions the emigration might be safely as well as profitably 
 resumed at Amoy. 
 
 These provisions involve our prohibiting the employment of Eno-lish 
 vessels in the transport of Chinese emigrants to foreign slave Colonies • 
 and I propose putting down, as shortly as may be, a few of the reasons 
 which seem to require this restraint, as well those which have reference to 
 
the just and fair treatment of our own Colonies, and such as are consequent 
 on the barbarous and dreadful scenes which have been acted under the 
 sanction of our flag. 
 
 1st. English vessels taking emigrants to our dependencies are 
 amenable to colonial regulations equivalent to the restrictions of the 
 Passengers Act, which even now the proclamation of the Governor 
 may put in force against them at Hong Kong ; whereas English vessels 
 carrying emigrants to Cuba are under no limits or regulations as to 
 numbers, diet, water, medical treatment, &c., except at Hong Kong, where 
 they will take good care not to load or anchor. 
 
 2ndly. Emigration to English colonies under the English flag will 
 only be permitted at Hong Kong and the four northern ports under the 
 sanction of Government, whereas Namoa and other places are and may 
 be resorted to by English vessels seeking coolies for Cuba, no power to 
 prevent them having hitherto been exercised. In this way, all the superior 
 facilities consequent on the employm.ent of the English flag, are made to 
 work out an unfair advantage to a foreign slave-holding community. 
 
 Srdly. All the odium arising from the cruelties, disturbances, and 
 bloodshed in English vessels carrying emigrants to foreign Colonies, is 
 attached generally to the English name. As long as this practice is 
 allowed, the Chinese are not in a position to distinguish between the two 
 emigrations. They believe that emigration in one English ship is the 
 same as another ; and I have no doubt that this prohibition would enable 
 them to separate in their own minds the systems so essentially distinct, 
 and increase their belief of the superior advantages to be found in the 
 English Colonies where their labour is wanted. 
 
 4thly. We owe it essentially to humane consideration, that men 
 received on board English vessels as passengers shall be properly treated. 
 We do not enforce this in reference to the emigration to Cuba. If the 
 restrictions of the Passengers Act were extended to English vessels 
 sailing from the dominions of the Emperor of China with coolies to Cuba, 
 &c., they would be in no worse position than English vessels taking men 
 to our own Colonies. 
 
 Sthly. From the statement of Her Majesty's Consul-Generai in 
 Havana, it appears that the Chinese immigrants are considered and treated 
 as slaves. 
 
 Should this be the case, it becomes a duty to prevent our ships and 
 subjects engaging in the promotion of a service allied to slavery and the 
 Slave Trade. If the Chinese emigrants have been subjected by vice-regal 
 piroclamation to the treatment or condition of slaves, the contracts made 
 with them in Amoy have been signally violated. In three years, the first 
 contract emigrants by the " Duke of Argyle''and "^Oquendo" will have 
 completed Ihe term of their indenture. It will be most desirable to direct 
 the Consul-Generai to watch narrowly if, after its expiration, the Chinese 
 are allowed to carry their labour into the market as freemen, or are 
 compelled to enter into further agreements. 
 
 Such are the reasons, and they are certainly not without weight, 
 which raise the question as to the propriety of allowing foreign emigration 
 from China under the British flag. I need scarcely say that the chance 
 of collision between the subjects of the two Governments would be much 
 narrowed by this prohibition. The character of responsible emigration 
 agents, like Mr. White, is a guarantee against those gross improprieties 
 which led to bloodshed in the streets of Amoy, 
 
 I need scarcely say, that the remarks made in reference to female 
 emigration apply perhaps with greater intensity to Amoy. I think this 
 matter is not of so much consequence, or rather in a few years will not 
 be of so much consequence, as gentlemen connected with the West Indian 
 interest seem to apprehend. I have no doubt the Chinese will readily 
 amalgalnate with the females they find in the country they are going to. 
 They have no feelings of caste to restrain them in this direction, as the 
 Hindoo coolies have. The natives of India in the Straits never intermarry 
 with the Malays, whereas in three or four generations the Malay-Chinese 
 females have become so numerous as to afford a sufficient supply for the 
 Chinese population. 
 
 C 
 
8 
 
 The ultimate character of the emigration will greatly depend on 
 the reports the original emigrants bring back of the Colonies. If they 
 return in good circumstances, the example will not fail to be rapidly 
 caught up by the needy about them. It appears to me that the Local 
 Legislatures would do well to afford occasional facilities to a few of the 
 best behaved labourers to return. This might be made strictly a reward 
 of good conduct, without creating anything like an obligation to provide 
 return passages. 
 
 I am of opinion that twelve feet superficial would be a fair allowance 
 of room during the transport of the coolies to the West Indies. 
 
 Inclosure 3 in No. 1. 
 
 Mr. Macgregor to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 West India Committee Room, 12, Old Jewry, 
 Gentlemen, July 27, 1853. 
 
 WITH reference to the communications that have taken place relative 
 to the arrangements for conducting the emigration from China to the 
 West India Colonies next season, I have now the honour to state, as the 
 opinion of this Committee, that considering the great importance of 
 having a well-qualified agent, the cost of living at Hong Kong, and the 
 prevalent unfavourable rate of exchange there, Mr. White's services 
 ought to be engaged forthwith at a salary of 1,500/. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) A. MACGREGOR. 
 
 Inclosure 4 in No. 1. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle to the Governors of Jamaica, British Guiana, and 
 
 Trinidad. 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, September 10, 1853. 
 
 1. I HAVE to acquaint you that advantage was taken by the 
 Emigration Commissioners of the simultaneous presence in this country 
 of Mr. White, Emigration Agent in China, Dr. Bowring, Consul at 
 Canton, and Dr. Winchester, First Assistant in the Consulate at Amoy, 
 to hold various conferences on the best mode of adding both to the 
 security and to the efficiency of Chinese emigration. At some of these 
 conferences the Emigration Commissioners had also the valuable assistance 
 of Sir H. Barkly's presence. I inclose, for your information, extracts, 
 containing the material parts relative to the West Indies, of a Report 
 which the Emigration Commissioners addressed to me at the close of 
 these conferences. 
 
 2. I have sanctioned the re-appointment of Mr. White to be Emigra- 
 tion Agent for the West Indies in China, and also the increase of his 
 salary, which has been recommended by the West India Association, from 
 1,200/. to 1,500/., this last being the remuneration of the Emigration 
 Agent at Calcutta. In authorizing these steps, I have felt no doubt that 
 I have been consulting the general wish of gentlemen interested in the 
 West Indies, owing to the confidence which they have displayed in the 
 judgment and ability of Mr. White. 
 
 3. Different circumstances have, I understand, hitherto retarded his 
 departure, but it is intended that he should now start by the very first 
 opportunity. 
 
 4. It appears desirable in every point of view, and is recommended 
 by all the officers who are practically acquainted with the subject, that 
 Hong Kong should, if possible, be made the common starting-place for all 
 Chinese emigrants bound to the West Indies. Mr. White will be directed 
 
9 
 
 to use every effort for that purpose, leaving him, however, a discretionary 
 power to have recourse to Amoy, if it should be found indispensably 
 necessary, and if there should be no reason to apprehend any abuses or 
 disturbances there, or any collision with the Chinese authorities, 
 
 5. But the Commissioners explain, you will see, that there can be no 
 chance of establishing this service at Hong Kong if the provision of the 
 British Passengers Act, which required fifteen superficial feet for every 
 passenger conveyed through the tropics, should be kept in force at that 
 place. This provision was undoubtedly introduced into the law chiefly 
 with a view to the wants of passengers of the European race sailing from 
 the United Kingdom. In the East Indies, where the Passengers Act does 
 not apply, the Legislative Council of India have only required a space of 
 twelve feet for every coolie conveyed to the West Indies : and a long and 
 extensive experience has shown that no sickness on the part of the coolie 
 emigrants can be assigned to this cause. I therefore introduced into 
 Parliament a Bill, which has since passed into law, empowering the 
 Governors of the Colonies to declare by proclamation that in ships sailing 
 from places in their respective Governments a space of twelve instead of 
 fifteen feet should suffice for natives of Asia or Africa who were to be 
 conveyed through the tropics. I have requested the Governor of Hong 
 Kong to make use of the power conferred upon him by this Act, and to 
 declare by proclamation that, at all events for the season of the north-east 
 monsoon, an allowance of twelve superficial feet for each passenger should 
 be sufficient. 
 
 6. The procuring of interpreters, and also, if possible, of an admixture 
 of females amongst the emigrants from China, are both of them objects of 
 importance, and both surrounded by many difficulties. Mr. White will be 
 directed to give to each of them his earnest attention, and to do the best 
 which circumstances will admit. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) NEWCASTLE. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir George Bonham. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, September 19, 1853. 
 
 YOU will learn from the Secretary of State for the Colonial Depart- 
 ment, in your capacity as Governor of Hong Kong, the system under 
 which it is at present intended that the arrangements for procuring 
 Chinese emigrants for the British Colonies should be conducted ; and it 
 is therefore only necessary that I should refer you to the communications 
 on the matter which you will receive from the Colonial Department. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Mr. Merivale to Mr. Addington. — {Received March 29.) 
 
 (Extract.) Downing Street, March 28, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to transmit to you, for the 
 information of the Earl of Clarendon, a copy of a letter from the Colonial 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners, transmitting copies of a corres- 
 pondence with Mr. White on the subject of Chinese emigration to the 
 West Indies. 
 
 C 2 
 
10 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 3. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, February 25, 1854. 
 
 1. WE beg- to inclose copies of two letters which we have received 
 from Mr. White, with the answer which we have returned to those letters. 
 It is not possible, however, that this answer can be received before the 
 emigration has practically terminated. 
 
 2. It will be seen that little chance exists of chartering ships in China, 
 but that Mr. White has authorized Messrs. Tait and Co. to send one or 
 two vessels (if they can be procured) from Namoa — a step which we cannot 
 refrain from regretting. 
 
 3. It appears to us that no better course can be adopted for com- 
 mencing a healthy female emigration than that adopted by Mr. White ; 
 but we do not feel very sanguine of his immediate success. 
 
 4. We trust that next year, being at liberty to advertise for shipping 
 at a far earlier period, we shall be able to secure a supply of European 
 surgeons. 
 
 5. The emigration is as yet of so uncertain a kind, that we could not 
 recommend that the expense of constructing a depot should be incurred. 
 But we think it might be very desirable to obtain the opinion of some 
 Government officer on the spot ; and we would suggest that if the emigra- 
 tion proceeds, the Governor would be instructed to direct the Surveyor- 
 General, or some other competent officer, to place himself in communication 
 with Mr. White on the subject respecting the expediency of such a step, 
 the expense which would be necessary, and on any means M'hich Govern- 
 ment might possess for facilitating the construction of a building adequate 
 for the purpose. 
 
 (Signed) T. W. C. MURDOCH. 
 
 FREDERIC ROGERS. 
 
 Inclosure 2 in No. 3. 
 
 Mr. White to the Secretary to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 (Extract.) Hong Kong, December 10, 1853. 
 
 SINCE I had the honour of addressing you by last mail, several 
 vessels have arrived, suitable for the emigration service ; but they have 
 all been taken up at rates very far exceeding those which I am authorized 
 to give, and are principally under charter for California. 
 
 2. As an instance of the high rates of freight now current, I may 
 mention that Mr. Comstock, agent on behalf of the Panama Railway Com- 
 pany (of whom I made mention in my last), offered a few days ago 
 70 dollars for the conveyance of labourers to Panama, and to put 700 on 
 on board, the charterer finding water, and fittings, and everything 
 necessary. The vessel (the " Wilhelmsburgh ") registers 900 tons, and 
 according to the English Passengers Act could not carry more than 450 
 emigrants. But 700 passengers at 70 dollars each, is equivalent to 450 at 
 109 dollars; and this latter is the sum I would have to offer, in order to 
 place matters on a par. In addition to the freight for the emigrants, the 
 charterer engaged, if required, to furnish a cargo of guano from Peru for 
 New York. The whole offer has however been declined, and the vessel is 
 now under charter for California. This statement will show the Com- 
 missioners how little prospect there is of procuring shipping for the West 
 Indies during the present season. 
 
 3. As it is possible that some stray vessels may call in at Amoy 
 without knowledge of the high freight current here, I have authorized 
 Messrs. Tait and Co. to take them up on my account ; and I annex copy 
 of the letter I have addressed them on the subject. I effected this 
 
11 
 
 arrangement only on the condition required by them, that they should 
 receive a commission for placing emigrants on board (from Namoa), and 
 although this is contrary to my expressed wish, that the emigration 
 should be conducted from Hong Kong, I thought it best to accede to it 
 under present circumstances, for 1 see little prospect of getting vessels 
 in Hong Kong; and if I had rejected the proposal made to me by 
 Messrs. Tait and Co., I would lose the chance of any vessels that might 
 arrive at Amoy, for they would unquestionably be taken up, under a 
 similar engagement, for the Cuban emigration. 
 
 4. If emigration is to be carried on from this port continuously (or 
 at least for a few years) and systematically, and in a manner creditable 
 to the Government, it is absolutely necessary to have a depot. Hero 
 eiriigrants maybe collected, and be prepared for embarkation, so that no 
 delay shall arise when the vessel is ready to receive them ; and here they 
 will be protected from the possibility of fraud on the part of the collecting 
 agents. The present method of bringing them together two or three days 
 before the vessel leaves, and then shipping them off, without sufficient 
 preparation or inquiry, leaves open the door for all manner of abuses, in 
 spite of the best exertions of the emigration agent. But the establishment 
 of a dep6t, whether afloat or on shore, will be attended with some expense, 
 and with the little prospect there is of obtaining shipping this season, 
 I do not wish to incur any expense that may be avoided, without having 
 the previous sanction of the Commissioners. A hulk, such as would 
 answer the purpose of a depot afloat, will cost at present from 3000Z. to 
 4000Z. The town of Hong Kong, at the foot of an abrupt hill, offers few 
 conveniences for building; and J have been unable to find any place but 
 one suitable for the purposes of a dep6t. This place comprises three lots 
 of land (on which there are buildings now in a nearly ruinous condition, 
 as the parties to whom they belonged have allowed them to lapse to the 
 Crown, rather than pay a heavy ground rent), and is nearly three acres in 
 extent, and situated on the shore of the bay. The Surveyor-General 
 informs me that the three lots may be had for 300/. a-year, but they 
 cannot be made available for the purposes of a depot, until the Governor, 
 who resides at present in a house adjoining one of these lots, shall have 
 removed into the new Government house now in course of erection. The 
 repairs to the old buildings, and the erection of the new ones that may be 
 required will, on a rough calculation, cost from 1,000/. to 1,5001. If 
 emigration from China is likely to be carried on for a few years, T recom- 
 mend the establishment of a depot afloat or on shore (the latter only as 
 being the most economical) ; but if it is to be uncertain and desultory, the 
 expense of a depot may be saved. And in this case the emigrants required 
 may be obtained as well through the agency of a respectable mercantile 
 house, as by the instrumentality of a Government agent. 
 
 5. No emigration from China will be safe or satisfactory, until some 
 of those who have left return with favourable accounts of the West Indies ; 
 and till this takes place, the respectable Chinese will continue to regard 
 this emigration with suspicion and distrust. If the accounts be favour- 
 able, the emigration may become, to a great extent, self-supporting ; for 
 thousands will be eager to emigrate, and will gladly undertake to pay at 
 least a portion of the passage money as soon as their confidence has been 
 secured. 
 
 6. I have already stated, frequently, that I see no prospect of pro- 
 curing women, except by purchase, direct or indirect. If the Government 
 will authorize me to advance money for this purpose, I have no doubt of 
 success. Girls of respectable connection may be obtained for about 
 40 dollars, of 10 to 15 years of age; and I propose to pay this amount 
 to a few of the more respectable emigrants, and leave them to make their 
 own arrangements on condition of their marrying the women before the 
 departure of the vessel. When favourable accounts are brought from the 
 West Indies, by returned Chinese emigrants, it may become unnecessary 
 to resort to this method to procure women and children ; but until that 
 takes place, if my information be correct, there is no probability of 
 obtaining women, without purchase ; for such is the universal custom of 
 the country. 
 
12 
 
 8. There is no prospect of obtaining a European surgeon. None can 
 be obtained here, and the vessels from Australia, California, and India do 
 not bring any. If I succeed in procuring vessels, I shall have to dispatch 
 them with Chinese surgeons instead, and if it be made imperative for the 
 future that European surgeons must be employed, it will be necessary to 
 make arrangements for this purpose in England. Upwards of 40,000 
 Chinese have left this for California without surgeons (except their own), 
 and I am not aware that any epidemic has broken out, or that any 
 untoward accident has occurred to mar the success of a single voyage. 
 Almost everything depends on the captain ; and the surgeons likely to be 
 picked up here, are men whose services would probably be of little or no 
 value. The surgeon of the " Emigrant," who was engaged at a high 
 salary for the voyage to Demerara, died of delirium tremens from sheer 
 drunkenness, a few days after the voyage had been abandoned. 
 
 9. As to emigration generally, I see no reason to doubt that any 
 number of people may be obtained that the resources of the West India 
 Colonies may afford. 
 
 That portion of the Cuban emigration which is established at Macao is, 
 except as to the overcrowding of the vessels, on a satisfactory footing, and 
 is likely to be of a permanent character. 
 
 An extensive and increasing emigration is going forward to California. 
 Numbers of Chinese return from there, and go back again after having 
 made such purchases as they think likely to yield profit. Hardly a week 
 passes without vessels arriving from and leaving for San Francisco, so that 
 the intercourse is regular and well established. There are now in harbour 
 two English vessels of considerable size, which have been purchased by 
 Chinese expressly for this trade, and a line of packets has been lately 
 established by a respectable firm, with vessels advertised to sail at stated 
 periods. The emigration to California may, therefore, be considered as 
 thoroughly well established, and as likely to increase yearly, at least for 
 some years to come. 
 
 As yet little or nothing has taken place in emigration to Australia ; 
 but as a few Chinese have recently returned from there, and have brought 
 with them a good deal of gold, it is expected that emigration will set in to 
 Australia in the same manner as to California. 
 
 The Peruvian Consul at Canton has recently issued a notice, " that 
 the Peruvian Government conceive it undesirable to encourage the 
 importation of Chinese coolies into Peru, and will henceforth decline to 
 enforce the observance of any contracts that may be entered into between 
 shippers and coolies." This will in all probability check the shipment of 
 labourers to that quarter. 
 
 The "Sea Witch" (American) is now in harbour, and proceeds 
 shortly to Naraoa, to take labourers for the Panama railway. Her upper 
 deck has been housed over from the mizen forwards, so that she will 
 carry nearly as many passengers on this deck as on her 'tween deck, and 
 in all, many more than would be permitted by the English Passengers 
 Act. The agent for the Company has not been able to charter any vessels 
 here, although he is authorised to give very high terms for the convey- 
 ance of labourers. The " Sea Witch " was chartered at New York and 
 was fitted out there for her present occupation. 
 
 Inclosure 3 in No. 3. 
 
 Mr. White, to Messrs. Tait 8f Co. 
 
 Sirs, Hong Kong, December 9, 1853. 
 
 IF any vessels arrive at Amoy suitable for the emigration service I 
 shall feel obliged by your taking them up on my account, for the convey- 
 ance of 500 to 600 emigrants to British Guiana, and a similar number to 
 Jamaica ; the first vessel to go to Jamaica. The ship to provide wood 
 water, and the necessary fittings, and a European surgeon, if one can be 
 
13 
 
 obtained, and the amount to be paid must not exceed 14Z. Is. sterling, or 
 70 dollars, for every emigrant landed. I name this sum as the maximum, 
 and trust you will be able to procure freight at lower rates. 
 
 You are aware of the stringent provisions of the English Passengers 
 Act, and I must urge you not to employ any vessel that is not unexcep- 
 tionally seaworthy, and in every way suited for ithe comfortable convey- 
 ance of emigrants. They must be carefully surveyed. 
 
 I wish these vessels to take emigrants from Namoa, and if you will 
 inform me when a vessel has been chartered, I will, if possible, meet her at 
 that place. 
 
 I have arranged with your Mr. Tait as to the commission you will be 
 entitled to charge for this service, and also as to the probable outlay for 
 local charges, and for provision and clothing to the emigrants, amounting 
 in the aggregate to 24 dollars ; and if two months' wages, or 8 dollars, be 
 paid in advance, the total sum required per man will be 32 dollars, which 
 sum T shall be prepared to advance as soon as I am informed that a vessel 
 has been taken up for the service. 
 
 The provisions must be of the best quality, and the supply of water 
 abundant ; but on this and other points connected with the emigration, I 
 will write hereafter. 
 
 To obviate the inconvenience and dissatisfaction that appears to have 
 arisen in the West Indies by deducting 1 dollar a-month from the wages 
 of the emigrants, so as to refund to the Colonies the 8 dollars advanced 
 here, I think it would be well, instead of having any reference to these 
 8 dollars in the contract, merely to stipulate that, for the first eight months 
 after their arrival, they will be entitled to receive as wages (exclusive of 
 food, &c.) only 3 dollars a-month, after which they will be placed on the 
 full allowance of 4 dollars. Interpreters are absolutely necessary. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) JAMES T. WHITE. 
 
 Inclosure 4 in No. 3. 
 Mr. White to the Secretary to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, December 26, 1853. 
 
 1. NOTHING of any interest connected with emigration has occurred 
 since I had the honour of addressing you on the 1 0th instant. 
 
 2. Very few vessels have arrived, and these all under previous 
 engagements, so that the rates of freight are fully as high as they were, 
 and as there is a great deal of Chinese produce on hand, waiting for ship- 
 ment, it is probable that they will go even higher. 
 
 3. No vessels have been taken up here, either for Panama, Peru, or 
 Cuba, but M. Jorg6 has purchased another vessel (now at Manilla, under 
 the French flag) for the Cuban emigration. 
 
 4. As an indication of the high rates of freight now current, I may 
 mention, that a vessel being required for the conveyance to England of 
 the invalids of the 59th Regiment, tenders were called for in the usaal 
 form, but only one vessel was offered (the "Enterprise"), and the rate 
 required 45Z. per man. Last year the rate was 30^. This tender was 
 rejected, but an arrangement has since been made by which the rate per 
 man is reduced to 40Z., the difference being made up, or nearly so, by the 
 freight payable on stores that are to be sent home, and by other conces- 
 sions. 
 
 5. Upwards of 800 Chinese have returned from California since the 
 10th instant. A passenger on board one of the vessels that brought 300 
 informs me that they appeared, all of them, to have plenty of money, and 
 that they stated their intention of returning to California as soon as they 
 had seen their friends and enjoyed the festivities of the New Year. The 
 return of Chinese under such favourable circumstances must naturally 
 stimulate emigration to that quarter, and the communication is now so 
 certain and so frequent that it cannot fail to become of considere^ble 
 importance. 
 
14 
 
 6. Subjoined is a memorandum furnished to me by M. Jorg6 of the 
 :hree vessels dispatched by him at the close of the last emigration season. 
 It is singular that the mortality was least on board of the vessel that was 
 most crowded. 
 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Coolies. 
 
 Died. 
 
 Sophia 
 
 Viagante 
 
 Victoria 
 
 240 
 500 
 
 250 
 300 
 400 
 
 17 
 51 
 53 
 
 
 950 
 
 121 
 
 The mortality on board of the " Viagante " was caused by scurvy, 
 which broke out ninety days after leaving this, and he attributes it entirely 
 to the negligence of the captain. 
 
 The mortality on board the " Victoria " he attributed to her being 
 dispatched " too late in the season ; about the end of March." 
 
 7. He has made arrangements for this season with parties residing at 
 Anjer, and at the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena, to furnish his 
 vessels with whatever provisions or supplies may be required ; and he 
 makes it imperative upon the captains to call at Anjer for fresh vege- 
 tables and pigs, and at the Cape of Good Hope or at St. Helena, or at 
 both, if necessary, for the same purpose, taking sheep at the Cape instead 
 of pigs. These arrangements are good, and might be adopted with 
 advantage in our West Indian emigration ; for the various breaks in the 
 voyage, and the frequent supply of fresh vegetables and water, must 
 conduce to the health, comfort, and cheerfulness of the emigrants. 
 
 8. Difficulties, however, occur in spite of his precautions and care. 
 By late advices from Singapore, T learn that the "Adamastor," of 400 
 tons, dispatched by M. Jorge for Cuba in last October, with upwards of 
 300 coolies on board, had put into that port, the captain being compelled 
 to this step under the threat of losing his life. The coolies deserted 
 the ship immediately after her arrival, and the voyage was necessarily 
 abandoned . 
 
 9. Incidents such as this deter captains from embarking in the 
 emigration service. And to show the general feeling that prevails on 
 the subject, I annex the copy of a letter from the consignee of the 
 " Jamestown," to whom I had made an offer for the conveyance of 
 emigrants to Jamaica. 
 
 10. The proper season for emigration is passing away so rapidly, 
 that I have taken upon myself the responsibility of offering 80 dollars for 
 the passage of emigrants to the West Indies. This sum, payable on 
 arrival, is equal to 16Z. 13«. 4d. The provisions, clothing, and local 
 charges will amount to about 25 dollars, which, at the current high rates 
 of exchange, will not be less than 6Z. 6s. Sd., making in all 231. This is 
 an amount beyond which the Commissioners would not, as I apprehend, 
 authorise me to advance, nor would any such advance be sanctioned by 
 the Local Governments. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed^ JAMES T. WHITE, 
 
 Inclosure 5 in No. 3. 
 Mr. Hubbett to Mr. White. 
 
 Sii", Canton, December 10, 1853. 
 
 INFORiVIED through Captain Moore you are very desirous of getting 
 forward coolies to Jamaica, and ready to pay very liberally, considering 
 the scarcity of tonnage, I am induced to solicit an offer for 'the '^ James- 
 
15 
 
 town." I send this by express boat, as time is an object, and the voyage 
 for this ship already marked out for Manilla; still your offer may be an 
 object for me to abandon the latter, therefore you must send me your very 
 best terms, as on receipt of same I shall either accept them, or close my 
 despatches to Captain Moore for Manilla. 
 
 Let your offer be very clear ; say dollars per head for 500, or as 
 
 many more as the ship can take in her 'tween decks. 
 
 Freight to be paid on the number shipped, less 2 per cent, in the 
 event of any mortality, amounting to more than that per-centage ; and no 
 further abatement in any case, not excepting the possibility of the ship 
 stopping on the voyage and the men escaping. 
 
 Ship to find water and fuel, and to be dispatched on the 1st January, 
 or sooner if possible. 
 
 Freight to be paid in Spanish dollars, on arrival of the ship at 
 Jamaica. 
 
 It is unnecessary to send me an offer coupled with receiving freight 
 on the number of coolies landed, as it will not be considered for a moment. 
 
 So much has been said of your readiness to pay a ship more liberally 
 than present rate of freights will yield, I shall be most happy to abandon 
 the Manilla voyage of the "Jamestown," and meet you promptly : but 
 remember the last clause, as I cannot take the slightest risk of being 
 disappointed in the out-turn of the freight. 
 
 As the post-boat may give me your reply earlier than the bearer of 
 this can return, better write by it. 
 
 I have,, &c. 
 (Signed) H. W. HUBBETT. 
 
 Inclosure 6 in No. 3. 
 
 The Secretary to the Colonial Land and Enugrution Commissioners to Mr. White. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 (Extract.) Park Street, Westminster, February 24, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners 
 to acknowledge your letters of the 10th and 26th December last. 
 
 The Commissioners I'egret much that you should have been unable to 
 procure any shipping for emigrants for the West Indies. They entirely 
 approve of your having increased your offer to 80 dollars a-head. They 
 also fully approve the proceedings which you propose to take in regard of 
 obtaining women, understanding your intention to be this : that as wives 
 are, in fact, obtained by purchase in China, you will furnish some of the 
 emigrants procured by you with the means of effecting marriages in this 
 the usual manner, taking care that the connexion thus formed is one of a 
 nature as legitimate and obligatory as the law and usage of China renders 
 possible. 
 
 With regard to your intention to employ native surgeons, the 
 Commissioners cannot but feel much apprehension,, especially observing 
 the large mortality which has taken place in two out of the three ships 
 dispatched by M. Jorge to Cuba. They trust that if you find yourself 
 forced to have recourse to this class of persons, you will have spared no 
 pains to secure as capable a person as can be obtained. 
 
 The Commissioners would not as yet feel at liberty to sanction the 
 expenditure of money in a depot. The emigration from Hong Kong is at 
 present experimental, not a single cargo of emigrants having been yet 
 collected at that port. The Commissioners are glad to observe that you 
 anticipate no difficulty in obtaining emigrants ; but they do not think so 
 large an expense (which does not appear to be indispensable) should be 
 incurred, at least till those anticipations have been tested by experience. 
 There is, however, one point in your proceedings to which the Commis- 
 sioners cannot advert without great regret. Your instructions authorise 
 you to dispatch emigrants from Hong Kong, or, if necessary, from Amoy. 
 But you state that you have entered into an engagement with Mr. Tait 
 for dispatching vessels from Namoa. Emigration from Namoa is, as you 
 
16 
 
 are aware, in direct violation of our Treaties with China ; and on that 
 account, when emigration was set on foot from that port last year, it 
 elicited an immediate remonstrance from the Foreign Office, The Com- 
 missioners trust, therefore, that no emigrants will have been dispatched 
 from that or any other locality which is not legally open to British trade. 
 
 The Commissioners have perused with much interest the account 
 which you give of the emigration to Cuba and other destinations. 
 
 They are glad to perceive that a stop has been put to an emigration 
 alleged to be connected with so many abuses as that to Peru. 
 
 Inclosure 7 in No. 3. 
 Mr. Merivale to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 (Extract.) Downing Street, March 17, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of the 25th ultimo, transmitting copies of two letters from 
 Mr. White, reporting his proceedings in connexion with the emigration of 
 Chinese to the West Indies, together with the copy of the answer you have 
 returned to Mr, White. 
 
 I am to acquaint you in reply, that the Duke of Newcastle approves 
 of your answer to Mr. White ; and his Grace has directed the Governor of 
 Hong Kong to instruct the Surveyor-General of that Colony to place 
 himself in communication with Mr, White respecting the establishment 
 of a dep6t, in the case of the continuance of emigration, and to report his 
 opinion respecting the expediency of such a step. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Mr. Addington to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 (Extract.) Foreign Office, April 4, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE laid before the Earl of Clarendon your letter of the 28th 
 ultimo,* inclosing correspondence between the Colonial Land and Emi- 
 gration Commissioners and Mr. White, the agent employed in China, to 
 procure Chinese coolies for the West Indies. 
 
 Lord Clarendon directs me to request that you will state to the Duke 
 of Newcastle, that he has seen with surprise the deliberate disregard 
 shown by Mr. White for the Treaty engagements between Her Majesty 
 and the Emperor of China, and for Her Majesty's Order in Council of the 
 24th of February, 1843, in sanctioning the repair to Namoa for the purpose 
 of embarking coolies of a vessel chartered by him ; and Lord Clarendon 
 cannot consider an expression of regret on the part of the Commissioners 
 as sufficient to mark the disapprobation of Her Majesty's Government of 
 so irregular a proceeding. It will be impossible for Her Majesty's servants 
 in China to enforce the observance by British subjects of the Treaties 
 between the two countries, and of Her Majesty's Orders in Council for 
 giving effect to them, if a person in the employment of the British 
 Government is suffered to take upon himself to disregard them altogether. 
 
 Lord Clarendon directs me further to state, that he has read with 
 great alarm the plan proposed by Mr. White for procuring female 
 emigrants, which appears to his Lordship to afford an opening for the 
 greatest abuses, and in fact to set 'on foot a trade little different from the 
 Slave Trade. 
 
 It is notorious that no respectable Chinese woman will voluntarily 
 expatriate herself ; and the offer of a bounty to Chinese men to procure 
 women to accompany them is calculated. Lord Clarendon apprehends, to 
 lead to most mischievous results. It may be perfectly true that in China, 
 as in some other countries, marriage may be a matter of bargain and 
 sale; but Lord Clarendon conceives that it is very desirable that the 
 
 * No. 3. 
 
17 
 
 Britieh Government should take no part, directly or Indirectly, in such 
 transactions. 
 
 Lord Clarendon will transmit to Sir John Bowring copies of the 
 inclosures in your letter ; but he will point out to him at the same time 
 that for any infringement of the Treaties between Great Britain and China, 
 and of the Orders in Council for carrying them into effect, Mr. White, 
 though in the employment of Her Majesty's Government, is equally with 
 other British subjects responsible. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, April 5, 1855. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, a copy of a 
 letter and its inclosures from the Colonial Office respecting Mr. White's 
 proceedings as agent for procuring Chinese coolies for the West Indies, 
 and a copy of the answer which I have directed to be returned to it.* 
 
 It is impossible not to view with some alarm Mr. White's plans for 
 obtaining female emigrants ; and I have to instruct you to pay particular 
 attention to this point, and to report to me whetfier there is any probability 
 of respectable females being induced to emigrate from China, now that 
 the disposition of the male population to emigrate is so strongly mani- 
 fested, without the parties who engage in promoting their emigration 
 appearing to afford, directly or indirectly, countenance to a trade partaking 
 of the character of the Slave Trade. 
 
 Considering the tenour of Mr. White's letters, and his avowal of his 
 having deliberately consented that a vessel chartered by him should repair 
 to Namoa, I think it right to state to you that Mr. White's character as 
 an agent acting for the British Colonies will not screen him from being, 
 equally with other British subjects, responsible for any infringement of 
 the Treaties with China, and of the Orders in Council for carrying them 
 into effect. I am, &c. 
 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 6. 
 Mr. Merivale to Mr. Hammond. — {Received June 26.) 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, June 12, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to transmit to you, for the 
 information of the Earl of Clarendon, with reference to Mr. Addington's 
 letter of the 4th April, the inclosed copy of a report from the Commis- 
 sioners for Colonial Lands and Emigration, explaining the views which they 
 entertain of the proposal made by Mr. White, the Emigration Agent in 
 China, for making advances to Chinese emigrants to enable them to 
 purchase women in marriage, according to the customs of their country. 
 The Commissioners advert also to the dissatisfaction expressed by Lord 
 Clarendon at the insufficiency of the notice taken by them of the unlawful 
 proceedings adopted by Mr. White for dispatching vessels from Namoa, 
 and they point out that they had expressed great regret at this proceeding, 
 reminding Mr. White that it was in direct violation of Treaties, and 
 expressing their trust that no emigrants would be dispatched from that or 
 any other port not legally open to British trade, 
 
 Mr. White is on his way back to this country, and it is not intended 
 that he should be employed again. Any other agent who may be sent out 
 will be duly apprised that, if he should knowingly and contrary to his 
 instructions adopt any proceedings in violation of the Treaties with 
 China, he will be held, equally with any other British subject, amenable 
 to the law. 
 
 * Nos. 3 and 4. 
 
 D 2 
 
18 
 
 Lord Clarendon will observe that the Commissioners desire to be 
 favoured with his Lordship's authority in confirmation of the views which 
 they entertain of the admissibility of proceedings for the collection of 
 emigrants elsewhere than at the legalized ports, for the purpose of being 
 embarked at Hong Kong, where it has been proposed to form an emigra- 
 tion depot. It is by means of such a depot whither emigrants may be 
 drawn from the Chinese territory, and whence they may be shipped from 
 British ground, and under British authority, that it is conceived the 
 emigration can be carried on successfully without abuse or disorder, and 
 free from risks of collision with Chinese authorities. But it must be some 
 time before Chinese desiring to emigrate, will learn to find their way to 
 Hong Kong of their own accord, without suggestion, information, or 
 assistance, and no objection appears to be made by the mandarins to the 
 collection of emigrants either at the legalized ports or elsewhere. 
 
 The observations of the Commissioners on the proposal for offering 
 bounties on married couples, or advances to emigrants to enable them 
 , to marry, appear to the Duke of Newcastle to be deserving of Lord 
 Clarendon's fullest consideration. It is stated by the Commissioners that 
 women of the large-footed class are habitually bought by procuresses as 
 slaves, and either hired out as prostitutes or sold as wives. It is possible 
 that these women through their ignorance may desire rather to remain in 
 China as slaves and prostitutes than to be married and free in a British 
 Colony: and it will, perhaps, be contended that it is right and proper to 
 respect their preference. But if so, they will remain in their own country, 
 subject to every species of pernicious restraint and oppression in order 
 that they may be spared a constraint which would be for their benefit and 
 for their best interests. 
 
 I am directed to inclose to you, for Lord Clarendon's information, a 
 copy of a despatch which his Grace has addressed to the Governors of 
 Jamaica, British Guiana, Trinidad, and Mauritius. His Grace thinks it 
 necessary to warn the Colonies concerned in the emigration from the east 
 that it cannot be permitted to proceed upon the present footing as to the 
 disparity of the sexes. I am, &c. 
 
 (Signed) HERMAN MERIVALE. 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 6. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Colonial Ltind and Emigration Office, 
 (Extract.) May 2, 1854. 
 
 1. WE have to acknowledge your letter of the 20th ultimo, inclosing 
 one addressed by Mr. Addington to Mr. Peel respecting certain proceedings, 
 or rather intentions, of Mr. White, the emigration agent in China. 
 
 2. As this letter appears to imply a censure on the sentiments which 
 we are understood to have expressed, we think it necessary to offer some 
 explanations on the points referred to in it. 
 
 3. Mr. White had proposed to embark coolies at Namoa, which is 
 not one of the authorized ports. After animadverting on this proposal, 
 Mr. Addington states that Lord Clarendon cannot consider an expression 
 of regret on the part of this Board as sufficient to mark the disapprobation 
 of Her Majesty's Government at this proceeding, and notices the evil 
 consequences which must result from suflFering a person in the employment 
 of the British Government to disregard altogether the Treaties between 
 England and China. 
 
 4. We presume that these expressions in Mr. Addington's letter refer 
 to the second paragraph of our report of the 25th of February, in which, 
 after noticing Mr. White's intention, we merely characterized it as " a 
 step which we could not refrain from regretting." But we cannot help 
 thinking from the concluding expression of the paragraph that Lord 
 Clarendon's attention could not have been drawn to the terms of our 
 letter to Mr. White which forms one of the inclosures to the above 
 report, and in which we meant certainly to convey a decided censure as 
 
19 
 
 to the past, and an unqualified prohibition of dispatching- emigrant ships 
 from Naraoa, or any other unauthorized port for the future. Our words 
 were as follows : 
 
 "There is, however, one point in your proceedings to which the 
 Commissioners cannot advert without great regret. Your instructions 
 authorize you to dispatch emigrants from Hong Kong, or, if necessary, 
 from Amoy ; but you state that you have entered into an engagement 
 with Messrs. Tait, for dispatching vessels from Namoa. Emigration 
 from Namoa is, as you are aware, in direct violation of our Treaties 
 with China, and on that account, when it was set on foot from that port 
 last year, it elicited an immediate remonstrance from the Foreign Office. 
 The Commissioners trust, therefore, that no emigrants will have been 
 dispatched from that or any other locality which is not legally open to 
 British trade." 
 
 5. We hope, however, that in condemning the dispatch of any vessels 
 under Government authority, from the neighbourhood of Namoa, it is not 
 intended also to prohibit the shipment at Hong Kong, by the Government 
 agent, of emigrants obtained by persons acting under agreement with 
 him, from that or other parts of China. Such a prohibition would confine 
 the operations of those who contracted to furnish emigrants to the great 
 seaport towns, at which, we need hardly say, the least well-disposed, 
 healthy, and (for the purpose of agricultural work) serviceable emigrants 
 are likely to be procured. Amoy is the spot where the greatest abuses 
 have taken root, and from which some of the worst bodies of emigrants 
 have been shipped. Of Whampoa, Macao, or Cumsingmoon, Sir J. 
 Bowring writes,* that the coolies shipped there " would probably be the 
 veriest dregs of the Canton population, and would very probably require 
 a guard to preserve subordination.'' While of Namoa, Commander 
 Fishbourne, in his report on the malpractices and injustice prevalent 
 at Amoy, writes as follows :f 
 
 " 26. I visited Namoa, or more properly the anchorage in the Shantow 
 or Swatow river, but there were no vessels, except the opium vessels ; 
 two, however, had been there, and they took about 500 coolies. 
 
 " 27. 1 was informed by Mr. Gerard, of Dent and Co.'s house, that 
 there were no cooly brokers ; that the coolies flock down in hundreds to 
 go with the consent of the mandarins, and that it was necessary to have 
 cooly sheds. He further said, that frequently in his walks he was 
 accosted by men anxious to emigrate, and indeed we had not arrived 
 many minutes when two men came off and offered themselves. 
 
 " 28. They appeared to be a much better description of people, and 
 Captain Guard said there was not iiearly so much disease amongst them 
 as amongst those at Amoy, and that they were quite astonished at the 
 amount of provisions provided for them." 
 
 6. It is fair to add, that Mr. Harveyj who visited Namoa wuth Com- 
 mander Fishbourne, suggested that competition would arise between the 
 merchants, and before long give rise to some catastrophe ; but on the 
 other hand this prediction, which was made on December 22, 1852, has 
 not at present been verified. 
 
 7. We trust, therefore, for the sake of the character, and indeed 
 safety, of the emigration, that it will not be thought requisite to confine 
 the operations of collection, as well as the dispatch of ships, to the great 
 ports. 
 
 8. The question of a female emigration is a far more anxious one. 
 The overpowering necessity for such an emigration in the present cases, 
 arises from the fact that the form of depravity which is to be anticipated 
 from a purely male emigration, already exists among the Chinese, and we 
 can scarcely doubt that the absence of females w^ould ultimately accumulate 
 an amount of vice which would be intolerable. 
 
 9. The immediate supply of any large number is no doubt impossible. 
 
 * Parliamentary Papers, August 20, 1853, page 19. 
 f Ibid., paye 89. t Ibid., page 44. 
 
20 
 
 Every emigration not carried on by a wholesale compulsion, must, we 
 apprehend, in its outset be male. Neither in China, India, nor England, 
 can any large number of females, still less of respectable females, be 
 persuaded to leave their country till their new home has been tested by 
 an emigration of those who are more able to face the dangers of the 
 experiment. In China this feeling amounts to a superstition, which is but 
 slightly, if at all, giving way* to an increased knowledge of foreigners 
 and facility of conveyance. But we must not shrink from stating our 
 conviction that the present emigration ought not to be carried on at all, 
 if we are to give up the hope that a female emigration may follow it at 
 no distant period, and that every year during which that emigration is 
 deferred, involves great moral evils. 
 
 10. In treating this question, therefore, we are to consider (if the 
 emigration is to go on) not whether any particular proposal is open to 
 objection, which is unfortunately inevitable, but what steps the Govern- 
 ment is authorized, and, if authorized, bound to adopt, to arrest or mitigate 
 a pressing danger. 
 
 11. We have endeavoured, both from the reports printed for Parlia- 
 ment, and from communications with those conversant with the country, 
 to ascertain the real position of females in China, without which the 
 difficulties of the case can hardly be appreciated. We are told that a 
 Chinese, even of the labouring class, is usually betrothed as a child by 
 his parents to a girl who ultimately, but by no choice of his own, becomes 
 his wife. This first wife is of the small-footed or " respectable" class ; but 
 there is another class of women — the large-footed — who are principally 
 slaves. These are also taken as additional wives by those who have the 
 means of purchasing and supporting them, and the marriages thus 
 contracted, we understand to be of as permanent a nature as those which 
 follow on betrothal. 
 
 12. But the state of Chinese society and morals is such, that a large 
 number of females (who would otherwise probably be destroyed) are 
 purchased before they are of an age to know their parents — otherwise, 
 as a Chinese observed to us, they would run away home— by procuresses, 
 and are brought up with a view to being either sold as wives, or hired as 
 prostitutes. This wretched trade appears scarcely to be considered as 
 degrading in China, and we are informed that a Chinese who has the 
 requisite means, will, without hesitation, proceed to an establishment of 
 this kind, and purchase a wife from it, without reference to her previous 
 life. 
 
 13. Such being the habits of the country, we are told that it is highly 
 improbable that parents would sell their children for expatriation, but 
 that a Government bounty upon married couples would no doubt give 
 occasion to purchases and marriages of this kind. And whatever may be 
 thought of the state of morality which renders this possible, we cannot 
 but point out that, as far as the woman is concerned, the result will be to 
 raise her from the state of slavery under Chinese, to that of freedom under 
 British law, and from such prospects as were then before her to the 
 position of a wife. Nor is such a transaction open to the objection to 
 which even the redemption of slaves in Africa is justly liable, namely, that 
 it is an indirect and powerful premium on first reducing them to slavery. 
 If it had any effect at all of this kind, it would operate to discourage 
 infanticide. 
 
 14. We cannot help hoping that these considerations will be held to 
 constitute a substantial difference between the proceedings recommended 
 by Mr. White and the Slave Trade. 
 
 15. But the particular point to which we are anxious to draw the 
 Duke of Newcastle's attention is this, — female emigration appears to us a 
 moral necessity. The emigration of the only class of women who are not 
 objects of purchase in China is not to be expected. The direct agency of 
 Government in purchasing any is of course out of the question, and much 
 more that wholesale purchase of women, of which the idea has been more 
 
 * Parliamentary Papers, August 20, 1853, page 28, Mr. Parkes's letter. Sir John Bowring, 
 p. 23. 
 
21 
 
 than once thrown out. Almost equally impossible is it that any emigrant 
 who from the nature of the case is a pauper, should be or have been able 
 to procure a wife of the lower and purchaseable class. If, therefore, 
 emigrants may not receive from Government the means of obtaining 
 wives according to the custom of their country, it is difficult to see what 
 escape is in prospect from the mischiefs of a male emigration. 
 
 16. We presume that the letter of Mr. Addington will be considered 
 as closing the question for the present; but we hope that if we are 
 instructed to appoint an emigration officer at Hong Kong, we may be 
 allowed to direct him to inquire carefully into the subject, and to report 
 whether, in his opinion, any means exist of commencing female emigration 
 generally, and in particular whether it would be possible to enable 
 emigrants to obtain wives without running the risk of inflicting on the 
 women expatriation without their consent, in which risk we presume the 
 similarity between the proposed transaction and the Slave Trade consists. 
 
 17. The question of course occurs, whether an emigration which pre- 
 sents an alternative of such difficulties should be continued at all ? Nor 
 would it be easy to rest under the responsibility of conducting it, but for 
 considerations, which though obvious, we would venture to call to mind. 
 
 18. As regards China, this emigration is to transfer thousands, and 
 may result in transferring hundreds of thousands, from a country inVhich 
 the pressure of population renders famine not unfrequent, and female 
 infanticide habitual, to one in which their physical well-being is, humanly 
 speaking, certain ; and where we may venture to hope they will be brought 
 within the reach of fresh influences from law and religion. 
 
 19. As a matter of commercial interest, the Chinese in the East are 
 represented as, by their industry, carrying prosperity with them wherever 
 they go ; and every account confirms the hope that they may be of the 
 greatest value in supporting West Indian cultivation, which it would seem 
 impossible to support without immigration from the East. 
 
 20. And anything which supports that cultivation has far more than 
 a commercial value, as the abandonment of estates now so long in progress 
 not only risks a relapse of the negroes into barbarism (of which it is 
 alleged that symptoms are already discernible in the remoter parts of 
 Jamaica), but tends materially to encourage the production of sugar by 
 slave labour. 
 
 Inclosure 2 in No. 6. 
 
 The Duke of Newcastle to the Governors of Jamaica, British Guiana, Trinidad, 
 
 Mauritius, Sfc. 
 
 (Extract.) Downing Street, June 12, 1854. 
 
 I INCLOSE for your information copies and extracts of a correspon- 
 dence* between this Office, the Foreign Office, and the Commissioners for 
 Emigration, arising out of a proposal made by Mr. White, the Emigration 
 agent in China, to procure female emigrants from that country by making 
 advances of money to male emigrants for the purchase of women in 
 marriage according to the customs of China. 
 
 You will perceive that the Earl of Clarendon regards the proposal 
 with great alarm as involving the instrumentality of the British Govern- 
 ment in promoting the sale of Chinese women for expatriation without 
 their consent, and that the Emigration Commissioners defend it on this 
 ground, amongst others, that in China female children are habitually 
 either destroyed or sold as slaves to procuresses to be brought up as 
 prostitutes, and that it were better they should be sold in marriage to be 
 taken to a free country. 
 
 When an agent shall be again sent to China, he will be instructed to 
 ireport, on the one hand, whether the offer of a bounty to men who have 
 been enabled to marry from their own resources will be available to pro- 
 cure the emigration of married couples, or on the other whether the offer 
 of a bounty in advance to male emigrants to enable them to marry, can be 
 
 * No. 3 and fnclosures, No, 4, No. 6, and Inclosure 1 in No. 6. 
 
22 
 
 so guarded as to ascertain that marriages shall not take place, in virtue 
 of the advance, without the consent of the woman to the marriage and to 
 the emigration. 
 
 I send you this correspondence in order that you may be aware of the 
 very serious questions which are arising out of the disproportion of the 
 sexes in the emigrations from Asia hitherto effected or set on foot. 
 
 It is necessary to apprize you that unless the difficulties of redressing 
 this disproportion can be in one way or another overcome, the emigration 
 cannot be permitted to proceed. Her Majesty's Government cannot incur 
 the reproach of forming over again in the West Indies and Mauritius such 
 male communities as were formed in the earlier part of this century in 
 Australia. 
 
 So long as the emigrants went to the West Indies to labour for a term 
 of five years, and no more, with a purpose, to be duly executed, of 
 returning to their country and families at the end of that terra, the evil of 
 being unaccompanied by their wives, great as it was, might not be 
 regarded as intolerable. But first the practice was adopted of inducing 
 the coolies to commute their back passages and engage themselves to 
 remain for a second period of five years ; and next the Court of Directors 
 sanctioned an original contract for a ten years' residence, and the result 
 must be expected to be that the greater number of the East Indian 
 emigrants will never return, whilst the Chinese, who make no stipulation 
 to have a back passage provided for them, will also in all probability settle 
 in the Colonies to which they are brought. 
 
 These facts and prospects give an importance to the disproportion of 
 sexes, which it is impossible any longer to overlook, and unless that 
 disproportion can be rectified it will be indispensable that the emigration 
 should be brought to a speedy termination, deeply as that necessity would 
 be to be lamented. 
 
 No. 7. 
 Mr. Hammond to Sir George Bonham. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, June 28, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you, for your 
 perusal, the accompanying correspondence* between this office and the 
 Colonial Department respecting the proceedings of Mr. White, the Emi- 
 gration Agent employed in China to procure Chinese coolies for the West 
 Indies. 
 
 Lord Clarendon considers that it is of the utmost consequence that the 
 emigration of Chinese labourers should not be discontinued, but that it is 
 equally important that it should be conducted under proper regulations, 
 and that the evils resulting from a disparity of the sexes should as far as 
 possible be prevented ; and I am to request that bearing these points in 
 mind, and the probable operation of establishing a depot at Hong Kong, 
 you will favour his Lordship with your opinion upon the inclosed papers. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 No. 8. 
 Sir George Bonham to Mr. Hammond.'- (Received July 5.) 
 
 (Extract.) Mivart's Hotel, Brook Street, London, July 4, 1854^ 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your official 
 communication of the 28th ultimo, transmitting for my perusal and report 
 copies of a correspondence between the Foreign Office and the Colonial 
 Department, respecting the proceedings of Mr. White, the Emigration 
 
 * Nos. 3,-4, and 6. 
 
23 
 
 Agent employed in China to procure Chinese coolies for the West 
 Indies. 
 
 After a careful perusal of these papers, and from experience acquired 
 in China, I am bound at once to observe that the general question of 
 emigration from that country, as well as the best mode for carrying it 
 into effect, is one surrounded by very great difficulties. On the one 
 hand, I am duly impressed with the great importance of obtaining Chinese 
 labourers for our West India Possessions ; whilst on the other, the 
 disparity of the sexes, and the obstacles in the way of procuring female 
 emigrants, render the subject one of anxiety and serious consideration. 
 But as Lord Clarendon wishes to have my opinions on the subject, it only 
 rests to consider in what manner our wants can best be supplied, without 
 leading to abuses in the collection of coolies, and without those evils 
 which would follow from a disparity of the sexes. I need not add, that I offer 
 the following observations with no very sanguine hope that they will be 
 considered to meet the difficulties at present existing, though perhaps on 
 the whole the Earl of Clarendon may not deem them undeserving of some 
 attention. 
 
 I shall first advert to the question mooted in the papers, of establish- 
 ing a depot at Hong Kong, where coolies are to be collected for shipment. 
 No doubt this would be a very desirable step, and under proper regula- 
 tions, and with the assistance of the Colonial authorities, would work in a 
 satisfactory manner; but I cannot yet perceive how such a depot can be 
 fully supplied. As the Duke of Newcastle observes in Mr. Merivale's 
 letter of the 12th of June to your address, " some time must elapse before 
 Chinese desiring to emigrate will learn to find their way to Hong Kong of 
 their own accord, without suggestion, information, or assistance." The 
 Earl of Clarendon will, no doubt, be aware that the Chinese population 
 settled in Hong Kong is not of a nature likely to yield many emigrants, 
 most of the Chinese residing on the island being in business, or connected 
 more or less with the interests of the place. We have therefore to 
 look to the mainland for labourers : and here lies the difficulty. Suppos- 
 ing the men about Canton, Macao, Whampoa, and Cumsingmoon, to be 
 eligible for emigration (upon which there seem to be contradictory state- 
 ments, though M. Jorge, of Macao, mentioned in Mr. White's letter of 
 the 10th December, 1853, appears to be satisfied with the natives of these 
 localities), the employment of collecting agents to be sent inland appears 
 indispensable; and on this point our experience at Amoy has shown us 
 the necessity for great caution and circumspection, for it is almost impos- 
 sible to guard against the extortions and villanies perpetrated by these 
 native agents. 
 
 If, on the other hand, agents are dispatched further north, say to 
 Amoy and its vicinity (Namoa for instance), it may be no easy matter to 
 induce the emigrants to repair to so distant a place as Hong Kong for 
 the purpose of being kept there until shipped, to say nothing of the frauds 
 likehr to be perpetrated if kept too long at the depot ; and the distance 
 between the two places would render the proceedings of the native agent 
 whilst charged with the collection of the labourer less liable to be 
 checked and overlooked. 
 
 I am aware that these are matters of detail which we ought to leave 
 to the Emigration agent to settle, but I only mention them because it is 
 advisable to consider this serious question under its several aspects. 
 
 For my part I. would propose the collection at the ports of trade of 
 such coolies as were willing to emigrate, and who had been obtained by 
 fair, legitimate, and open means made known to the British and Chinese 
 authorities on the spot ; and if men were not to be had at these places, I 
 would not object to their being obtained at any other port, provided the 
 Chinese authorities did not interfere. I am aware that emigration is 
 prohibited from China by some old obsolete law, which is all but ignored, 
 and certainly neglected and set aside by the mandarins on every possible 
 occasion, as experience has shown, not alone in the case of those Chinese 
 who have repaired to the Straits Settlements, Java, Borneo, Manilla, and 
 all the Eastern Archipelago, but likewise of late years in the outpourings 
 of the country to the gold mines of California, and lately to Australia. 
 
24 
 
 And, under these circumstances, and with, these j^recedents, perhaps 
 the best mode of dealing with the subject might be to inform the Chiaese- 
 authorities at the legalized ports that they cannot possibly object to the 
 British authorities assisting in and superintending the fair and honest, 
 emigration of Chinese subjects, since it is notorious, that the system is 
 carried on under their own eyes, and with their connivance and concur- 
 rence, in a manner not free from abuses and risks, whilst the plan pro- 
 posed by us would be based upon: proper regulations, which would satisfy 
 all parties concerned and entirely do away with past abuses. If their 
 consent, whether positive or implied, could be obtained, one great diffi- 
 culty would then be overcome ; for in that case the emigration agent might 
 proceed to the port where he hoped to obtain the greatest number of 
 eligible men, and there, with the assistance of the British authorities, 
 make the needful arrangem.ents,. without incurring the risk of those evils 
 and serious difficulties which proved so embaarrassing at Amoy in Novem- 
 ber 1852. It seems to me that under proper surveillance and control,, 
 and under the responsibility of an emigration agent, assisted by the 
 British Consul,' the system cannot but work in a satisfactory manner. 
 If eligible coolies are to be obtained at Namoa, which is not far from 
 Amoy, I really cannot perceive why the same men are not to be pro- 
 cured at Amoy itself by issuing bills and placards, and seeing that the 
 promises therein set forth are duly and implicitly carried out. 
 
 The Land and Emigration Commissioners, in their letter to» the 
 Colonial. Office of the 2nd May, state that Amoy is the spot where the 
 greatest abuses have taken place, and from which some of the worst, 
 bodies of emigrants have been shipped. But in making this statement, 
 it should have been added untier what circumstances these men were 
 obtained. In ray opinion Amoy as a depot is perhaps more eligible thaa 
 Hong Kong, if the same official co,ntrol be exercised at that port as it 
 is intended should be the case in Hong [Long ; fur the Province of Fokien 
 oflfers- more advantages for the collection of eligible laibourers than. the. 
 Canton Districts. 
 
 In making the above remarks,. I assume, of course, that the consent,, 
 implied or otherwise, of the Chinese authorities will have been obtained ; 
 for unless such be the case, emigration from China will find its head- 
 quarters at places not legalised by Treaty, and' therefore beyond our 
 control and superintendence, or itvy/ill be necessary to revert to the system 
 of a depot at Hong Kong, which will be supplied by colleeting agents,, 
 whose proceedings whilst travelling in the country it will be difficult to 
 check. This question, as I have already stated,, offers difficulties on all 
 sides, and renders a decision not easy to be arrived .at. 
 
 The next point to he considered is that resulting from a disparity of 
 the sexes, and. here again I must at once confess that this difficulty appears 
 to me of a nearly insurmountable nature. It is notorious, as the Earl of 
 Clarendon observes, that no respectable Chinese woman will voluntarily 
 expatriate herself. Such a wish is against her notions,, her feelings, her 
 prejudices; her mind is as incapable of grasping at or comprehending the 
 benefits to be derived from emigration, as it is difficult for us to under- 
 stand tlie workings of her brain or the train of reasoning by which she 
 arrives at her conclusions. I am satisfied no couple,, however slender their 
 means may be in China, will leave their home,. with its family associations, 
 to proceed to some far distant and unknown country, with the uncertain 
 hope of increasing those means. It does not require a twelvemonths' 
 residence in China to obtain as clear and definite an opinion upon this 
 subject as it is possible to possess, and a reference to the papers and 
 correspondence of those parties, whether officially engaged or otherwise 
 who have written or been mixed up in any shape in coolie emigration 
 matters, will more than confirm this opinion. We are, therefore, as a last 
 resource, thrown upon the lowest in the scale of women, to form our stock 
 of female emigrants ; for if, as the Land and Emigration Commissioners 
 state, male emigrants are from the nature of the case to be considered as 
 paupers, it will be no difficult task to appreciate the status of the female 
 portion thereof. Those that will be procured will either have been bought 
 up as slaves, and sold as prostitutes, or they will already have carried on 
 
25 
 
 their trade as common prostitutes for many years, and become willing to 
 effect a change of locality for the saise of increased profit and advantages. 
 That these kind of women haye no objection to emigrate, we have sufficient 
 proof, in the number who find their vvay to California ; and shortly before 
 my departure from Hong Kong, half-a-dozen of these women, who had 
 collected a large sum of money in San Francisco, returned, and by means 
 of the tempting bait held out, induced some thirty or forty other young 
 girls to accompany them back to California, and all these a,ctually left 
 China for their new 'home. But I need hardly add that such are not the 
 women we want in the West Indies, and I much fear that unless some 
 sensible and practicable plan be discovered for procuring a better class of 
 women, the present disparity of sexes will continue to exist. 
 
 There cannot be a slhado~w of doubt that the plan proposed by 
 Mr. White is open to serious objection, but I confess I am unprepared to 
 suggest a more eligible and proper one. Perhaps, with some modification, 
 the system of ofFei'ing a bounty to married emigrants, eqnal to the price 
 ordinarily paid in China by a man of the lal)Ouring class for his wife, 
 might be carried out advantageously. For instance, whether the dep6t 
 be established at Hong Kong or at Amoy, I would propose that at either 
 place the British authority should inquire carefully into every case of 
 marriage so performed ; should have the parties brought up before him, 
 and the woman narrowly and strictly examined previous to shipment, and 
 a declaration made and signed by her, to the effect that she was a free 
 and voluntary emigrant, that she freely and voluntarily married her 
 present husband, and that no compulsion or any other agency had been 
 set at work to induce her to do so. Without some official control of this 
 nature, the plan would be a bad one, for the offer of a premium snch as 
 that suggested, without some official check, is a dangerous experiment to 
 try with so venal and money-grasping a people as the Chinese. Inde- 
 pendently of the false position in which the British authorities might be 
 placed, by the innumerable abuses to which Mr. White's plan, in its 
 original and crude state, would doubtless give rise, as setting on foot, in 
 the words of Lord Clarendon, a trade little different from the Slave Trade, 
 I do not think it could be carried out of itself, without some official 
 support as a guarantee of its honest purpose. 
 
 If some such plan be not adopted, we must give up all idea of 
 obtaining female emigrants, and without them emigration from China 
 must cease, for every moral consideration and obligation requires us to 
 do so. I have stated, perhaps somewhat freety, my views upon this 
 important question, because I feel confident that thei'e are not two ways 
 of viewing the matter, and that those who propose a middle course have 
 not considered very maturely the whole bearings of the case. A middle 
 course is an impracticable one in this instance, and I shall now onlyrepoat 
 the observations with which I commenced this despatch : that the diffi- 
 culties surrounding this question of emigration from China are many, 
 and not to be easily overcome, and that unless one is fully prepared to cut 
 those difficulties short by some decided and unusual measure, Chinese 
 emigration must be at once stopped. 
 
 No. 9. 
 
 Sir J. Emerson Tennent to Lord Wodehouse. 
 
 Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, 
 My Lord, Whitehall, My 1 1, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed .by tbe Lords of Committee of Privy Council for 
 Trade, to request that you will bring under the immediate attention of the 
 Earl of Clarendon the accompanying copy of a memorial from certain 
 shipmasters lately returned from the Chincha Islands, detailing the 
 ■craellies practised on the Chinese labourers employed in the export of 
 ^uano, under the authority of persons responsible to the Government of 
 Peru. 
 
 As these unfortunate men are represented to be carried from China to 
 
 E2 
 
26 
 
 the Chinchas for the most part, if not exclusively, on board British vessels, 
 and as the trade which gives rise to this employment is principally carried 
 on for English account, my Lords consider that remonstrance is especially 
 called for on the part of the British Government, while they hope, for the 
 reasons afterwards referred to, that it is not unlikely to be successful. 
 
 The particulars of the severities to which they appear to be sub- 
 jected by the Peruvian contractor and his subordinates are so revolting 
 that my Lords, before proceeding in the matter, have felt it incumbent 
 on them to have a preliminary interview with the memorialists, of whose 
 reputation and credibility they had previously satisfied themselves through 
 the instrumentality of the officer employed in the registration of seamen. 
 
 The result of this interview has been to impress their Lordships with 
 the conviction that the shipmasters who have thus brought the subject 
 before them, have done so from motives of humanity, and under the 
 
 Eainful belief derived from personal knowledge of the atrocities which they 
 ave disclosed. 
 
 These gentlemen are of opinion that the labour at the Chincha 
 Islands, which is now performed by the ill-used Chinese emigrants, could 
 be executed with greater efficiency were the shipmasters allowed to place 
 the services of their crews at the disposal of the Peruvian authorities ; 
 that a much greater quantity of guano could be put on board, and in a 
 much more expeditious manner, and that the ships could be consequently 
 dispatched after a comparatively short detention ; thus effecting a saving 
 to the Peruvian Government, and enabling guano to be carried home at a 
 proportionate reduction of cost. 
 
 In illustration of their views, they related instances of the ease and 
 expedition with which the crews of particular ships had loaded their 
 cargoes, in contrast to the delay experienced when the loading is per- 
 formed by the Chinese ; and they stated also that in the other islands 
 where the Peruvian Government exercised a direct control by means of its 
 own officers, the like abuse did not exist. 
 
 The memorialists state their opinion, that the existing system of 
 entrapping the Chinese and extorting their forced labour by means of the 
 cruelties practised upon them is maintained, not from any advantage to 
 the Peruvian Government, but because the detention and delays to which 
 it gives rise are turned to profitable account by the subordinates of the 
 Peruvian contractors, who, having the control of the entire available 
 labour of the islands, are thus enabled to extract bribes for the more 
 expeditious despatch of particular ships. 
 
 It is intimated to my Lords, by the memorialists, that the gentleman 
 at the Chincha Islands who represents the house of Gibbs, Bright and Co., 
 the agents for the Peruvian Government in this country, is Mr. Went, a 
 person of just and humane sentiments, whose assistance would cheerfully 
 be rendered for the purpose of carrying into effect suitable arrangements 
 on this subject. 
 
 The shipmasters urge that British vessels in search of guano, should 
 be permitted to go direct to the Chincha Islands to load, without the 
 obligation to touch at Callao, for the purpose of obtaining a permis- 
 sion to take on board guano. They state that all dues which might 
 be imposed by the Peruvian Government would be paid with equal 
 punctuality at the Chinchas, were an officer duly authorized to receive 
 them. 
 
 They state, that the fear of disorders or disturbances occurring, if 
 the respective crews were permitted to land and load their own guano, is 
 unfounded, and is kept up by the interested representations of those who 
 derive an illicit profit from the present system. They say that it would 
 be easy to prescribe and maintain such regulations as would ensure 
 greater expedition without violation of order, and would consequently 
 furnish to the Government a greater revenue. 
 
 By your Lordship's letter of the I4th January last, my Lords were 
 made acqiiainted with a decree of the Peruvian Government, by which 
 vessels laden with guano were no longer required to touch at Callao on 
 their homewai-d voyage. The shipmasters complain that the obligation 
 to do so on the voyage out, involves a detention of many days, which it 
 
27 
 
 would be obviously important to avoid, as well as to escape tlie risk of 
 desertion, which they represent to be very prevalent at that port. 
 
 The memorialists state that the Chinese emigrants have hitherto 
 been exclusively, or almost exclusively, carried in British ships; and they 
 suggest, as a matter of justice to the Chinese, and of policy to Great 
 Britain, whether the disposition to emigrate to the free-labour Colonies of 
 this country may not be seriously checked if the British flag be engaged 
 in conveying emigrants to Cuba and the Chincha Islands, and whether 
 instructions should not be given to our Consuls to caution intending 
 emigrants as to the nature of the service in the country for which it is 
 proposed to ship them. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) J. EMERSON TENNENT. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 9. 
 
 Memorial. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Lords of the Privy Council of Trade. 
 
 May it please your Lordships, 
 
 WE, the undersigned shipmasters lately returned from the Chincha 
 Islands, on the coast of Peru, beg to submit to your Lordships' considera- 
 tion the following facts relative to the murderous cruelty practised on the 
 unfortunate Chinese labourers imported to those islands — we regret to 
 state, mostly, if not solely, in British vessels ; and although we, with 
 sorrow, do not see any immediate means of alleviating the sufferings of 
 those already carried there, as also to Cuba and other slave-holding States, 
 yet, remembering that the evil has been going on unchecked, owing, in 
 some measure, to a restriction put on Consular authority in China, we 
 have some hopes that, by your Lordships' humane interference, so much 
 of that authority will be restored to the British Consuls in China, as will 
 enable them to prevent the carrying of Chinese to slave-holding countries 
 in British vessels. The orders we aflude to, sent to China in 1851, were, 
 as far as we understand from the public papers, intended to apply to the 
 export of goods from China, the paying a nominal instead of a fixed taritF 
 duty being practised by foreign flags to the exclusion of the British legal 
 tr-ader. But the Board of Trade never contemplated that, under cover of 
 these orders, British merchants and shipmasters would take advantage of 
 the poverty and ignorance of the Chinese lower classes to export them. 
 Under agreements incomprehensible to them, to countries where they were 
 treated as slaves ; indeed, from their remembrance of freedom and rights, 
 treated infinitely worse ; and in how far we are justified in saying that 
 theirs is the worst form of slaverVj let us again crave your Lordships' 
 patience while w^e detail their condition at the Chinchas, and their treat- 
 ment as witnessed by us. 
 
 The labour of digging the guano was, previously to \S5'2, performed 
 by free labourers, of whom it is probable there would have been a sufficient 
 number at all times had any attention been paid to compensate them 
 according to the dreary nature and circumstances under which the work 
 has to be carried on ; but situate, as they were, fifteen miles from the main, 
 not a blade of verdure, no efficient huts, water served out sparingly, no 
 women, priests, or Sunday observance, spirits sold without restriction by 
 the overseers, free labour gradually declined, and that of convicts added. 
 With convicts came flogging, making the labour at the Chinchas still 
 more distasteful, of which only the poorest Peruvians availed themselves 
 as a last resource. Feeling the want of hands, the contractor, one Don 
 Elias, who shipped off" the guano, turned to China, and as about that 
 time numbers of Chinese returned from California to China, with ample 
 show of. wealth acquired, no difficulty was found in filling ships for Peru 
 by going through the form of a contract. 
 
 Your Lordships may remember that, from time to time, risings took 
 place on board these emigrant ships from China, and report says that, in 
 
28 
 
 one of those risings, the brother of Don Elias, the contractor, was killed. 
 This story, whether true or not, is given in extenuation of the cruelty- 
 practised — foo'ishiy enough, for, if true, the reasons are still more urgent 
 why other unfortunates of the same nation should not be placed under tbe 
 vindictive control of one wliose short-sighted views of serf-interest alone 
 would make their let sufficiently hard. No sooner are they landed from 
 the ships than they see tall African negroes placed over them as boatswains, 
 armed with a lash of four plaits of cowhide, laid up in the form of what 
 seamen call " round sennet," five feet in length, an incTi and a-half in 
 diameter, tapering to a point, and such as we, who have never been in 
 slave-countries without witnessing flogging, could not have thought could 
 be applied to human beings without causing death, and can only compare 
 to the Australian stockwhip. 
 
 During the forenoons, except for regular offences (or such as the 
 overseers please to term such), this instrument was not so much used, but 
 as, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, many of the weakest had not performed 
 their task work, the boatswains (when the Middle Island, on which Chinese 
 only were, was under the control of one Kossuth) freely used it to start those 
 behind to bring the day's supervision to a close. The slightest resistance 
 was punished by a flogging little short of murder, as on many melancholy 
 occasions we witnessed, being nearer than we desired. The first six to 
 twelve cuts stifled the most agonizing cries, that rang through the fleet — 
 cries that we heard day by day, but only then knew the full amount of 
 suffering that called them forth. There was no tying up ; the nearest 
 Chinaman being compelled, "hj a cut of the lash, to lay hold of an arm or 
 leg and stretch the miserable sufferer on his stomach on the guano. The 
 mere weight alone of the lash made their bodies shake, blacltening the 
 flesh at every blow, besides cutting into it like a sabre, and when a 
 convulsive movement took place, a subordinate placed his boot on the 
 shoulders to keep the quivering body down ; two dozen made them breath- 
 less, and w"hen released after thirty-nine lashes, they seemed slowly to 
 stagger over, reeled, and fell, and were carried off to the hospital — in most 
 cases, if they recovered, committing suicide ; for no human heart, unless 
 elevated by Christian training, could, after undergoing so cruel an inflic- 
 tion, ever have more than two feelings, that is, death to those he suffered 
 from, or death to himself. Accordingly, during our stay there many 
 sprang over the cliffs, many buried themselves alive in the guano, and 
 many iiid themselves in the caves of the islands to starve to death, their 
 dead bodies floating all round in numbers. In one instance, two, embol- 
 dened by pity shown them by a shipmaster, hid themselves on board his 
 vessel, one of whom survives, and is now in this country. We hope this 
 miserable fugitive may live to plead the cause of his countrymen, and that 
 the Almighty will retain him in the possession of his faculties, which, so 
 far as his appearance goes, we think impaired by the sufferings he has 
 undergone. 
 
 All the American shipmasters at the Chinchas, from the southern as 
 well as the northern States, declared they never saw or heard of slaverj- 
 approaching that of the Middle Island of the Chinchas in misery. 
 
 On so solemn an occasion we would not call in the assistance of 
 national vanity to expurge a blot, but we feel certain that nothing but the 
 kindly feelings cultivated between English and American shipmasters 
 prevented the latter from openly taunting us with engaging in a Slave 
 Traflfic the more abominable from being practised by deceiving an indus- 
 trious people^ who, when carried to our free "Settlements, have proved 
 invariably a peaceable, active, and improveable class. 
 
 On a slave estate in the Brazils or Havana at lea^ the sidk are cared 
 for ; but on the Middle Island, Kessuth declared who was sidk and Vho was 
 not, in opposition to the medical inspector, whose opinions were irot 
 listened to, the lash compelling tbe brciken-spirited wretches to temporary 
 exertion. Doubtless the whole would have sunk ere this, bvtt for lA\e feet 
 that those who -deny themselves an addition to their coarse Tare can accu- 
 mulate th&ir pay (4 dollars per month) until it amounts to SOdxjllars,Avhen 
 they can, or could at that time, purchase their emancipation, and, after 
 being paraded about in holiday clothes, can go to theMainlstendto woit 
 on a level with the convicts, or find their way to Callao. 
 
And what is the amount of pecuniary saving, if any, even taking it 
 for granted for a moment that this cruelty is not the natural result of 
 entrusting irresponsible power to selfish, irascible tyranny, but parL of the 
 means by which coldhearted avarice strives to attain its ends? The 
 guano is dug from the surface; requires but few implements to dig and 
 wheel it to the ships' holds or boats ; is carried home at a cost of 4/. to 51. 
 per ton, and' yet costs the British farmer 10/. to 11/., the balance being 
 almost all taken up by the Peruvian Government and a few monopolists-- 
 monopolists, we would remind your Lordship, who, however convenient to 
 the Peruvian Government or Peruvian bondholders, certainly do not 
 cheapen the article of guano to the farmers, and have an unjust prefierence 
 over the body of British shipowners, who, if allowed to purchase it on 
 the same terms, could sell it cheaper, the purchaser in that case being- 
 certain that he was not paying for the recovery of money-speculators' 
 debts. And it is quite certain that the possibility of the cruel scenes we 
 v(^itnessed being enacted would be removed if the trade was made free. 
 
 While there, hundreds of British sailors lay idle in their boats for 
 days, waiting for what, if allowed to land, could have been shipped off" in 
 a few hours. But whether the trade was madfe free or not, the trifling 
 addition of Is. Qd. per ton would not be felt on 10/., and would make the 
 digging of guano a favourite pursuit to free labourers; and the expense 
 of a magistrate — a legal man, and not a brutal flogger — and a police guard, 
 be saved in hospital expenses, miserable as the hospital comforts are. We 
 have abundant presumptive proof in support of this assertion ; for one of 
 the Undersigned, acting on a clause in the ship's charter, obtained permis- 
 sion to work with sailors on the main island, who, for the much smaller 
 sum of Is. per ton in addition to their ship's wages^ — the whole- less than 
 Is. 6d. per ton — successfully dtig and wheeled down guano, until ordered 
 off by the Peruvian officer sent down shortly after, doubtless tb prevent 
 the probabilities of the sailors interfering to protect the Chinese. On the 
 Middle Island sailors were not allowed to land, for if thev had thev would 
 certainly have interfered. 
 
 As to the means by which these islands will ultiTnate^y be wrought in 
 a more humane manner, we can only pray that the Almighty will stir up> 
 the hearts of all Peruvians, as well as Englishmen, in favour of the 
 unhappy beings already there. But as to the future deportation of 
 Chinese to Peru, Cuba, and other slave-holding countries, we humbly 
 conceive your Lordships could put a stop to that without dtelay, by means- 
 which your official wisdom will suggest to you — means of which, if we- 
 had the knowledge, it would be presumptuous on our part to point out to* 
 your official experience. Nor is it necessary to advert to the ultimate 
 bearing this Slave Traffic will have on our moral influence, and the lives 
 and property of our defenceless countrymen in China, who have not 
 engaged in it, but from time to time denounced it. For we are sensible 
 that your Lordships' hearts will incline to a good cause, uninfluenced by 
 fears of mere expediency. 
 
 We trust that your Lordships, after a hard day's labour, called for 
 by the circumstances of war in which this country is placed, will not, 
 when snatching a glance at your family circles, and the Christian blessings 
 surrounding you, forget the claims the, miserable Chinese have on your 
 active sympathy ; and that, amid the pressure of public business, while 
 contributing to the discomfiture of a colossal and encroaching despotism, 
 vou will stretch out a mercifiil and helping hand to helpless and unresist- 
 ing^ sufferers. That th,e God of mercies will direct your hearts in this 
 good work, is the earnest prayer of your Lordships' most humble servants. 
 
 (Signed) JAMRS TURNBULL. 
 
 FREDERICK ACOCK. 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON SMITH. 
 
 JOHN COULTER. 
 
 JOHN PURDON. 
 
 JOHN W. SYMONS. 
 
 CHAS. ROBERTSON. 
 
 WILLIAM CAITHNESS. 
 London, June 27, 1854. EDWARD OAGER. 
 
30 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Mr. Sulioan. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, July 15, 1854. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith a copy of a letter* from the Board of 
 Trade, inclosing- a copy of a memorial from certain shipmasters lately 
 returned from the Chincha Islands ; and I have to state to you that I have 
 read with horror and disgust the details therein contained of the cruelties 
 practised on the unfortunate Chinese labourers employed in the export of 
 guano under the authority of persons responsible to the Government 
 of Peru. 
 
 You will make the whole subject known to the Peruvian Government, 
 whose ignorance of these revolting atrocities Her Majesty's Government 
 are bound to assume; but they trust that not a single day will be allowed 
 to pass without the most stringent measures being taken for putting an 
 end to a state of things the toleration of which would inflict indelible 
 disgrace upon the Peruvian Government. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government learn with deep regret that, by British 
 agency, and under the British flag, these Chinese labourers have been 
 brought to the Chincha Islands, and placed in a state of slavery more 
 horrible than any yet recorded; but this fact imposes an additional duty 
 on Her Majesty Government. Under any circumstances, they would 
 interfere in defence of outraged humanity ; but they are now specially 
 called upon to protect these victims of brutal cupidity, and from that duty 
 they will not shrink if, unfortunately, the Peruvian Government should 
 hesitate to perform the duty which, in the first instance, devolves upon 
 them ; but if, as is to be hoped, the necessary orders are issued, you will 
 request that some person, on whose firmness and intelligence yon can 
 rely, either from Her Majesty's Mission or from the British Consulate, be 
 permitted to accompany the Peruvian officer ; first, in order to verify the 
 statement contained in the memorial to the Board of Trade ; and next, 
 to ascertain in what manner the orders of the Government are executed. 
 
 Instructions, however, v/ill be sent to the Commander of Her Majesty's 
 Naval Forces on the Pacific Station, to visit the Chincha Islands, to ascer- 
 tain the real state of things there, and at once to adopt such measures for 
 the protection of the Chinese, and the punishment of the overseers and 
 others, as humanity and justice may demand. 
 
 You will at the same time point out how much the interest of tire 
 Peruvian Government would be promoted by putting an end to misdeeds 
 originating in the corruption of their agents, and by adopting the recom- 
 mendations of the memorialists. You will particularly request that 
 outward bound ships may no longer be required to touch at Callao. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 Tke Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, July 18, 1854. 
 
 I INCLOSE herewith a copy of a letter* from the Board of Trade 
 inclosing a copy of a memorial from shipmasters lately returned from the 
 Chincha Islands, detailing the cruelties practised on the Chinese labourers 
 employed in the export of guano under the authority of persons respon- 
 sible to the Government of Peru. 
 
 I inclose also a copy of a despatchf which I have addressed to 
 Mr. Sulivan, Her Majesty's Charg6 d' Affaires at Lima, directing him to 
 all the attention of the Peruvian Government to the revolting atrocities 
 practised on these unfortunate Chinese emigrants, and stating the course 
 
 * No. 9. t No. 10. 
 
31 
 
 which Her Majesty's Government intend to take in the matter. And I 
 have to instruct you to prevent, as far as possible, fresh shipments of 
 Chinese emigrants to the Chincha Islands, in order that a stop may be put 
 to these atrocities. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 Sir J. Emerson Tennent to Lord Wodehouse.— (Received August 5.) 
 
 Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, 
 My Lord, Whitehall, August 4, 1854. 
 
 IN connection vpith the question of coolie emigration in British ships 
 from China to South America, which has formed the subject of recent 
 correspondence between the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for 
 Trade, I am directed by their Lordships to request you to bring under 
 the notice of the Earl of Clarendon the following facts connected with the 
 British barque " Susannah," which arrived at the port of Arica in Bolivia 
 on the 27th of May, 1852, having on board 309 Chinese. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd, Her Majesty's Charg6 d'Affaires, acquainted the Earl of 
 Malmesbury, by despatch dated the I«t June, 1852, that on arrival of 
 this vessel, her passengers had been openly offered for sale at Arica, 
 and that "the captain and his agent there had sold some twenty-five 
 of the Chinese (who had mostly been sent into the interior) for 112 dollars 
 each, and a promise on the part of the purchasers to pay the men 
 4 dollars monthly," and that " the ship had sailed for Islay to dispose of 
 the remainder." 
 
 These unfortunate men Mr. Lloyd further states had been seduced 
 from their own country under the idea that they were going to some 
 British Settlement under an engagement for five years. 
 
 My Lords wish especially to direct the attention of the Ealr of 
 Clarendon to the circumstance that in the case of this ship the master was 
 provided with what purported to be a port clearance, of which the 
 following is a copy : 
 
 " Copy, No. 11. 
 
 " Port clearance for the ' Susannah,' under British colours. Captain 
 Lukey, bound for the west coast of South America with Chinese 
 emigrants. 
 
 " This is to certify, to whorb it may concern, that the master of the 
 above-mentioned barque has rendered an account of her import and export 
 carsfo, and complied with the regulations of the port. 
 
 "(Signed) J. B. MITCHELL. 
 " (Seal) " Acting Harbour-Master. 
 
 " Registered. 
 
 " Harbour-Master's Office, 
 
 " Victoria, Hong Kong, 
 " January, 23, 1852." 
 
 From this it appears that the Acting Harbour-Master had certified 
 that the " Susannah " had satisfied the local authorities as to the nature 
 of her export cargo, and that it consisted of Chinese emigrants. 
 
 Whereas it appears by the report of the British Consul at Arica, and 
 the despatch of the Charg^ d'Affaires at Bolivia, that the " Susannah " 
 cleared out from Hong Kong " in ballast, with no emigrants, and sailed, 
 not for South America as stated in her clearance, but for Cumsingmoon," 
 and there took on board 325 coolies, who were afterwards offered for sale 
 in Bolivia and Peru. 
 
 My Lords beg to call to the notice of Lord Clarendon that it would be 
 desirable to direct an inquiry to be instituted into the alleged conduct of 
 the Acting Harbour-Master at Hong Kong in granting the clearance in 
 question, at variance as it was with the facts which it professes to attest ; 
 
32 
 
 and enabling a ship which took her departure in ballast under colour of 
 that clearance to proceed to another port than that of her professed 
 destination, there to engage in a transaction which bears all the 
 characteristics of trading in slaves. '' 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) J. EMERSON TENNENT. 
 
 No. 13. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, August 9, 1854. 
 
 WITH reference to my despatch of the 18th ultimo, relative to 
 the cruelties practised on Chinese emigrants in the Chincha Islands, 
 I inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter* from the Board 
 of Trade, stating that 309 Chinese were conveyed to Bolivia and Peru, in 
 the early part of 1852, in the British barque " Susannah ;" that 25 of them 
 were publicly sold at Arica on the 27th of May of the above year; and that 
 the master of the " Susannah" then sailed for Islay, in order to dispose of 
 the remainder. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon, — (Received August 29.) 
 
 " Winchester," Lat. 29° 33', Long. 122° 40', 
 My Lord, June 5, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE before me your Lordship's despatch of 5th April, with its 
 sundry inclosures from the Colonial Office, on the subject of Mr. White's 
 proceedings as agent for procuring the coohes for the West Indies. I 
 have read the correspondence with no small anxiety and apprehension. 
 
 While I held the office of Plenipotentiary, during Sir George Bonham's 
 absence, Mr. White placed in my hands a charter-party by which an 
 emigrant ship had been hired at his suggestion to take in coolies at illegal 
 ports. I then warned Mr. White of the perils to which he exposed himself 
 by so open a violation of the law. On that occasion I learnt that the 
 captain, finding the charter-party was an unlawful contract, emancipated 
 himself from it, and of course could not be proceeded against for so doing. 
 But I did not fail at the same time to inform Mr. White that, as a servant 
 of Her Majesty's Government, he had other duties to discharge than 
 merely to procure coolies for the West Indies, and that in such a position 
 he must be particularly cautious not to sanction or commit illegal acts. 
 
 With reference to Mr. White's plan for procuring women in Hong Kong, 
 it is practically neither more nor less than to establish, under official 
 protection, a slave market for females in a British colony. Such a scheme 
 is fraught with mischiefs of the most alarming character, and would lead 
 to uncontrollable abuses and abominations. 
 
 Marriages are the subject of negotiations, bargainings, and contracts 
 but it is not the fact that wives are habitually and regularly, still less univer- 
 sally, bought in China. Concubines are, and the trade of purchasing female 
 children and training them to purposes of prostitution is largely and openly 
 carried on, particularly in the greater Chinese cities. It is clandestinely 
 carried on in Hong Kong itself. But the proposal to authorize and legalize 
 the sale of women on British territory — to furnish money from the public 
 funds for the purpose of purchasing them, to place that money in the hands 
 of ignorant coolies, on the promise that they will afterwards marry the 
 females they buy, appears to me as abhorrent to moral principle and 
 
 * No. 12. 
 
33 
 
 national feeling as it would be opposed to the whole character of modern 
 British legislation. 
 
 T am persuaded that Hong Kong can be made a place attractive to 
 male emigrants, and a source whence large supplies of labour may be 
 provided for the colonies, but it must be by freeing it from the abuses 
 which prevail elsewhere, and not by giving encouragement and patronage 
 to such abuses. I think it is not impossible that a few women might now 
 and then be induced to accompany their husbands, but such is the appre- 
 hension, not without opprobrium, which attaches to the abandonment of 
 the soil by any Chinese female, and such the power of confederated clan- 
 ships to punish the relations of any willing emigrant, that I see no reason 
 to expect that China will ever furnish any considerable supply of women 
 for emigration, unless they are kidnapped, bought, or by some means made 
 the victims of fraud or force. 
 
 An interesting paper on the subject of marriage and the domestic 
 relations of China generally, written by Mr. Medhurst, was forwarded to 
 the Foreign Office in Sir George Bonham's despatch of 1st September, 
 1853, to which I beg leave to call your Lordship's attention. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Paper referred to in No. 14, 
 
 Marriage, Affinity, and Inheritance in China. By W. H. Medhurst, Junior. 
 Read to the Asiatic Society, February 8, 1853. 
 
 ALTHOUGH so much has been written upon China and the Chinese, it is 
 really surprising that even we, who live in the country, are so slightly acquainted 
 with '' that which before us hes in daily life ;" and perhaps on no one of their 
 many ceremonies and observances are we less informed than on those relating to 
 marriage and inheritance. Both Sir John Davis, in his work entitled " The 
 Chinese," and Dr. Williams, in his " Middle Kingdom," have entered some- 
 what fully into the subject of marriage, and sundry anonymous papers have 
 appeared upon the same topic, from time to time, from the pens of other 
 authors ; but these have generally been confined to simple descriptions of the 
 formalities observed at weddings, or to notices of the general bearings of the 
 institution upon society at large. No definite or correct view can be gathered from 
 any of them as to the legal requirements or conditions of marriage : and as 
 regards the dependent subject of heirship or inheritance, they are nearly or 
 altogether silent. 
 
 Such is the prevailing ignorance on this subject among foreigners settled in 
 China, that, even among the few who have given attention to the people and 
 their language, scarcely an individual is to be found who could satisfactorily reply 
 to the question, " What are the needful ceremonies — what the legal acts — to give 
 validity to a marriage contract?" Ignorance or imperfect knowledge alone 
 induces one man to aver, that there is no definite ceremony ; another to assert 
 that the married pair had to walk between two cups of Samshoo wine after a 
 showy procession of bride and bridegroom ; or a third to rejoin, that, whatever 
 other formalities were observed, he knew that the public and ceremonious 
 decapitation of a fowl put an end for ever to the bachelorship and spinsterhood 
 of the parties : I was very much puzzled to answer this very question, when 
 put to me in England some few years ago. Men too frequently retail informa- 
 tion obtained from unscrupulous natives, too idle to convey to them the real 
 truth, that the ceremony actually consists of a number of observances, which 
 united, constitute the matrimonial rite, and which are terminated by a closing 
 ceremonial quite as marked as the " Amen " of our Church Liturgy, or the 
 attested "I take thee " of the more secular mode of proceeding. The main 
 observances prescribed by the Ritual,* hold good throughout China, subjected, 
 no doubt, to numerous modifications in diflFerent parts of the country ; nor could 
 it well be otherwise, among a population so large, and covering so vast a propor- 
 
 * I use this term, here and elsewhere, comprehensively, not with reference to any special code 
 of ceremonial observances. 
 
 F2 
 
34 
 
 tiori of the earth's surface, influenced by all extremes of climate, and charac- 
 terised by almost every variety of geological conforftiation. 
 
 My'principal object, however, in drawing attention to these subjects is, no 
 so much to throw hght upon the details of wedding formality, or the usages by 
 which title to property is controlled, as to exhibit the institution of marriage, 
 and the right of inheritance, in their various relations as prescribed and 
 protected by law. Sufficient information will nevertheless be elicited in the 
 course of my remarks upon the practice of the Chinese in either particular, to 
 enable the less interested inquirer to satisfy mere curiosity as to the mode of 
 proceeding in either case. It will be noticed that my researches have obliged 
 me to trespass upon two other topics — incest and divorce; which will be 
 considered, I trust, so intimately connected with that of marriage, as to make a 
 few remarks upon them hkewise not altogether out of place. 
 
 Marriage and Affinity. 
 
 The earliest notices of the institution of marriage are to be found in the 
 " Yih-king," the most venerated and ancient of Chinese books, treating of the 
 principles of general philosophy, as laid down by sages of antiquity from the 
 mystic diagrams called the "Pa-kwa ;" it is from some of the many emblematical 
 combinations of these that its primary elements are deduced, and its chief 
 obligations inculcated, but in so occult and unintelligible an argument, that I 
 should weary others as well as myself by endeavouring to elucidate it. Later 
 ethical works, some of which date as far back as 1,100 years before Christ, enter 
 more fully into the duties of the married state, and detail the formalities to be 
 observed on entering into it, the principal of which have maintained their autho- 
 rity to the present day, and, with the accompanying injunctions, form the basis 
 of the modern Ritual and Penal Code from which I have derived the greater part 
 of my information. 
 
 The legislation regarding marriage occupies a prominent place in the Penal 
 Code of China. It strictly prohibits parties who labour under certain specific 
 disabilities from entering into the state of matrimony, and renders its obliga- 
 tions fully as sacred and secure (taking into consideration the peculiar notions of 
 the Chinese) as they can be with ourselves. As proximity of relationship forms 
 one of the chief obstacles to lawful union of the sexes, and as the indication of 
 of the prohibited degrees depends upon a special disposition of the several 
 individuals of a family or clan, with respect to the mourning to be worn for every 
 relative, it becomes necessary for me to introduce a few remarks upon Chinese 
 opinions with regard to relationship, and their mode of classifying its several 
 degrees, before I proceed to dilate upon the subject more immediately under 
 consideration. 
 
 The ideas of the Chinese as to nearest of kin, whether by blood or by 
 marriage, differ vastly from our own. They divide relationships into two 
 classes, y^ ^ nuy-tsin, and ^Y ^ wae-yin, terms analogous to our " consan- 
 guinity" and "affinity," but conveying, nevertheless, other associations than 
 those which we attach to these words. The former, nuy-tsin, compre- 
 hends all kindred derived from common stock with the individual, but only 
 by descent through the male line ; the latter wae-yin, includes what the 
 Chinese designate -^i '^i, moo-tang, ^ ^ fse-tang, and -^ ^ neu-tang, 
 three terms best translated perhaps by " mother's kin," " wife's kin " and 
 " daughter's kin," and understood by them to mean a mother's relatives, rela- 
 tives of females received into one's kindred by mamage, and members of families 
 into which one's kinswomen marry. Thus, for example, a first cousin twice 
 removed, lineally descended from the same great-great-grandfather through the 
 male line, is a nuy-tsin relative ; but a mother's parents, wife's sister, and a 
 sister's husband, or child, are all equally wae-yin kindred.* The principle 
 upon which the distinction is drawn, appears to be, that a woman alienates her- 
 self from her own kin on marriage, and becomes part of the stock upon which 
 she is grafted ; and it will be necessary to keep this principle distinctly in mind 
 n perusing any further remarks that may be made, as otherwise it will be found 
 
 have 
 
 * In order the more easily to distinguish between the nuy-tsin and wae-yin relationships 
 italicised the latter, wherever I have had cause to speak of them. 
 
35 
 
 impossible to reconcile the many apparent contradictions in the theory and 
 practice of the Chinese code, 
 
 The indication of the prohibited degrees depends, then, upon a peculiar 
 genealogical disposition of the several members of a family with respect to the 
 mourning worn for deceased relatives; this I shall now proceed to explain. The 
 Ritual prescribes five diiFerent kinds of mourning, called 5£ B^i woofuh, to be 
 worn for all relatives within a definite proximity of degree, graduating the 
 character of the habit in proportion to the nearest of kin. These habits are 
 designated by certain names, which by a species of metonymy come to be applied 
 to the relationships themselves, and are used somewhat as we employ the terms 
 "first degree," " second degree," and so on ; and plans, similar to our genealogical 
 tables, are laid down, showing the specific habit suitable for each kinsman. The 
 principal one of these, that for a married or unmarried man, comprises cousins 
 twice removed, i.e., derived by lineal descent from a common great-great- 
 grandfather, that ancestor himself, and all relatives included within the two lines 
 of descent from him to them ; below the individual, it comprehends his own 
 descendants (in the male line) as far as great-great-grandchildren, his brother's 
 as far as great-grandchildren, his cousin's as far as grandchildren, and the 
 children of his cousin once removed. In this table nuy-tsin relationship will 
 alone be found ; mourning is worn for very few of the wae-yin and these, 
 though actually, i. e., in our eyes, ties of consanguinity, and deserving far more 
 consideration than many for which a deeper habit is prescribed, are classed 
 among the very lowest degrees of mourning. The same amount of comparative 
 weight wiU be fouhd attached to the wae-yin relationships, when we come to 
 enter upon the restrictions of the laws themselves. 
 
 Six tables are given in the Ritual to which the five habits are common ; 
 these prescribe the mourning to be worn by — 
 
 1 . A man for his kinsmen and kinswom n ; 
 
 2. A wife for her husband's kinsfolk ; 
 
 3. A married female for her own kinsfolk ; 
 
 4. A man for his mother's kinsfolk ; 
 
 5. A man for his wife's kinsfolk ; 
 
 6. A concubine for her master's kinsfo 
 
 A seventh table is given, prescribing the mourning to be worn for step- 
 fathers and fathers by adoption, and for step and foster-mothers, &c., but I have 
 not thought it necessary to encumber my remarks by wandering into so remote 
 a portion of the field. 
 
 To render these details more easily comprehensible, I shall class the rela- 
 tionships in each table under their appropriate degrees of mourning, and leave 
 the reader to examine at his leisure the tables, as arranged in the Ritual, which 
 he will find appended to this paper. It need only be borne in mind that, 
 excepting where otherwise specified, the relationship indicated is a male, and only 
 by a descent through the male line, as for example, that, by " cousin," a father's 
 brother's son alone is meant, not a father's sister's son or daughter. 
 
 The five kinds of mourning, the names of which, as I have already remarked, 
 serve to indicate the degrees of relationship to which they severally belong, 
 are, — 
 
 1. Mf"^ Tsan-tsuy, nominally worn for three years, really for twenty- 
 seven months ; 
 
 2. ^ ^ Tsse-tsuy, worn for one year, for five months, or for three months ; 
 3- ^ 3^ Ta-kung, worn for nine months ; 
 
 4. y|\ J^ Seaou-lcung, worn for five months ; 
 
 5. ^ J^ Sze-ma, worn for three months. 
 
 The character of each habit, and the relatives for whom it is worn, are 
 prescribed as follows : — 
 
 1. Tmn-tsuy indicating relationships of the first degree. The prescribed 
 habit for this degree is composed of the very coarsest hempen fabric, and left 
 unhemmed at the borders ; it is worn for by a man for his 
 
 Parents ; 
 
36 
 
 by a wife for her 
 
 Husband, 
 Husband's parents ; 
 
 and by a concubine for her 
 
 Master. 
 
 2. Tzse-tsuy, indicating relationships of the second degree. The habit 
 prescribed is composed of coarse hempen fabric, with hemmed borders ; it is 
 worn during one year by a man for his 
 
 Grand-parents, 
 
 Uncle, 
 
 Uncle's wife, 
 
 Aunt (spinster), 
 
 Brother, 
 
 Sister (spinster). 
 
 Wife, 
 
 Son (of wife or concubine), 
 
 Daughter-in-law (wife of first-born), 
 
 Nephew, 
 
 Niece (spinster), 
 
 Grandson (first-borp son of first-born) ; 
 
 by a wife for her 
 
 Husband's nephew, 
 Husband's niece (spinster) ; 
 
 by a married woman for her 
 
 Parents, 
 Grand-parents ; 
 
 and by a concubine for her > 
 
 Master's wife, 
 
 Master's parents. 
 
 Master's sons (by wife or other concubines). 
 
 Sons. 
 
 It is worn for five months by a man for his 
 
 Great grand-parents ; 
 and by a married woman for her 
 
 Great grand-parents. 
 
 It is worn for three months by a man tor his 
 Great great-grand-parents. 
 
 And by a married woman for her 
 
 Great great-grand-parents. 
 
 3. Ta-kung, indicating relationships of the third degree. The habit pre- 
 scribed is composed of coarse cotton fabric ; it is worn by a man for his 
 
 Aunt (married). 
 
 Sister (married), 
 
 Brother's wife. 
 
 First cousin, ,; 
 
 First cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Daughter-in-law (wife of a younger son, or a son of a concubine), 
 
 Nephew's wife. 
 
 Niece (married). 
 
 Grandson (son of a younger son, or son of a concubine). 
 
37 
 
 By a wife for her 
 
 Husband's grand-parents. 
 
 Husband's uncle. 
 
 Husband's daughter-in-law (wife of a younger son, or son of a 
 
 concubine). 
 Husband's nephew's wife, 
 Husband's niece (married), 
 Grandson ; 
 
 By a married woman for her 
 
 Uncle, 
 
 Uncle's wife, 
 
 Aunt (spinster), 
 
 Brother, 
 
 Sister, 
 
 Nephew, 
 
 Niece (spinster) ; 
 
 And by a concubine for her 
 
 Grandson, 
 
 4. Seaou-kung, indicating relationships of the fourth degree. The habit 
 prescribed is composed of coarse cotton fabric ; it is worn by a man for his 
 
 Grand-uncle, 
 
 Grand-uncle's wife. 
 
 Grand-aunt (spinster), 
 
 Father's first cousin, 
 
 Father's first cousin's wife, 
 
 Father's first cousin female (spinster), 
 
 First cousin female (married). 
 
 First cousin once removed. 
 
 Female first cousin once removed (spinster). 
 
 Second cousin. 
 
 Second cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Grand-daughter-in-law (wife of first-born of first-bom son). 
 
 Grand-nephew, 
 
 Grand-niece (spinster), 
 
 Mother's parents, 
 
 Mother's brother. 
 
 Mother's sister ; 
 
 By a wife for her 
 
 Husband's aunt. 
 
 Husband's brother. 
 
 Husband's brother's wife, 
 
 Husband's sister, 
 
 Husband's second cousin. 
 
 Husband's second cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Husband's grand-nephew, 
 
 Husband's grand-niece (spinster) ; 
 
 By a married woman for her 
 
 Aunt (spinster). 
 Sister (married). 
 First cousin. 
 Niece (married). 
 
 And by a concubine for her 
 
 Master's grand-parents. 
 
38 
 
 5. Sze-ma, indicating relationships of the fifth degree. The prescribbd 
 dress is composed of fine cotton cloth ; it is worn by &. man for his 
 
 Great-grand-uncle, 
 
 Great-grand-uncle's wife, 
 
 Great-grand-aunt (spinster), • 
 
 Grand-aunt (married), 
 
 Grand-father's first cousin, 
 
 Grand-father's first cousin's wife, 
 
 Grand-father's first cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Father's first cousin female (married). 
 
 Father's first cousin once removed. 
 
 Wife of father's first cousin once removed, 
 
 Father's female first cousin once removed (spinster), 
 
 First cousin's wife, 
 
 Female first cousin once removed (married), 
 
 First cousin twice removed^ 
 
 Female^rst cousin twice removed (spinster), 
 
 Second cousin female (married), 
 
 Second cousin once removed. 
 
 Female second cousin once removed (spinster), 
 
 Granddaughter-in-law (wife of a son of a younger son, or son of a 
 
 concubine) , 
 Grand-nephew's wife, 
 Grand-niece (married). 
 Third cousin. 
 
 Third cousin female (spinster), 
 Great-grandson, 
 Great-grand-nephew, 
 Great-grand-niece (spinster), 
 Great-great-grandson , 
 Aunt's son, 
 
 Mother's brother's son, 
 Mother's sister's son, 
 Wife's parents. 
 Son-in-law, 
 Daughter's child. 
 
 By a wife for her 
 
 Husband's great-great-grand-parents, 
 
 Husband's great-grand-parents, 
 
 Husband's grand-uncle, 
 
 Husband's grand-aunt (spinster). 
 
 Father-in-law's first cousin, 
 
 Father-in-law's first cousin's wife. 
 
 Father-in-law's first cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Husband's first cousin female, 
 
 Husband's second cousin's wife, 
 
 Husband's second cousin female (married), 
 
 Husband's second cousin once removed, 
 
 Husband's female second cousin once removed (spinster) 
 
 Granddaughter-in-law (wife of own or a concubine's grandson) 
 
 Husband's grand-nephew's wife, '' 
 
 Husband's grand-niece (married), 
 
 Husband's third cousin. 
 
 Husband's third cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Great grandson. 
 
 Great granddaughter-in-law, 
 
 Husband's great-grand-nephew, ^ 
 
 Husband's great-grand-niece (spinster). 
 
 Great-great-grandson. 
 
DEGREES 
 
 
 
 Degree 
 Hymrs 
 
 1 
 
 1 Decree 
 
 1 lyear 
 ■ Smcnthe 
 
 
 
 De/prt 
 
 9Taonths 
 
 Deffree 
 
 ■imenlhs 
 
 D€4frm 
 3mon/As 
 
 Wo. 
 
 
 TABLE N9 1. 
 
 th-vat Orand-mefe^ 
 
 Married' 
 
 Sinqh 
 
 
 ycuJlatr 
 
 
 
 Mhvesof 
 Tjcunacr (rr 
 
 SfTlScf 
 
 younger 
 ujid 
 
 mcof 
 ddegt sen 's 
 
 
 Grand sens 
 
 Scn£ 
 
 eldest sen 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 &reat(frand sans -n't/e^ 
 
 Oreai^arm 
 
 Gre^/r^-and'Ser/^ sans 'tn/E/ 
 
 (yfra^ ^nmd/ 
 
umths) 
 
 ' 3 mflrLtbs ) 
 
 anths) 
 
 
 OteaJ/^rsmd-nnde^and wifi 
 
 
 
 Orcmd'fcdJicr 
 (lyear) 
 
 
 lyrnrul-imcLe/andTnth 
 
 
 
 iker 
 
 
 
 Uncif/ and ivi/p' 
 one year 
 
 SELF. 
 
 sens vf 
 sen ci 
 (lyear' 
 
 eldest sun 
 Ir^ar 
 
 Eldest suw 
 ofivi/e 
 rjjear) 
 
 yvt/h 
 
 nifc 
 
 Ti'ijiuii-J- 
 
 i/nil 
 iTltififT 
 
 yephew 
 . (Irearl 
 
 J\tt( cf 
 
 eldest sen's 
 
 eldest sen 
 
 Eldestsox 
 
 cfddest 
 
 S(yns'Vii/(" 
 
 Qyeari 
 
 ^xoid.'^Tiep 
 pliavs -mfe^ 
 
 Z^Omsins 
 yvilk/ 
 
 6reat- Orand- 
 
 &rmul- 
 
 7l£ph£H' 
 
 3^Caast'ns 
 -wife 
 
 Great d^rrnd 
 ytephoi- 
 
 JhtJiers 1^' Ctyusirv on re 
 
 Cousin once' 
 rvrruTved 
 
 2^ihu^. 
 
 Cetisin 
 
 mfe'ofr^ 
 
 I'eusiH' ortu 
 Jttncved 
 
 l^Crusov 
 T&noved 
 
 Z^Coiisui 
 mjKTenuTved 
 
 (jTustn twfcf 
 Temxved' 
 
 J^ Cousm 
 t^ic€ 
 
 rfTTun'ed- 
 
TABLE N? 2. 
 
 Jfpiirnmtf wcrn by a Wi/e fe?- her Hitsbandi Kinsfolk. 
 
 
 
r 
 
 r 
 
 |l 
 
 11 
 
 ^ Si 
 
TABEE Kb. 3. 
 
 HAimiSOMA sous. *S S'^MA HTtlVSMIte. 
 
TABLE No. 4. 
 Mourning worn by a Man for his Mother's Kinsfolk, 
 
 Mother'i Grand-parents. 
 
 Son of Mother' 9 Igi Counn (femaJe). 
 
 Moilier's Sister. 
 
 Mother's Parents. 
 
 SELF, 
 
 Mother's Sister's Grand-son. 
 
 Note. — Father's Sister's Son and Grand-son, though not rela.tives by the mother's 
 side, are yet properly ^p /^i^ ^^^ therefore are inserted here. 
 
 Mother's Brother's Son. 
 
 Father's Sider'a Qrand-eim. 
 
 Son of Mother's 1st Cousin (male). 
 
TABLE No. 5. 
 Mourning worn by a Man for his Wife's Kinsfolk 
 
 Wife's Father's Sister. 
 
 Wife's Sister. 
 
 Wif^s Sister's Son. 
 
 Wife's Orand-parents. 
 
 Note. — Son-in-law, and Grand-children and Great Grand-children by Daughter 
 and Grand-daughter, are not Wife's relations, but are included herein. 
 
 SELF. 
 
 Daughter's Grand-son and Grand- 
 daughter. 
 
 Wife's Father's Brother. 
 
 Wif<i's Brother and Wife. 
 
 Wift's MotJur's Parents. 
 
 Wif^a Brother's Son. 
 
TABLE :S^ 6. 
 Mounmi^ warn hy cl C/Tncuitne 
 j&r her _M>7her's Mn^th . 
 
 ^rcoid^ parents cf Zerd. 
 
 (lyear.) 
 
 
 Owri' ^rcuid' son - 
 
 
 Sld^st Sen/ rf eldest Sen of Zerci. 
 
 Sens of yonder and mAnvr Sons 
 
39 
 
 And by a married woman for her 
 
 Grand-uncle, 
 
 Grand- aunt (spinster), 
 
 Father's first cousin. 
 
 Father's first cousin female (spinster). 
 
 First cousin female (spinster), 
 
 Second cousin, 
 
 Second cousin female (spinster). 
 
 Havinff thus explained the Chinese idea of relationship, and detailed their 
 peculiar method of classifying its several degrees, I now resume the subject of 
 marriage, and propose to illustrate the several observances connected with the 
 performance of the matrimonial rite before entering upon the provisions of the 
 statute-law with regard to it. 
 
 The ritual prescribes the age of 16 as the earhest at which it is advisable a 
 man should marry, and limits 14 for the woman ; although marriage is 
 frequently contracted before this period of life. Parents and guardians 
 constantly betroth their children and wards long before they arrive at these 
 ages : and mothers sometimes even engage their yet unborn offspring on the 
 sole contingency of a difference of sex ; but the law does not recognise such 
 contracts as binding, since it often happens that the circumstances of the 
 contracting parties alter so materially in the course of years as to make it 
 impossible to require their strict fulfilment. 
 
 The principal proceedings in the marriage ceremony are : 
 
 1. Negotiation. 
 
 Marriage is invariably negotiated in the first instance through the medium 
 of a ^ A mei-jin, or go-between, who is employed to select the wished for 
 lady, or to convey the proposal of alliance to the family from which the lady 
 or gentleman is selected. This person, usually a woman, but at times a man, is- 
 properly only to be commissioned and received by the parents or senior members 
 of either family, who are called ^i^ A choo-hwan-jin, a term meaning- 
 " wedding directors," but which 1 shall render " guardians," it being an 
 universally acknowledged principle in China, that no person, of whatever age, 
 can act for himself in matrimonial matters during the lifetime or adjacency of 
 his parents or near senior relations. The persons legally competent to act as 
 guardians are, — 1st, parents or grand-parents : failing these, 2nd, father's 
 brother or sister, or mother's parents ; and in default of these, 3rd, some senior 
 kinsman.* The guardian's are (by law) alone responsible, and punishable to 
 the extent of the highest degree of penalty, short of death, for contracting a 
 marria£-e in anyway unlawful, while the parties themselves are held guiltless, the 
 authority of their guardians being considered law with them as juniors. Other 
 relatives besides these above specified, may act as guardians in the negotiation of 
 a marriage, but if concerned in contracting an unlawful union, the parties them- 
 selves are then held principally responsible, and they only suffer as accessories, 
 excepting where the union is proved to have originated with themselves, in which 
 case they suffer as principals under the same limitation as above described, and 
 the persons marrying as accessories. The power of these guardians is so great 
 that they may contract a marriage for a junior who is absent from home, and he 
 is bound to abide by such engagement, even though already affianced elsewhere 
 without their privity or consent. At this stage of the marriage cereniony the law 
 requires that any blemish or incurable disease on the person of either of the 
 individuals to be 'united, any defect of birth, any strangeness of kin,t or any dis- 
 parity in years, shall be distinctly made known, and assented to by the family of 
 the other, before further steps are taken to make the engagement binding. 
 
 2. Engagement. 
 After the negotiator has paved the way for the subsequent proceedings, the 
 
 * This rule does not applv to officers of Government above the seventh rank, who are at 
 liberty to dispense with the interference of their elder relations, and act as their own « choo- 
 
 "'*°+ 'if born of a concubine or slave, or if adopted out of a kinsman's or stranger's family. 
 
 ^ G 
 
40 
 
 next step is the formal exchange of marriage articles and presents, which con- 
 stitutes betrothal. The " Tung-le " prescribes two separate acts of betfothal, 
 ^3^ na-tsae, "sending gay presents," and ^ "^ na-pe, "sending Silks;" 
 the former is usually called ^ /J\ JfA hing-seaou-ping, " Sending the Smaller 
 presents," the latter <j^^y^ ^ hing-ta-ping, "sending the larger presents." 
 In the first betrothal, the guardians of the bridegroom send to the family 
 of the bride by the hands of a junior kinsman, accompanied by presents, 
 a letter, containing, besides other formal phraseology, an inquiry as to the 
 maternal parentage and date of birth of the lady, to which is annexed a memo- 
 randum giving similar particulars as regards the gentleman. The messenger is 
 formally received by the guardians of the bride, who send back by his hands a 
 return letter with presents in exchange. The second betrothal is simply a 
 repetition of this ceremony, with an exchange of more costly presentSj consisting 
 of suits of clothes, ornaments, &c., suitable to the rank of the parties. 
 
 This part of the ceremonial forms the subject of a long section in the Penal 
 Code. The marriage articles and betrothal presents once exchanged, the parties 
 are considered irrevocably engaged, and any retraction on the part of the 
 guardians of either bridegroom or bride makes them liable to punishment, which 
 is of course increased in degree if they pi'oceed to form or complete a new 
 engagement. In such cases the bridegroom, if the injured party, is entitled, 
 though not obliged, to take legal means for compelling the friends of his bride 
 to restore her, even though already married to another party ; and when the 
 bride is the aggrieved person, she has a right to claim her recreant spouse, if not 
 married elsewhere. If five years have been allowed to pass by after the expiry 
 of the time named in the marriage articles for the completion of a marriage, 
 without the bridegroom appearing to claim his affianced, the engagement may 
 be dissolved upon reference to the local authorities, and the receipt from them of 
 a sealed certificate, and the female may marry some other person without 
 forfeiting her marriage presents. Where, however, adultery or theft has been 
 proved against either of the contracting parties, the law gives the other 
 liberty to withdraw from the engagement. If deceit have been practised, and 
 there be a false substitution of party at the completion of the ceremony, the 
 guardians are also punishable ; and where the marriage thus contracted through 
 misrepresentation has not been consummated, the bride or bridegoom whom the 
 other party had actually engaged shall, unless otherwise affianced or married, be 
 compelled to complete the marriage instead of the bride or bridegroom falsely 
 named or described. If, however, the marriage have been consummated, the 
 parties shall be separated. 
 
 3. Naming the Day. 
 
 The next ceremonial is called |p| |!3I tsing-ke, " inquiring the day. " 
 
 This is done by the guardians of the bridegroom in writing, with the usual 
 accompaniment of a few presents, and the family of the bride returning their 
 assent, in like manner, to the day fixed upon. After the auspicious date has 
 been decided, the bridegroom may not forcilaly demand his bride before the 
 appointed hour, nor may the bride be designedly withheld from her espoused, 
 under pain of severe penalties to the guardians of cither party. 
 
 4. Receiving the Bride. 
 
 This part of the ceremony is called ^ ^ tsin-ying, and may be termed 
 the consummation ; in consists in the visit of the bridegroom to the house of 
 the bride in public procession for the purpose of fetching home his affianced, 
 and forms the concluding purtion of the rite. On the day previous to the one 
 appointed for the tsin-ying or nuptial day, the family of the bride dispatch 
 a messenger to the house of the bridegroom with a broom and dust- pan, as 
 emblems of her readiness to undertake her domestic duties, and at the same 
 time convey thither her wardrobe, together with coverlets, curtains, cushions, 
 mats, and sundry other furniture of the bedchamber, which are expected to be 
 provided by her family; these they arrange and lay out in readiness for the 
 wedding. The family of the bridegroom commence their preparations eai'ly 
 on the appointed day, by laying out a pledging-table in the bridal chamber. 
 
41 
 
 and a side-table in the same room, on which are arranged the wine and 
 cups for pledging. The "Tung-le" prescribes the number of these, namely, six 
 in three pairs, one of which should consist of the halves of a hollow bottle-gourd 
 divided into two, the material of the remaining pairs being optional. These 
 prepared, the bridegroom proceeds to take a formal conge of his father, which 
 ceremony closes with a sort of parental charge, accompanied by a command to 
 fetch home his bride. The son having expressed his ready obedience, mounts a 
 horse waiting caparisoned at the door, and the procession forms, the attendants 
 ■jvith a goose,* the band of music, and the lamp-bearers in front, the bridegroom 
 next, and the crimson bridal sedan, decked with scarfs and tassels, in the rear, 
 followed by a host of relatives and friends. While these formalities are going on 
 in the house of the bridegroom, the family of the bride are performing almost 
 similar ceremonies. Her father, having first invoked the ancestral shrine, and 
 announced the approaching alienation of a female member of the family, 
 proceeds, in company with her mother, to take formal leave of her, preparatory 
 to delivering her to her approaching spouse. While the former is fortifying his 
 child with sage counsel in regard to her futm-e bearing and deportment, her mother 
 stands by adjusting her dress here and there, and bidding her take to heart her 
 father's words, their child meantime receiving their advice iu submissive silence. 
 The bri4pgroom arrived and announced, the father or guardian of the girl goes 
 forth to meet him, and conducts him, with certain formalities of obeisance, to 
 the visitors' room, into which he follows, carrying the goose in his arms. On 
 his appearance, the attendant nurse veils the bride. The bridegroom then 
 takes his departure, followed by his bride, the father accompanying them to the 
 door, and remounts his horse, while she is assisted into the sedan by her nurse. 
 The bridegroom then proceeds sufficiently in advince to enable him to be in 
 waiting to receive his spouse on her arrival, a:. 1 when the sedan appears, he 
 assists her to descend from the vehicle and conducts her through the visitors' 
 room to the bridal chamber, inside the door of which they stand a-while, whilst 
 the bridesmaids place seats for them at the pledging-table. Then they proceed 
 to make mutual obeisance, and this ended, the nurse removes the bride's veil, 
 and they sit down, the attendant maids and groomsmen bringing in the wedding 
 repast. After they have partaken of the food placed before them, the attend- 
 ants of the bride fill the bridegroom's cup, and those of the bridegroom the 
 bride's, and they pledge one another three successive times, using- the bridal cups 
 above described for the last and great pledge. Here the ceremony ends, and 
 they are man and wife. 
 
 On the following day the bride makes a formal visit to the rooms of her 
 her parents-in-law, and the day after after goes through a formal service as 
 their handmaid ; this ceremony is succeeded by her introduction to the ancestral 
 shrine on the third day, and that of the bridegroom to the wife's parents and 
 relations some few days after. 
 
 The above formalities, which consume at least a month, often a very much 
 longer period, are those prescribed for the taking of a ^, tse, or wife, of whom 
 the law allows but one to each individual. A system of concubinage exists 
 among the Chinese, very similar to that practised among the Hebrews, or that 
 permitted under the Roman law. The ^ tsee, or concubine, may be procured 
 without any of the ceremonies above described, the simple exchange of a written 
 contract, and the pecuniary consideration, being the only needful condition for 
 intercourse. Concubines are principally obtained by persons in affluent and 
 easy circumstances, and are generally chosen from amongst the lower classes, the 
 confidential or favourite handmaidens of the wife, who follow her from her 
 father's roof, being often selected for the purpose. The relative positions of the 
 wife and concubine are distinctly laid down, and the law strictly prohibits the 
 degradation of the wife to the position of a concubine, or the elevation of any 
 of the latter to the rank of the former during her lifetime. By the wife, her 
 partner is called ^ foo, or husband, with whom she is placed on j^ f| teih-te, 
 " equal terms," and to whom she is bound by all the ties of duty, honour, and 
 affection. But with the concubine the case is different ; she recognizes her 
 partner, if so he may be called, as ^ ^ kea-chang, " head of the family," 
 
 * The beautiful mandarin duck (anas galericulata), considered by the Chinese to be an emblem 
 of the most perfect conjugal fidelity, has often been noticed in wedding processions of opulent families, 
 hut the rarity and cost of the bird put it beyond the reach of the generality of persons. 
 
 G 2 
 
42 
 
 " master," one who has power over her person to do with her whatsoever'he 
 wills. Besides ths, there are other marks of inferiority which attach to a 
 concubine, namely, the informality attending her mode of procurement ; her 
 being precluded from sharing, as the wife does, in any of the outward signs of 
 rank or position to which her master may be entitled, if he be in Government 
 employ, or have earned literary honours; her being necessitated, to wear 
 mourning for her master's wife and her children, and only permitted to wear 
 mourning for her master and her own sons and grandsons, while the wife is 
 privileged to mourn equally with her husband for his deceased kinsmen ; and the 
 inferiority of the children to those of the wife in the scale of family descent ; 
 while the law also makes a distinction in adjudging a less penalty where a 
 concubine is one of the parties concerned, than that awarded in cases where the 
 Avife is the party against whom the offence is committed. '^ 
 
 We now come to consider the legal disabilities which constitute a bar to the 
 performance of the rite of marriage. These I propose to arrange under three 
 heads, which L will call incidental, temporary, and permanent; happily no 
 spiritual courts exercise in China, as with us, a jurisdiction contemporaneous 
 with that of the local tribunals in connection with the matrimonial relation,, so 
 that I am unable to adopt the nomenclature of our English lav/-books, and class 
 disabilities under the two branches, canonical and municipal ; nor have I been 
 able, for the same reason, to arrive at any such nice distinction as that found 
 among us, between those marriages which are only voidable, and those which- 
 are ipso facto and ab initio void. The nature of the incapacities laid down by. 
 the Chinese code would warrant me in bringing them all under one head, that 
 of civil or municipal, but this mode of classification would be too general for 
 my purpose. 
 
 1. — Incidental Disabilities. 
 
 i 
 
 By these I mean such as are simply contingent upon certain disqualifica- 
 tions on the part of either man or woman, arising from his or her peculiar 
 profession or position in society. Of this kind the Penal Code names five, — 
 
 1st. A disability arising from the female's being under the immediate 
 official jurisdiction of the individual — The prohibition in this instance is chiefly 
 directed against magistrates of departments, districts, &c., but is extended to 
 include every executive officer actually employed in the public service. Under 
 this section of the Penal Code, any local magistrate who, during his tenure of 
 office, takes to wife, or into concubinage, any female under his own j urisdiction, 
 is liable to receive eighty blows. Should any executive officer take to wife or 
 into concubinage the wife, concubine, or daughter of any party interested in a 
 case under his official cognizance or arbitration, he becomes liable to receive a 
 hundred blows. The guardians of the female thus taken, and the female herself, 
 have in either case to suffer a similar penalty, and the female must be separated 
 from the officer, and, if already married, from her husband likewise, and restored 
 to her kindred, but if only betrothed to her intended spouse. The employment 
 of coercion on the part of the official increases his penalty in degree, while it 
 releases the female from all culpabihty. This prohibition is intended to include 
 all the male members of the official's family, though in such cases the official 
 alone is liable to the penalty. .^ 
 
 The intention of this interdict is obvious, and its careful observance must 
 tend to the prevention of a vast amount of this species of corruption, otherwise 
 so much in the power of a Chinese magistrate. 
 
 2nd. A disability arising from the female's being an escaped felon. — ^Marriage 
 with female felons escaped from justice forms the subject of an express section in 
 the Penal Code. The penalty attached to the breach of this law is severe, the 
 person who marries a woman under such circumstances being liable to suffer the 
 same sentence with that to which the woman herself has been condemned, save 
 in cases of a capital' crime, when the penalty may be mitigated one degree. 
 Separation is also demanded, unless when the female is an unmarried or 
 unengaged woman, and has obtained exemption by being, included in a general 
 pardoij. 
 
 3rd. A disability arising frdm the profession of the female, with particular 
 
43 
 
 reference to the position of the individual as a Government official. — The 
 Chinese divide society into two principal classes — the honourable and the vile ; 
 the former comprises scholars, agriculturists, mechanics, and tradesmen ; the 
 latter, play-actors, prostitutes, attendants in Government offices, and jailors, 
 among whom may also be reckoned slaves, menials, executioners, pohce-runners, 
 jugglers, beggars, and all other vagrant persons. Individuals of the latter class 
 are in general required to pursue, for three generations, some honourable calling, 
 hefore they can become eligible to enter the literary examinations. Officers of 
 Government, being placed in the position of models of propriety and patrons of 
 the public morals, are naturally denied the liberty of associating with persons 
 of the inferior class of society, and still more of intermarrying with them. Any 
 breach of the prch bitioa under which they are placed as to marriage with such 
 persons, renders them liable to receive sixty blows, and to be separated from 
 the object of their choice. Any sons or grandsons of officers of Government, 
 who inherit titular rank, are included in this prohibition. 
 
 4th. A disability arising from incongruity of class in society. — The section 
 devoted to this prohibition, which is entided " On marriage between the honour- 
 able and the mean," seems only to forbid the marriage of persons in respectable 
 standing in society with menials and slave?, and does not deny them the liberty 
 of taking them as concubines, or of uniting themselves to other members of the 
 inferior caste, although the title would seem to warrant the supposition that it 
 does prohibit such intermarriage. Slavery is tolerated in China, and exists to a 
 very great extent, although the sale of children, even by their parents, and with 
 their own consent, is actually prohibited by the law. Exception seems to be 
 virtually allowed to families permanently distressed by famine or other causes, 
 and many accordingly sell their children from mere stress of poverty ; boys, 
 however, are seldom parted with, but slave girls abound, there being scarcely a 
 resectable family that is without one or more of them. Among the more 
 opulent, a number of girls are attached to each child as personal attendants and 
 playmates, and these are often chosen by the future husbands of the young ladies 
 as concubines. Boys once enslaved appear to continue in a state of bondage, 
 and their children become the property of their masters, but I can adduce no 
 reliable authority to establish a legal possession. Girls become free upon 
 marriage, as they follow the fortunes of their husbands, whosoever they be. 
 Every head of a family who takes his slave to wife, or any slave who marries 
 the daughter of an individual belonging to the respectable classes, is liable to a 
 penalty of eighty blows ; and the guardians of the female to the same punish- 
 ment mitigated one degree, unless they be ignorant of the condition of the 
 menial to whom the girl is given. When the master is only cognizant of the 
 marriage of his slave to a free girl, he shall suffer the penalties mitigated two 
 degrees ; but should he, in consequence of the marriage, reduce the girl also to 
 slavery, he renders himself Hable to receive a hundred blows. Any person who 
 represents a slave to be free, and marries him or her to a free person, shall receive 
 ninety blows. In all these cases the separation shall be insisted upon, and the 
 degraded party restored to the position to which he or she legitimately belongs. 
 
 5th. A disability arising from the profession of the man. — The Chinese 
 laws enjoin celibacy upon all priests, Budhist or Taouist. Any priest who 
 takes a woman to wife or into concubinage, is hable, with the guardians of the 
 female, to eighty blows, himself to be separated from the woman, and, with all 
 those of his brethren who were cognizant of the transaction, to be impeached. 
 Should any priest solicit a woman in marriage under pretence of obtaining a wife 
 for a relative or servant, and afterwards appropriate the female to himself, he is 
 liable to be punished as for adultery. 
 
 II. — Temporary Disabilities. 
 
 There are but two disabilities which debar persons from entering into 
 
 the marriage state : :, n, x? 
 
 1st. The being in mourning for deceased parents or husband.— On reference 
 to the tables of mourning degrees, it will be seen that the prescribed term of 
 mourning for a parent or husband is three years ; this is actually commuted to 
 twenty-nine months, during which time a child or widow is not permitted to 
 indulge in any kind of festivity, or musical performances, to marry, to purchase 
 
44 
 
 or become a concubine, or to change the slips of paper containing parallelisms, 
 &c., pasted upon the doors. A widow, whether wife or concubine, may, if she 
 please, mairy again after the expiry of the term of mourning for her husband 
 or master, but the statutes of the realm, as well as public opinion, equally 
 encourage her in refusing all further engagement. By the former, amongst 
 other schemes for rewarding conjugal and filial merit, it is decreed that any 
 widow (wife or concubine), under thirty, who remains single, although poor 
 and destitute, until she reaches her fiftieth year, or who, if she die before that 
 time, can be proved to have lived ten years of indigence in unexceptional 
 continency, is entitled to the public honour of a commemorative arch at the 
 national expense. This eccentric sense of duty is carried to such an extent, that 
 a young girl, who has lost her afiianced by death, will sometimes leave her 
 father's home to join, nevertheless, her intended parents-in-law, and remaining 
 single, devote the rest of her life to their service and benefit. 
 
 Under the provisions of the Penal Code, any man or woman who marries 
 during the period of mourning prescribed for a deceased parent, or any wife or 
 concubine who marries while in mourning for a husband or master, becomes 
 liable to receive 100 blows : also, any man, who, while in mourning for a parent, 
 takes a concubine, or any woman who becomes one within twenty-seven months 
 after the death of her husband or parent, is liable to the same penalty : the 
 union in either case is to be declared void. A woman who has received title by 
 virtue of her husband's rank or merit, may not marry again at all, not even after 
 the expiry of the term of mourning, on pain of forfeiting her title and of imme- 
 diate separation. Any persons concerned in contracting a marriage while 
 cognizant of the existence of either of the disabilities above described, or while 
 themselves in mourning for relatives of the first degree, are also liable to punish- 
 ment. This prohibition with a lighter penalty extends to persons who marry 
 during the season of mourning for senior relatives of the second degree ; also to 
 those who act as guardians for persons jvho may lawfully mairy while ftiey 
 themselves are in mourning. If a woman become a widow, and her husband's 
 parents or grand-parents endeavour to force her into a second marriage, they 
 become liable to receive eighty blows ; and if any relative less qualified to exert 
 such authority attempt to compel her to marry, he renders himself liable to 
 severer punishment, which is increased in degree just in proportion to the 
 distance of his removal in relationship from the female. These penalties are 
 further increased if the female be driven by compulsion to take refuge in suicide. 
 If the marriage, thus contracted under persuasion, have not been consummated, 
 the woman must be restored to her first husband's family ; but if it have been 
 completed, she must remain with the second husband. 
 
 The prohibition of marriage and feasting during the season of mourning 
 for particular individuals is carried out to a certain extent in the case of the 
 demise of the Emperor. On such occasions all officers of Government on service 
 in the provinces are called upon by royal proclamation to abstain from 
 indulging in music for a whole year, and from marrying or having their heads 
 shaved for 100 days, while the people are commanded to* refrain from the first 
 recreation for 100 days, and from marrying for one month. Officers about the 
 Court and in the capital are restricted for a much longer period. 
 
 2nd. Marriage during imprisonment of parents. — Marriage is prohibited 
 under these circumstances for very much the same reasons as in those just 
 referred to, it being considered unfilial and unnatural for a child to indulge in 
 merriment while its parent is labouring under affliction. The law forbids any 
 child from marrying during the imprisonment of a parent or grand-parent, on 
 pain of receiving eighty blows, except it do so with their express injunction or 
 consent, in which case the ceremony must be divested of all musical or festive 
 accompaniment on pain of the same penalty. The taking of or becoming a 
 concubine under such circumstances, is punished with a less degree of severity. 
 
 III. — Permanent Disabilities. 
 
 If the distinction above referred to between voidable marriages and those 
 ah initio void, can be traced at all in the prohibitions of the Chinese Code it 
 is in the difference between the last two kinds of incapacity and the one yet to 
 be considered. The former may be looked upon as mere hindrances to marriage. 
 
45 
 
 which render the union, if formed, a voidable one, but the latter seems to be 
 deemed by the Chinese as constituting a positive incapacity for forming any 
 marriage contract at all, and therefore marking any union entered into in 
 opposition to the recorded prohibition, an essentially incestuous illegal bond. 
 These disabilities are of four kinds : — 
 
 1st. Prior marriage. — No man, as I have already remarked, is allowed to 
 possess more than one tse or wife, however much he may indulge in a plurality 
 of concubines.* The Code actually prohibits the taking of a second wife, during 
 the lifetime of the first, on pain of receiving ninety blows. The same penalty is 
 incurred by any person who raises a concubine to the rank or dignity of a wife 
 during the hfetime of his lawful spouse. 
 
 There appears to be no special clause directed against bigamy on the part 
 of the female, she being supposed to be incapable of such an offence while in her 
 husband's proximity. The only provisions bearing upon the subject are to be 
 found in the section upon divorce, where a wife is prohibited from absconding 
 from home on pain of receiving 100 blows, and being sold at the option of her 
 husband to some other person. If she abscond and then marry another man, 
 she is liable to suffer death by strangulation, unless any legally constituted 
 guardians have contracted the marriage for her, when they become amenable, 
 and she is only punishable as a fugitive. If other relatives act as guardians, 
 they are punishable as principals or accessories, as the case may be. Even when 
 deserted by her husband, a wife is prohibited, on pain of receiving 80 blows, from 
 abandoning her home before the expiration of three years, unless she give notice 
 to the local authorities ; and from contracting a second formal marriage without 
 the same sanction on pain of receiving 100 blows. Concubines are included in 
 these prohibitions under mitigated penalties. 
 
 The next disabihty arises from Similarity of surname. This prohibition is 
 based upon the principle that persons bearing the same surname must at some 
 time or other have sprung from one andthe same stock. There are little more 
 than 530 surnames distributed throughout the whole Chinese population of the 
 Empire, and although some cases must exist where families, bearing the same 
 name, trace their origin to different ancestors, who may have adopted the same 
 name at various stages of the history of patronymics, yet' the restriction will not 
 appear to be unnecessary^, when it is remembered that the Chinese are essentially 
 a clannish people, and herd in families to such an extent that the com- 
 monest persons are often able to trace their descent ages back through lines 
 of ancestry more remote than any our most ancient families can claim. The 
 penalty attaching to the breach of this law is 60 blows. 
 
 The third disability arises from disparity of position on the family tree, and 
 it debars a man from marrying a kinswoman or connection of any generation 
 senior or junior to that of which he is a member. The section of the Code 
 devoted to this restriction commences with relationships within the mourning 
 degrees, but I shall proceed to notice first those further removed, marriage with 
 any one of Avhom makes both parties liable to a penalty of 100 blows. Under 
 this prohibition a man may not marry any of the following kinswomen two 
 generations senior to himself: — 
 
 Palernal or maternal grandmother's sister {i. e., grand-aunt). 
 
 Paternal or maternal grandmothefs father's brother's daughter {i. e,, grand- 
 mother's cousin). 
 
 Maternal grandfather's sister {i. e., grand-aunt). 
 
 Maternal grandfather's father's brother's daughter (i. e., maternal grand- 
 father's cousin). 
 
 Nor the following belonging to one generation preceding : — 
 
 Paternal or maternal grandfather's sister's daughter (father's or mother's 
 cousin). 
 
 * It may naturally be supposed that with the liberty a Chinese enjoys to take an unlimited 
 number of concubines, he would not seek to bless himself with a second wife ; but the truth is, that 
 respectable families are so ill-disposed to give their daughters into concubinage, and travelling back- 
 wards and forwards is so expensire to those whose profession calls them far away from home, that 
 many men are induced to remove these and other obstacles by establishing a second domestic hearth, 
 and hence the necessity of the prohibition. 
 
4(5 
 
 Paternal or maternal grandmothers brother s or sister's daughter (father's or 
 mother's cousin). 
 
 Maternal grandfather*s brother^s daughter (mother's cousin). 
 
 Maternal grandfathers' s brother's son's daughter (mothef*s cousin once 
 removed). 
 
 Nor the following kinswomen or connections of a succeeding generation : — 
 
 Paternal uncle's daughter's daughter {i. e., second cousin). 
 Son-in-law's sister (daughter's sister-in-law). 
 Daughter-in-law's sister (son's sister-in-law). 
 
 Nor the following connection of two generations junior : — 
 Grandson's wife's sister.* 
 
 It will be noticed that all the above kinswomen are related to the individual 
 by affinity (in the Chinese acceptation of that term), every one being a connection 
 through admixture of female blood : they are at the same time related beyond 
 the five degrees of mourning, and the prohibition recorded against intermarriage 
 with any of them, therefore, arises solely from disparity of position in the family, 
 and not from proximity of relationship. 
 
 The only relations (by affinity) within the mourning degrees, inter- 
 marriage with whom is prohibited on the plea of disparity of iposition, 
 are, — 
 
 A mother's sister, 
 
 A sister's daughter, 
 
 both of whom are related to the individual in the fourth degree.f Besides being 
 referable to the disability under consideration, these relationships are also deemed 
 to be of a pectiliarly intimate character, and hence the penalty is more severe 
 than that attached to intermarriage with those first mentioned, breach of the law, 
 in the case of the former of the two, being punishable with strangulation, and of 
 the latter with one hundred blows, and three years' banishment. In this 
 category, and for the same reason, but under the lesser penalty, are included 
 marriage with 
 
 An uterine stepsisterjj 
 A stepdaughter. 
 
 This disabihty also applies to the following relationsbips by affinity, but 
 only on the plea of their proximity, for of course they involve no disparity of 
 position ; the penalty is eighty blows : — 
 
 Father's sister's daughter,^ 
 Mother's brothers daughter,^ 
 Mother's sister's daughter^^ 
 
 The fourth disability is Consanguinity (in the Chinese acceptation of the 
 term). This includes all kinswomen and wives of kinsmen, both without and 
 within the five degrees of mourning, but derived from common stock with the 
 individual through descent by male line. 
 
 Intermarriage with any kinswoman known to descend from common 
 ancestry, or with the wife of a kinsman similarly situated, if removed beyond the 
 
 * Tt might be remarked, tViat some of these relationships indicate such a disparity of years as 
 would render marriage improbable, if not impossible ; but if the peculiar customs of the Chinese,- as 
 regards early marriase, be taken into consideration, this objection will vanish at once : it is by no 
 means an unusual thing for a woman to have a sister 30 or 40 years vounger than herself, .and- 
 supposing her to marry at 15, and her son at 16, the fact of her grandson" being able to marrv her 
 sister becomes easy of credit. 
 
 f There are other relationships by affinity within the mourning degrees, but these are either of 
 too intimate a character to need prohibition, or are not referable to this section of the Code. 
 
 X A note in the Penal Code explains that children of two different marriages are not 
 includ3d in this prohibition, but may intermarry at the desire and with the sanction of their 
 respective parents. 
 
 § An after-clause abrogates this prohibition, and permits intermarriage between children of 
 brothers and sisters, or of sisters. Intermarriage between those of brothers is of course inadmissible 
 by the second prohibition under this head. 
 
47 
 
 degrees of mourning, makes both parties liable to a penalty of one hundred blows 
 But if a man marry the widow of a kinsman related to him in the fifth degree, or 
 of his mother's brother ov sister's son, he becomes liable with the woman to a 
 penalty of sixty blows, and one year's banishment. Marriage with the wife or 
 widow of a kinsman of the fourth degree, or any more closely related, is punish- 
 able as for incest with the same relations.* 
 
 Marriage with the divorced w'ife of any kinsman is only punishable with 
 eighty blows, provided that she have been re-espoused by some stranger in the 
 interim, the tie of relationship being somewhat loosened by such alienation. 
 
 Whoever takes (marriage being altogether out of the question) his father's 
 or grandfather's concubine, or his father's brother's wife, no matter whether 
 divorced or ahenated by second marriage or no, makes himself and the woman 
 liable to summary decapitation ; and whosoever takes his brother's widow,t is 
 punishable with strangulation. J 
 
 Marriage with a kinswoman related to the individual within the fifth degree 
 is punishable as incest with the same relatives.§ 
 
 * Incest with the wife of first cousin once removed (4th degree), 
 M of second cousin, „ 
 
 „ of grand-nephew, „ 
 
 is punishahle with 100 blows and three years' banishment. 
 
 Incest with the wife of grand-uncle (4th degree), 
 
 „ father's first cousin, „ 
 
 j> brother, (3rd degree), 
 
 » nephew, „ 
 
 is punishable with death. 
 
 f Wherever reference is had under this head to the wives of kinsmen, concubines are equally 
 included in the prohibition, under a mitigated penalty. An after clause makes a special exception in 
 the case of marriage with the concubine of an uncle or brother, which is to be punished only one 
 degree less severely than marriage with his wife. 
 
 I It is worthy of notice, that while the Chinese Code is so severe in its prohibition against union 
 with a brother's widow or concubine, marriage with a deceased wife's sister is not even reverted to ; 
 nor could it have been forbidden consistently with the principles upon which the code is based, 
 namely, the very slight importance attached to connexion through female blood, and the alienation of 
 a female on marriage from her own family to be incorporated into that of her husband. These 
 principles are so markedly carried out, that children of brothers and sisters may marry at pleasure, 
 while those of brothers cannot be united on pain of death ; again, a married woman is required to 
 wear mourning for nearly all the relatives for whom her husband formally mourns, some of these 
 very far removed, but is allowed to pay a like mark of respect only to her own very near connexions ; 
 while, on the other hand, a husband only wears mourning for his wife's parents. What a cogent 
 argument is herein furnished against one of the theories advanced by many of the opponents of our 
 Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, that instinct teaches us the sexes are convertible, and that, therefore, 
 where it prevents a man from marrying his brother's widow, it should equally deny him union with 
 his wife's sister. They have half the world opposed to them, on this side the globe at any rate, 
 whose instincts and tendencies are as natural and unbiassed as those of any nation on earth. The 
 marriage in question is an exceedingly common and favourite one in China. I have no means at my 
 disposal of bringing any statistical data to show even the approximate number of such marriages, but 
 many instances can be adduced of their prevalence both in ancient and modern times, sufficient, at 
 any rate, to prove that the union has always been deemed a becoming and honourable one. The 
 annals of the Chow and other dynasties tell us that it was then customary among the independent 
 states, when the families of their princes intermarried, for the nieces and sisters of a princess to 
 accompany her to her husband's home as bridesmaids, and that from among them was generally chosen 
 a successor, upon her decease. Chinese history also supplies us with instances in po nt; Yaou, one 
 of China's earliest and most revered sovereigns, gave his two daughters in marriage to Shun, his 
 successor, even as Laban gave Leah and Rachel to Jacob ; Ching-to, of the Han cynastv, upon the 
 death of his Empress, chose her sister to succeed to her place and rank ; and Ning-tsimg of the Sung 
 dynasty took his Queen's own sister into his palace as a concubine. Numerous cases mighi thus be 
 adduced, were it necessary to enter more into detail. As a proof of the esteem in which the marriage 
 is now held, I may refer to an example well known at Canton, that of two brothers, children of sisters, 
 men of wealth now resident in that city, who have attained to the highest literary honours that can be 
 reached. The practice of the Chinese, heathens though they be, in this matter, surely deserves some 
 consideration, especially as they have been so careful to hedge about the institution of marriage with 
 a system of restrictions which for comprehensiveness of design, severity, purity, and consistency of 
 principle, and perfect adaptation to popular requirements, may safely bear comparison with any 
 canonical code of which we in the West can boast. 
 
 § Incest with a great grand-aunt, (5th degree), 
 
 „ grandfather's first cousin „ 
 
 „ father's first cousin once removed „ 
 
 „ first cousin twice removed „ 
 
 „ second cousin once removed „ 
 
 „ third cousin „ 
 
 „ great grand-niece „ 
 
 „ first cousin once removed (4th degree), 
 
 „ second cousin [m » 
 
 „ grand-niece „ 
 
 H 
 
m 
 
 It only remains now to notice two subjects ; intimately connected with the 
 law of marriage, namelyj divorce and incest; 
 
 Divorce. 
 
 The code enumerates seven justifying causes of divorce, and forbids, a 
 husband, unless on any one of these pleas, from putting away his wife, on pain 
 of receiving eighty blows. These reasons for divorce are curious enough ; 
 they are barrenness, lasciviousness, inattention to parents-in-law, loquacity, 
 thievishness, ill-temper, and inveterate infirmity. A husband cannot, however, 
 avail himself of any of these failings in every case, there being three considera- 
 tions which are sufficient to set aside the necessity of repudiation : these are — 
 first, the wife having mourned for her husband's parents; second, her having 
 risen with him from poverty to wealth;* and third, her having no home to 
 which she can return .f 
 
 If, notwithstanding the existence of these relieving circumstanceSj be, puts, 
 her away, he becomes liable -to receive sixty blows, and to be compelled to take 
 her back again. Where, however, repudiation is obligatory,J and it is not 
 carried into effect, the husband is liable to a penalty of eighty blows. Mutual 
 separation, when it is desired by both husband and wife, is quite optional ; but 
 a woman may not make her wish for separation a plea for absconding, on pain 
 of receiving 100 blows, and rendering herself liable to be sold by her 
 husband; nor may she, even when deserted by her spouse, leave her home 
 until after the expiration of three years, without first giving to the local autho- 
 rities notice of her intention, on pain of receiving eighty blows. Concubines 
 absconding, render themselves liable to the same penalties,; mitigated two 
 degrees. 
 
 These peculiar statutes of the Chinese code are among the many that' do 
 not owe their origin to it as a system of legislation, but which it' has adopted 
 unaltered from the ancient ethical works upon which it is principally based ; 
 they possess therefore over the minds of the Chinese less of influence as legal 
 requirements than as rules of action or canons of morality. Experience proves 
 that they have not the effect of rendering the continuance of a woman in her 
 husband's home so dependent upon his caprice as their nature would at first sight 
 lead one to infer. The circumstances which are expected to influence a man 
 in favour of a wife prone to the failings named above, are of such a nature, that 
 their frequency must alone be very effective towards the prevention of, divorce ; 
 but, independently of this check, the sex possesses an effectual safeguard, in 
 the peculiarly indulgent and forgiving disposition of the Chinese character, 
 which, no doubt, tends to -make such an extreme measure as repudiation, one of 
 very rare occurrence. 
 
 Incest, 
 
 The Chinese language possesses no technical term corresponding to 
 "incest," in the common acceptation of the word, that'crime being designated 
 by a compound expression meaning " adultery with relatives ;" but the Code 
 simply interdicts intercourse with any of those relatives marriage with whom is 
 already prohibited, the same system of adapting the penalty to the proximity of 
 degree being pursued as in the marriage law.§ 
 
 is punishable by 100 blows and three years' banishment : With a 
 
 Grand-aunt (4th degree). 
 
 Father's first cousin „ 
 
 First cousin (3rd degree). 
 
 Aunt (2nd degree), 
 
 Sister „ 
 
 Niece ., 
 
 by stranprulation. 
 
 * "This and the former indicate her having suffered privation' enough with, her husband to give 
 her a claim to his lasting regard. 
 
 f These saving clauses lose effect in case of proven adultery. 
 
 i The Code only specifies that separation is obligatory on a husband when his wife "severs the 
 conjugal tie," but it does not define what constitutes such severance. A note explains: that general 
 ingratitude, want of affection, indecorous behaviour, and perversity, are severing causes. 
 
 § The punishment for simple adultery by mutual consent with any unmarried woman is 70 
 blows, which is increased to 80 in the case of a married female. 
 
Criminal intercourse between individuals sprung from a common ancestry, 
 though not related within the degrees of mourning, is punishable with 100 blows* 
 to each party, 
 
 A criminal intercourse with any relative,' or with the wife of any relative, 
 x)for within the fifth degree of mourning, is punishaMe with 100; blows, and 
 three years' banishment to each party.t 
 
 A criminal intercourse with a — 
 
 Crrand--aunt, 
 Grand-uncle's wife, 
 Father's first cowin, 
 Father's' first cousin's mfe, 
 First cousin. 
 Mother's sister. 
 Sister-in-law, 
 Nephew's wife, 
 
 is punishable by strangulation to each party concerned : If with — 
 
 A father's concubine, 
 
 A grandfather's concubine. 
 
 An uncle's wife, 
 
 An aunt, 
 
 A sister. 
 
 The wife of a son or grandson, 
 
 A niece, 
 
 it is punishable by decollation to both parties concerned. 
 
 These penalties, excepting where otherwise specified, are reduced one degree, 
 when the female is only a concubine. 
 
 Inheritance. 
 
 Little attention appears to have been given, by foreign writers upon China, 
 to the subject of succession to property, so that we are almost altogether unin- 
 formed of their peculiar usage in this particular. Even a reference to the able 
 ■ translation, by Sir George Staunton, of the Penal Code, is attended with no 
 satisfactory result to the inquirer, as the " Fundamental Laws," the only ones 
 translated by that author, only legislate for the descent of dignities, and the 
 succession to family representation, if it may so be termed, and contain no 
 allusion to inheritance of property. This subject is only to be found treated of in 
 some of the " Supplementary Laws," which, as Sir George Staunton's preface 
 remarks, " are the modifications, extensions, and restrictions of the ' Funda- 
 mental Laws,' " appended upon after-experience, during the present dynasty, 
 and subject to periodical revision and alteration. This absence of all legislation 
 in the " Fundamental Code," upon a matter which, of all others, furnishes most 
 food for litigation, presents a peculiar feature of the Chinese economy, and one 
 which is worthy of notice, as proving to how primitive an origin their present 
 constitution may be traced, and by what simple principles it has ever been 
 guided. Since so marked a distinction is made by the Code between title 
 to name and that to property, I will notice those two branches of inheritance 
 separately. 
 
 T^tle to Name. 
 
 The desire of securing a male representative of the family has from time 
 immemorial been a prominent characteristic of the Chinese mind, which has 
 its origin principally in the importance they attach to the annual performance, 
 by a lawful descendant, of the sepulchral rights, consisting of sacrificing at, and 
 sweeping the graves of, ancestors, at stated seasons of the year. 
 
 The eldest son of the wife, or failing him,"]: a younger son, is always consi- 
 "dered the lawful future representative of the family, and upon him devolves all 
 posthumous t>acrificial duties to parents and ancestors ; but should the wife pass 
 
 * Another clause increases this to exposure in the " cangue " for forty days and 100 blows. 
 
 f An after-clause increases this penalty to the adulterer, who, in addition to it, is liable to be 
 banished as a slave to the military in some part of the country near at>hand. 
 
 X A note says, if the eldest son have borne to him a son before his death, that son claims the 
 succession before the younger brother. 
 
 H2 
 
50 
 
 her 50th year without bearing any male issue, the eldest son of a concubine must 
 be nominated to the place of honour. In the event of a man having no male 
 issue whatever, the representation of the family descends to the son of a brother, 
 failing him to the son of a first cousin, then to the offspring of a cousin once 
 removed, and next to that of a cousin twice removed ; the principle of inheritance 
 to representation being, that the inheritor must be a male relative descended from 
 common stock with the head of the family, and a member of the generation 
 next succeeding that to which he (the deceased) belongs. If all these be wanting, 
 some more distant kinsman, providing, as before remarked, he be a member of 
 the next junior generation, or a person bearing the same surname, may be 
 selected as the heir to the representation. Any departure from this order of 
 procedure * renders the party offending liable to receive 80 blows. The nomi- 
 nation of an individual of a different surname, who has been adopted into the 
 family, to the heirship, is not allowed under a penalty of 60 blows, and the 
 deprivation of the child so adopted ; and any relative of the child who abets such 
 a misappropriation, is hable to the same punishment. Foundlings, if under three 
 years of age, may be brought up in a family, and receive its name, but they 
 cannot succeed to the representation, failing direct issue ; they cannot be com- 
 pelled to leave the family of their adoption, nor, if their real parents afterwards 
 claim them, be detained in it, but they may not desert their adopted parents to 
 join another family, on the plea of seeking their proper home, and with a view 
 to share in that family's property. 
 
 Any child who, in consequence of the failure of direct issue, has been 
 adopted and brought up as heir to the representation of his kinsman's name, is 
 compelled to remain under the roof of his adoption on pain of recei'/ing 100 
 blows; unless his adopting parents shall, subsequently to his nomination, have 
 issue, and his natural parents have no other children, in which event they are at 
 liberty to reclaim him. When a childless man has nominated his lawful repre- 
 sentative from among his kinsfolk, he may, should the individual selected not 
 please him, appoint the next in order, on making proper application to the local 
 authorities for permission so to do ; and, so long as such child is a- member of 
 the next junior generation to his own, the other members of the family may not 
 object or complain, on the plea of his not being the next in order of succession. 
 He possesses the same liberty of selection, where any cause of enmity may 
 previously have existed between him and the lawful representative of his name, 
 and any interference or protestation on the part of the relatives subjects them 
 to severe punishment. 
 
 When a son, who has married, dies without male issue, and his relict resolves 
 to remain in her widowed state ; or if he die after betrothal, aid his affianced 
 binds herself to perpetual celibacy ; or, further, if he die married, after having 
 established himself in life, and his widow marry again ; or if he die a • bachelor 
 upon the field of battle ; — it becomes in either case obligatory upon the father to 
 select and nominate a lawful heir to represent his name. Should there be no 
 kinsman, of the generation succeeding that to which the son belonged, eligible 
 for this purpose, and the father possess no other son, he is bound to appoint a 
 lawful representative to himself, and when such representative shall have a son, 
 to nominate the child to represent his deceased son. This rule does not extend 
 to persons dying as minors or bachelors, excepting where a man loses an only 
 son while a minor, and is unable to procure from amongst all his kindred a 
 substitute related to himself in the proper degree ; in such case he may nominate 
 a representative for his son, and if such nominee be an only son, he may, provided 
 all the members of the kin consent to such an arrangement, and give an official 
 undertaking to that effect, be permitted to act as representative to both branches 
 and perform all sacrificial and ancestral rights accordingly. 
 
 * In case of descent of dignities, such as hereditary title or rank emanating from officers of the 
 first and second ranks to their sons, a totally different principle of succession seems to be recoonized 
 with a view, apparently, to the retention of the honour among the lineal descendants, in preference to 
 permitting it to fall to collateral branches. Failing the eldest son, the title has first to descend to his 
 first-born son, and so on to all his male heirs in perpetual succession. Failing them, it goes to the 
 second son ; and if he be deceased, it reverts to the second son of the eldest and his descendants 
 before it can pass to his own heirs. Should there be no male issue at all by the wife, the title is 
 then inheritable by the sons of concubines, and their heirs in the same order; and failino- any male 
 issue at all, the younger brother of the deceased, or some person specially nominated by the Emperor 
 inherits the title. Any departure from this rule makes the party liable to receive 100 blows and three 
 years' banishment. 
 
51 
 
 Title to Property. 
 
 Very little information has been hitherto collected as to the local usages in 
 diflferent parts of the country with regard to the right of succession to property 
 in China, but no doubt these are much influenced by the regulations and injunc- 
 tions laid down in the Penal Code. On the death of an individual, those 
 members of his family, who are senior to the inheritors, possess the right to act 
 as executors of the estate, and upon them devolves the duty of seeing it properly 
 administered, and equitably apportioned among the juniors, who claim the 
 succession, or an interest in the property. Any claimant who presumes, with- 
 out their co^izance and authority, to appropriate any part of the property, 
 renders himself hable to a penalty of 20 blows, where the amount appropriated 
 is valued at 10 taels, and of 10 blows more for every additional 10 taels of value 
 abstracted. Any injustice or unfairness on the part of the executors, subjects 
 them to the same punishment. 
 
 Upon the death of the father, his whole estate, lands,* goods, or money, is 
 divisible among all the sons in coparcenary, without reference to seniority or 
 birth, the youngest son of a concubine or slave being entitled to as large a 
 share as the first-born son of the wife. Failing direct male issue, f the property 
 devolves to the individual nominated as successor to the representation of the 
 family, and if no such person exist, it escheats to the Crown, unless there be a 
 daughter, in which case only she is permitted to inherit. Bastards are allowed 
 to inherit, but only to the amount of half the share allotted to a legitimate 
 son; if there be no other son, the natural son is entitled to divide the property 
 with the chosen representative of the family ; and if none can be nominated, he 
 falls into possession of the whole. 
 
 No family estate may be divided by the children during the lifetime of 
 either parents or grand -parents, every individual being considered a minor and 
 a member of their family, so long as any of these relatives remain alive, unable 
 therefore to appropriate the family property, or remove from the household to 
 set up an independent establishment. The penalty attached to breach of this 
 law, provided the parents or grand-parents themselves prosecute, is 100 blows. 
 
 Children may not moreover appropriate any portion of the inheritance, nor 
 enrol themselves as independent householders, during the period of mourning 
 for their parents or grand-parents, on pain of receiving eighty blows ; always 
 provided, as in the other case, that some senior kinsman or relative within the 
 second degree prosecutes. 
 
 All quarrels about succession are rigorously prohibited, and if carried to 
 such a length as to occasion loss of life, they render all those members engaged 
 therein, liable to be completely excluded, in favour of some other heir to be 
 selected by the elders of the kin. 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 Mr. Hammond to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, September 6, 1854. 
 
 WITH reference to my letter to you of April 4th last, I am directed 
 by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you herewith, for the informa- 
 tion of Sir George Grey, a copy of a despatch! from Her Majesty's 
 Minister in China, stating his opinion as to the mischievous nature of 
 Mr. White's proceedings in that country as agent for procuring coolies 
 for the West Indies. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 "'•' Land in China is held in fee simple, on condition of registration and payment of the 
 constituted taxes and imports, the Emperor being considered to be the original grantor or lord of 
 the soil. 
 
 ■j- A woman left a widow without a son, and not marrying again, may receive her husband's 
 property in trust, until the nomination of a proper representative of her husband's name ; him she 
 must forthwith proceed to select, in consultation with the elders of her husband's kin. 
 
 I Mo. 14. 
 
52 
 
 No. 1€. 
 
 Mr. -Peel to Mr. Hammmid. — (Received September's.) 
 
 Sir, Botonmg Street, September' 7 , 18S4. 
 
 WITH reference to previous correspondenx;e, 1 am directed by 
 Secretary Sir George Grey to transtnit to you, 'Tor ' the itiform-atitui of the 
 Earl of Clarendon, the cof^y of a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor 
 of Hong Kong, relative to the emigration of the 'Chinese to the West 
 
 Indies. . 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 CSigned) F. *PEEL. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 16. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor Caineto the Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 My Lord Duke, Victoria, Hong Kong, June 5, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's 
 despatch of 16th March last, giving cover to sundry letters from 
 Mr. White, late West India Emigration Agent in this Colony, and the 
 correspondence relating to these letters. 
 
 2. Your Grace desires me to instruct the Surveyor-General to place 
 himself in communication with Mr. White respecting the establishment of 
 a dep6t for Chinese emigrant coolies destined for the West Indies, and to 
 report my own opinion as to the expediency of such a measure. Mr. White 
 having, as your Grace will have been apprised, returned to England at 
 the termination of the season favourable to emigration, 1 can only comply 
 with the second requirement. 
 
 3. I am decidedly of opinion, with Mr. White, that if th-e emigration 
 to the' West Indies from this place is to be systematic and constujBt, it 
 cannot be conducted in so creditable a manner as the Governm'eot would 
 wish, without the establishment of a dep6t on shore or afloat : the former 
 would probably be the least expensive both as to its original cost, and in 
 regard to the establishment necessary for its due regulation. 
 
 4. It is difficult to imagine how, without the aid of such an establish- 
 ment, labourers can be selected of such class as by their introduction 
 would benefit the Colonies, for this must necessarily require time; nor 
 how, when such selection has been made, the coolies can be prevented from 
 absconding after the receipt of the advance wages that are always given 
 as a part of the inducement to emigrate. The ordinary layklays of a ship 
 chartered for the voyage cannot be sufficient time, nor th6 ship a suitable 
 place, for these preliminary arrangements ; and the fact that such a dep6t 
 has been found necessary both at Macao, where emigration is in private 
 hands, and in Calcutta, where it is under the supervision of the Govern- 
 ment, seems to strengthen the supposition that it would also be n requisite 
 here. 
 
 5.' Such an establishment "would also seem necessary to realize 
 Mr. White's anticipations of success with regaM:to inducing married men 
 and families to emigrate. 'Unquestionably it is most desirable that in 
 emigration 6f every kind the pro^polftion of male and female emigrants be 
 as nearly as possible equal. When this is the case the removal of 
 labourers from a' country "where the wages of labpur are barely sufficient 
 for their scanty subsistence to another country where labour is in great 
 demand, and the climate at the same time suitable, must be a source of 
 mutual benefit, and a work of high philanthro'py. To accomplish this 
 equalization of sexes among Chinese emigrants, we must tolerate Chinese 
 ignorance and Chinese prejudice in regard to matrimony, which we shall 
 find on examination to 'be, after 'all, not so far different from our own 
 notions as might at first sight be supposed. Mr. White, in ^vocating the 
 purchase of women might with equal truth have used a term lessabhorrent 
 
53 
 
 to our notions, of freedom and less suggestive of abuse ; for in reality the 
 money and presents given to the parents of the bride are considered to be 
 for the purpose of enabling them to send her to her husband's house 
 provided with a suitable wardrobe, and in a, manner becoming their 
 station. Perhaps the question propounded by the parents to the intend- 
 ing husband what sum of money he was willing to disburse to induce them 
 to place their daughter at his disposal, might not to European ears appear 
 more indecorous than would to Chinese cars, the converse of the question 
 as propounded by intending husbands in Europe to parents what sum of 
 money they were willing to add as a dowry to their daughter, to induce 
 him to place himself at her disposal. And both in Ctiina and England 
 mercenary considerations in such engagements are admitted to. be abnormal 
 and improper. 
 
 6. It is true that such a bounty on marriage, as that proposed, might 
 induce some to select as their wives prostitutes from the numerous brothels 
 within their reach ; but the better the clasa.of emigrants selected, the less 
 probability of this contingency; and, even should its occurrence be 
 certain, I cannot look upon it with any degree of apprehension ; on the 
 contrary, I believe that very, many of this unfortunate class of females, 
 were such an opportunity presented to them of escaping from their 
 terrible bondage, would most gladly avail themselves of it, and become 
 thereafter grateful and virtuous wives ; for a, great number of them, 
 perhaps a large majority, are purchased' as slaves in their infancy, and 
 are so trained up for the express purpose of prostitution, that, their mode 
 of life can scarcely be termed voluntary. Here it is true they are free 
 (9,nd they constantly take advantage of their freedom in this manner), but 
 on the mainland they are, I imagine, utterly without the power, if without 
 the money, to obtain their liberty. I, am glad that this subject is occupy- 
 ing the attention of Her Majesty's Government,. for I, consider it to be one 
 of the greatest importance. 
 
 7. The very best, stimulant of emigration to the West Indies would 
 be, as Mr. White remarks, the return to China for a season , of those who 
 have already emigrated, earned, money, and been well treated in the 
 country of their temporary adoption. 
 
 8. With regard to the treatment of emigrants on board their ships,. 
 the great desideratum is the selection of a good captain, for on him, more 
 than on any arrangements that can be made before the departure of th& 
 vessel, depend the comfort, health, and good-humour of the passengers. 
 For this reason, it is most desirable that a sufficient number of ships for 
 the season's emigration be chartered in England. 
 
 9. The Passengers Act seems to me to be unnecessarily stringent, in 
 regard to the number that each vessel is allowed to carry. Vessels hence 
 to California, almost without exception, build deck-houses for the accom- 
 modation of passengers ; and when they find it more profitable than to carry 
 cargo, they lay an orlop-deck also for the same purpose. The American 
 Passengers Act allows this; and the Emigration Officer (recently 
 appointed, as your Grace was informed by my despatch of 4th of May- 
 last), with my sanction, permits the practice to continue, taking care 
 only that fully twelve feet of space be allowed to each adult on the upper 
 decks, and twenty-four feet on the orlop deck:— the height between the 
 decks being six feet. This I consider to be fully sufficient for the 
 preservation of health, and it satisfies both the Chinese passenger and 
 the ship-owner; and I see no reason why the same indulgence should not 
 be allowed to ships carrying emigrants to the West Indies. It. is obvious 
 that such a relaxation from the stringent provisions of the English 
 Passengers Act, would materially diminish the cost to the Colonies of 
 each emigrant. The great points to be attended to are, the seaworthiness 
 and ventilation of the vessel, the quality and quantity of the provisions, 
 and the space allowed to each passenger. If on these the Emigration 
 Officer satisfy himself, Iconsider others of minor impoftance. 
 
 10. It would be well, I think, if some local enactment were made to 
 meet the peculiar situation of this place. Under present circumstances, 
 though some effective control is absolutely requisite, the Emigration 
 Ofiicer is placed in the anomalous position of acting under a law of 
 
54 
 
 which he enforces not a great deal more than its general spirit; to 
 carry it out in the letter would, in my view, be productive of nothing but 
 harm. It would simply drive away from our harbour a source of 
 employment and wealth to the colonists, which it should be our anxious 
 endeavour to foster and increase, and would not at the same time tend 
 in any way to further the interest of the emigrant or of humanity. Such 
 an enactment I purpose to submit to your Grace at a future time, when 
 we shall have had more experience of what is required : to delay it seems 
 necessary, not only on the score of deficient knowledge, but also that it 
 may, if possible, be made to square with the intention of the Emigration 
 Commissioners, in regard to the more permanent and systematic esta- 
 blishment of the West Indian Emigration, and with further reference to 
 the measures on the same subject which, I am given to understand, it is 
 the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring before Parliament at 
 an early period. 
 
 11. I would add, in conclusion, that if the Commissioners think fit 
 to employ the Emigration OflScer already appointed here to organise 
 measures for a regular supply to the West India Colonies of coolie 
 emigrants, instead of sending out a special agent for the purpose, this 
 Government will not object. He is, I believe, quite competent for the task, 
 and, from his acquaintance with the language and people, peculiarly 
 fitted for it ; but his services would be available as a supervisor only — 
 want of time would compel him to leave much of the details to some 
 trustworthy subordinate. In the former capacity and as a correspondent 
 of the Emigration Board, I have no doubt his services would be very 
 valuable, and would require for their remuneration a much smaller expen- 
 diture than would be necessary in the case of an officer sent from England 
 for the purpose. I make these remarks under the impression that 
 Mr; White does not wish to return to China, and that the Commissioners 
 may have some difficulty in finding a suitable successor. That the 
 emigration can be conducted only during one-half of the year is, perhaps, 
 an additional reason for the employment as agent of some person not 
 wholly dependent for support upon the emoluments of the office. 
 
 I have, &ic. 
 (Signed) W. CAINE. 
 
 No. 17: 
 Mr. Elliot to Mr. Hammond. — {Received October 19.) 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, October 18, 1854: 
 
 IN answer to your letter of the 6th ultimo, inclosing a despatch from 
 Sir J. Bowring relative to Mr. White's proceedings in China as Emigration 
 Agent for the West Indies, I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey 
 to transmit to you, for the information of the Earl of Clarendon, the copy 
 of a report upon the subject from the Land and Emigration Commissioners ; 
 and referring to the last paragraph of that report, I am to express Sir 
 George Grey's wish to be furnished with a copy of Mr. Medhurst's Paper 
 on Chinese Marriages* alluded to in Sir J. Bowring's despatch, in case the 
 question should again arise. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) T. FREDK. ELLIOT. 
 
 See p. 33. 
 
55 
 
 Inclosure in No; 17. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, September 27, 1854. 
 
 WE have to acknowledge your letter of the 20th instant, inclosing a 
 letter from the Foreign Office, with a despatch from Her Majesty's Pleni- 
 potentiary at Hong Kong, on the subject of Mr. White's proceedings in 
 China. 
 
 2. The emigration being now closed, at least for the present, and the 
 matters contained in Sir J. Bowring's despatch having already undergone 
 much discussion, it might have been unnecessary for us to have pursued 
 the subject, but that certain passages in Sir J. Bowring's despatch involve 
 a severe, and as we would submit unmerited, censure on some proceedings 
 or proposals in which this Board is involved. 
 
 3. Sir John Bowring states, that on a former occasion " Mr. White 
 placed in his hands a charter-party by which an emigrant-ship had been 
 hired at his suggestion to take in coolies at illegal ports." We presume 
 this refers to the charter-party of the '' Martin Luther," which formed the 
 subject of our report of the 4th June, 1853. The facts of that case were 
 as follows: when the ship was taken up by us in England, it was uncer- 
 tain at whac Chinese ports Mr. White might find it possible or advisable 
 to embark emigrants ; in this uncertainty we inserted a general provision, 
 that the captain should proceed first to Hong Kong to receive instructions, 
 and thence to take in emigrants, to such port as Mr. White or the 
 Governor might direct, " between Canton and Amoy inclusive." It had 
 escaped our notice, that between these two ports there is none except 
 Macao at which British vessels could legally trade. Our main object being 
 to secure to the Emigration Agent (as against the ship-owner) all the 
 discretion which he could possibly require, we were satisfied by taking 
 care that the contract was capable of being legally carried out (namely, by 
 shipping emigrants at one of the above three ports), and as the destina- 
 tion of the ship was to be determined by a Government officer, the 
 contingency of an illegal direction did not occur to us. 
 
 4. Sir John Bowring adds, that he learnt that "the captain, finding 
 the charter-party was an unlawful contract, emancipated himself from it, 
 and of course could not be proceeded against for so doing." 
 
 5. In point of law we believe there is no doubt, that as the discretion 
 reserved to the Government officer was capable of being exercised legally, 
 the contract itself was legal and binding. In point of fact the captain was 
 prevented from arriving in China within the prescribed time by the bad 
 conduct of his seamen. With some difficulty, however, and we believe 
 at a considerable loss to his employers, he ultimately made his way 
 thither, but it was far too late to employ him. The owners acknowledged 
 the validity of contract by paying a mulct of lOOL for its non-perform- 
 ance, and would not have disputed our right to exact a much larger sum 
 had we not felt it right to reduce the penalty in consequence of the effort 
 made by the captain to perform his employer's engagements. 
 
 6. It is, however, the fact, that a vessel was dispatched with Chinese 
 from Namoa to the West Indies in 1852 ; and that Mr. White signified his 
 intention to send another during the past season, which, however, was not 
 carried into effect. On this subject we had the honour to report on the 
 2nd of May last. 
 
 7. Sir John Bowring stigmatizes Mr. White's plan for procuring 
 women in Hong Kong, as being " neither more nor less than to establish 
 under official protection a slave-markel for females in a British colony." 
 In using this language we cannot help thinking that he overlooks the 
 distinction which exists between inflicting on our fellow creatures the evils 
 of slavery and redeeming them from it. The effect of Mr. White's pro- 
 posal would have been to transfer a certain number of females from China, 
 in which they would have occupied the position of purchasable concubines 
 to a British colony, where they would occupy that of free wives, and there- 
 
56 
 
 fore appears to us to belong, not to the former, but to the latter class of 
 transactions. Both, no doubt, have this point in common — that they 
 involve the payment of money in respect of human beings. But this, we 
 would submit, is no reason for confounding proceedings which are not 
 only unlike, but directly opposite, in that respect on which their effect 
 upon human happiness, and consequently their moral character, depends. 
 On this point, however, we have nothing to add to our report of the 2nd 
 of May, except to observe that the Acting-Governor of Hong Kong 
 appears, from his despatch of the 5th of June, to have fully concurred in 
 the propriety of Mr. White's plan. 
 
 8. Sir John Bowring further describes the project as one " to 
 authorize and legalize the sale of women on British territory, and with 
 that view to place money in the hands of ignorant coolies, on the promise 
 that they will afterwards marry the females they buy." On reference, 
 however, to the paper which he had before him when this description was 
 written, it will be perceived that the proposal as made by Mr. White was, 
 that the marriage was to take place before embarkation ; and it is evident 
 that the money would not be paid without precautions for securing this. 
 But it is more important to observe, that without a fundamental change 
 in British law (which, as Sir John Bowring is aware, has never been 
 hinted at), it would be absolutely impossible to " authorize or legalize'^ 
 the sale of any human being in a British colony, or to give effect to any 
 sale of a person proceeding to such a colony, inasmuch as it would be 
 impossible for the (so called) purchaser to acquire or retain any property 
 in his purchase beyond the rights which English law gives a husband 
 over his wife. This observation appears to us very materially to affect 
 the accuracy of Sir John Bowring's description. 
 
 9. In case the emigration were ever resumed it would be very 
 desirable that the Secretary of State for the Colonies should be in posses- 
 sion of the information contained in Mr. Medhurst's Paper on Chinese 
 Marriage, referred to in Sir John Bowring's despatch, of which, therefore, 
 it might be desirable to obtain a copy. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (Signed) C. ALEXANDER WOOD. 
 
 FREDERIC ROGERS. 
 
 No. 18. 
 
 Lord Wodehouse to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, October 24, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE laid before the Earl of Clarendon your letter of the 7th 
 ultimo, inclosing a copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of 
 Hong Kong, containing suggestions for regulating the emigration of 
 Chinese coolies to the West Indies ; and I am directed by his Lordship to 
 request that you will state to Secretary Sir George Grey that the sugges- 
 tions contained in the Lieutenant-Governor's despatch appear well worthy 
 of consideration, and that Lord Clarendon sees no reason why the emigra- 
 tion of Chinese coolies should be abandoned if proper precautions are 
 taken in conducting it. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) WODEHOUSE. 
 
57 
 
 No. 19. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 ^^*"' Foreign Office, October 24, 1854. 
 
 I COMMUNICATED to the Colonial Department your despatch 
 of the 5th of June last, respecting Mr. White's proceedings as agent for 
 procuring Chinese coolies for the West Indies ; and I inclose herewith, 
 for your information, a copy of the answer* which I have received from 
 that Department upon the above subject. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — (Received November 17.) 
 
 Superintendence of Trade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, September 15, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE received your Lordship's despatch dated July 18, on the 
 subject of the atrocious malpractices of which Chinese coolies have been 
 the victims, in the Chincha Islands, and 1 rejoice that the attention 
 of Her Majesty's Government is again directed to a traffic overflowing 
 with abuses and abominations. 
 
 I have published a notification in the "Government Gazette," of 
 which I have the honour to inclose a copy, and have also directed the 
 attention of the Colonial authorities to the matter, the result of which will 
 be communicated to Sir George Grey. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 20. 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 Diplomatic Department. 
 By His Excellency Sir John Bowring, Knight, Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British 
 subjects in China, &c., &c. 
 
 WHEREAS authentic information has reached Her Majesty's 
 Government of intolerable cruelties and oppressions practised upon 
 Chinese emigrants who have been conveyed in British ships to the Chincha 
 or Guano Islands, and reduced to a state of slavery, it is hereby made 
 known to all consignees, owners, and commanders of British vessels in 
 China, that they are absolutely prohibited from accepting charters or 
 conveying emigrants to the said islands, and that any disobedience to 
 this prohibition will be visited by the severest penalties of the law. And 
 Her Majesty's Consular authorities are in their several jurisdictions 
 required to ascertain and report to this Superintendency, for the information 
 of Her Majesty's Government, any case which may come to their know- 
 ledge of such charter or conveyance of the subjects of China to the islands 
 aforesaid, not only as regards the five legal ports of China, but from any 
 other place or places whereat emigrants may be shipped. 
 Given at Victoria, Hong Kong, September 11, 1854. 
 
 God save the Queen. 
 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 * No. 17. 
 I 2 
 
58 
 
 No. 21. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, November 21, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE received your despatch of the 15th of September, inclosing 
 a copy of a proclamation which you have published, interdicting the 
 conveyance by British vessels of Chinese emigrants to the Chincha 
 Islands ; and I have to state to you that I approve of your proceedings 
 in this matter. > 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 ^o. 22. 
 
 Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammond. — (^Received November 28.) 
 
 Office of Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade, 
 Sir, Hong Kong, October 9, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inclose an extract from the " China Mail" 
 newspaper of the 28th ultimo, being a notification from the Consul of 
 Peru at Canton and Macao, having reference to the shipment of Chinese 
 coolies to the Chincha- Islands, and the proclamations of Her Majesty's 
 Plenipotentiary on the subject. ' 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 22. 
 
 Extract from the " China Mail" Newspaper of September 28, 1854. 
 
 Consulate of the Republic of Peru, 
 
 Canton, September 23, 1854. 
 
 THE Undersigned, Consul for the Republic of Peru, begs to call the 
 attention of persons connected with Chinese emigration to Peru, to the 
 proclamations of his Excellency Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong 
 Kong, and Superintendent of British Trade in China, on the subject, and 
 say: 
 
 That in Peru no person is allowed to be made a slave, and that 
 cruelties may have been committed amongst the few Chinese sent to the 
 Chincha Islands, but no greater than those which occur in British 
 colonies and under British masters. 
 
 That Chinese going to Peru are under a contract to serve for a fixed 
 period of years, and said contracts are fully complied with; and conse- 
 quently it is merely an empty assertion that they are made slaves, and to 
 declare slavery any contract entered into for servitude for a short period 
 of years, at fair remuneration, is very difficult to believe can be established. 
 
 That to take measures to prevent Chinese emigration to the Chincha 
 Islands, without Her Britannic Majesty's Government having first 
 addressed the Government of Peru on the subject, or given a proper notice 
 of the view taken of this emigration, is contrary to the general usage 
 amongst civilised nations. 
 
 That my attention has been called as to contracts at present pending 
 on Peruvian account for the shipment of Chinese emigrants, and my 
 opinion desired as to their being considered cancelled by said procla- 
 mations. On this point I cannot give an opinion, but would suggest that 
 it is scarcely possible that Sir John Bowring has been authorize^ by his 
 Government to make assertions so directly attacking the honour and 
 integrity of a nation with which England has amicable relations ; and 
 
59 
 
 accordingly I would recommend parties having such contracts to await a 
 communication on the subject from the Minister of Peru in London, whom 
 I have addressed with copies of the proclamations in question. 
 
 Chinese have been sent to the Chincha Islands, being the cheapest 
 labour that could be procured, with the view to enable the sale of guano 
 at low rates in the consuming countries ; and I would call attention to 
 the fact, that up to the latest dates from England, public opinion there, 
 when directed to this question at all, was confined to complaints at the 
 high price of guano, while no attention was paid to reports that had 
 already reached that country, of cruelties said to be exercised in pro- 
 
 curing it. 
 
 (Signed) W. M. ROBINET, 
 
 Consul for Canton and Macao. 
 
 No. 23. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (Extract.) Foreign Office, December 8, 1854. 
 
 WITH reference to nay despatch of the 18th of July last, instructing 
 you to take steps to prevent as far as possible the shipment of Chinese 
 emigrants to the Chincha Islands, I have to acquaint you that from 
 information received by Her Majesty's Government it appears that the 
 Chinese labourers at the Chincha Islands are now better treated and 
 under regular supervision. 
 
 Under these circumstances it may be unnecessary to continue the 
 prohibition issued by you on the 11th of September, against the convey- 
 ance of Chinese emigrants to the Chincha Islands in British vessels. 
 
 No. 24. 
 
 Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammond. — {Received December 28 ) 
 
 Office of Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade, 
 Sir, Hong Kong, November 10, 1854. 
 
 DEEMING that some information with reference to the shipment of 
 Chinese coolies to Peru might be acceptable to Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, and more particularly so at a time when public attention has been 
 called to the treatment these people are said to undergo at the Chincha 
 Islands, I have the honour to inclose a tabular statement of the Chinese 
 shipped to Peru under the designation of colonists, from the years 1849 to 
 1854 inclusive, which I obtained from the records of the Peruvian 
 Consulate at Canton. From this document, which I have no reason to 
 suppose is incorrect, it will be seen that the number of Chinese shipped 
 within the above-mentioned period amounts to 7,356 individuals. Of 
 these 4,754 were landed at their destinations, and 549 died on the 
 passage. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 (Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON. 
 
60 
 
 
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61 
 
 No. 25. 
 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon.— ^Received January 11, 1855.) 
 
 My Lord, Lima, November 25, 1854. 
 
 ALTHOUGH I have frequently pressed upon the Peruvian Minister 
 for Foreign Affairs, Senor Gomez Sanchez, the necessity which exists that 
 he should lose no time in giving to me the Government report respecting 
 the treatment at the Chincha Islands of the Chinese labourers, yet I have 
 not been able hitherto to obtain that statement from his Excellency. 
 
 I trust, however, that the reports which I have already had the 
 honour to forward will, to a certain degree, have satisfied your Lordship 
 that whatever may have been the ill-usage of the Chinese under the 
 contract of Don Domingo Elias, yet that no such cruelties are practised at 
 present. 
 
 I have the honour to inclose translation of a Decree of the President 
 of Peru, ordering that the Chinese labourers in the Chincha Islands 
 shall receive 8 dollars a-month as wages, and that in all cases they be well 
 treated. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) S. H. SULIVAN. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 25. 
 
 Decree. 
 
 (Translation.) Department of Finance, Lima, September 15, 1854. 
 
 CONSIDERING that the Government is bound to ameliorate, in so 
 far as is possible, the condition of the Chinese working in the Guano 
 Islands ; that the political prisoners who cannot be forced to work should 
 not remain in the said islands ; that the prisoners condemned to hard 
 labour in the public works for the term of their punishment have no right 
 to more daily pay than that which is necessary for their maintenance : 
 It is resolved that the Chinese employed in the works of the Guano Islands 
 according to their respective contracts, shall receive 8 dollars a-month, 
 divided into weeks or as may be convenient ; that the authorities of those 
 places take heed that they be not ill-treated, and that good provisions be 
 supplied to them ; that the political prisoners who cannot be employed in 
 the digging and shipping of guano shall be embarked and sent to Callao 
 at the disposal of the War Department, and that the prisoners employed 
 in the public works be paid a daily sum of 4 reals to cover all their 
 expenses. 
 
 Let this be communicated and registered. 
 
 (Signed by his Excellency.) 
 (Countersigned) Mendiburu. 
 
 No. 26. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, January 6, 1855. 
 
 "WITH reference to my despatch of the 8th December, respecting 
 the treatment of Chinese emigrants at the Chincha Islands, I transmit 
 to you herewith a copy of a despatch* from Her Majesty's Charge d' Affaires 
 at Lima on the same subject. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 « No. 25. 
 
62 
 
 No. 27. 
 
 8ir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — {Received January 27, 1855.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, November 28, 1854. 
 
 IN reference to your Lordship's despatch dated 9th August, 
 in which 1 was directed to make inquiries as to the circumstances 
 under which the port clearance was granted by the Harbour Master of 
 Hong Kong to the British barque " Susannah," I have the honour to 
 inclose copy of a letter addressed to the Colonial Secretary by Mr. E. R. 
 Michell, who signed the port-clearance in question. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 27. 
 
 Mr. Michell to the Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Harbour-Master's Office, 
 Sir, Victoria, Hong Kong, October 7, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this 
 date, having reference to the port-clearance granted to the British barque 
 "Susannah," with Chinese emigrants, and a letter addressed to Lord 
 Wodehouse upon the subject of coolie emigration, and in reply beg most 
 respectfully to state, that there being no custom-house at this port, the 
 duty of granting port-clearances devolves upon the harbour-master, who 
 is required, under Section 10 of Ordinance No. 11 of 1845, to grant port- 
 clearances to all ships, agreeable to a form to be deposited in his office, 
 without demanding declaration of the truth of the master's report before 
 granting the port-clearance, as is usual in other Colonies. 
 
 I would be permitted to remark, that in China the terms used, 
 " Chinese emigrants" and "Chinese coolies" are understoed to be widely 
 different, the former being a class of persons who have paid their passage, 
 so many thousands of when cleared from this port during the last year ; 
 while the latter are understood to be those who have had their passage 
 paid for them under an agreement, such as those who left this port in 
 April last in the British ship " Epsom" for Jamaica, and many others at a 
 former period for New Soum Wales. In either case, however, the port- 
 clearance granted to the "' Susannah," is in accordance with the usage of 
 the port, from the commeji^ement of the Colony up to May last, when 
 an emigration officer was nppoirited, from which period no vessel has 
 received a port-clearance with passengers without having first obtained 
 that officer's certificate. 
 
 In conclusion I would beg to remark that the port-clearance, said to 
 be a copy of the one granted from this office, is incorrect, and that when 
 the port-clearance was granted to the "Susaiinah," it was not supposed 
 that the iniquitous charge laid to the master could be for a moment perpe- 
 trated. The port-clearance I conceive to be no warranty, and that he is 
 alone responsible for such acts. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) E. R. MICHELL. 
 
63 
 
 No. 28. 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon. — {Received February 7, 1855.) 
 
 (Extract.) Lima, December 22, 1854. 
 
 IN my despatch of the 25th of November last, I had the honour to, 
 inclose to your Lordship the copy of a Decree of the Peruvian Govern- 
 ment respecting the treatment of the Chinese labourers in the Chincha 
 Islands. 
 
 I have now the honour to transmit the copy and translation of a note 
 which I have received from the Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, 
 entering into details relative to those Chinese, which, added to the docu- 
 ments I have already in former despatches had the honour to forward, 
 will, I trust, have satisfied your Lordship that whatever may have been 
 the cruelties practised upon those Chinese labourers under the contract of 
 Don Domingo Elias, they have now no cause for complaint. 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 28. 
 The Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Mr. Sulivan. 
 
 Lima, 12 Diciembre, 1854. 
 
 HE recibido la nota de VS. fecha 2 de Setiembre ultimo, en 
 la que me dice VS. que tiene orden de su Gobierno para trans- 
 mitir al del Peru copia de una carta del Tribunal de Comercio, a la 
 que esta unida la representacion de ciertos capitanes de buques llegados a 
 Ynglaterra de las Islas de Chincha, y que han causado horror a Su 
 Majestad las crueldades que sufren los Chinos que trabajan en la 
 esplotacion del guano en dichas islas a ordenes de personas dependientes 
 del Gobierno Peruano. 
 
 No debiendo considerar la interposicion de la Legacion Ynglesa en 
 este asunto, sino como oficiosa y amigable, y como un simple aviso en 
 favor de la humanidad, me es muy satisfactorio decir a VS. que 
 los capitanes que firmaron la representacion, procedieron sin duda 
 aniraados de falsas impresiones y tal vez de algunas miras de interes 
 privado que procuraron hacer conocido asociandole a una cuestion de 
 humanidad ; pues se les ve que tratando de los sufrimientos de los Chinos 
 se avanzan a emitir opiniones sobre el sistema actual de la venta del 
 guano, calificandolo de monopolio, y sobre la conveniencia de emplear en 
 el cargio a los marineros que tripulan los buques. 
 
 Ya. habia llegado a conocimiento del Gobierno por la nota del Consul 
 de la Republica en Canton, de la que acompano a VS. copiados algunos 
 fragmentos, que en el exterior se hablaba con acrimonia acerca de las 
 crueldades de que los Chinos eran victima en las Islas de Cliincha. El 
 Gobierno Peruano, impulsado tambien por sentimientos de humanidad, 
 mando esclarecer los hechos ; y por los informes que acompailo en copia, del 
 General Don Carlos Lagomarcino, Gobernador de las islas, y de un 
 empleado subalterno a que se refiere, se convencio de que carecian de 
 fundamentos todas las voces que circulaban sobre los supuestos padeci- 
 mientos de los Chinos. Sin perjuicio de esto reiterd ordenes espresas para 
 que se les tratase con humanidad, y ultimamente expedio el Decreto de 
 15 de Setiembre inserto en el " Peruano" que acompano tambien a VS.. 
 duplicando el salario que ganaban segun sus contratos primitivos. 
 
 Siendo este asunto de la esclusiva competencia del Gobierno 
 Peruano, he entrado en los pormenores de esta nota solo por un senti- 
 miento de consideracion hacia el de Su Majestad Britanica y por el 
 propio decoro de la Administracion, interesada en desvanecer toda impu- 
 tacion que pudiera presentarla como capaz de permitir que se ejecutasen 
 actos de crueldad sobre ninguna clase de hombres, cualquiera que sea su 
 raza 6 condicion. 
 
 Con sentimiento, &c. 
 
 (Firmado) JOSE LUIS G. SANCHEZ. 
 
 K 
 
64 
 
 (TraM"sla*ron.) 
 
 ■ Ihm., Becemhir \2, 1854. 
 
 LHAyE received your note dated 2nd of September last, in which- 
 you state to me that you have received instructions from your Govern- 
 ment to transmit to that of Pern a copy of the letter ■ of the Board of 
 Trade, inclosing the representation of certain captains of vessels arrived 
 in England fram the Chincha Islands, and that Her' Majesty is horrified 
 at the cruelties suffered by the Chinese labourers in the digging of the 
 guano in those islands, under the orders of persons employed by the 
 Peruvian Government. 
 
 As the mediation of the British Legation in this matter cannot be 
 considered but as friendly and as a simple notice in favour of humanity, 1^ 
 have the satisfi'ction to state- to you 'that the captains who si'gned the 
 representation acted, there' is no doubt, under false impressions, and 
 perhaps with som'e^ private interested view which they have made known-'- 
 by associating it with a question of humanity ; for in speaking of the 
 sufferings of the Chinese, they pretend to emit opinions upon the actual 
 system of the sale of the gtiaw©!, terming it a monoply, and upon the 
 convenience of eitiploying the crews of the vessels in the loading of the 
 guano. 
 
 The^ Government had already been acquainted by the note of the 
 Consul of the Republic in Canton, of which I inclose extracts, that in 
 foreign- countries, the empties of whichf theChtoese weres the victims in 
 the Ghi'Hchia Islands, were spoken of with acrimony. The Peruvian Govern- 
 ment, influenced also by feelings of humanity, directed' thait an inquiry 
 shoruld be made into the trttth of the facts; and from the reports, copy of 
 which I inclose, of General Charles Lagomarcino', the Governor of the 
 islands, and of a subaltern employe, to which he refers, they are convinced 
 that' there were no grounds for the statements which were circulated 
 respecting the supposed sufferings of the Chinese. Notwithstanding this, 
 however,' the Government gave express orders that they should be treated 
 with humanity, and 'later issued the Decree of 15th September, inserted 
 in the " Peruano," copy of which 1 also inclose, doubling the wage*' which 
 they gained according to their' original contracts. 
 
 Although this matter is an exclusive affair of the Peruvian Govern- 
 ment, I have entered into the details contained in this 'note, purely on 
 account of the feeling of respect which they entertain towards Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Government, and for the honour of their own Admi- 
 nistration, that is interested in removing every imputation which could 
 represent it as capable of permitting the execution of acts of' cruelty 
 upon any class of men, whatever may be their race or condition. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOSE LUIS G. SANCHEZ. 
 
 In closure 2 in No. 28. 
 
 The Governor of the Chincha Islands to the Perwvian Minister for 
 
 Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Excelentisirao Senor, Islas die Chincha, 22 de Junio de 1854. 
 
 LOS hechos aducidos en el anterior informe, me son constantes, y si 
 me ocupase de ellos, no haria otra cosa que reproducirlo, Respecto de 
 los Asiaticos ocupados en el trabajo de estas islas, hay sin duda que 
 distinguir dos epocas distintas ; la trascurrida hasta Diciembre proximo 
 passado, en que vivieron bajo la subordinacion de sus respectivos patronos, 
 y la que ha trascurrido hasta el dia desde esa fecha 24 de Diciembre en 
 que el Supremo Gobierno creando una autoridad en estas islas ha he'cho 
 imposible todo genero demaltrato. 
 
 En esta segunda epoca, no hay duda, los trabajadores- han mejoradb' 
 de posicio-n ; el acarreo del huano se hace por carros, se pagan a seis reales 
 
65 
 
 cada uno de ellos, y el peon, ]ibre 6 presedario, gana a proporcion de su 
 labor, habiendo algunos queentregan-tres oarros diarios, y dos la mayor 
 parte. Estan pues contentos con sus ganancias, circula bastante nume- 
 rario y diariamente se aumentan sus comodidades. El •estimulo reina 
 entre ellos y la fuerza del trabajose debeen la actualidad a nuestro presidio 
 y no a los colonos ' Asiaticos. 
 
 Estos se hallan bajo de otro regrmen ; su trateajo es proporcionado a su 
 
 complexion,.sus ganancias son lasi estipuladas en sus contmtas, y los encar- 
 
 igados del Supremo Gobiemo del carguio ,de,huano no solo respetan y 
 
 cumplen estas, sino que tambien les ban aumeatiado el alimento y mejorado 
 
 el vestido. 
 
 La epocaAque se contrae nuestro Consul en Canton, se refiere al 
 tiempo en q.me el Supremo Gobierno no tenia en estos trabajos una 
 participacion tan iraediata, pero con ,todo ,uo es creible que jamas se ,ks 
 hubiese tratado de aniquikr, ponque la conveniencia de sus misnios 
 patronos exijia su conservaciony esta es incompatible con el maltrato, el 
 hambre y el escesivo trabajo. 
 
 Con k> espuesto y el informe del encargado^ de los trabajos de estas 
 islas, dajo cumplido el superior decreto marginal de YS. 
 
 (Firmado) CARLOS LAGOMARCINO. 
 
 (Translation.) ) 
 
 Sir, Chincha Islands, June 22, 1854. 
 
 THE facts adduced in the foregoing statement are true, and if I 
 myself entered into a report upon the subject L could not do otherwise than 
 reproduce it. 
 
 Respecting the Chinese employed in the works of these islands, it is 
 necessary to distinguish two distinct periods ; the period previous to 
 December last, during which they existed under the subordination of their 
 respective masters, and the period from that time to the present day. 
 From that day, 22nd December, on which the Supreme Government 
 appointed an authority in these islands, all maltreatment has been made 
 impossible. 
 
 During this second period it cannot be doubted that the situation 'of 
 the labourers has improved ; the transportation of the guano is effected by 
 cart-loads, for each one of which 6 rials are paid. The free or prison 
 labourer earns in proportion to his work. There are some who deliver 
 three cart-loads each daily, and the g-reater number two cart-loads daily ; 
 they are therefore contented with their gains, money circulates abundantly. 
 and their comforts increase daily. Encouragement predominates amongst 
 them, and the principal portion of the work done at present is due to our 
 prisoners, not to the Chinese colonists. 
 
 These are placed under a different arrangement ; their labour is in 
 proportion to their constitution, their gains are those stipulated in their 
 contracts, and the Supreme Government contractors for loading the guano 
 not only respect and fulfil those contracts, but they have also increased 
 their food and improved their clothing. 
 
 The time referred to by our Consul in Canton was when the 
 Supreme Government took no immediate part in these works, but notwith- 
 standing this it is not to be credited that any attempt should have been 
 made to annihilate the Chinese, because the convenience of their employers 
 themselves demanded their preservation, which is in contraposition with 
 maltreatment, starvation, and excessive labooar. 
 
 With the foregoing statement, and the report ««)f the overseer of the 
 works of these islands, 1 have the honour to fulfil the marginal decree of 
 your Excellency. 
 
 (Signed) CARLOS LAGOMARCINO. 
 
 i K -2 
 
66 
 
 Inclosure 3 in No. 28. 
 
 Sefior Serrate to the Governor of the Chincha Islands. 
 
 Seiior General- Governador, Mas de Chincha, 21 de Junio de 1854. 
 
 CUMPLIENDO con el anterior decreto debo esponer a VS. que 
 lejos de tildarse de opresora la conducta que se observa con los colonos 
 Asiaticos que se ocupan en los trabajos de estas islas, es mas bien 
 humana, benefica y generosa, pues se les da algo mas de lo estipulado en 
 sus contratos. 
 
 En cuanto a los alimentos reciben lo necesario para su comodo 
 mantenimiento y en mayor cantidad que la especificada con ellos mismos, 
 pues no estan sugetos a racion determinada, sino que reciben diariamente 
 todo lo que ellos mismos pueden consurair, pues se ha observado que estos 
 individuos en nuestro clima son mas voraces y golosos. 
 
 El pre 6 salario a que por dichas contratas tienen derecho jamas se 
 les ha hecho ilusorio ni retardado un solo dia, recibiendo algunos de ellos 
 algo mas mensualmente como compensativo a su contraccion al trabajo ; 
 se les ha proporcionado ademas un alojamiento abrigado con su entarimado 
 de madera en donde descansan y duermen. 
 
 Desde que el actual y filantropico Gobierno ha autorizado a la casa 
 de los Seiiores Guillermo Gibbs y Ca. para que no escasee cosaalguna que 
 pueda contribuir al bien estar de ellos, se les ha cuidado en el vestido, y 
 se les atiende en sus dolencias ; para lo cual se ha hecho un nuevo hospital 
 surtido de todo lo necesario, que casi se puede decir toca en lujoso, 
 atendida la posicion de las islas y a la dificultad de proporcionar de pronto 
 una que otra cosa que pueda faltar, corriendo todo ^1 a cargo de un 
 facultativo y sus correspondientes dependientes. Este modo de proceder 
 tan humanitario solo es dado hacerlo a una nacion cuyo Gobierno tiene 
 por objeto el aliviar lavida penosa del trabajador; pues aunque cualquier 
 particular se hubiere propuesto lo mismo le habria sido ruinosa y tal vez 
 imposible de realizar. 
 
 El trabajo que se impone d los Chinos es tambien proporcionado a la 
 debilidad de su complexion, pues cuando cada uno de los demas trabaja- 
 dores entrega diariamente un carro, y los mas dos, de cuatro toneladas 
 de huano cada uno, el Asiatico solo es obligado a tres toneladas, que 
 conduce en carretillas reducidas y con pequeno esfuerzo. De entre ellos 
 ha habido muchos que han sido economicos, por cuyo medio han reunido 
 la cantidad necesaria para chancelar sus contratos, los que han continuado 
 trabajando voluntariamente y han sido pagados como cualquier trabajador 
 libre. Los indolentes y perezosos han sufrido sus correcciones, pero jamas 
 estas fueron imprudentes ni les impidieron continuar en trabajo diario; 
 pudiendo decir, haber conseguido la reforma de muchos de ellos, por la 
 vigilancia con que se les persigue, a lo que tienen mas temor que a otra 
 clase de castigos. 
 
 VS. es sin duda testigo ocular de todo esto como asi mismo de todas 
 las demas operaciones mecanicas que se efectuan diariamente en las islas, 
 y que es tambien cuanto puedo informar sobre el particular. 
 
 (Firmado) S. SERRATE. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Seiior Governor-General, Chincha Islands, June 21, 1854. 
 
 IN fulfilling the foregoing decree, I have to state to you, that instead 
 of stigmatising as oppressive the conduct observed towards the Asiatic 
 colonists employed in the works of these islands, it is humane, beneficent, 
 and generous, for they receive more than what is stipulated in their 
 contracts. 
 
 With reference to the provisions, they receive what is necessary for 
 their maintenance, and more than the quantity agreed upon with them ; 
 for they are not subject to a specified ration, but they receive daily as 
 much as they can consume, it having been observed that these individuals 
 in our climate are more voracious and dainty. 
 
67 
 
 The pay or wages to which, in consequence of their contracts, they 
 are entitled, has never been refused nor delayed for a single day. Some 
 of them receive an additional sum monthly as a recompense for their 
 attention to their work. A vv^arm dwelling-house, with a wooden flooring, 
 where they can rest and sleep, has also been provided for them. 
 
 Since the present philanthropic Government have authorised the 
 house of Messrs. William Gibbs and Co. to prevent the scarcity of any- 
 thing which can contribute to their well-being, their clothing has been 
 cared for, and the sick are attended to, for which purpose a new hospital 
 has been constructed provided with every necessary, that it may almost 
 be said that it borders on profuseness, considering the position of the 
 islands, and the difficulty of immediately replacing some articles, the 
 whole being in charge of a medical man and his assistants. This mode 
 of proceeding, so humane, can only be effected by a nation the object of 
 whose Government is the alleviation of the hard lot of the labourer; for 
 if unj privEite individual had proposed to do the same, it would have been 
 ruinous to him, and perhaps impossible to realise. 
 
 The labour exacted of the Chinese is also in proportion to their 
 strength ; for whilst each one of the other labourers delivers daily one 
 waggon-load, and most of them two, of four tons of guano each, the 
 Chinese are only bound to deliver three tons each, which they carry in 
 small barrows and with little exertion. Amongst them there have been 
 many who have been economical, by which means they have saved the 
 amount necessary to cancel their contracts, and they have continued 
 working voluntarily, and have been paid the same as any other free 
 labourer. The indolent and lazy have received corrections, but never 
 such as are imprudent, nor which prevented them continuing their daily 
 work ; and it may be said that many have been reformed by the strict 
 vigilance kept over them, of which they have more fear than of any other 
 punishment. 
 
 You, Sir, are an eyewitness of all this, as also of all the other 
 mechanical operations effected daily in these islands, and which is also all 
 that I can report upon the matter. 
 
 (Signed) S. SERRATE. 
 
 Inclosure 4 in No. 28. 
 
 The Peruvian Consul at Canton to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Consulado del Peru en Canton, 
 Seiior Ministro, 11 de Febrero de 18.54. 
 
 DESDE que dirigi a VS. mi nota anterior No. 104, he visto por los 
 papeles publicos de Hong Kong, confirmado hasta cierto punto, lo que se 
 dijo y anuncie a VS. en mi nota de Junio 11 de 1853, respecto al 
 estado en que salio a la mar la barca nacional "Empresa" conduciendo 
 Chinos al Peru. Segun lo que se dice, parece que el capitan de dicha 
 barca y mas de 100 Chinos murieron en la travesia por falta de viveres 
 adecuados, ventilacion y exesivo numero ; que todo esto origino fiebres, 
 que no podian curarse por falta de medicinas. Como no se pierde oportu- 
 nidad en que apoyar la oposicion que se hace a este trafico, que lo 
 comparan al de negros, se ha aprovechado de lo acaecido a la " Empresa" 
 para renovar los ataques, de los que el Peru es participe en mayor 
 
 grado. 
 
 A las Is! as de Guano se las representa como otros tantos presidios, 
 donde los Chinos son raaltratados. Hasta cierto punto no puede desmen- 
 tirse esto por falta de datos, y mucho mas cuando los mismos capitanes 
 de buques Peruanos, que vienen con huano para retornar con Chinos, dan 
 tales noticias. 
 
 El capitan de la "Victoria" llegado hace poco, me ha dicho en el 
 escritorio ante otra persona, " que los Chinos en las Islas de Chincha 
 eran tratados peor que esclavos." Debido a lo dicho es que se ha copiado 
 aqui de los papeles Ingles un despacho de Dr. Bowring (antes Superin- 
 
68 
 
 tendeBte en China), referente a emigracion China, en el que, *despues de 
 hacer referencia a las islas de huano, dice, " que los Chinos se venden en 
 el Peru en la plaza puMica." 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Sir, Peruvian CensulfPte,' Canton, February II, 1854. 
 
 SINCE I addressed to your Excellency my note No. 104, the news- 
 papers of Hong- Kong confirm, to a certain degree, that which was stated, 
 and which I . reported to your Lordship in my note of the ' 11th June, 
 1853, respecting the state in which the national barque "^Erapresa" went 
 to sea with 'Chinese for Peru. According to what is stated, it appears 
 that the captain of the above-mentioned barque, and upwards of 100 
 Chinese, died during' the voyage, of want of provisions and ventilation, 
 and from excess of numbers; that all this caused fevers, which could not 
 be cured for want of medicines. As no opportunity is lost to support the 
 opposition made to this traflRc, which is compared to that of negroes, the 
 occurrence to the "Ehnpresa" has been made use of to renew the attacks 
 which are mainly directed against Peru. 
 
 The Guano Islands' are represented to be as so many prisons, where 
 the Chinese are raa;ltreated. To a certain point this cannot be ^denied, for 
 want of proofs, and more so. as the captains themselves of Peruvian 
 vessels, who come with guano to return with Chinese, give such information. 
 
 The captain of the " Victoria," lately arrived, has stated to me in my 
 office, in presence of another person, " that the Chinese in the Chincha 
 Islands are treated worse than slaves." It is in consequence of those 
 statements that the newspapers' here have copied from the English papers 
 the despatch of Dr."Bowring flate Superintendent in China), in reference 
 to Chinese emigration, in which, after making reference to the Guano 
 Islands, he saj's "that the Chinese are sold in Peru in the public square." 
 
 No. 29. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, February 21, 1855. 
 
 WITH reference to my despatch of the 6th ultimo, inclosing a copy 
 of a despatch from Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Lima respecting' 
 the treatment of Chinese emigrants at the Chincha Islands, 1 inclose 
 herewith, for your information, a copy of a further despatch* from 
 Mr. Sulivan upon the same subject. 
 
 lam, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 30. 
 Sir John Bowring to the EaH of Clarendon-. — (Received Marbh2, 1855.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 My .Lord, Canton, December 18, 1854-. 
 
 1 HAVE the honour to accompany copy of a communication made 
 by Mr. 'Hobinet, the 'Peruvian Consul in this port^ to Mr. Consul Robertson, 
 on the subject 6f coolie emigrants intended to be conveyed to' Peru. 
 
 I have &c. 
 (Signed) 'JQHN^ BOWRING. 
 
 -' * No. 28. 
 
m 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 30* 
 
 The^JPerjuvian Consul at Canton to Consul Robertson. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Sir, Consulate of Peru, Canton, December 12, 1854. 
 
 THE Peruvian ship "Catalina" being at Whampoa, preparing^ to 
 carry Chinese emigrants to Peru, and the vessel being commanded by a 
 British subject, and wishing to avoid any misinterpretation, or the conse- 
 quences thereof, I will be much obliged if you would obtain information 
 from his Excellency Sir John Bowring, Her Britannic Majesty's Pleni- 
 potentiary in China, and Governor of Hong Kong, &c., whether any 
 objections will be placed in the way to prevent the said Captain from 
 proceeding to Peru with Chinese emigrants, in virtue of the contract that 
 he has to that effect. 
 
 In asking this of you my sole motive is the desire to avoid any losses 
 that may arise to the parties concerned in consequence thereof, and at the 
 same time preserve the best feeling in the unpleasant duty wliich devolves 
 upon me to fulfil. 
 
 The accompanying Decree of his Excellency the Minister of Foreign 
 Affairs in Peru, relative to the emigration of Chinese, I 'deem worthy of 
 your attention, and avail, &,c. 
 
 (Signed) G. M. ROBINET. 
 
 Inclosure 2 in No. 30. 
 
 Decree. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 HAVING received despatches from the Peruvian Consul in Canton, 
 together with accompanying documents relative to this, and taking inta 
 consideration — 
 
 1st, That the Republic has been accused, in foreign countries, of 
 suspicion of reducing to slavery the colonists, and that this calumny has 
 been repeated in private letters, and even in official documents published 
 by the press, referring to the immigration coming from China ; 
 
 2ndly. That the Chinese in Peru being free; and enjoying the same 
 rights of all foreigners, are only obliged to comply with the contracts by 
 them freely executed, according to the laws of the country ; 
 
 3rdly. That the provisions formerly made by the Government, that 
 the Asiatic expeditions might be conducted in the best manner possible, 
 with safety and convenience to the immigrants, not having been sufficient, 
 and in order to enforce the resolutions that apply to the object in view : 
 
 Resolved — 
 
 1. That the authorities of the Republic lend their aid and protection 
 to the Asiatic colonists, as well as the parties who have entered into 
 contract with them, in their respective positions, for the complying or 
 fulfilling their contracts, according to the laws of the country. 
 
 2. That no contract with Asiatics, the term of which having trans- 
 pired, can be extended for more time than that stipulated in China, and if 
 the desire of the colonist be to renew the same, or effect another, it will be 
 necessary for his concurrence, together with that of the contractor, before 
 a Justice of the Peace, who shall authorize the respective act, in which 
 shall be expressed all the conditions of the agreement. 
 
 3. That no tribunal of the Republic can admit demands for expenses 
 or chartered vessels for the Asiatic immigration, without the expedition 
 having obtained legal permission from the Consulate of the Republic, 
 desi^ated in posterior Articles*, the Govemmeot taking care to prevent 
 the landing of any expedition wanting the necessary requisites, in order 
 
70 
 
 to avoid the introduction of men of bad habits, and those incompetent to 
 perform the duties assigned to them. 
 
 4. That no tribunal or official authority can consider valid the 
 contracts of the Asiatics that may be introduced into the Republic after 
 the 1st of May, 1855, without such contract having the certificate and 
 seal as indicated in the following article. 
 
 5. That the persons that embark in Asia for Peru should be, first, 
 young, moral, healthy, and industrious ; secondly, that care must be taken 
 to ship them in good, sound vessels, which are in condition to perform the 
 voyage, and provided with sufficient vvholesome food, and not more to be 
 received on board than the number allowed according to tonnage of vessel ; 
 thirdly, that at the foot of every contract celebrated hereafter in Asia with 
 emigrants, must appear the certificate and seal of the Peruvian Agent or 
 Consul, as designated in the following Article, who should certify to the 
 free and voluntary agreement made between the emigrants and contractor, 
 witnessed by two persons. 
 
 6. The Peruvian Consuls in China will carry out the views contained 
 in Article 5, taking care that the obligations on the part of the contractors 
 be exactly observed ; for which purpose, and before the contracts are 
 legalized, they will exact from the said contractors certificates and neces- 
 sary vouchers regarding the condition of the vessel and provisions, the 
 state of the coolies, &c., having power to authorize persons versed in such 
 matters to investigate the condition of the same. 
 
 Published by order of his Excellencv. 
 
 (Signed) GOMEZ SANCHEZ. 
 
 No. 31. 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — {Received March 2, 1855.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, December 31, 1854. 
 
 I HAVE received your Lordship's despatch dated 24th October, and 
 the inclosure from the Colonial Office. 
 
 I still retain the opinion that the authorized sale of women in a British 
 colony would lead to intolerable abuses, but as I have no reason to suppose 
 that your Lordship adopts the views of the Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners, I deem it unnecessary to pursue the controversy. 
 
 In reference to the third paragraph of their letter, in which it is stated 
 that the "Martin Luther" was chartered "to take in emigrants at such 
 port as Mr. White or the Governor i^of Hong Kong) might direct between 
 Canton and Amoy, inclusive, it had escaped our notice that between these 
 two ports there is none, except Macao, at which British vessels could 
 legally trade," I have only to say that Macao is not between Canton and 
 Amoy. 
 
 I hope my disposition and determination to employ every proper 
 influence at my disposal, in order to check the dreadful crimes and 
 miseries which have been connected with the transport of Chinese coolies 
 to foreign countries, will not be interpreted into any unwillingness on my 
 part cordially to aid and further a well-devised and properly-protected 
 system of emigration to Her Majesty's Colonies, but I have had an expe- 
 rience too practical and painful to allow me to be an unconcerned spectator 
 of the manner in which the coolie trade is too frequently conducted. 
 
 I have the honour to inclose another copy of Mr. Medhurst's article 
 on the social relations in China, which was printed in the transactions of 
 the Chinese branch of the Asiatic Society. 
 
 (Signed) ' JOHN BOWRING. 
 
No. 32. 
 
 Mr. Sulivan to the Earl of Clarendon. — [Received March 21.) 
 
 (Extract.) Lima, January 21, 1855. 
 
 THE proclamation published in the Government Gazette of Hong. 
 Kong prohibiting the conveyance of Chinese labourers to the Chincha 
 Islands on board British vessels, has alarmed the proprietors, many of 
 whom are British subjects, and Mr. Peter Conroy, on his own part and on 
 the part of Seiior Robinett his brother-in-law, has expressed his hope that 
 no impediment will be placed to Chinese immigration to Peru ; he has 
 showh to me one of Seiior Robinett's contracts, in which it is expressly 
 stated that no Chinese is to be made to work in the Chincha Islands, and 
 he has assured me that in all those contracts that clause is inserted. 
 
 No. 33. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — (Received March 31.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, February 3, 1855. 
 
 MY despatch of 18th December referred to a communication I 
 had received, through Mr. Consul Robertson, from the Peruvian Consul 
 at Canton on the subject of coolies conveyed to the Chincha Islands, 
 and as your Lordship's despatch dated 8th December, confirms the 
 assurance given by the Peruvian Government, I have issued the notifica- 
 tion, of which a copy is inclosed, removing the prohibition announced in 
 the "Gazette" of the 11th September last, regarding the shipment in 
 British vessels of Chinese labourers to the said islands. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 33. 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 Diplomatic Department. 
 WHEREAS Her Majesty's Government has been officially informed 
 that measures have been taken to correct the abuses connected with the 
 transit to and employment of Chinese labourers in the Chincha Islands, 
 the prohibition against Her Majesty's subjects being engaged in the 
 conveyance of Chinese subjects to the said islands, announced by procla- 
 ation "in the "Hong Kong Gazette" dated the 11th September, is hereby 
 withdrawn . 
 
 By order. 
 (Signed) W. WOODGATE, 
 
 Officiating Secretary in the Superintendency of Trade. 
 
 Victoria, Hong Kong, January 29, 1855. 
 
 No. 34. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — (Received March 31.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 (Extract.) Hong Kong, February 8, 1S55. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship copy of a despatch 
 dated Amoy, 30th ultimo, from Mr. Acting Vice-Consul Winchester, on 
 the subject of coolie emigration from that neighbourhood. 
 
 Your Lordship may be assured that if the intentions of obtaining 
 women to accompany male emigrants be carried out, the object can only 
 be accomplished, oii any considei'able scale, by the direct sale or the 
 covert kidnapping of females. 
 
72 
 
 Inclosure in No. 34. 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. ^ 
 
 Sir, Amoy, January 30, 1 855. 
 
 IN compliance with the instructions to keep Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment informed of the progress of coolie emigration, I have the honour to 
 acquaint your Excellency that the British ship "Zetland," 1,283 tons, 
 chartered to take coolies from this neighbourhood to Peru, and consigned 
 to Messrs. F. D. Syme & Co., arrived here on the 13th instant. 
 
 Mr. Consul Parkes will probably have informed your Excellency that 
 he at once applied to the consignees, to learn whether the emigrants were 
 to be shipped at Amoy, and the destination of the vessel, and was assured 
 that they were to be taken on board at some distance from this along the 
 coast, and that their services were intended, not for the digging of guano 
 in the Chinchas Islands, but the construction of a railway in the conti- 
 nental territory of Peru. 
 
 About the time Mr. Parkes was leaving, I was told that the pro- 
 ceedings of the crimps were calculated to create an impression that the 
 coolie trade was about to be resumed in Amoy. I deemed it desirable, 
 therefore, to take an early opportunity of repeating to Mr. Syme what I 
 was aware had been strongly enforced on him by my chief; viz., the 
 danger of operating from Amoy as a basis of coolie emigration. I warned 
 him that no support was to be expected from this office, and that it might 
 be my duty, if called on by the local authorities, or by the apprehension 
 of such an outbreak as occurred in November 1852, to take active 
 measures to preserve the legitimate commerce of the port from the risks 
 to which it might be exposed. I impressed on him that a considerable 
 section of the population of this city were opposed to the system ; that 
 the collection of large bodies of emigrants, according to the former prac- 
 tice, was certain to create irritation, and the necessity of exercising a 
 vigilant superintendence over the proceedings of his brokers, so that only 
 voluntary emigrants might be shipped, and all imputation of kidnapping 
 be avoided. 
 
 I gathered from Mr. Syme that it is intended the " Zetland " shall be 
 anchored beyond Ngo-soo, probably at Ting-tai Bay, about twenty miles 
 distant from the port. He promised that there should be no collections 
 of men in the neighbourhood of Amoy, and that he would exert every 
 possible supervision over the acts of his brokers. 
 
 I confess that I cannot see this prospective renewal of emigration 
 without apprehension. I make no doubt, should the "Zetland" succeed 
 in obtaining a suitable cargo, it will be resumed here by the parties in 
 charge of the Havana contract. It is understood that at Swatow men 
 can no longer be procured with the same facility, and the temptation once 
 more to try Amoy will become too strong to be withstood. 
 
 I am well aware that there is no express authority to interfere with 
 the shipment of Chinese emigrants in British vessels to foreign countries 
 from the dominions of the Emperor ; but, carried on as the system is 
 through the medium of native ageiicy, it can always be checked through 
 the action of the mandarins ; and should it appear advisable, I will not 
 fail to apprise them that I am prepared to afford them every necessary 
 support. 
 
 With the north-east monsoon emigration was resumed at Swatow, 
 and I have to report to your Excellency the following particulars : 
 
 Left in American vessel " What Cheer," for Honolulu - - 200 
 Left in Spanish vessel "Bella Gallaga," for Havana - - - 400 
 Left in English vessel " Roxburgh Castle," for Havana ' 600 
 
 Two English vessels, " Martin Luther" and " Carpentaria," of 1.241 
 and 1,460 tons respectively, are at, or on their way to, Swatow. 
 
 The parties in Havana who have taken the existing contract are, I 
 am told, under obligation to supply a certain number of female emigrants ; 
 
73 
 
 and the attempt to ship them will shortly be proceeded with at Swatow. 
 I venture to predict it will have so little success that it must be soon 
 abandoned. In the meanwhile, no small mischief may be the result. 
 
 I have &c. 
 (Signed) ' CHARLES A. WINCHESTER. 
 
 No. 35. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, April 7, 1855. 
 
 I Have to acquaint you that I approve of the notification issued 
 by you, and of which a copy is inclosed in your despatch of the 3rd 
 of February last, removing the prohibition which you had previously 
 issued regarding the shipment of Chinese coolies for the Chincha Islands 
 in British vessels. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 36. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, April 7, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE received your despatch of the 8th of February last, 
 inclosing a copy of a despatch from lilr. Acting Vice-Consul Winchester, 
 on the subject of cOolie emigration from Amoy, and I have to state to you 
 that I approve of Mr. Winchester's language and proceedings in this 
 
 matter. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 37. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, April 23, 1855. 
 
 WITH reference to former correspondence, I transmit to you herewith 
 a copy of a despatch* from Her Majesty's Charg^ d' Affaires at Lima 
 relative to the shipment of Chinese coolies to the Chincha Islands. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 No. 38. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — {Received April 30.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 (Extract.) -Hongf Kong, March 2, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship a copy of a 
 communication from Mr. Acting-Consul Winchester, dated Amoy, 14th 
 February, giving information respecting a contract entered into by the 
 French Government for a supply of 900 Chinese emigrants, intended for 
 the colonies of Guadaloupe and Martinique. 
 
 The same despatch states that the " Carpentaria," chartered, as I 
 understand, to take in coolies for a British colony, is loading at an illegal 
 port, and beyond Consular control. 
 
 * No. 32. 
 L 2 
 
74 ; 
 
 Inclosure in No. 38. 
 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, February 14, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that a contract 
 has been made for the introduction of 900 Chinese immigrants to the 
 French colonies of Guadaloupe and Martinique, during the present year, 
 between the Minister of Marine and Colonies, M. Theodore Ducos, for the 
 Colonial Governments, and two merchants of Hdvre, MM. Malavigne 
 and Ridet. 
 
 One-sixth of the whole number are to be women, but on this head the 
 contractors will be excused if they can prove the impossibility of procuring 
 females. 
 
 The emigrants will be shipped under the law enacted by the French 
 Government relative to this subject, which enjoins ample space and 
 comfort, and contains, with many excellent and humane pi'ovisions, some 
 minute regulations that appear scarcely necessary to a well-regulated 
 emigration from this country. 
 
 According to the Ordinance, the shipment ought to be made under the 
 superintendence of a special Emigration Agent ; and the whole contract, 
 I believe, to be subject to the control of his Excellency M. Bourboulon. 
 
 The coolies for the " Zetland " are collecting at Karn-bay, the 
 Catholic village near the Nantae Pagoda, and I hear with pleasure that 
 the mandarins have permitted the body of Changpoo insurgents, reported 
 as having shut themselves up in the Old Fort, commonly supposed to 
 have been erected by Kok-sing-a, to join the emigration. 
 
 About a week ago, 190 emigrants were dispatched in a lorcha from 
 Ngo-soo to the " Carpentaria," loading at Swatow. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A, WINCHESTER. 
 
 No. 39. 
 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — (Received April 30.) 
 
 Superintendency of Trade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, March 5, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch 
 dated 6th January, on the subject of Chinese emigrants conveyed to the 
 Chincha Islands. 
 
 I cannot but rejoice in the solicitude displayed by Her Majesty's 
 Government to check the horrible abuses connected with the shipment of 
 coolie emigrants. A frightful case has just occurred at Amoy, where a 
 British vessel, the " Inglewood," Captain Burton, has been stopped, 
 having on board forty female children, the eldest only eight years of 
 age, who had been kidnapped or purchased at Ningpo. The facts were 
 reported to the Vice-Consul at Amoy by some of the sailors, who suffered 
 from the stench, misery, and disease of these poor, unprotected little ones. 
 The subject is under investigation, but there is infinite difficulty in dealing 
 with it, the principal parties being Spanish and Portuguese subjects. I 
 have more than once pointed out to your Lordship the consequence of the 
 attempts to obtain female emigrants from China, which I observe is made 
 a condition in the Spanish, and, in a modified form, in the French 
 contracts. T beg to state that the " Inglewood" was consigned to the 
 house of a British subject, he being the Spanish Vice-Consul, and the 
 principal Emigration Agent. He repudiates all guilty knowledge of the 
 business. I am in communication with the naval Commander-in-chief on 
 the subject, to which 1 shall again refer when the depositions reach me. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
75 
 
 No. 40. 
 Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon. — {Received April 30.) 
 
 Superintendency of TVade, 
 My Lord, Hong Kong, March 6, 1855. 
 
 HAVING, as stated in my despatch dated yesterday, been in 
 communication with Sir James Stirhng, the naval Commander-in-chief, 
 on the subject of the " Inglewood," I have received from his Excellency 
 a despatch, of which 1 have the honour to inclose a copy, and which I 
 have also sent to Mr. Vice-Consul Backhouse. Your Lordship shall 
 receive further details when the investigation is completed ; but in the 
 meanwhile, I wish your Lordship should know that no time has been lost 
 in endeavouring to check these intolerable abuses. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 40. 
 Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, " Winchester," at Hong Kong, March 4, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's 
 letter of the 2nd instant, inclosing a despatch from the Acting Vice- 
 Consul at Amoy, and I learn from it with great surprise that any 
 British merchant-ship can have taken part in a transaction of the nature 
 therein described. 
 
 I shall give instructions that whenever cases of the kind shall fall 
 under the notice of any of Her Majesty's ships under my command, that 
 the Commander shall immediately put in full force and effect the Anti- 
 slavery Acts of Parliament. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JS. STIRLING. 
 
 No. 41. 
 
 Acting Secretary Woodgate to Mr. Hammond. — {Received April 30.) 
 
 Office of the Superintendent of Trade, 
 Sir, Hong Kong, March 14, 1855. 
 
 IN reference to his Excellency Sir John Bowring's despatch 
 of 5th instant, I have the honour to forward herewith, for the informa- 
 tion of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 
 copies of three despatches received this day at this office from Mr. Acting 
 Vice-Consul Winchester, in charge of the Amoy Consulate. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. WOODGATE. 
 
 p.S. — The accompanying despatch, bearing on the subject of 
 emigration from China, I have thought it my duty to transmit it, in 
 addition to the above. 
 
 W. W. 
 
76 
 
 Inclosure 1 in No. 41. 
 Vice'Consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (Extract.) Aimy, March 2, 1855. 
 
 I AM to detail to your Excellency my proceedings in reference to 
 the unfortunate female children brought here by the "Inglewood." V 
 
 My first step was to pay a visit to these poor unfortunates in company 
 with Mr. Sinclair, the result of which your Excellency will find stated in 
 the inclosed memorandum. 
 
 After much anxious deliberation, I felt it would be inconsistent with 
 my duty to abstain from reporting the matter to the Haefang, who is in 
 charge during the absence of the Taoutae ; and I directed Mr. Sinclair to 
 make this communication at a personal interview, in the manner most 
 calculated to leave the Military Prefect perfect liberty of action, and to 
 show that we were not anxious to throw the children on his hands as a 
 burden we wished to get rid of. 
 
 The Haefang most promptly declared the utter illegality of this trans- 
 action, and expressed a hope that the master and the shipper might be 
 both punished. He intimated that he would acquaint us with his views 
 respecting the children in the course of next day. 
 
 In the meantime, besides seeing to the most necessary arrangements 
 for the comfort of the children, I employed myself in taking the more 
 important of the depositions, and the declaration inclosed. 
 
 Finding the day had elapsed without any intimation from the Haefang 
 as to the children, I deemed it my duty to inclose copies of depositions, &c., 
 to Mr. Conolly, Acting Portuguese Consul, for the information of the 
 Governor of Macao, and to Call upon him officially to aid me in protecting 
 them from any clandestine attempt of Martinez to possess himself of their 
 persons. I made a similar request to him as Acting Spanish Vice- 
 Consul, 
 
 I had scarcely dispatched these letters, which your Excellency will 
 find accompanying this despatch, before the Haefang intimated that, 
 after having consulted the Admiral, he was prepared to take charge of 
 the children, with the view of betrothing or placing them as servants in 
 families in the neighbourhood. I sent the Consular messenger with his 
 Wei-yuen to see the children, and they were to be taken charge of by him 
 to-day. 
 
 The Haefang at first expressed a wish that the interpreter should 
 visit the children with him ; it appears, however, that he has since deputed 
 his principal officer to the office of conveying them to Amoy. I have 
 instructed Mr. Sinclair, if a favourable opportunity should occur for 
 impressing upon the Haefang the propriety of treating these unfortunates 
 with kindness and humanity, to do so, and as an assistance to his argument 
 to state that the care of these children was not thrown upon him as a 
 burden we wanted to relieve ourselves from, but that I was prepared, in 
 event of his declining, to have pledged the honour of my Government for 
 the expenses necessary to their being placed in a position which would 
 ultimately lead to their becoming free, and probably useful, members of 
 society. 
 
 The Consular messenger who attended on the occasion has iust 
 reported to me the total number of the children taken charge of by the 
 Haefang's people as forty-four. 
 
 Her Majesty's sloop " Racehorse " having arrived yesterday evening 
 from Shanghae, I have communicated all my proceedings and the dep(^ 
 sitlons, &c., to Captain Barnard, who will determine whether it is his duty 
 or not to seize the vessel. 
 
 I find that I have omitted, in speaking of the course of allowing the 
 children to proceed to their destination, to add that I only contemplated 
 such a step under the faith of a guarantee from the Portuguese Vice- 
 Consul here that the children's arrival should be reported to the Govern- 
 
77 
 
 ment of Macao, and that they should not be withdrawn from its super- 
 vision till their ultimate fate could be determined by Governor Guimaraes 
 and your Excellency. 
 
 I should conceal from your Excellency my sentiments, if I did not 
 say that the real intention and destination of this shipment is still a 
 mystery. As soon as the captain is better, I shall proceed to question 
 him according to the permitted forms where a party stands suspected 
 of an offence ; nor have I given up hopes of tracing the letter addressed to 
 Hokien, but it seems politic to let the matter rest a little first, before 
 proceeding to make inquiries which would at present immediately put the 
 parties on the alert. 
 
 In connection with this shipment, my mind has several times reverted 
 to those contracts which include what is called the emigration of a certain 
 number of women. But beyond the general suspicion which their terms 
 create, I have not been able to satisfy my mind by any tangible proofs 
 that this is the case. Should Martinez turn up, I shall press his exami- 
 nation and punishment by Mr. Conolly, and am of opinion that certainly 
 at Ningpo, and probably at Macao, important information on the matter 
 may be obtained. 
 
 Having taken the depositions in duplicate, I forward an original set 
 to your Excellency, that they may be available in event of the case being 
 removed to Hong Kong, and have therefore not numbered the inclosures 
 in the usual way. 
 
 I earnestly hope that this account of my proceedings may be satis- 
 factory to your Excellency, whom I shall not fail to keep advised of all 
 that passes in relation to the subject, which has been to me one of the 
 deepest anxiety and care. 
 
 Inclosure 2 in No. 41. 
 
 Memorandum. 
 
 ACCOMPANIED by Mr. Sinclair, I proceeded on board the "Ingle- 
 wood," where we found a person who showed us the house in Koolongsoo 
 where the young female children were lodged. The captain was sick and 
 in bed, and as I had that morning received from Dr. Hirschberg an account 
 that he was in a great state of mental excitement, and labouring under 
 fever, I did not ask to see him, but contented myself with directing the 
 chief officer to come to me at the Consular Office, when we returned to 
 Koolongsoo. 
 
 We found the children, forty-four in number (as was afterwards 
 ascertained, on the Haefang taking charge of them), in a house 
 situated in the northern village of Koolongsoo. They were under the 
 charge of two Chinese cooks, who had been hired to attend them at 
 Chin-hae ; several Amoy females of respectable appearance were tending 
 them. The children, with one or two exceptions, seemed in general 
 good health, but were many of them affected with itch, scabies, porrigo 
 capitis, &c. &c. 
 
 However disgusting the sight, and I confess myself to have been 
 greatly aff'ected by it, the children seemed tolerably cheerful, and certainly 
 showed no appearance of personal ill-treatment. They were be'ng washed 
 and cleaned, the elder by themselves, and the younger by their Amoy 
 female attendants. We saw that there were several bags of rice, dried 
 fish, and other provisions in the house for their use. They were as 
 comfortably housed and fed as the children of such poor people would be 
 at home. 
 
 The cooks said they were waiting for the Portuguese who had 
 bought the children, to come to Amoy, and thence to go on to Macao with 
 them ; that all the money they had received from Martinez was, each an 
 advance of one month's personal wages. They had been bought, according 
 
78 
 
 to the story of the cooks, from their parents at from five dollars to eight 
 dollars a-piece, at Ningpo, Chin-hae, and Tsze-ke. 
 
 I impressed upon the attendants the propriety of treating the little 
 creatures with humanity and kindness, and left for the Consulate Office. 
 
 (Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul in charge. 
 Amoy, February 27, 1 855. 
 
 Inclosure 3 in No. 41. 
 
 Deposition. 
 
 RICHARD SANDECOMBE, aged 29, born at East Loo, in Cornwall, 
 duly sworn in the usual form, saith : 
 
 I am chief mate of the " Inglewood." I know Martinez. I saw him 
 about a day or two before these children came on board ; he then told me 
 he was to bring them. He told me he was born at Macao, and of 
 Portuguese origin. He was rather fair for an Asiatic Portuguese, and 
 had European features ; he was about five feet four inches ; very slender ; 
 he had a short flat nose ; his hair was dark brown ; his eyes dark ; he 
 had on a pelisse-coat, furred on the inside ; a pair of green tartan 
 trowsers ; he had a pair of thin black whiskers, and thin dark moustache. 
 He talked very good English, and I believe he could speak Chinese very 
 fluently ; I mean the Ningpo dialect, which the interpreter of the ship told 
 me he could speak perfectly. 
 
 I first saw him on board the ship about a month ago, and it was the 
 day before the children came on board. The children were shipped on a 
 Sunday at Chin-hae, after the vessel had left Ningpo ; it was, I believe, 
 the 4th of February ; we were two days dropping down off Chin-hae before 
 the children came on board ; we got on shore on the mud-flat, and lay 
 there four days. As soon as we got on shore, the children were taken out 
 and lodged in a house on the other side of the river from Chin-hae ; and 
 they did not come off till the ship was afloat again. 
 
 I don't know Martinez' first or Christian name. T asked him where 
 they were going to, and he replied they were purchased for the Spanish 
 Government at Manilla, and were going to work in the cigar factory 
 there. He told me that in plain English, so that there could be no 
 mistake as to his meaning. He told me that the children had cost him 
 from three to five dollars each, and gave me to understand that they did 
 not belong to him personally, but to a man of the name of Robino, at 
 Ningpo. 
 
 It was the intention Of Martinez to have accompanied the children ; 
 but after the children were embarked the second time, he was taken ill 
 of fever, of which he chiefly complained. He told me when he got the 
 children to Amoy, he intended to ship them in the first vessel which was 
 going to Macao, and from Macao they were to be forwarded to Manilla. 
 
 Martinez had taken up his quarters on board the ship with his 
 luggage before he went on shore, sick. He, Martinez, at the time he went 
 on shore, told me that the captain had offered him the passage-money 
 back. He said he would take the children back, if the captain would pay 
 him the expense which he had been at since the children had left Ningpo. 
 The captain refused to do so. Martinez told me there was a letter on 
 board given to the interpreter of the ship, named Chongheen, addressed to 
 a man in the employ of Tait and Co. ; not addressed to the firm of Tait 
 and Co. Martinez told me he hoped to be in Amoy as soon as the ship, 
 if he got better, as he did not doubt he would. He did not say how he 
 was to come down. 
 
 Martinez did not tell me to whom the letter was addressed ; he 
 simply said it was to a man in Tait's office. I had no idea to what 
 countryman it was written. 
 
79 
 
 Chong-Jeen lives Hbw on shore with Tan-Tanhet, the supercargo of 
 the vessel. 
 
 The children were provided with rice, dried shrimps, and sweetmeats, 
 on the way down, and were attended to by two Chinese, who came on 
 board at Chin-hae before we sailed. The first two men who attended 
 to them were dismissed, one of them for stealing the children's bedding, 
 and were replaced by these two who are with them on Koolongsoo. These 
 two men cooked for them, and attended to them altogether. 
 
 The stench from the children at times was very bad ; they were all 
 sea-sick ; thqre was a water-closet in their cabin, and they had soil-pails ; 
 but the place was too small for such a number ; they could manage to sit 
 down comfortably. 
 
 I have no doubts in my own mind that the captain of the " Ingle- 
 wood," Richard Burton, knew what these children were as well as I did my- 
 self. I have no doubt that the captain knew they were purchased children, 
 He was at first averse to taking them, but was over-persuaded to do so. 
 I understood this from another Portuguese, who first came to treat about 
 their passage about a week before they came on board. The captain 
 never consulted me about taking them beyond telling me they were 
 coming, I did not remonstrate against taking them on board at the time. 
 I pitied the children, and thought it was a sad thing to see them bought 
 and sold in that way, 1 did not like their coming on board ; but it was 
 not my business to say anything. I am not dissatisfied with the ship, and 
 am on good terms with the captain. 
 
 Nobody came on board at Amoy to inquire after the children, or to 
 relieve the ship from them. There has only been one man, who came 
 on board yesterday evening, to inquire where the children had been put. 
 
 All that I have said is the truth, so far as I know it. 
 
 (Signed) RICHD. SANDECOMBE. 
 
 Sworn before me, at Amoy, this 27th day of February, 1855; 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul. 
 
 Inclosure 4 in No. 41. 
 
 Declaration. 
 
 0-CHONG-ENG, aged 28, born at Singapore, saith : 
 T am not a Christian. I am English interpreter of the ship " Ingle- 
 wood " I can read English a little, both printed and written. 
 
 Antonio Martin gave me a letter to Chin-hae, which he said was about 
 the children. He told me to take the letter, when we arrived at Amoy, to 
 Tait's office. I replied that the letter was for a Chinaman whom I did not 
 know The name of the address on the letter was Ho-kien, The letter I 
 was to deliver to Tait's office at Amoy was a Chinese letter in its outside 
 
 appearance, that the children we brought down in the " Inglewood " from 
 Ningpo were bought children. The passage money for them belonged to 
 the captain, not to Tan-Tan-het, the supercargo. 
 
 I know Martinez; he was a Portuguese; he spoke English well, and 
 the Ningpo dialect. He said he had been at Ningpo four or five years. 
 He was a Macao man. I don't know whether these children belonged to 
 
 ^'""^ Besides "he letter for Ho-kien, in Amoy, which I was to take to Tait's 
 office Martinez gave me two other Portuguese letters addressed to Macao. 
 I hat^ not got them now ; 1 left them with Mr. Connolly ; I gave them into 
 
 ^^ Xttinez never said to me that Mr. Connolly, or Tcut and Co. would 
 take any charge over the children ; all he said was to deliver the letters 
 there, which I did. 
 
80' 
 
 Martinez told me these children were to go to Manilla to make cigars, 
 after being first taken from Amoy to Macao. 
 
 I declare solemnly what I have stated to be the truth. 
 
 (Signed) O-CHONG-ENG. 
 
 Declared to and signed before me, at Amoy, the 27th of February, 
 
 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting British Vice- Consul, in charge. 
 
 Inclosure 5 in No. 41. 
 
 Deposition. 
 
 JOHN CONNOLLY, aged 32, of the firm of Tait and Co., a native of 
 Ireland, being duly sworn in the Catholic form, depones : ' 
 
 On the arrival of the " Inglewood," the supercargo's interpreter came 
 on shore to our office, the ship being consigned to us ; as usual with these 
 people, he delivered me all the letters he told me he had. There were 
 none addressed to the house or myself. There were two Chinese letters, 
 and one addressed to a M. Gonsalvez, in Macao. The Chinese letters 
 were given to one of our Chinese servants, who was told to distribute 
 them to their addresses. The letter for Macao was put into the despatch- 
 box as usual, and 1 believe it has gone there. I took no particular notice 
 of these letters, further than forwarding them in the usual way, because 
 they were delivered to me without any observation. 
 
 0-chong-Eng told me the vessel had been aground once or more, but 
 he said nothing about passengers, and I did not ask if there were any on 
 board. This was on Saturday. I afterwards heard from the captain the 
 same evening that he had some passengers on board ; he said they were 
 children, but did not mention their number, and wished that the parties 
 concerned would take them away, as they were a great inconvenience. 
 He mentioned his hopes that they might be transferred to a lorcha, but I 
 was busy, and paid little heed, not knowing that there was anything 
 unusual or requiring special interference. 
 
 I have seen the deposition of the mate of the vessel, and with respect 
 to what he mentions of Martinez I know nothing at all ; he is entirely a 
 stranger to me. To the best of my belief he is also a stranger to every 
 other person in our house. I had not even heard of him before his con- 
 nection with this case. 
 
 With regard to the children being intended for Manilla, I believe such 
 is not the case, that there is no such intention. If such were the case, I 
 should likely have known it officially. Nothing of the kind has ever been 
 intimated to me. 
 
 None of our servants in the house are allowed or are in the habit of 
 conducting business of any sort, unless under the direction of the principal, 
 and therefore I suppose the mention of some of our servants could only 
 have been made to Captain Burton to induce him to take them. There 
 was no authority for any such business. 
 
 I repudiate and deny any connection in any possible way, mediately 
 or immediately, with this shipment, with which neither I nor Tait and Co. 
 have anything to do. 
 
 (Signed) JNO. CONNOLLY. 
 
 Sworn and signed before me, at the British Consulate, Amoy, this 
 28th day of February, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 
 Inclosure 6 in No. 41. 
 Deposition. 
 
 HENRY JULIUS HIRSCHBERG, Member of the Royal College of 
 Surgeons, London, a native of Prussia, aged 40, duly sworn depones 
 1 am now attending medically Captain Burton of the '" Ine-lewr 
 
 Inglewood," 
 
81 
 
 and the ship generally. The captain is suffering from continued fever ; is 
 at present in a state of great irritability and excitement, and does not give 
 correct or exact answers. 
 
 Besides the captain, the second mate and an American acting as a 
 steward are suffering under the same disease, in more or less advanced 
 stages ; both are at present delirious. 
 
 The cause of this sickness is evidently the smell and stench of the 
 forty-seven young children, who were on board in an adjoining cabin, most 
 of which young children are suffering from diseases of tfie skin. The chief 
 mate has escaped illness, but I understand that he kept purposely out of 
 the way. 
 
 I was called on board on Saturday evening, and again went on board 
 on Sunday morning. 
 
 On Saturday night I did not see the children, but on Sunday morning, 
 when I was there, the door of the cabin was opened by a Chinaman. I 
 felt immediately a most oppressive stencfi, and I had a serious headache 
 during the whole day, and felt sick several times. 
 
 I consider the cabin which I saw was much too confined for such a 
 number of children. 
 
 I recommended them to be immediately removed from the vessel. But 
 whether it was done from my recommendation I do not know. 
 
 The captain is not at present a fit subject for examination, and I am, 
 anxious to have him removed on shore. 
 
 I have not been called on to attend to the children personally by 
 any one. 
 
 (Signed) H. J. HIRSCHBERG. 
 
 Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Amoy, this 28th day of 
 February, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 
 Inclosure 7 in No. 41. 
 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to the Acting Portuguese Consul at Amay. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 11, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inclose you, in your capacity of Acting Portu- 
 guese Consul at this port, deriving your authority more immediately from 
 the Government of Macao, the following documents for the information of 
 his Excellency the Governor of that Colony, charged with the general 
 superintendence and control of Portuguese subjects in China, viz. : 
 
 1. True copy of deposition of Richai'd Sandecombe, Chief Mate of 
 the British ship " Inglewood." 
 
 2. True copy of deposition of John Connolly, Esquire, a British 
 merchant trading at Amoy. 
 
 3. True copy of deposition of Henry Julius Hirschberg, surgeon at 
 
 Amoy. 
 
 4. True copy of declaration of 0-chong-Eng, supercargo's interpreter 
 of the " Inglewood," a native of Singapore. 
 
 5. A memorandum of my visits to these children, under my hand and 
 seal. 
 
 From the documents— the main facts stated in which have been 
 admitted to me by the master, who is however too ill to be examined — 
 you will perceive that forty-seven female children, of tender years, 
 purchased from their parents and guardians at Ningpo, were shipped 
 through the agency of Antonio Martinez or Martin, a Portuguese of 
 Macao, on board the " Inglewood," for Amoy. 
 
 This shipment was not reported at the British Consulate at Ningpo, 
 and was made in a clandestine manner by the master of the " Inglewood." 
 
 These forty-seven girls were placed in the charge of two Chinese 
 cooks, who stated to Mr. Sinclair that they each received a month's 
 advance of waees from Martinez, but no other funds of any description. 
 ^ M2 
 
82 
 
 No sufficient provision was made by Martinez for their comfort oii 
 the voyage, where they were huddled into a cabin so confined, that the 
 result has been a pestilence in the vessel ; or for their sustenance at Amoy, 
 where no one has appeared to claim them. They are now supplied with 
 food and necessaries under my official directions, by the English firm of 
 Tait and Co., who are the agents of the ship. 
 
 A clearer case of slave-trading it is impossible to suppose, and the 
 master of the " Inglewood" will be held amenable for the violation of the 
 laws of his country. 
 
 The faith of Portugal and England has been so often interchanged 
 in Treaties, Conventions, and Decrees, for the abolition of all foreign 
 trade in slaves, and the conduct attributed on the evidence inclosed to 
 Martinez, is so plain a violation of the laws of the colony of Macao, which 
 apply to all Portuguese in China, and will, I firmly believe, be so certainly 
 condemned by his Excellency Senhor Guimaraes, that I feel justified in 
 i"equesting you in your official capacity to interdict and prohibit Antonio 
 Martinez, or any other Portuguese subject whatsoever, from asserting 
 any right or property whatsoever in these children, or from removing or 
 attempting to remove them, or any of them, without our joint cognizance 
 and consent, from their present habitation in Koolongsoo. I make this 
 request to you in the spirit of the Treaty engagements existing between 
 Great Britain and Portugal, which on the subject of foreign Slave Trade 
 are of the most binding nature. 
 
 I have also the honour to request, that on the arrival of Martinez, or 
 other Portuguese subject on his behalf, you will be pleased to examine 
 him in reference to these childreUj and to communicate to me a copy of 
 such examination. 
 
 I have already communicated by the '' Mazeppa'' the principal facta 
 of this case to his Excellency Sir John Bowring, Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Plenipotentiary, &c. ; and as I felt it my duty that the local Government 
 at Amoy should not be led to suppose such shipments were permitted in 
 British vessels, I directed Mr. Sinclair to state to the interim principal 
 authority that it had, however illegally, occurred in a British ship. The 
 Haefang's answer was, that such purchases by foreigners in China were 
 illegal, and that he hoped both the shipper and the master would be 
 punished: as he has not been pleased to give any directions regarding the 
 children within the time he appointed for so doing, it is possible he may 
 not consider it advisable to interfere ; under the circumstances I do not 
 think it would be humane or right in me to press him. 
 
 The fate of these children is a matter of the most urgent moment, 
 and I feel called on to pledge — subject to the sanction of his Excellency 
 Sir John Bowring — the credit of the English Government for the disburse-, 
 jnent of whatever funds may be necessary for placing them in a position 
 where they may ultimately become useful and free members of sdciety 
 or .in fulfilling any wishes which the Chinese authorities may indicate 
 regarding them. 
 
 I invite you to do me the favour to discuss this matter at a personal 
 interview, when we may be able to consult on all its most important 
 bearings. 
 
 Receive, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER. 
 
 Inclosure 8 in No. 41. 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to the Acting Spanish Consul at Amoy. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 1, 1855. 
 
 A STATEMENT has been made to me that forty-seven Chinese 
 female children, of tender years— purchased from their parents and 
 guardians in Ningpo and its neighbourhood — brought here illegally by 
 the British ship " Inglewood," and now supported by my official directions 
 in a tenement in the northern village at Koolongsoo, are intended for the 
 Government cigar factory at Manilla. 
 
83 
 
 I do not believe this for a single moment, but beg to call on you, in 
 the name of the numerous obligations which exist between Great Britain 
 and Spain for the prevention of slave-trading, to interdict and prohibit 
 any Spanish subject or subjects whatsoever from asserting any right or 
 property in these children, or removing or attempting to remove them 
 without our joint knowledge and consent. 
 
 Receive, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER. 
 
 Inclosure 9 in No. 41. 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to the Acting Portuguese Consul at Amoy. 
 
 S'*"' Amoy, March 1, 1855. 
 
 SINCE I had the honour of addressing you, the Haefang has inti- 
 mated to me his intention to take charge of the young female children 
 brought here in the " Inglewood," who are to be betrothed or given away 
 to Chinese people here, to be brought up as servants of families. 
 
 The Haefang has sent a person to visit them to-day, and intends 
 removing them to-morrow. 
 
 I advise you of this as the official representative of the Government 
 of which the shipper Martinez is said to be a subject, that you may act in 
 the case as you see fit. 
 
 Receive, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A, WINCHESTER. 
 
 Inclosure 10 in No, 41. 
 
 Depositions. 
 
 JOHN NORFOR, Middlesex, aged 27, seaman, ship -'inglewood," 
 duly sworn, saith : 
 
 I remember these children coming on board in a very filthy state at 
 Chin-hae, On a Sunday about 11 a.m., about the middle of February. 
 
 I thought myself, and it was the current opinion and talk of the 
 vessel, that these children were bought to be sold again. 
 
 I heard the Portuguese, who brought the children on board, ask the 
 captain if he could take two more. The captain told him in my hearing 
 to put them amongst the rest, if he could find room. The two more were 
 put on board. This was after the children came on board the second 
 time. 
 
 I felt convinced in my own mind, from the circumstances and appear- 
 ance of the children, that they were going to be sold. I don't think any 
 one who saw it could have doubted it. 
 
 (Signed) JOHN NORFOR. 
 
 Sworn before me, at Amoy, this 2nd day of March, 1855. 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 
 John Thomas Tucker, born in London, 32 years of age, being duly 
 sworn, saith : 
 
 I am cook and steward of the " Inglewood." I remember the children 
 coHiing on board off Chin-hae, about the beginning of February. There 
 were more than forty children. A Portuguese gentleman came on board 
 with them, and remained with them whilst the ship was aground. He 
 then took them on shore on the other side of the river, abreast of Chinhae, 
 to a large house, where they were to remain till the ship got off. I don't 
 know how these children came into the possession of this Portuguese. 
 I supposed that he had bought them in the way of traffic, as it was a 
 strange thing for a man to have s ) many young female children. It was 
 currently reported that the Portuguese had bought the children, and would 
 
84 
 
 make a large sum of money by them. This I myself heard from an 
 American passenger on board, now sick in hospital. 
 
 In my own mind, from the condition in which the children came on 
 board, which was most deplorable, I did not doubt they were bought 
 children. 
 
 There was a dreadful stench in the cabin and about the children. I 
 got them on the poop the day before they went on shore here : it was 
 really awful ; the first mate ran away from the scene. 
 
 The Portuguese got sick before leaving Ningpo river, and left the 
 ship. I never heard there had been any project to have the children taken 
 out of the ship before sailing for Amoy, and going on without them. 
 
 The current rumour was, that they were to be sold to the cigar 
 factory at Manilla. 
 
 I think the children left the ship at Amoy on Monday afternoon. 
 
 (Signed) J. T. TUCKER. 
 
 Sworn before me, at Amoy, this 2nd day of March, 1855. 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice- Consul, in charge. 
 
 Joseph Lewis, born at Chepstow, aged 45, seaman, of " Inglewood," 
 being duly sworn, saith : - 
 
 I remember these children, and their coming on board in a bad state 
 from disease and filth at Chin-hae, about the beginning of last month. I 
 thought they were not in a fit condition to be at sea. The second mate, 
 now sick in hospital, told me they were slaves. It was the general 
 impression of the ship that it was so, and every one talked of it as such 
 right fore and aft the ship. 
 
 (Signed) JOSEPH LEWIS. 
 
 Sworn before me, at Amoy, this 2nd day of March, 1855. ;5 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice'Consul, in charge. ffw , 
 
 Alexander Robertson, carpenter of the " Inglewood," aged 23, native 
 of Aberdeen, duly sworn, saith : 
 
 I remember these children coming on board. There were first forty- 
 two, and afterwards two or three more came. I have heard the whole 
 number was forty-five ; from seeing them I know there was more than 
 forty. A Portuguese gentleman whose name I don't know came on board 
 with them. The children were in a very dirty state when they came on 
 board. I saw that. 
 
 I thought it a most extraordinary thing to see such a number of 
 young female children brought on board. I never saw any such a thing 
 before. I thought these poor creatures were not in a fit state to be 
 on board of ship. A bumboat man at Ningpo made me to understand 
 that some children were coming on board the ship who had been bought 
 for so many dollars, and were to be sent to the cigar factory at Manilla. 
 
 The children were not sent on board at Ningpo, but came down to 
 us in a lorcha, after we had been lying three or four days there. 
 
 From all that 1 heard and all that I saw, there was no doubt in my 
 mind that these children were bought children ; in fact, that they were 
 slaves. That was the general impression in the ship, and was currently 
 talked of. 
 
 The stench from the children's cabin, which was about 18 feet by 
 9 feet and 5 feet 10 inches betwixt decks, was excessive. The captain 
 called me to get a bulkhead seam caulked, to prevent it entering his cabin, 
 about the mouth of the Ningpo river ; and he then expressed a wish that 
 he had never taken them on board. At that time the captain said he 
 could not sleep for the stench. 
 
 (Signed) ALEX. ROBERTSON. 
 
 Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Amoy, this 2nd day of 
 March, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 
• 185 
 
 Inclosure 11 in No. 41. 
 
 Extracts from the Log of the " Inglewood." 
 
 Sunday, February 4, 1855.— At 11 a.m., received on board thirty-nine 
 children as passengers for Amoy. 
 
 Tuesday, 6//i.— At 1 1 a.m., ship touched the ground. 
 
 Wednesday, 1th.— M. Martinez, the person in charge of the passen- 
 gers, took them on shore at 2 p.m. 
 
 Monday, 12«A.— Hove the ship afloat by the stream cable. 
 
 Wednesday, lAth. — Received the passengers on board. 
 
 Tuesday, 20<A.— Second mate sick off duty. 
 
 Saturday, 2Uh. — Brought up in Amoy harbour. Captain and second 
 mate sick off duty. 
 
 Monday, 26th. — Landed thirty-nine passengers from Ningpo at 11 a.m 
 
 A true extract, 
 (Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 Amoy, March 2, 1855. 
 
 Inclosure 12 in No. 41. 
 Deposition. 
 
 YAP-TEAOU, messenger of the British Consulate, Amoy, aged 22, 
 native of Fo-kien, a Catholic Christian, duly sworn on the cross, says : 
 
 I went to Koolongsoo yesterday afternoon, by order of the Acting 
 Vice-Consul in charge, Mr. Winchester, to be present when the Haefang's 
 officers took charge of the children who came in the "Inglewood" from 
 Ningpo. I saw the children counted ; they were forty-four in number, 
 and the Haefang's officers took them over to Amoy in two boats. 
 
 The Ningpo men who were with them said, the children had been 
 bought, some for 3, some for 5 dollars. From what I know of my own 
 country, I am satisfied that all these children could not have been brought 
 together unless they had been bought. 
 
 (Signed) YAP-TEAOU. 
 
 Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Amoy, this 3rd day of 
 March, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. W^inchester, 
 
 Acting Vice-Consul, in charge. 
 
 I certify that this witness understands English sufficiently to have 
 emitted this affidavit without an interpreter, and that he is well acquainted 
 with the obligations of an oath. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester. 
 
 Inclosure 13 in No. 41. 
 
 Vice-consul Winchester to Captain Barnard. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 3, 1855. 
 
 i HAVE already forwarded to you, in' original, the several deposi- 
 tions, declaration, memorandum, extract from log, &c., relative to the 
 forty-four female children brought from Ningpo to Amoy, in the British 
 ship "Inglewood." 
 
 It appears to me, that the depositions, &c,, established a sufficient 
 
S6 
 
 legal presumption that the "Inglewood" did carry children who were 
 bought, and therefore in the eye of the law slaves. 
 
 As a case of probable slave-trading, then, I beg leave to request you 
 to take such steps as you may deem proper, within the exercise of the 
 powers conferred on you by law. 
 
 The children have been taken charge of by the Chinese authorities, 
 who are to furnish me with a written declaration that such proceedings 
 are contrary to Chinese law in the same terms as they have used at 
 personal interviews on the subject. 
 
 This shall be duly forwarded to you. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A WINCHESTER 
 
 Inclosure 14 in No. 41 . 
 
 Captain Barnard to Vice- Consul Winchester. 
 
 Sir, "Racehorse," Amoy, March 3, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this 
 day's date, as also the several documents and depositions with regard to 
 the ship " Inglewood" being engaged in conveying female children between 
 Ningpo and this port. Taking into consideration the circumstances of 
 the case, I have determined to forward the particulars to his Excellency 
 Sir James Stirling, for instruction ; and as Her Majesty's ship " Bittern" 
 will be sailing for Hong Kong immediately she arrives, I will take this 
 opportunity of forwarding copies of all the letters for his consideration. 
 In the meanwhile I have to request that the ship may not be allowed to 
 leave the port in my absence, being about to proceed to the assistance of 
 a ship stranded outside the port. 
 
 I have, &,c. 
 (Signed) EDWD. BARNARD. 
 
 Inclosure 15 in No, 41. 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 6, 1855. 
 
 IN continuation of ray despatch of the 2nd instant, I have the 
 honour to request the attention of your Excellency, and, through your 
 Excellency, that of his Excellency Sir James Stirling, &c., to the very 
 important letter of the Haefang to my address now inclosed. 
 
 Your Excellency will observe that the Haefang condemns this trans- 
 action as a grave violation of the laws of China ; and in that sense has 
 acted with the greatest promptitude. It is true this and other laws of 
 China are often disobeyed ; but that of itself, I conceive unless supported 
 by strong proofs of the connivance of the Government, the utter want of 
 power to enforce, or tlie confessedly obsolete character of the enactment, 
 does not relieve a foreign friendly Power, occupying the relation we do to 
 China, from its obligation to cause these laws to be respected by those 
 under its control. In a technical sense, and in that only, the law makes 
 the crime ; but the law itself is enacted to repress offences previously 
 existing, and essentially involves the idea of its own violation. 
 
 I have communicated a copy of the Haefang's letter to Captain 
 Barnard, now at Hoe-tow Bay, rendering assistance to the stranded 
 Peruvian vessel " Rosa A. Conroy." 
 
 The second mate and the young American are recovering slowly ; 
 but Dr. Hirschberg reported to nie yesterday that the master was still in 
 a dangerous condition, and that the consciousness of this affair was 
 pperating to aggravate all the symptoms of the disease. 
 
87 
 
 I shall examine the two former as soon as they are fairly convalescent 
 but shall refrain from arresting the master formally till Dr. Hirschberg 
 fissures me that the step may be taken without injury to his chance of 
 recovery. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER. 
 
 P.S. March 7. — Mr. Sinclair has just reported to me that he has been 
 informed there are more than 100 female children collected on the Island 
 of Loo-kong in the same way as those who came by the " Inglewood." If 
 this is correct, it strengthens the suspicion that these children were 
 intended to meet the stipulations of the coolie contracts, and affords addi- 
 tional reasons for the timely interference of the British Government over 
 those under its control. Mr. Sinclair believes this to have originated from 
 the two Chinese sent down by Martinez himself in the " Inglewood." 
 people likely to know what he was doing. 
 
 C. A. W. 
 
 Inclosure 16 in No. 41. 
 
 The Maritime Prefect at Amoy to Vice-Consul Winchester. 
 
 Hienfung, 5th year, 1st moon, 16th day. 
 (Translation.) {March 4, 1855.) 
 
 THE trade in human beings is a grave offence against the laws of 
 China, and I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the forty-four 
 female children, whom you were good enough to put under my charge on the 
 2nd instant, and who, you informed me, belonged to the neighbourhood of 
 Ningpo and Shanghae, and had been brought down from Ningpo in an 
 English merchant- vessel. 
 
 The crime in the present instance is aggravated by the objects of the 
 traffic being young children, of whom it is not impossible that some may 
 have been kidnapped from their parents, hence the strict necessity for 
 disallowing this kind of trade ; and I feel it my duty to request the 
 Honourable Consul to publish severe prohibitions against it, in order to 
 extirpate this evil system. 
 
 Having provided food, &c., and nurses for the female children so 
 received, besides medical attendance for those that are sick, I have made 
 a general report of the matter to each of the high authorities at Foochoo, 
 and beg, by official letter, to request you will strictly stop the trade 
 complained of. 
 
 Inclosure 17 in No. 41. 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (Extract.) Amoy, March 9, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour' to inclose, for your Excellency's information, 
 copies of two letters I have received from Mr. John Connolly, in his 
 Portuguese and Spanish Consular capacities, in reply to those 1 wrote 
 him on the 1st March, and which your Excellency will find among the 
 numerous inclosures of my despatch of the 2nd of March, sent per 
 " Eamont." 
 
 I should not have troubled the gentleman with the accompanymg 
 reply to the Portuguese despatch, had not his reasoning entirely over- 
 looked the two important considerations, that the acts of the mandarins 
 were spontaneous, and the children left destitute on my hands. 
 
 N 
 
88 
 
 P.S. March 10. — I have now the honour to inclose the original and 
 very important deposition of Eli M. Boggs, an American, in connection 
 
 with this affair. 
 
 C. A. W. 
 
 Inclosure 18 in No. 41. 
 The Acting Portuguese Consul at Amoy to Vice-Consul Winchester. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 8, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your two letters, 
 bearing date 1st instant, on the subject of certain Chinese girls, brought 
 here from Ningpo, in the British ship " Inglewood," said to have been put 
 on board that vessel through the agency of one Antonio Martinez, who is 
 represented as a subject of Portugal. 
 
 The provision made for the said passengers appearing to you 
 inadequate, and the circumstances under which they came here appearing 
 to demand it, you have thought fit to interpose your authority, and cause 
 the said Chinese girls to be handed over to their authorities here, who 
 have taken charge of them, I hope to benefit their condition. I shall duly 
 forward to his Excellency the Governor of Macao, copies of the documents 
 you have furnished me ; also such remarks as the case appears to me to 
 call for. 
 
 At present I have only to say, that the absence of the person said to 
 have put these passengers on board the " Inglewood," precludes the 
 possibility of my instituting any examination as to the nature of the 
 arrangements under which they were on their way to Macao, as is 
 alleged. 
 
 If they were wrongfully taken from Ningpo, the parties to such 
 deserve severe punishment, and without doubt his Excellency Senhor 
 Guimaraes will direct the same to follow any subject of Portugal who 
 may be found to have offended its laws in such a manner. 
 
 If, on the other hand, these Chinese girls were under indenture from 
 their parents to act as servants at Macao, a possible case, the course you 
 have pursued with them will entail some difficulty. 
 
 In conclusion, I have only to state that 1 shall furnish you with a 
 copy of any statement taken by me from the man Martinez, touching this 
 business ; but, except as appears in the depositions taken by you from the 
 people of the " Inglewood," I am in ignorance of the existence of such a 
 person in Ningpo ; if any one, answering to the description given of him^ 
 should appear here, the parties to your depositions will, doubtless, be able 
 to identify him. 
 
 I forward to his Excellency the Governor of Macao a copy of this 
 communication, and have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) JNO. CONNOLLY. 
 
 Inclosure 19 in No. 41. 
 The Acting Portuguese Consul at Amoy to Vice-Consul Winchester. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 8> 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honoui to acknowledge receipt of your communication 
 bearing date the 1st instant, informing me that forty-seven Chinese girls 
 had arrived from Ningpo in the British ship " Inglewood," and that a 
 statement had reached you that these people were intended to be sent 
 to Manilla, to be employed in the cigar factory there. 
 
 The establishment in question is worked under the immediate direction 
 of the Spanish Government ; and I am not aware of any desire to engage 
 the services of Chinese for that business. 
 
 It is difficult for me to account for the motive by which your 
 informant was actuated in giving rise to a groundless statement, which 
 
89 
 
 I observe you did not believe when you received it. I am thankful for 
 the manner in which you drew my attention to the numerous obligations 
 which exist between Great Britain and Spain, and can assure you that 
 there rests no wish that any such should be overlooked, but the 
 contrary. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JNO. CONNOLLY. 
 
 Inclosure 20 in No. 4L 
 
 Vice-Consul Winchester to the Acting Portuguese Consul at Amoy. 
 
 Sir, Amoy, March 8, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of this 
 date, relative to the young female children brought from Ningpo in the 
 " Inglewood," and sworn to have been shipped by one Martinez, a 
 Portuguese. 
 
 In reference thereto I beg to remark that the steps taken by the 
 Chinese authorities were entirely spontaneous, and in no way urged upon 
 them by me; and that you were duly informed, in my letter of the 
 1st instant, of their intentions in time to have stated to them any such 
 views as yours before me mentions, with respect to their being under 
 indentures. 
 
 Except two Chinese cooks, entirely destitute of money, and having 
 only received one month's advance of wages, no one appeared to be in 
 charge of these children, or claimed to have anything to do with them. 
 
 They were supplied with food and the necessaries of life by the 
 English firm of Tait and Co., with an express reservation that they did 
 so solely as agents of the ship under my direction. 
 
 Under such circumstances, not to have reported their arrival to the 
 Chinese authorities would have implicated the reputation of this oflBce in 
 a transaction, according to the depositions before me, both illegal and 
 nefarious. 
 
 1 shall have the honour to forward your favour, now acknowledged, 
 to his Excellency Sir John Bowring ; and beg you to inclose copy of the 
 present answer to his Excellency Governor Guimaraes. 
 
 R/Cceive &c, 
 (Signed) ' CHARLES A. WINCHESTER. 
 
 Inclosure 21 in No. 41. 
 
 Deposition. 
 
 ELI MOORE BOGGS, native of New York, aged 19, being duly 
 sworn, depones : 
 
 I first went on board the "Inglewood" about a month ago or 
 more. The children came on board after I had joined the ship ; they 
 belonged to one Martinez, a Portuguese. The children first came on 
 board at Chin-hae; were afterwards taken on shore, when the ship 
 grounded ; and then reshipped after she got off a little below Chin-hae. 
 Martinez told me personally that he had bought the children from their 
 parents, and that the most he had paid for them was seven dollars a-piece. 
 He told me that he was going to send them to the Havana, to a large 
 cigar factory. He spoke English very well, so that there could be no 
 mistake. I believe he told some others they were to go to Manilla, but 
 he distinctly said to me the Havana. He informed me that when he took 
 them to Macao, the Spanish Consul there would take them off his hands, 
 and he would make a profit of 1,600 dollars by them. 
 
 Martinez told me that he had as many more children m Ningpo, but 
 that they were sick, and he could not bring them. There were forty-seven 
 children put on board in the first place, but some were taken sick, and 
 put on shore in an island opposite to the mouth of the river. 
 ^ N2 
 
90 
 
 I considered these children slaves. I saw Martinez whip one of the 
 children ; the girl made a reply in Chinese to Martinez, which Martinez 
 interpreted to the captain in my hearing, to the eflFect that the girl said, 
 " I have come to your hands to be killed, and I would as lief be killed 
 now as by-and-bye." 
 
 The children were in a most filthy state, covered with vermin, and 
 horrid diseases of the head and skin. The stench on board in their cabin, 
 which was 9 feet, or thereabouts, long, by 6 feet wide, was dreadful. I 
 have had a severe fever, the result of being near them ; and there are five 
 more persons in the hospital in the same state from that cause. 
 
 The two Chinese who attended on these children were mere cooks ; 
 they had no money, but were to get it from a Chinese to whom there was 
 a letter sent. 
 
 I have seen some letters addressed to Martinez as Cora Martinez. 
 Martinez left the " Inglewood " sick in the pilot's boat, before we finally 
 left the island near the mouth of the river. 
 
 Martinez has a " lorcha" and five small boats at Ningpo, and has the 
 Portuguese flag on board them. 
 
 I have heard Martinez telling Captain Burton, of the " Inglewood," 
 what prices he had paid for the children. I am quite satisfied that the 
 captain knew from Martinez all about their being bought. 
 
 I was acting as steward of the vessel, but got no wages. 
 
 (Signed) ELI MOORE BOGGS. 
 
 Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Amoy, this 10th day of 
 March, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Charles A. Winchester, 
 
 Acting British Vice- Consul, in charge. 
 
 Inclosuire 22 in No. 41. 
 Vice-consul Winchester to Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (Extract.) Amoy, March 3, 1855. 
 
 I REGRET that it should be my duty, at so short an interval, again 
 to address your Excellency on the subject of coolie emigration, but the 
 -case of the children brought here by the "Inglewood," has so important a 
 relation to those contracts of foreign colonies which stipulate for a certain 
 proportion of women, that I find it necessary once more to request your 
 Excellency's attention to the subject. 
 
 I give it as my unhesitating opinion, that in this and no other way 
 can the required females be obtained ; that the exportation of women in 
 foreign vessels essentially involves slave-trading, inasmuch as such 
 females must be bought — in violation, too, of the laws of China — to be 
 put on board. 
 
 As a conclusion from this undoubted fact, I beg to suggest to your 
 Excellency that prohibitory or warning proclamations against British 
 vessels carrying Chinese female emigrants, unless with a certificate, under 
 the hand and seal of a Consul, declaring their free condition, should be 
 issued by yourself and his Excellency Sir James Stirling, the naval 
 Commander- in-chief. 
 
 Yesterday Messrs. Tait and Co. dispatched from Ngo-soo 240 coolies 
 to Swatow. Four hundred coolies are ready for the " Zetland," at Camboy, 
 as soon as she can clear from the port. An American ship of 1,400 tons, 
 chartered by Mr. Tait, has arrived from New York direct, and will, I 
 suppose, proceed to Swatow. 
 
 Next week I shall send the constable, who is an intelligent person 
 and passably understands the local dialect, to Ngo-soo and Camboy (if 
 his services can be spared), to observe what is doing there, for my infor- 
 mation. 
 
 Your Excellency knows how strongly I have expressed my opinion 
 in favour of a well-regulated emigration of men from China, as calculated 
 to benefit alike the districts which they leave, and the colonies to which 
 they proceed. If left to be carried on as it is at present, wiihout contnil 
 
91 
 
 1 can only see in the future a great Asiatic Slave Trade, to repress which 
 may require, on the part of England, squadrons as expensive as those 
 employed against the African, 
 
 So long as the demand for emigrants keeps within the numbers 
 voluntarily disposed to leave, matters are fairly enough conducted by the 
 Chinese crimps ; but the moment a number of large vessels, on heavy 
 demurrage, arrive to increase the demand, the prices paid for the collection 
 of men rise ; the cupidity of the brokers incites them to iniquities which 
 the merchants do not know, or find it their interest not to inquire into, 
 and cannot control. The rate at which emigration ought to be carried 
 on, cannot be judged of impartially by a merchant greatly interested in 
 the numbers, and can only, if at all, be determined by a responsible 
 Government officer, aided by respectable natives. 
 
 It is my opinion, which I state with great submission, but after much 
 reflection, that Her Majesty's Government— allowing ample time for the 
 winding-up all pending transactions, not clearly illegal — should, as a 
 matter both of right and policy, restrain all British ships and British 
 merchants from participating, aiding, or assisting, in any emigration 
 whatsoever from this country, to any other than British colonies. If this 
 is not done, I am satisfied that sooner or later the national character will 
 be stained with disgrace ; it is already so to a certain extent in the eyes 
 of respectable Chinese, who never speak of this emigration under any 
 other form of expression than that of buying men. Who, after what 
 occurred at Amoy, in November 1852, will insure us against some general 
 catastrophe, which will affect our legitimate trade and persons wholly 
 unconnected with this system, as the result of what is going on ? 
 
 The only contract emigration from China, in my humble opinion, 
 which English ships and English merchants should be allowed to engage 
 in, should be that carried on to our own colonies under the control of 
 regularly appointed emigration agents. 
 
 No. 42. 
 Mr. Merivate to Lord Wodehouse, — {Received June 16.) 
 
 My Lord, Downing Street, June 15, 1855. 
 
 WITH reference to your Lordship's letter of the 19th ultimo, accom- 
 panied by a despatch from Sir John Bowring,* relative to an emigration 
 from Amoy to Martinique and Guadaloupe, which has been set on foot by 
 the French Government, I am directed by Lord John Russell to transmit 
 to you, in order to be laid before the Earl of Clarendon, the inclosed copy 
 of a report from the Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) HERMAN MERIVALE. 
 
 Inclosure in No. 42. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Mr. Merivale. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, June 6, 1855. 
 
 WE have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, 
 accompanied by a letter from the Foreign Office, inclosing a despatch 
 from Sir John Bowring, relative to an emigration from Amoy to Mar- 
 tinique and Guadaloupe, which has been set on foot by the French 
 Government. 
 
 2, It appears that the French Government have contracted with a 
 
 * No. 38. 
 
92 
 
 mercantile house at Amoy, for the supply of 900 coolies. The British 
 Consul at Amoy, in reporting the transaction to Sir John Bowring, states 
 that the emigrants will be shipped under the law enacted by the French 
 Government, which enjoins ample space and comfort, &c. 
 
 3. We are not aware to what law reference is here made. The^only 
 Ordinance of the French Government with which we are acquainted, is 
 one dated 27th March, 1852, which regulates, to a certain extent, the 
 emigration from France and the French colonies to certain specified 
 places, but would not apply to emigration from China. In July 1854, 
 however, a Committee was appointed by the French Government to 
 inquire into the question of emigration from French ports; and by this 
 Commission a report was made, and a Bill (Projet de Reglement) 
 prepared, but whether the latter has since become law, we are unable to 
 state. This Bill relates exclusively to emigration from France, though it 
 would no doubt be in the power of the French Government to give it 
 greater extension ; and we presume that it is to this that the Consul at 
 Amoy refers. 
 
 4. In regard to the remark of Sir John Bowring, that the British ship 
 " Carpentaria" is taking on board emigrants at an unauthorized port, we 
 think it right to state that this vessel has not been chartered by us, nor 
 is in any way under our control, nor have we any information on the 
 subject. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (Signed) T. W. C. MURDOCH. 
 
 C. ALEXANDER WOOD. 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendm to Sir John BowHng. 
 
 (Extract.) Foreign Office, June 18, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE received your despatches of the 5th and 6th of March, and 
 Mr. Woodgate's of the 14th of the same month, relative to the circum- 
 stances under which the British vessel "Inglewood," hkving on board 
 several Chinese female children, who had been kidnapped or purchased at 
 Ningpo, was stopped at Amoy on her way to Macao ; aind 1 have to state 
 to you that, having consulted the proper Law Officer of the Crown, Her 
 Majesty's Government are of opinion that the master of the " Inglewood " 
 should be criminally proceeded against, under the 5th Geo. IV, c. 113, s. 10. 
 The forfeiture of the ship should be sued for under sections 4 and 12 of 
 the above-mentioned statute. Such forfeiture would, in the opinion of 
 Her Majesty's Government, be the most effectual means of preventing 
 similar transactions for the future. 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 Extract from a Letter from Mr. John Purdon to Captain John Burnett. — 
 (Communicated by the Board of Trad^, July 12, 1855.) 
 
 Chincha Islands, May 5, 1855. 
 WITH regard to the Chinamen, I am happy to say that there is a 
 great change made to them for the better. I had a long chat the other 
 day with the Governor and other officials of the island, and they tell me 
 that 20 per cent, is taken off their daily labour, and one-third rations 
 more allowed them per day, and new huts are built for them-— and 
 comfortable ones they are when compared with the others — and the lash 
 is never used without a fair trial and witnesses on both sides : in fact there 
 is a wonderful change here ; there is no suicide committed of any kind 
 nor the heartrending cry of the suffering Chinaman is never heard, but 
 in its stead you will hear the merry laugh and the native song, accom- 
 panied with fireworks and crackers. 
 
93 
 
 I thought it a fine time to introduce my old plan of free labour, 
 while in conversation with the " big bugs ;" they listened to me very 
 patiently, giving each other sly looks, but all the answer I received was, 
 'Very good ;" but mark my astonishment the next morning at breakfast- 
 time when I received the inclosed, to which I agreed very readily, and 
 almost every captain in the harbour. There are at present a great many 
 men from the ships on the island working, and I think the scheme will 
 work well after a time. We have here a Commodore of the British fleet, 
 and a Committee of twelve, all ship-masters ; the Commodore at present 
 IS Captain Wilson, of the ship " Lockwoods." 
 
 Inclosure in No. 44. 
 Don Elias to the Captain of the *' Virginia." 
 
 Dear Sir, Government of the Chincha Islands, May 5, 1855. 
 
 REFERRING you to the clause of your charter-party commencing 
 with " should political or other circumstances," and ending with " they 
 receiving the usual labourer's daily pay while so employed," I have now 
 to request that you will send on shore daily as many of your crew (natives 
 of the country, if possible), as you can conveniently, for the purpose of 
 giving as quick despatch as possible to the vessels now at these islands, 
 the late resolution having left us short-handed. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) JESUS ELIAS. 
 
 No. 45. 
 The Earl of Clarendon to Mr. Sulivan. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, July 16, 1855. 
 
 I HAVE to instruct you to express to the Peruvian Government 
 the satisfaction with which Her Majesty's Government have heard of the 
 improvement in the condition of the Chinese labourers in the Chincha 
 
 Islands. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
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O""^' i/'.'A'^i^ .C.(L-CFyu<.-^£. ^-■iC^/\,.c 
 
 CHINESE IMMIGRATION. 
 
 2. 
 
 RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, 
 dated 19 August 1853;— /or, 
 
 " COPIES or EXTRACTS of Despatches relating to Chinese Immigrants 
 recently introduced into the Colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad" 
 
 Colonial Office,-! FREDERICK PEEL. 
 
 19 August 1853. J 
 
 {Mr. Peel) 
 
 Ordered, by The House of Commons, to he Printed, 
 20 August 1853. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 986. 
 
BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 Despatches frota Governor Barkly - - - - - - - -p. i 
 
 Despatches from Acting-Governor Walker - - - - - - -p. 56 
 
 Despatches from the Secretary of State : 
 
 The Right Honourable Earl ijrey - - - - - - -p. 72 
 
 The Right Honourable Sir John S. Pakington - - - - - p. 90 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Newcastle - - - - - - -p. 95 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 Despatches from Governor Lord Harris - - - - - - -p. 137 
 
 Despatches from the Secretary of State the Duke of Newcastle - - - p. 151 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 British Guiana Ordinances - - - - - - - - - -p. 154 
 
 Trinidad Ordinance -------- --p. 187 
 
 ^r\ 
 
[ iu ] 
 
 SCHEDULE 
 
 986. 
 
 a 2 
 
C iv I 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 B R I T.I S H GUIANA. 
 
 DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR BARKLY. 
 
 Number 
 
 in 
 Series. 
 
 8, 
 
 a 
 
 10 
 
 ij 
 
 DATE. 
 
 1851; 
 26 Augast 
 
 31 October 
 31 October 
 
 1852: 
 2 October 
 
 1853: 
 24 January 
 
 8 February - 
 II February 
 
 11 February 
 26 February 
 
 10 March - 
 [Extract.] 
 
 12 March 
 
 No. 
 
 124 
 
 151 
 
 152 
 
 156 
 
 15 
 
 21 
 
 24 
 32 
 
 38 
 
 41 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Forwarding Extract Minute of Proceedings of Court of Policy 
 relative to the desire to encourage Chinese immigration; 
 Observations on the proposed Rate of Bounty ; Contracts, &c. 
 
 Reporting the Terms of an Arrangement made with Mr. George 
 Booker for despatching a Vessel for Chinese Immigrants - 
 
 Resolution of Court of Policy in favour of appropriating 50,000 Z. 
 from the Parliamentary Guaranteed Loan to furthering the 
 Introduction of Chinese ---y----- 
 
 DiflSculty of procuring Female Emigrants - - « - 
 
 Proclamation reducing the Rate of Bounty from 100 dollars to 
 80 dollars 
 
 Notifying the First Arrival of Chinese Immigrants by the " Lord 
 
 Elgin" and "Glentanner" 
 
 , Great, Mortality during the Voyage . - - - - 
 
 Remarks on the Arrangements required for this Immigration 
 Indiscriminate Immigrationon Bounty should altogether cease 
 Observations on the System of Contracts and Advances 
 Form of Contract in use, &c. ..--.. 
 Want of Interpreters ....... 
 
 Opium Eating --------- 
 
 Want of Female Chinese Immigrants - - - - - 
 
 Measures for locating the newly-arrived Immigrants 
 Satisfaction of the Planters with them - - - . 
 
 Report of Commission of Inquiry into the Causes of the Mortality 
 during the Voyage of the Chinese Immigrant Ships " Glen- 
 tanner "and " Lord Elgin -------- 
 
 Forwarding Ordinance No. 2 of 1853, regulating the Relations of 
 Masters and Servants ; and Ordinance No. 3 of 1 853, Amend- 
 ing certain Ordinances in force relative to Immigration; with 
 remarks on the applicability of their Provisions to the various 
 classes of Cooly, Creole, African, and other Labourers 
 
 Report of Committee appointed to revise the Colonial Immi- 
 gration Ordinances -------- 
 
 Proclamation withdrawing the offer of Bounty on Chinese Immi- 
 grants, as far as the public generally is concerned - - - 
 
 General Report on the Chinese recently introduced into British 
 Guiana ; their efficiency as Agricultural Labourers ; acclimatisa- 
 tion ; means for the preservation of order amongst these people ; 
 affray between certain Chinese and emancipated Negroes; habits 
 of the Chinese - - - - -- 
 
 On the subject of the Provision to be made for the Expenses of 
 future Emigration -------.. 
 
 N'umber of Chinese Emigrants required for the ensuing 
 season ----....-. 
 
 Proposed Introduction of Chinese or Half bred Chinese from 
 Java ------.... 
 
 Arrival of a third Ship, the " Samuel Boddington," with Chinese 
 from Amoy -------... 
 
 Great Mortality on the Voyage; Selection of ineligible Emi- 
 grants ; steps taken with reference to the Excess of Number 
 embarked ; Space to be allotted under the Passengers' Act 
 
 Page. 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 6 
 7 
 
 9 
 9 
 9 
 10 
 10 
 10 
 11 
 11 
 11 
 12 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 25 
 
 25 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 37 
 
 37 
 
 37 
 
 38 
 
 38 
 
 * The previous Correspondence on the subject of Chinese Immigration into British Guiana will be found in House 
 <jf Commons' Paper, No. 624, of 1st August 1851, " British Guiana." 
 
[ V ] 
 
 Nnmber 
 
 in 
 Series. 
 
 11 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 DATE. 
 
 1853; 
 12 March 
 
 7 April 
 
 3 May 
 
 24 May 
 
 1 June 
 8 July- 
 
 No. 
 
 41 
 
 54 
 
 73 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Report on the Agricultural CapaMities t)f thfe Irtttigrahts . 
 per « Samuel Boddington" 
 
 Nefeessity for introducing a proportion df Chinese Women - 
 
 Abstract of Surgeon's Journal of Proceedings during the 
 Voyage from China 
 
 Reply to Duke of Newcastle's Despatch, No. 20, 28th February, 
 directing an Examination and Report relative to the allegations 
 of Abuses in the practice of procuring Chinese Emigrants 
 
 Report of Stipendiary Magistrates, showing the satisfactory 
 state of the Immigrants recently introduced ... 
 
 Report of Official Tour of Inspection of Plantations on which 
 Chinese are located ---..... 
 
 13 
 
 29 
 
 FROM ACTING-GOVERNOR WALKER. 
 
 Forwarding Resolutions adopted by the Court of Policy, relative 
 to the arrangements to be made prospectively for securing the 
 continuance of Emigration from China and Madeira to British 
 Guiana - . - - - - -- 
 
 Relative to the period at which Bounty upon Immigration from 
 China should cease .--.-... 
 
 Transmitting Reports from the Stipendiary Justices, embodying 
 the i-esults of their Inquiries amongst the gentlemen having 
 charge of Estates upon which Chinese Immigrants are em- 
 ployed ------...-. 
 
 Circular Memorandum issued by Acting-Governor, containing 
 suggestions for the judicious treatment of the Chinese 
 
 Page. 
 
 39 
 39 
 
 41 
 
 * 
 
 52 
 53 
 
 33 
 
 56 
 63 
 
 It 
 
 65 
 
 70 
 
 DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY. 
 
 1852: 
 13 February 
 
 13 March 
 
 448 Forwarding Copy of a Report from the Colonial Land and Emigra- 
 
 tion Commissioners, 8 November 1851, explaining the steps taken 
 in respect of Chinese Emigration, and covering copies of several 
 Reports from Mr. White on the subject of his Mission of In- 
 quiry to China ; the character and habits of Chinese Labourers, 
 and the measures requisite for setting on foot this Emigration - 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN S. PAKINGTON. 
 
 With Extract Report from the Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners, in further explanation of the causes of delay 
 in setting on foot an Emigration of Chinese Labourers to the 
 West Indies -.---..--- 
 
 1 November 
 
 1853: 
 26 January • 
 
 986. 
 
 76 With further Report from the Emigration Commissioners, dated 
 28 October 1852, containing a Report of steps taken 
 
 Instructions to Mr. White, as Government Emigration Agent 
 in China - - -- 
 
 HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. 
 
 Acknowledging Governor Barkly's Despatch, No. 156, 2 October 
 1852, forwarding Proclamation, reducing the Bounty on Chinese 
 Emigrants, from 100 to 80 dollars .--.-- 
 
 90 
 
 91 
 
 93 
 
 95 
 
 as 
 
 {coatimted) 
 
[ vi ] 
 
 Number 
 
 in 
 
 Series. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 No. 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Page. 
 
 5 
 
 1853: 
 81 January - 
 
 10 
 
 Transmitting Copies of Letters from the Foreign 0£ce, accom- 
 panied by Despatches from Dr. Bowring, relative to the Emi- 
 gration of Chinese Labourers, together wiih a Report from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissiofters, 7 January 1 853, 
 thereon --.......- 
 
 95 
 
 6 
 
 28 February 
 
 20 
 
 Forwarding copy of a further communicatibn from the Foreign 
 Office, with Despatch received from Dr. Bbwring, together itith 
 Report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, 
 18 February 1853, thereon 
 
 101 
 
 7 
 
 22 March - 
 
 26 
 
 With Extract Report frbm the Colonial Lknd and Emigration 
 Commissioners, 24 February 18o3, forwarding Letters received 
 from Mr. White, the Agent for conducting Chinese Emigration, 
 reporting the progress that had been ihade in despatching 
 Emigrants to the West Indies -.-.-- 
 
 103 
 
 8 
 
 24 March - 
 
 27 
 
 With further Report from the Emigi-iation Commissioners, 8 March 
 1853, accompanied by Letters from Mr. White, stating progress 
 in the despatch of Chinese Emigrants . . - - - 
 
 109 
 
 & 
 
 20 April 
 
 35 
 
 With Copy of a Letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners, dated 7 April 1853, accompanied by a further 
 Report from Mr. White on Chinese Emigration to the West 
 Indies ----------- 
 
 Copy of Notice circulated in China with reference to the 
 Emigration -.-..-. ^ . 
 
 111 
 114 
 
 10 
 
 14 May 
 
 •48 
 
 In reply to Governor Barkly's Despatch No. 21 of 1853, trans- 
 mitting Ordinances No. 2 of 1853, for regulating the Rights, 
 Duties, and Relations of Employers and Servants - - - 
 
 No. d, for repealing certain Ordinances for the regulation and 
 encouragement of Immigration - . . _ - 
 
 Views of Her Majesty's Government on the duration and 
 nature of the Contracts with Chinese Emigrants 
 
 115 
 115 
 
 11 
 
 26 May 
 
 54 
 
 Acknowledging Governor Barkly's Despatch, No. 41 of the 12th 
 March, reporting the arrival of the " Samuel Boddington" with 
 Chinese Emigrants -------- 
 
 Report of the Emigration Commissioners, 14 May 1853, rela- 
 tive to the Emigrants by this vessel . - . . 
 
 118 
 118 
 
 12 
 
 26 May 
 
 55 
 
 With reference to Governor fiarkly's Despatch No. 38, 10 
 March, forwarding Resolutions of the Combined Court in refer- 
 ence to the continuance of Immigration into British Guiana ; 
 and adverting to the proposed encouragement of the Emigration 
 of Chinese from Java -------- 
 
 120 
 
 13 
 
 26 May 
 
 66 
 
 With reference to previous Despatch, No. 48, on the subject of 
 the Duration of Contracts 
 
 120 
 
 U 
 
 30 May 
 
 67 
 
 With letter from the Emigration Commissioners, dated 19 May 
 1853, accompanied by further Repqrts from Mr. White, relative 
 to the progress of Chinese Emigration - - 
 
 121 
 
 15 
 
 20 June 
 
 73 
 
 Report of Circumstances under which Mr. White had despatched 
 the Ship " Emigrant" with Chinese for British Guiana - 
 
 126 
 
 16 
 
 29 June 
 
 77 
 
 Further Reports from Mr. White 
 
 127 
 
 17 
 
 13 July 
 
 82 
 
 With Report from the Emigration Commissioners, dated 2 July 
 1853, relative to the disposal of certain Immigrants' Clothing 
 which Mr. White had shipped from China - - - - 
 
 135 
 
 18 
 
 16 August - 
 
 96 
 
 With Report from the Emigration Commissioners relative to the 
 expense of Shipping 
 
 136 
 
[ vii ] 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 DESPATCHES FROM GOVERNOR LORD HARRIS. 
 
 Number 
 
 in 
 
 Series. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 1853: 
 10 March 
 
 22 March 
 
 22 April 
 7 May 
 
 4 July 
 7 July 
 
 No. 
 
 26 
 
 30 
 
 47 
 
 59 
 
 84 
 
 87 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Report of the arrival of the Ship " Australia," with 432 Chinese 
 Immigrants on board ---..--- 
 
 Forwarding an Ordinance for the better government of Chinese 
 Immigrants ; and calling attention to certain circumstances con- 
 nected with the arrangements for introducing these people 
 
 Enclosing Copy of a Report by the Agent-General of Immigrants, 
 on the state and condition of the Chinese arrived at Trinidad - 
 
 Report of the arrival of the " Clarendon" with Chinese Immi- 
 grants ----------- 
 
 'Observations on the nature of the agreement entered into 
 with the Immigrants ------- 
 
 Report of the arrival of the "Lady Flora Hastings," with 
 Chinese Immigrants 
 
 Resolution of Legislative Council relative to the Immigration of 
 Chinese Labourers for the year 1854 
 
 Page. 
 
 137 
 
 139 
 
 143 
 
 147 
 
 147 
 
 149 
 
 151 
 
 DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 
 
 HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. 
 
 
 1853: 
 
 1 
 
 31 January - 
 
 2 
 
 20 February 
 
 3 
 
 23 March - 
 
 4 
 
 24 March - 
 
 5 
 
 20 April 
 
 6 
 
 30 May 
 
 7 
 
 29 June 
 
 8 
 
 13 July 
 
 9 
 
 16 August - 
 
 15 
 23 
 31 
 32 
 41 
 59 
 74 
 80 
 89 
 
 Forwarding Documents relative to Chinese Immigration 
 
 With further Documents ---. 
 
 1 
 Mr. White's Reports of progress made in despatching Emigrants 
 to the West Indies 
 
 Ibi 
 
 Ditto 
 
 - ditto 
 
 ditto 
 
 Relative to the disposal of Immigrants' Clothing 
 On the difficulty of procuring Shipping 
 
 151 
 152 
 
 )■ 152 
 
 153 
 
 163 
 163 
 
 * The previous Correspondence on the subject of Chinese Immigration into Trinidad will be found in the House of 
 ■dommons' Paper, No. 936, 16th August 1853, " Trinidad." 
 
 986. 
 
 a 4 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
[ viii J 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA ORDINANCES. 
 
 An Ordinance to provide General Regulations for Immigrants introduced 
 and Ho be inti educed into the Colony of British Guiana . . . 
 
 An Ordinance further to regulate and encourage the Immigration of Coolies 
 
 An Ordinance for the Encourageipent of the Introduction of Labourers'in 
 general ...--..-..-- 
 
 An Ordinance for Regulating the Rights, Duties, and Relations of Em- 
 ployers arid Servants, in the Colony of British Guiana - - - - 
 
 An Ordinance to repeal certain Ordinances now in force, for the Regulation 
 and Encouragement of Immigration into this Colony, and to make other 
 Provisions in lieu thereof ---....-- 
 
 An Ordinance to provide General Regulations for Immigrants introduced, 
 and to be introduced into this Colony --..--. 
 
 >'. TRINIDAD ORDINANCE. 
 
 An Ordinance for the better Government of Chinese Immigrants introduced 
 Jsi -at the Public Expense- - - -J-;- 
 
 No. 20 of 1851 
 
 2 No. 21 of 1851 
 
 No. 22 of 1851 
 
 4 ! No. 2 of 1853 
 
 No. 3 of 1853 
 
 No. 13 of 1853 
 
 1 JVl 
 
 No. 3 of 1853 
 
 154 
 164 
 
 169 
 
 171 
 
 174 
 
 186 
 
 187 
 
[ 1 J 
 
 COPIES or EXTRACTS of Despatches relating to Chinese Immigrants 
 recently introduced into the Colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad. 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 — No. 1.— 
 
 (No. 124.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor £«/•% to the Right Hon. Earl Grey. 
 
 Government House, 26 August 1851. 
 ,-- , (Received, 24 September 1851.) 
 
 xVJy Jjord, (Answered, No. 448, 13 February 1852, page 72.) 
 
 Having laid your Lordship's despatch of 8th ult, No. 361,* on the subject of 
 Lhmese immigration, before the Court of PoUcy, I have now the honour to transmit 
 extract minute of the proceedings of that body, confirming a report from the sub- 
 committee to whom it was referred, by which your Lordship will perceive that it is 
 the desire of the colonists to encourage this species of immigration in every 
 possible way, and that they will readily acquiesce in any appropriation of the funds 
 raised under the loan ordinance, for the charter of a vessel by the Colonial Land 
 and Immigration Commissioners for the purpose. 
 
 It is possible that if the favourable accounts given by Dr. Bowring of the dispo- 
 sition to emigrate on the part of the Chinese, are known to parties connected with 
 the West Indies at home, there may be no difficulty in getting them to authorise 
 contracts on their behalf being entered into in Chi6a by any agent appointed by 
 the Commissioners to superintend the emigration, or e.ven, that the necessity for 
 any action on the part of the Commissioners may be superseded by such parties 
 making their own arrangements on the faith of the 100 dollars per head bounty, 
 alluded to in the second article of the report, which, as your Lordship is a\»^are, from' 
 the proclanaation of rates of bounty, forwarded with my despatch of 22d October, 
 No. 150,f is already the legal rate payable in respect to Chinese immigrants. 
 
 Should, however, the Commissioners find neither the West India interest nor the 
 owners of the vessels chartered, willing to enter into such contracts as will induce 
 these people to leave their country, I apprehend there could be no difficulty in 
 directing the contracts to be made out in the name of the immigration agent- 
 general of this colony, and on the terms described in the report of the sub-committee 
 of the Court of Policy, as nearly as may be. 
 
 There can be no doubt that such contracts, by whomsoever entered into, will 
 prove a mere matter of form upon the arrival of the immigrants here, for they 
 will all embrace the option to be aiforded them of cancelling their agreement and 
 claiming the current rate of Avages of the colony, an option in fact which, as the 
 law stands, is given to all immigrants, whether expressly stipulated or not. 
 
 It is believed here that Amoy would be the best port from which to procure the 
 Chinese, but in all probability before any steps can be adopted in the matter 
 definite information will have been received from Mr. J. T. White, who, as your 
 Lordship is aware, left Calcutta some months ago on a mission of inquiry into the 
 feasibility and advantages of this introduction of the hard working and intelligent 
 Chinese into the West Indies, where it is hoped they will form a middle class, 
 better capable of standing the climate than the natives of Madeira, more energetic 
 than the East Indian, and less fierce and barbarous than the emigrants from the 
 
 Kroo coast of Africa. t 1 o 
 
 J have, &c. 
 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure 
 
 * Page 490 of House of Commons' Paper, No. 624, ist August 1851, " British Guiana." 
 -f- Page 196 of - - - - ditto - - - - ditto. 
 
 986. A 
 
 No.. 1. 
 
 Governor Barkly 
 to the Right Hon, 
 Earl Grey. 
 26 August 1851, 
 
BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 1. 
 
 2 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Enclosure in No. 1. 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Honourable the Court of Policy of the 
 
 Colony of British Guiana, at its Adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public Buildings, 
 
 Georgetown, Demerara, Monday 25 August 1651. 
 
 [After prayers.] 
 
 The Honourable Mr. Rose laid over Report of Committee on letter of Dr. Bowring to the 
 Right Honouraljle the Secretary of State for the Colonies, relative to Chinese immigration, 
 which on his motion, seconded by the Honourable Mr. Booker, ordered to be adopted, viz. :— 
 
 Your Committee have carefully read and considered Dr. Bowring's letter to the Right 
 Honourable Earl Grey, Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for tlie Colonies. 
 
 It is the opinion of your Committee that every possible means should be adopted to 
 encoura£;e emigration from China. 
 
 It is evident from the information contained in Dr. Bowring's communication, that a 
 supply of valuable labour, to an almost unlimited extent, can be procured from China, your 
 Committee would, therefore, respectfully recommend, — 
 
 First. That your Excellency will be pleased to invite Earl Grey to direct the necessary 
 measures to be taken by the Land and Emigration Commissioners to send out a vessel 
 immediately ; and further, that his Lordship will be pleased to instruct the Land and Emi- 
 gration Commissioners to consult with the Commissioners of the British Guiana Loan, as to 
 the means most likely to insure success, these gentlemen being all largely interested m the 
 prosperity of British Guiana. . . 
 
 Secondly. That your Excellency will be pleased to issue your proclamation, offering a 
 bounty for effective Chinese immigrants under engagement to labour as agricultural 
 labourers for five years, the sum of 100 dollars, under ordinance No. 23,* of the year 1850. 
 
 Thirdly. As it appears that the Chinese labourers require to be guaranteed a certain rate 
 of wages for the period of service, we recommend the emigration agent, at the port of 
 embarkaiion in China, to be instructed to engage them at wages not exceeding four dollars 
 per month, and the scale of allowance of food as stated in the annexed memorandum ; stating 
 at the same time, that if they should prefer to be paid at the same rate for the work they 
 perform, they finding their own provisions, as other labourers in the colony, they would have 
 the option of doing so. 
 
 Fourthly. That the emigration agent be authorised to advance a sum not exceeding 10 
 dcyllars, to such effective emigrant, before embarkation, to be repaid by instalments in 
 British Guiaina, 
 
 Scale of aUovmnce of food for Chinese immigrants, being similar to that fixed for African 
 ships- 
 Biscuit -'- - - - - - - -lib. 
 
 Rice ilb. 
 
 Beef, pork, or salt fish - - - - - - Jib. 
 
 Women to receive the same rations as men. 
 
 (True extract.) 
 
 J. Gardiner Avstin, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 No. 2. 
 Governor Barkly 
 to the Right Hon. 
 Earl Grey. 
 31 October 1851. 
 
 (No. 15..) -No. 2.- 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barklif to the Right Hon. Earl Gre^. 
 
 Government House, 31 October 1851. 
 My Lord, (Received, 9 December 1851.) 
 
 So great was the anxiety of the planters of this colony, after the receipt of 
 Dr. l3owring's Report, to share in the advantages of emigration from China, that 
 an offer was addressed to me by the Hon. George Booker, to despatch forthwith a 
 vessel, at his own risk, to bring Chinese immigrants, under contracts assignable 
 to the colony, on payment of the bounty, upon condition only that he should be 
 allowed to carry back to Madras a portion of the coolies whose term of service 
 had expired, in order in some degree to compensate him for the voyage hence 
 in ballast. 
 
 Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., having already engaged with the Colonial Land 
 and Emigration Commissioners in London to supply tonnage for the return to 
 India of as many coolies as, judging from the statements of the Immigration 
 Agent-general in the earlier part of the year, I thought it likely would claim a 
 passage this season, I felt myself reluctantly compelled to decline entering into 
 
 this 
 
 * This Ordinance will be found at page 576 of House of Commons' Paper, No. 624, of 1st August 
 1851, " British Guiana." 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 3 
 
 this last condition, and concluded, therefore, that the project would fall to the BRITISH 
 ground. GUIANA. 
 
 Mr. Booker, however, either thinking that as the season was so far advanced 
 for the double voyage contemplated by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., accident 
 might interfere to prevent the arrival of their vessels in time, or that the number 
 of coolies claiming return passages would, as the immigration agent had supposed, 
 be larger than my estimate, offered so far to modify his terms as to engage to 
 convey the coolies on board his ship, free, of charge, in the event of the vessels 
 sent by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. falling short of their complement in conse- 
 quence of such diversion of a portion of their passengers. 
 
 Such an oifer from so responsible a party appeared to me so free from all danger 
 of loss to the finances of the colony, and so desirable in other respects, as affording 
 an early prospect of trying the important experiment of the introduction of 
 Chinese labour into the West Indies, that I no longer hesitated to close with it ; 
 and the " Lord Elgin," the ship tendered for the service, having been approved, 
 and Dr. David Shier, brother and assistant to the Agricultural Chemists, having 
 been engaged as surgeon, I authorised the conclusion of the charter-party, and 
 issued licences for the embarkation of her complement of Madras coolies, and for 
 the subsequent conveyance of Chinese immigrants on her return voyage to this 
 colony. 
 
 Copies of these documents I have the honour to transmit enclosed, and I trust Enclosures 1, 2, 
 they will be found in due form, and that your Lordship will not consider that I and 3. 
 assumed too great a responsibility in sanctioning an undertaking likely to prove 
 beneficial to the colony at large, though holding out, I am afraid, small prospect 
 of profit to the enterprising individual who has thus ventured to pioneer the 
 way. 
 
 I will only add at present, that the " Lord Elgin" sailed hence on the * * So in copy. 
 
 inst. with 146 coolies on board, as more particularly set forth in the accompanying Enclosure 4. 
 abstract from the Immigration Agent-general. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclos<ure 1, in No. 2. 
 
 Sir, 2 September 1851. 
 
 With reference to the Report adopted by the Court of Policy on the 2&th instant, in End. 1, in No, 2. 
 favour of taking advantage of the opportunity pointed out in Dr. Bowring's despatch to Earl 
 Grey, for securing emigrants from China. 
 
 I beg leave to siate, for the information of his Excellency, that I am ready and willing to 
 despatch a vessel, the " Lord Elgin," 351 tons, for the purpose of making a commencement, 
 at as early a period as possible, of importing labourers from that p;irt of the world, on the 
 following conditions: — 
 
 Firstly. That the said vessel must be provided with as many coolie passengers, destined 
 for Madras, whose time of service in this colony has expired, and whose united passage- 
 money would pay the vessel's ordinary expenses from Demerai^a to the said port, not exceed- 
 \ii<y 134 in number. 
 
 'Secondly. On the debarkation of the coolies at Madras, the vessel would then proceed to 
 some ports in the China seas, for the purpose of conveying to this colony as miany Chinese 
 labourers as by law she is entitled to carry, subject to the conditions of the bounty to be \m(i 
 by the colony for the introduction of labourers from China. 
 
 Thirdly. That in the event oF it being necessary to enter into contracts with the labourers 
 in question, I agree to advance them a reasonable amount of money, and enter into contracts 
 for a certain number of years service, such contracts to be transferred to the colony on 
 reeeivino- the amount of bounty money I am by law entitled to. 
 
 Fourtlilv. That in the event of the two ships expected to be sent out by Messrs. Hyde, 
 Hodo'e & Co. being deprived of a full complement of coolie passengers, in consequence of 
 my vessel having carried away a part of those desirous of returning, such complement, how- 
 ever, not to exceed 600, as originally estimated, 
 
 I a^ree to waive all claim to the passage-money of those so carried away, to whatever 
 extent the number left for Messrs. Hyde, Bodge & Co.'s ship& may fall short, in order to 
 save the colony from any loss in consequence. 
 
 I have, &G. 
 
 To the Honourahk J. C. Austin, (signed) Geo, Eooker. 
 
 Acting Government Secretary. 
 
 986. 
 
 A 2 Enclosure 
 
4 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 G U I Yn a. Enclosure 2, in No. 2. 
 
 Charter Party. 
 
 End. 3, in No. 2. IT is mutually covenanted, concluded, and agreed upon, this 6th day of October, in the 
 year of our Lord 1851, by and between Willinm Humphry s, Immigration Agent-general for, 
 and on behalf of the government of British Guiana, of the one part, and George Booher, 
 owner of the ship or vessel called the " Lord Elgin," of the burthen of 331 tons, registered 
 tonnage, now riding in the river Deraerara, of the other part, in the manner following, that 
 is to say, the said William Humphrys for, and on behalf of the government of Bri tish Guiana, 
 has agreed to place on board the said ship or vessel " Lord Elgin," bound for and pro- 
 ceeding to Madras, a certain number of return emigrants, natives of India, not to exceed 
 in number 134, and the said George Booker hereby agrees to receive on board the said 
 ship or vessel, all such return emigrants not to exceed in number 134 adults, and promises 
 that the whole of the between decks of the said vessel shall be appropriated and given up 
 to the sole and entire use of the said return emigrants and their children ; likewise the said 
 George Booker covenants, promises, and agrees that the said ship or vessel be strong, firm, 
 tight, staunch, and substantial, both above water and beneath ; and shall and will sail, 
 wind and weather permitting, immediately after receiving so many return emigrants, not 
 exceeding 134 with their children, as by the said William Humphrys shall be sent on 
 board the said ship or vessel bound for Madras, equipped, fitted, furnished and provided 
 with masts,, sails, sail yards, anchors, ropes, cords, tackle apparel, boats, and also with 
 furniture, and all other materials and things necessary, proper, convenient, and fitting for 
 her intended service, and also to be managed in proportion to her tonnage, with a crew fit 
 and capable to sail her; and the said ship or vessel shall, in like manner, be furnished with 
 coppers or furnaces for the boiling and diessing of provisions for such number of adult 
 persons as shall be ordered and directed by the said William Humphrys to be received on 
 board; and the said George Booker further covenants, promises, and agrees to supply such 
 return emigrants during the passage from the port of Demerara to Madras, and for forty- 
 eight hours after the arrival there, with the articles specified in the list or schedule here- 
 unto annexed ; and the said George Booker shall provide a properly qualified surgeon to 
 proceed with the vessel and to be approved by the said Immigration Agent-general, for the 
 purpose of taking medical charge of the said return emigrants during the voyage, in consi- 
 deration of which covenants, conditions, and agreements hereby to be performed by the said 
 George Booker, the said William Humphrys does covenant and promise for, and on behalf 
 of the Government of British Guiana, that the said George Booker, his executors, adminis- 
 trators or assigns, shall be allowed and paid the sum of lOZ. 18s. 6d., for each adult return 
 emigrant as shall be sent as aforesaid, on board the said ship or vessel, and landed alive in 
 Madras, such payment, however, subject to certain conditions, as contained in the 4th sec- 
 tion of a communication addressed by the said George Booker to the Government 
 Secretary of British Guiana, bearing date 2d of September 1851, as per copy hereunto 
 attached ; and it is hereby further covenanted and agreed, by and between the parties hereto, 
 that all return emigrants above the age of 10 years, shall be deemed and paid for as adults; 
 that all children above the age of one year, and below the age of 10 years, shall be paid for at 
 the rate of 5Z. 9 s. 3 d. each, and all children under the age of one year, shall be admitted 
 without any charge whatsoever, which freight or payment shall be made in silver dollars, at 
 4s. Id., or bills of exchange drawn upon the Land and Emigration Commissioners, ten days 
 after thgy shall have been deposited with .the immigration Agent-general. 
 
 1st. A schedule signed by the protector of emigrants or other officer thereunto duly 
 authorised at Madras, specifying the number of persons, males, females, children, and infants 
 respectively, landed alive, and that he is satisfied that the terms of this charter party have 
 been fully and fairly complied with. 
 
 2d. A certificate signed by the surgeon, declaring that the emigrants were treated accord- 
 ing to agreement during the voyage, and specifying the names and ages of all who have died 
 or left the ship during the voyage, and if none have so died or left the ship, a declaration to 
 that effect. 
 
 3d. An account signed by the party of the second part, stating the particulars of the 
 claim, such payment however, subject to the conditions hereinbefore stated. 
 
 And the said George Booker further agrees that the return emigrants shall be treated with 
 kindness by the master and all officers and the crew of the said ship, and that the master 
 shall, on all occasions, attend when practicable to any suggestions of the surgeon calculated 
 to promote the health, comfort, or well-being of the emigrants ; and further, that the said 
 return emigrants shall, on no occasion, be called on to do any manner of work on board the 
 vessel, other than cleaning their own berths between decks, or receiving at the hatchways in 
 the between decks, fresh water, and provisions, and fuel, and that on the occasions of cleaning 
 their berths, they shall on no account be placed to draw water from the sea on the gunwale, 
 in the chains, or in any situation which shall endanger their falling overboard. 
 
 That the said Immigration Agent-general shall have every facility for the inspection of the 
 ship and of all her fitments, provisions, water, and stores, but that "his approval thereof shall 
 not in any degree lessen the responsibility of the said ship, or the said party hereto of the 
 second part. 
 
 That 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 5 
 
 That after the embarkation of the emigrants, and upon receiving sailing orders from the 
 Immigration Agent-general, the said ship shall proceed on her voyage without delay for any 
 other purposes, and shall not touch at any intermediate port except from urgent necessity. 
 
 In witness whereof, the said parties hereto, of the first and second parts respectively, have 
 hereunto set their hands respectively, the day and year above written. 
 
 Signed by the said William Humphrys, I. A. G., 
 as aforesaid, and George Booker. 
 
 In the presence of Josias Booker, Junr., 
 John M'Connell. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 nice 
 
 Peas 
 
 Butter or lard 
 
 Turmeric 
 
 Onions or garlic 
 
 Scale of Provisions to be supplied to Indian Immigrantsi, 
 
 i oz, 
 
 1^ lbs 
 4 oz. 
 1 „ 
 1 „ 
 1 dr. 
 
 Tobacco 
 Pepper - 
 Black pepper - 
 Mustard seed - 
 Coriander seed 
 
 2 dr. 
 2 „ 
 
 Tamarind 
 
 Firewood 
 
 Salt or pickled fish 
 
 Water - 
 
 2 oz. 
 2 lbs. 
 2 oz. 
 1 gal. 
 
 Dry Provisions for bad vreatber when the usual Provisions cannot be cooked. 
 Biscuits, 2 lbs. ; Salt fish, 2 oz. ; Sugar, 2 oz. 
 
 List of Medicines and Medical Comforts. Supply for any number of Emigrants from 50 to 100. The quantities to be 
 increased for any additional number beyond 100, at the rate of half these quantities per 100. 
 
 
 lbs. 
 
 oz. 
 
 
 lis. OS. 
 
 
 
 Acacia gum - - - - 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Rhubarb powder - - - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Utensils. 
 
 
 Acetate of lead 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 Spirit of nitrous ether - 
 
 - 10 
 
 Tow, fine - - lbs. 
 
 • H 
 
 Adhesive plaster - - . 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 Sulphuric ether . - - 
 
 - 6 
 
 Syringes, clyster, pewter 
 
 
 Alumen - - - - 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Sulphate of zinc . - - 
 
 - 3 
 
 pint ... No. 
 
 1 
 
 Antimonial power - - . 
 
 - 
 
 2 
 
 Ditto of copper - . - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Syringes, penis ditto - „ 
 
 o 
 
 Aromatic spirit of ammonia 
 
 - 
 
 8 
 
 Sulphur - . - . 
 
 2 
 
 Tourniquiet field - - „ 
 
 2 
 
 Blistering ointment 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 Senna leaves 
 
 1 - 
 
 Measure glass, 1 oz. . ,, 
 
 1 
 
 Blue pill . . - - 
 
 - 
 
 4 
 
 Tartrate of antimony - 
 
 - -1 
 
 Mortars and pestles, Wedg. 
 
 
 Carbonate of ammonia - 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 Tincture of opium 
 
 1 8 
 
 wood - - - No. 
 
 1 
 
 Camphor - - - - 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 Scales and weights, small, box 
 
 1 
 
 Catechu - - - - 
 Cerate (simple) . . - 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 Country Medicines, &c. 
 
 
 Phials, sorted . - No. 
 Pill boxes - . papers 
 
 6 
 
 Chloride of lime - - - 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 Splints, common, long - 
 
 1 set of 3 
 
 Bolus knife - - No. 
 
 r 
 
 Calomel - - - - 
 
 _ 
 
 6 
 
 
 pairs each 
 
 Bed bans - . „ 
 
 2 
 
 Castor oil - - 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 Ditto - - ditto, short - 
 
 1 ditto 
 
 Candles, wax - . „ 
 
 6 
 
 Compound tincture of camphor 
 
 - 
 
 8 
 
 Lint - - - - oz. 
 
 6 
 
 Lanterns, small, or hand 
 
 
 Dover's powder - . . 
 
 - 
 
 4 
 
 Leather skins, white - No. 
 
 2 
 
 lamps . . No. 
 
 I 
 
 Epsom salts - - - - 
 
 2 
 
 - 
 
 Cloth for bandages and plas- 
 
 
 Saucepan - - - „ 
 
 2 
 
 Extract of colocynth 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 ters - - yards 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Ginger powder 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Cumblies for fomentation. No. 
 
 3 
 
 Medical Comforts. 
 
 
 Jalap ditto - . - - 
 
 - 
 
 4 
 
 Cocoa nut oil for external ap- 
 
 
 Arrow root . . lbs. 
 
 25 
 
 Ipecacuan ditto 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 plication - - bottles 
 
 2 
 
 Brandy . . bottles 
 
 12 
 
 Nitrate of silver . . - 
 
 - 
 
 -i 
 
 Rum for external application „ 
 
 20 
 
 Sago. . . . lbs. 
 
 25 
 
 Opium . - - . 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 Soap for ditto - - lbs. 
 
 3 
 
 Spice . - box 4 oz. 
 
 
 oil of peppermint - - - 
 
 - 
 
 -i 
 
 Rice flour for poultices - „ 
 
 30 
 
 Sugar ... lbs. 
 
 100 
 
 Peruvian balsam - • - 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Mustard, powdered bottles 
 
 2 
 
 Lime juice ... pints 
 
 100 
 
 Quinine - - 
 
 - 
 
 -f 
 
 Salt, common - - lbs. 
 
 2 
 
 Vinegar ... ga). 
 
 3 
 
 Red precipitate . .. - 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 Leeches - - number 
 
 100 
 
 Marine soap - - half cwt. 
 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 2. 
 
 Whereas the Immigration Agent-general at the port of Demerara has certified to me, 
 under the regulations contained in an Act of the Government of this colony, No. 7 of 1843, 
 providing regulations to encourage immigration to British Guiana, in which it is provided, 
 that after residence of five years persons so immigrating from India are provided with a free 
 return passage, 
 
 That the ship "Lord Elgin," burthen about 351 tons, Alexander M'Clelland, master, 
 belonging to the Honourable George Booker, is capable of accommodating 134 adult 
 persons : and whereas the aforesaid Immigration Agent-general having further certified that 
 the said master has conformed to the several provisions to the Imperial Passengers' Act and 
 
 local Acts of the colony : ^ , r 
 
 I hereby permit Alexander M'Clelland, master ot the "Lord Elgin," to receive on board 
 his ship, and accommodate with a passage to Madras, not more than 134 natives of India 
 as returnincc immigrant labourers, subject" to the provisions of the aforesaid Acts. 
 
 ByjCommand. 
 
 End. 3, in No. 2. 
 
 986. 
 
 A3 
 
 Enclosure 
 
6 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE l\i:aiG RANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 End. 4, in No. 2. 
 
 Enclosure 4, in No. 2. 
 
 Abstract of Madras Coolies embarked on board the Ship "Lord Elgin," which took her 
 departure from the Port of Demerara bound for Madras on the 6th October 1851. 
 
 • 
 
 Adult 
 
 i. 
 
 Children between 
 
 One and Ten 
 
 Years. 
 
 Children under 
 One Year. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 M. 
 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 Adult male Coolies - . . - 
 
 96 
 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 96 
 
 Adult female Coolies - . . - 
 
 - 
 
 
 33 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 33 
 
 Boys from one to ten years - - - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 - 
 
 - , 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Girls from one to ten years - - - 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 11 
 
 - 
 
 - '■ 
 
 ' 11 
 
 Infant under one year - - . - 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 — 
 
 
 ^ '' 
 
 33 
 
 6 
 
 11 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 146 
 
 , I certify that the above number of 146 persoaiB, making 137 J adults, have embarked on board 
 the ship " Lord Elgin." 
 
 6 October 1851. 
 
 TT™. Humphrys, I. A. G. 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 2. 
 
 End. 5, in No. 2. Description of the barque or vessel " Lord Elgin," British plantaHion built, having one and 
 a break decks and three masts, her length from the inner part af the main stern to the fore 
 part of the stern post ailaft, 104^^ feet, her breadth in midship, 23^ feet, her depth in bold 
 at midship, 16j8(y feet, barque-ri^ed, with a standing- bowsprit, square sterna, carvel built, 
 no galleries, man bust liead» arfmeasm-ing SSlj^j^jJjj tooasj the fianie-work and planking of 
 wood, a sailing vessek 
 
 By his Excellency Henry Barktyi, Esq,., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and 
 over tlie Colony of British Graiana, Vice-Admiral aind Ordinary of the same, &c.&g. 
 
 To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : 
 
 The Honourable George Booker, of the city of Georgetown, in the said colony, having 
 applied for my license to enable him to convey Indian emigrants to Madras, and to import 
 emigrants en colonial bounties frotn the Chinese empire to British Guiana, in his bairque or 
 vessel " Lord Elgin," more fully described in the margin hereof, 
 
 These are hereby to certify, that i do hereby license and authorise the said Honourable 
 George Booker to employ his said barque or vessel " Lord Elgin" in the said service. 
 
 Ai;id I do hereby further declare that this license is to remain in force one voyage only, 
 for the said barque or vessel " Lord Elgin," from China to British Guiana, as aforesaid. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal at the Guiana Public Buildings, in Georgetown, Deme- 
 rara, this 2d day of October 1851. 
 
 By command of his Excellency. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Govprnor Barkly 
 to the Right Hon. 
 Earl Grey. 
 31 Oclober 1851. 
 
 — No. 3. — 
 
 (No. 152.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to the Right Hon. Earl Grey. 
 
 Government House, 31 October 1851. 
 My Lord, (Meceived,. 9 December 1851.) 
 
 The favourable accounts giveB of the disposition of the Chinese to emigrate, 
 by Her Majesty*s consul at Canton, as transmitted in your Lordship's despatch of 
 8th July, No. 361,* confirmed as they were by the Reports from Mr. Jalnes T. 
 
 White, 
 
 * Page 490 of House of Commons' Paper, No. 624, 1st August 1851, " British Guiana." 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 7 
 
 White, who had proceeded from Calcutta to China to make inquiries on the BRITISH 
 
 subject, created a very strong feeling in this colony in favour of further efforts GUIANA. 
 
 being made to procure labour from that quarter, than those which the Colonial 
 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners had already been requested to set on foot 
 
 by the resolutions of the Court of Policy, forwarded in my despatch of* 26th * Page 1. 
 
 August, N 0. 1 24 ; and the result has been the unanimous adoption by that body of 
 
 the further resolution which I have now the honour to enclose, in favour of appro- Enclosure 1. 
 
 priating no less a sum than fifty thousand pounds of the parliamentary guaranteed 
 
 loan, to furthering the introduction of labourers from China. 
 
 The footing on which this immigration is to be conducted is left entirely to Her 
 Majesty's Government; but I believe the general opinion is, that the most effectual 
 plan of procuring emigrants would be that suggested by Mr. White — copies of 77,e ^ 
 whose communications are sent herewith — of arranging with some of the great ^r. Wtll?^^^frt 
 
 fen 'r'.'feAe 
 
 ''orn 
 
 mercantile establishments in China (which might easily be done through their ^''''eci ^^ f'ere- 
 correspon dents in Great Britain) to despatch a certain, number of immigrant g^""'' aip'' *e 
 vessels annually to this port, at the rate of so much for each passenger, in full ^^' ^ ''* 
 
 satisfaction of all expenses. 
 
 The only drawback to Chinese immigration appears to be that which has so 
 materially impeded the beneficial development of the experiment of introducing 
 the natives of India into this colony — ^the difiiculty of procuring female emigrants 
 — a difficulty which seems almost more insuperable in the case of China, from the 
 practice of female infanticide, and from the peculiar custom of crippling the feet 
 of their women, so as to unfit them not merely for agricultural labour but for 
 locomotion. 
 
 It seems probable indeed that if a bonus of some 20 dollars, payable in advance, 
 were offered for married couples willing to emigrate, many of the men would 
 procure wives by making the reqi3isite preliminary presents to their parents, in 
 accordance with the custom of the country. 
 
 Unless some such scheme as this be sanctioned, I much fear hat immigration 
 from China to the West Indies cannot be carried on safely and advantageously 
 beyond a limited extent, for to bring Chinamen so great a distance, except as 
 permanent settlers, would be too expensive, and there is no class of the population 
 here with which they are likely to form matrimonial alliances in the event of their 
 being desirous of establishing themselves in the country. 
 
 Mr. White, however, treats so fuUy of all these matters that I need only refer 
 your Lordship to his remark s respecting them, which prove, I think, that if an 
 agent is required for these colonies in China, he is admirably adapted for the 
 
 post. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclos^ure 1, in No. 3. 
 
 ExTBACT from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Honourable the Court of Policy of End. i, in No. 3. 
 the Colony of British Guiana, at its adjourned Assembly held at the Guiana Public 
 Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, 14 October 1851. 
 
 [After Prayers.] 
 
 On the motion of the Honourable Mr. Rose, seconded by the Honourable Mr. Quayle, it 
 was resolved, — 
 
 1st. That it is the opinion of this Court that the aura of 60,000 Z. sterling, a part of the 
 Parliamentary loan of 250,000 L, should be applied to the introduction of Chinese immi- 
 grants. 
 
 2d. That this Court requests his Excellency the Governor will be pleased to take the 
 necessary steps for obtaining the sanction of Her Majesty's, Government for the introduction 
 of Chinese immigrants into this colony. 
 
 (True extract.) 
 
 (signed) J. Gardiner Justin, 
 
 Ac. Secretary. 
 
 pSS. A 4 Enclosures 
 
BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 8 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Ends. ,, 3, and 4, Enclosures 2, 3, and 4, in No. 3, 
 
 in No. 3. Consisting of Mr. White's Reports, dated 21st June, and 19th and 23d July 1851, will be 
 
 found at page 72, 78 and 84 of this Paper. 
 
 No. 4. 
 Gdvernor Barkly 
 to the Right Hon. 
 Sir J. S. Pakington, 
 Bart. 
 2 October 1852. 
 
 Page 90. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 4. 
 
 t See Appendix, 
 p. i6q. 
 
 t See Appendix, 
 
 — No. 4.— 
 (No. 156.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to the Right Honourable Sir 
 
 John S. Pakington, Bart. 
 
 Government House, 2 October 1852. 
 (Received, 3 November 1852.) 
 Sir, (Answered, No. 7, 26 January 1863, page 95.) 
 
 Upon learning from your despatch of 13 March (No. 6 *) that as soon as Mr. 
 White arrived from Calcutta, arrangements were in contemplation by the Colonial 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners, which would probably lead to his going 
 back to China to superintend the transmission of immigrants thence to this colony, 
 I thought it better to suggest to the Court of Policy that immediate notice should 
 be given to the public that the bounty of 100 dollars, offered in my proclamation 
 of 2 1st April last, for the introduction of such immigrants, would be withdrawn, as 
 a considerable period must necessarily elapse before shipowners and others, intend- 
 ing to take advantage of that proclamation, would become aware that a different 
 system was to be adopted. The Court, however, deemed it expedient to await 
 more precise information on the subject before authorising any change, and it was 
 not, therefore, until I heard that Mr. White had actually sailed for China, on the 
 20th August, that I again called attention to tlbe point, but I still found a great 
 unwillingness on the part of Members to put a stop to " private enterprise," and 
 my recommendation, after much discussion, only led to a resolution, that the 
 bounty on immigrants from China, arriving in vessels which cleared from any port 
 in the Chinese seas subsequently to the 31st March next, should be reduced to 80- 
 dollars. 
 
 Copy of my proclamation to this effect I have the honour to enclose. 
 
 I have, 
 (signed) 
 
 &c. 
 
 Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 4. 
 
 British Guiana. 
 
 [L.S.] 
 
 Henry Barkly. 
 
 Peoclamation by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esq., Governor and 
 Commander-in-chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice- 
 Admiral and Ordinary of the same, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 Whereas by my Proclamation, dated the 21st day of April 1862, it was declared and made 
 known that the sum of One Hundred Dollars should be the Bounty, that is to say, the Rate 
 of Passage-money and Maintenance to be allowed for Immigrants from China, or Chinese 
 introduced from any Port east of Point de Galle, in Ceylon, under the provisions of Ordi- 
 nance No. 22, of the year 1851,t intituled "An Ordinance for the Encouragement of the 
 Introduction into this Colony of Labourers in general :" 
 
 And whereas it hath been resolved by the Court of Policy that such Rate of Bounty ought 
 to be Reduced after due notice given to that effect : 
 
 Now I, Henry Barkly, Governor of the Colony of British Guiana, in virtue of the power 
 and authority in me vested by Ordinance No. 22, anno 1851,$ intitutled "An Ordinance for 
 the Encouragement of the Introduction into this Colony of Labourers in general," and with 
 the advice and consent of the Court of Policy, do hereby Proclaim and Declare, that in 
 respect to such Immigrants as aforesaid, who may be imported into this Colony on board 
 any vessel which shall clear for this Colony from any Port subsequently to the Thirty-first 
 day of March 1853, the Bounty, payable as aforesaid, shall be Eighty Dollars, instead of" 
 One Hundred Dollars. 
 
 Given under my Hand and'Seal of Office, at the Guiana Public Buildings in George- 
 town, Demerara, this Twenty-fifth day of September, One Thousand Eio^ht 
 Hundred and Fifty-two, and in the Sixteenth Year of Her Majesty's Reign. ° 
 
 God save the Queen. 
 
 By his Excellency's Command, 
 
 William Walker, Gov. Sec 
 
INTRODtCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 9 
 
 BRITISH 
 — No. 5. — GUIANA. 
 (No. 8.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to the Right Honourable vemor Barkl 
 
 iiivJohnS.Pakington,Bsxt. toTheRighrHon. 
 
 Government House, 24 January 1853. \^^^ gart. ° 
 Sir, (Received, 9 March 1853.) 24 January 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to state that the ship " Glentanner," belonging to Messrs. 
 Hyde, Hodge & Co., arrived here on the 12th inst., with 262 adult males, being 
 the first Chinese immigrants brought to this colony ; and that the " Lord Elgin " 
 followed on the 17th, with 85 more. 
 
 2. I considered it my duty to visit both vessels immediately on arrival, as inde- 
 pendently of the curiosity which I felt to see these samples of a race whose pro- 
 pensity for colonization seems destined to exercise so important an influence both 
 in Asia and America, I was anxious to judge for myself of the arrangements that 
 had been made for their accommodation during the long voyage they had under- 
 gone, and the causes of the terrible mortality which was reported in both instances 
 to have occurred. 
 
 3. On this latter point the reports which I have now the honour to transmit Enclosures i & 2. 
 relative to the " Glentanner," will throw much light ; that, at least, from the ~ 
 health officer is worthy of every attention. The reports as to the " Lord Elgin " 
 have not yet been sent in, and will not be so for some time, as I shall in all pro- 
 bability be obliged to order a formal investigation into the circumstances connected 
 with her voyage, which has been a most disastrous one to aU concerned. 
 
 4. The captains of both vessels account, in part, for the length and difficulty of 
 their voyages, by stating that they started so early in the season, the "Lord 
 Elgin " at the beginning of August, and the " Glentanner " at the beginning of 
 September, as to encounter the full force of the monsoon ; and that the proper 
 period for leaving Amoy, is between the end of October and the beginning of 
 March. 
 
 5. I entirely agree with Dr. Manget, however, that neither ship is suited for the 
 purpose, and that the great distance from China to this part of the world, renders it 
 absolutely essential, for the sake of humanity, that the immigration should hence- 
 forth be conducted in ships of large size, possessing superior passenger accommo- 
 dation, their spar-deck especially kept quite clear, so as to permit of exercise being 
 taken by the majority of the immigrants at one and the same time ; and that the 
 height under the beams of the 'tween decks should be at least six feet, and the 
 port holes in the sides much larger than those required by the ordinary regulations 
 for passenger vessels. 
 
 6 . I consider too that the captains of such ships should be forbidden to carry 
 cargo of a perishable nature, in the strictest interpretation of the phrase, and that 
 it should be compulsory on them to touch at some port to be fixed in the 
 Eastern Archipelago, as well as at the Cape of Good Hope, and to allow their 
 passengers to land for a certain time, taking in a certain quantity of fresh meat and 
 vegetables at both places. 
 
 7 All this, no doubt, would materially enhance the shipowner's expenses, and 
 I am quite aware that in the first instance, at any rate, it would tend to prejudice 
 Chinese immigration to the British West Indies, in comparison with that to Cuba, 
 which is now permitted to be carried on by British mercantile firms in British 
 vessels exempt ^ven from the ordinary obligations of the Imperial Passengers' Act, 
 but I am confident, nevertheless, that humanity will be found the best policy in 
 the lonff run, and that let ships for Cuba be stowed with immigrants as closely as 
 the slavers from Africa to that island now are, a larger number will hardly be 
 landed alive and paid for, than would be landed in a British colony under such 
 restrictions as experience may show to be necessary for the preservation of health 
 on the voyage. If the number should prove larger, the planters of Cuba will soon 
 find to their cost, that they are getting immigrants with shattered constitutions, 
 who will not live long enough to repay the cost of thejr introduction. 
 
 986. , B ^-^^"^ 
 
10 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BKITISH 8. I am decidedly of opinion, therefore, that indiscriminate immigration upon 
 
 ^ ^ L^ ^' hounty to this colony ought to cease altogether with the present season, and that 
 Mr. White, whose appointment as emigration agent in China, you communicated 
 * Page 91. to me in your despatch of 1st November, No. 76,* should be intrusted with the 
 selection of proper ships on the most advantageous terms he can arrange, or with 
 the loading of those that may be sent out to him by the Colonial Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners ; always taking care that the entire expense per caput 
 does not exceed the sum of 100 dollars, which was fixed by the Court of Policy 
 as the maximum rate they were willing to pay. 
 
 9. It is not yet in my power to reply to the question raised by the Commissioners, 
 as to the amount which is to be devoted to this species of immigration next season, 
 because it is a point to be settled by the Combined Court at its approaching 
 session, but I think there wiU be enough money left of the sum originally appro^- 
 priated from the guaranteed loan, to authorise the charter of at least three ships to 
 make a commencement. 
 
 10. It wiU be necessary to give due notice that in future all contracts entered 
 into with Chinese, introduced at the public expense, will be nuU and void on 
 arrival here ; for unless the system of advances, now made by the captains previous 
 to embarkation on the security of such contracts, which contain a clause binding 
 the immigrant to repayment, be put an end to at once, it will lead to abuses, no 
 check whatever existing upon the valuation set upon the clothing, &c., delivered 
 to the man, and very little security that he understands how much he has really 
 received, a great part going, I am informed, as was the case in the early Cooly 
 emigration, to the collecting sub-agents, who are, in fact, lodging-house keepers little 
 better than the crimps of seaport towns at home. 
 
 Enclosure 3. ^ 11. It will be seen, moreover, from the contracts, which I forward herewith, 
 that the amount advanced in the case of the " Glentanner " was nearly twice as 
 large as in that of the " Lord Elgin," and I am apprehensive that this ditference 
 may hereafter create dissatisfaction among the Chinese by different ships when 
 -they come to compare notes. 
 
 12. If, indeed, as seems to have been anticipated by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, 
 & Co., the colony had at once undertaken to repay the shipowner the whole of 
 these advances, in addition to the bounty of 100 dollars, the matter would have 
 been simple enough, but as such a course would have been equivalent to an inde^ 
 finite increase of expenditure, I declined to adopt it or even to recommend to the 
 Court of Policy the modified proposition of their agent, that the employer to whom 
 the indentures might be transfeiTod by my order should be required to render 
 himself personally responsible for the repayment, though I offered every le^timate 
 assistance for the collection of the instalments, through the immigration office, as 
 they fell due. The question was at last settled by a resolution of the Court, 
 binding the employer to deduct the amount out of any wages falling due to the 
 immigrant whilst in his service, and to pay it over to the Immigration Agent 
 General for account of the shipowner, or to explain to the satisfaction of the 
 stipendiary magistrate of the district why he failed to do so. 
 
 13. I observe in the instructions to Mr. White, that he is authorised to go as far 
 as to offer five dollars per month, with food and lodging, or seven dollars without such 
 allowance ; but as both the cargoes that have arrived were engaged at four dollars 
 Or six dollars only, I hope he will not find it necessary to exceed the latter rates, 
 as it may create discontent if he does so. There can be little doubt, however, that 
 in a few months time these contracts will be terminated with mutual consent, as 
 the Chinese are not likely to rest satisfied with earning six dollars where by steady^ 
 industry they can make twice as much* and the planters will be too happy to let 
 them work on their own account for whatever they can realise. 
 
 14. There are many other reasons why the selection of immigrants should in 
 future be left solely to the agent of the colony ; among which I may mention the 
 necessity of sending a sufficient number of competent interpreters in every ship ; 
 of excluding persons irreclaimably addicted to opium-eating, and above all, of pro- 
 curing a due proportion of women. 
 
 15. The 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. ii 
 
 15. The first point is one that will occasion much embarrassment, when I come BRITISH 
 to locate the Chinese likely to arrive here this season upon the different planta- GUIANA: 
 tions throughout the colony, forjudging from present experience, it is likely to be 
 
 altogether neglected. 
 
 The " Glentanner " brought one man only who, by residing at Sydney, had ac- 
 quired a limited knowledge of the English language ; another had, in the same 
 way, picked up a few words of French in the Mauritius, which, eked out with a 
 little Malay, enabled me to assign him as interpreter for a party placed on the 
 estate of a Dutch gentleman, who, from long residence in the east, had learnt the 
 latter language. On board the " Lord Elgin " there was not a single individual 
 acquainted with any other tongue than his native one, except the surgeon in charge, 
 who had studied Chinese so far as to become acquainted with the symptoms as 
 described by his patients. This neglect to bring interpreters arose from the im- 
 pression prevalent in the China seas, that the loiterers about the English 
 settlements are the most depraved and piratical of the population, and that the 
 massacre of the captain and crew of the " Robert Bowen," on her way to Cahfornia, 
 was planned by men of this class before the ship left Hong Kong. There can be 
 no doubt this massacre added to other stories of the kind must have produced a 
 good deal of alarm, for both in the " Glentanner " and " Lord Elgin " the fore 
 deck was separated by a strong barricade from the poop ; guns on the latter, pointed 
 so as to sweep it, and armed sentries posted day and night at the wicket through 
 which alone communication took place. 
 
 16. If trustworthy interpreters can possibly be engaged, and I am told that lads 
 from the Chinese College at Singapore would aiiswer admirably, one should be 
 shipped for every 60 or 70 immigrants, as, generally speaking, a larger number 
 cannot be properly accommodated on the plantation, and dangerous consequences 
 might ensue were there no medium of communication between the manager and 
 so large a body of people. 
 
 17. As regards opium-eating, I understand that the habitual votary of this 
 noxious drug is easily discernible by his complexion, and there can be no question, 
 I should think, that all such should be carefully excluded from the ships, as they 
 must prove comparatively useless as labourers, and, though Dr. Manget does not 
 allude to the point, it might almost be inferred that a part of the mortality in the 
 " Glentanner " and " Lord Elgin" arose from the exhaustion of the supply of this 
 wonted stimulus, as few of those who landed alive are, as far as I can learft, 
 addicted to opium, whilst it is reported that many of those who died were i^o. 
 Sydney, the English interpreter, forms an exception to the former rule, for it 
 actually proved necessary the other day, in investigating some complaints at the 
 Immigration Dep6t, to send to a chemist's for opium, and administer a pill before 
 his faculties could be roused from lethargy. 
 
 18. Lastly, as respests the total absence of women, I know that the captains of 
 immigrant vessels so much prefer carrying men only, for the sake of escaping the 
 quarrels and disorder which generally occur where the sexes are mixed together 
 on board, that I am by no means surprised that none were brought when it was 
 optional to come without them. 
 
 Were it impracticable to rectify this omission it would constitute but too valid 
 an objection to the continuance of Chinese immigration on an extensive scale to a 
 country like British Guiana, where at the date of last census the males were to the 
 females as 67 to 60 ; but I am sanguine, from the tenor of the letters written by 
 Mr. White during his preliminary visit, no less than from other accounts, that this 
 will not prove the, case, and that, as agent for the colonies, he will be able, With a 
 little pre-arrangement, to procure at least as large a proportion of women as is now 
 done in the case of the coolies, which, though insufficient to place them on the 
 footing of an increasing population, would be ample to obviate objections upon 
 moral grounds. 
 
 19. Having gone at so much length into a consideration of the footing on 
 which, so far as I can yet judge, Chinese immigration should be placed, I will 
 only add a few remarks on the immigrants whose arrival I have announced, 
 reserving any more lengthened report on their conduct, physical capability, and 
 
 986. ° general 
 
12 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH general adaptation to the colony, until I have had fuller opportunity of forming 
 G U IAN A. j^y opinions. 
 
 20. To facilitate my so doing, no less than to have them under hand in case of 
 necessity, I determined for some vi^eeks beforehand to locate the first arrivals on 
 estates situated a few miles only from Georgetown, but on the further side of the 
 Demerara river, so as to save them from the annoyance of gaping crowds, and the 
 subsequent temptation to drunkenness and dissipation. 'Ihey were much delighted 
 with the cottages prepared for them, some indeed stating through the interpreter 
 that they had never lived in a house before, and though not much skilled in the 
 cultivation of the sugar cane, which they seem to know rather as a garden plant, 
 turned out with so much alacrity to work that they had to be restrained in the 
 eagerness to earn wages, many of them being still too much affected by the drop- 
 sical symptoms, produced by long confinement and unusual diet on shipboard, to 
 be fit for continuous exertion. 
 
 21. The planters are, under all circumstances, highly pleased with them, and 
 unsatisfactorily as the experiment has begun, so far as the passage hither is con- 
 cerned, I think I am justified in predicting that once placed here under judicious 
 arrangements, they will become the most valuable class of labourers ever yet 
 introduced into British Guiana. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henri/ Barkly, 
 
 Enclosure 1 , in No. 5. 
 
 End. 1, in No. 5. The morlality on board the "Glentanner" is very great, and would have been much 
 greater had the ship not had such a short passage. Twelve immigrants have been sent to the 
 hospital, the half of whom will die ; and two have died on board since. 
 
 There can be no doubt that the length of the voyage from China to this colony is the 
 principal cause of this mortality. The want of space for proper exercise, added, to the 
 privation of animal, food for several months, must tell awfully upon these immigrants. 
 
 The " Glentanner " is a fine vessel, and seems to have been kept very clean. But she is 
 an unfit vessel for immigrants from China. She is badly ventilated, and there is too little 
 room on deck for the number she carried. The few small apertures on each side of the 
 vessel cannot be fairly considered as port-holes ; they never can give proper ventilation. 
 
 I have received from the surgeon no journal nor hospital reports, and can therefore say 
 very little as to other causes which might have been acting during the voyage. Many of 
 the people on board are still suffering from anasarca, to a very limited extent it is true ; but 
 this state is due, I am sure, to the causes above mentioned ; and I am persuaded that in a 
 few days on shore, and with proper food, they will quickly recover. 
 
 If immigration from China is to be continued, 1 respectfully suhmit that no vessel under 
 a thousand tons ought to be allowed to bring immigrants to this colony ; making it also com-. 
 pulsory for these vessels lo touch twice during the voyage at ports where they would remain 
 at least ten days, and during which the people should be well supplied with fresh pro- 
 visions. These vessels ought to have port-holes at least two feet and a half square, and 
 port-holes at the stem, with at least six and a half feet between decks; in one word, vessels 
 of the description of the " Ellenborough." Smaller vessels cannot be properly ventilated, 
 and are unfit for bringing immigrants from China, 
 
 (signed) E. A . Mariget, m, d., 
 
 Act. Health Officer, 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 5, 
 British Guiana. 
 
 Immigration Agent General's Office, 
 . Sir, 22 January 1863. 
 
 Encl.2,mNo.5. I have the honour to report the arrival on the 12th inst. of the ship " Glentanner," 1 3 1 
 
 days from Amoy, having touched at Batavia and Algoa Bay, having on board 262 Chinese ; 
 43 deaths had occurred on the voyage. Immediately on the arrival of the ship 1 2 were sent 
 to the hospital, and a few days after four more. 
 
 The people remaining on board were distributed on the 15th inst., but on the morning of 
 the distribution two of the people died on board, one from syncope the other from disease 
 of the heart, as reported by the surgeon of the ship. The remainder were distributed from 
 the ship ill perfect health. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Honourable Wm. Walker, (signed) yVm. Humphrys, 
 
 Govt. Sec. I. A. G. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUUNA AND TRINIDAD. 13 
 
 Enclosure 3 iu E".b. 
 
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INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 15 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Enclosure 4, in No. 5. 
 (No. 66.) 
 
 I, Sin Hoon, native of the village of Chuanchen, in the province of Fokien in China, of End. 4, in No. 5. 
 the age of 20 years, have agreed to embark in the vessel " Glentannsr," with the object of 
 proceeding to the colony of British Guiana, obliging myself from and after my arrival to 
 dedicate myself there to the orders of the honourable" the Immigration Agent of that colony, 
 to whatever class of labour I may be destined, whether in plantations or other estates, 
 during the customary hours of work in that colony, or even at other than plantation labour, 
 as may be most convenient to the honourable the Immigration Agent, or whoever may 
 become the holder of this engagement, and to perform said work for two dollars of salary 
 monthly, maintenance of eight ounces of beef, one and a half pounds of other alimentary 
 food daily, medical assistance and medicines, two suits of clothes, one blanket and one 
 flannel shirt annually; it being agreed that in case of sickness, should it exceed 15 days, 
 my salary will be suspended until I return to work, continuing in the meanwhile to receive 
 medicines and medical attendance; or in place of all the foreg ling, that I shall receive four 
 dollars per month, and find myself in all provisions and other necessaries, fulfilling these 
 obligations for the space of five years continuous, which are fixed fir the term of this 
 engagement, during which it shall not be permitted me to leave the colony, nor deny my 
 services to the persons to whom this engagement may be transferred ; at the end of that 
 period I shall be at liberty to act as may seem to me best. My passage and maintenance 
 on board of said vessel shall be oa account of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., from whom I 
 confess having received by Messrs. Tait & Co. the sum of nine and a half dollars in silver 
 for my outfit for said voyage, and also two suits of new clothes with which to land, amount- 
 ing to two dollars, on condition that both sums (11 J dollars) I shall pay in Demerara to the 
 order of Messrs- Hyde, Hodge & Co. by one dollar monthly, which shall be deducted from 
 my salary by the honourable the Immigration Agent, or the persons to whom this engage- 
 ment may be transferred, it being understood that on no other plea whatever shall anything 
 be deducted from my wages ; and in faith of fulfilling punctually this said obligation, I 
 signed in Amoy, this the .30th day of August 1852. 
 
 It is understood that the salary agreed shall commence to run from within 24 hours 
 after landing at Demerara, unless both parties agree to cancel this agreement after arrival 
 there. 
 
 Witness to signature, the contents 
 being duly understood by the 
 said Sin Hoon. 
 
 Robert J. 'Nelson. 
 
 •^ 
 
 O 
 
 This Indenture having been assigned to me as 
 
 f 1 t tion engage to deduct 
 
 the^sum^of dollars, in monthly instalments of 
 
 dollars each from such amount of wages as 
 
 mav earn in'mv service, and to pay the amonnt monthly to the Immigration Agent-general, 
 to be bv him paid over to the agent of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.; and m event of the 
 A f h f , or of his inability to earn wages, 
 
 I hereby engage to establish the same to the satisfaction of the stipendiary magistrate. 
 
 Peter Rice, 
 Agent for Hyde, Hodge & Co. 
 
 986. 
 
 D 
 
16 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY^ 
 
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INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 '7 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 — No. 6.— 
 
 <No. 15.) N^ 6 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barhly to his Grace the Governo. Batkly 
 
 Duke of iVa.ca./?.. '^^^iSl'''' 
 
 Government House, 8 February 1853. ^ February 1853. 
 ,, ^ (Received, 9 March 1853.) 
 
 My Lord Duke, 
 
 1 ._ In reporting the arrival of the " Glentanner " and " Lord Elgin," with Chinese 
 immigrants, in my despatch of 24th ultimo. No. 8,* I mentioned my intention of * Page 9. — 
 
 appointing a special commission of inquiry into the causes of the great mortality 
 which had occurred on board the latter ship. 
 
 2. I have now the honour to transmit the report of the commission, which I 
 constituted of three gentlemen whom I thought likely to throw light upon the 
 subject, viz. the Honourable Mr. Vander Gon Netscher, a member of the Court 
 Policyj-and not long since a lieutenant in the Dutch navy, in which capacity he 
 spent, I believe, nine years on the Java station and became acquainted with the 
 habits of the Chinese and the navigation of the seas in that part of the world ; Dr. 
 Blair, the surgeon-general, who from the' length of time he has been in charge of 
 the colonial hospital, is most experienced in regard to the diseases to which immi- 
 grants in tropical countries are liable ; and Mr. Butts, inspector-general of police, 
 who, several years ago, was sent as immigration agent for this colony to the coast 
 of Africa, and was accompanied on his return by a large body of Kroomen. 
 
 3. It will be seen that the commissioners attribute the deplorable loss of life 
 on this occasion, first, to the unsuitableness of the vessel for such a voyage, and 
 second, to the neglect of the rules laid down in the Imperial Passengers' Act, and 
 that they suggest regulations for the carriage of Chinese in future, much in accord- 
 ance with those which I have already recommended with the sanction of the health 
 officer of the port. 
 
 4. They conclude by stating that they see no sufficient ground for refusing to 
 pay the bounty on the number of immigrants landed alive in the colony, a con- 
 clusion which at first sight seemed to me somewhat at variance with the premises; 
 but as some allowance no doubt is due on account of the novelty of the experimenl; 
 as all that humanity could dictate would appear to have been done by the captain 
 to alleviate the sufferings of his passengers, a second surgeon having been employed 
 from Java to the Cape during the desperate illness from which both the surgeon 
 in charge and himself suffered ; and as it was well understood that even if the ship- 
 owners received the bounty they would sustain a loss of some 1,500/. from the 
 voyage, I felt myself justified in complying with this part of the report, and order- 
 ing payment to be made. 
 
 5. Had I declined to do so indeed, the further question raised by the health 
 officer would have had to be determined, namely, whether the colonial immigration 
 agent having received at the depot, and located the survivors, payment of the 
 bounty advertised by the colony would not have been compellable by law in 
 respect to them. 
 
 6. Humanity would of course forbid any dispute on such a subject, whilst immi- 
 gi-ants were still cooped on board ship after a long voyage, but it adds, I think, an 
 additional reason to those which I adduced in my former despatch, why the open 
 bounty competition should at once be put an end to, and the vessels engaged, as 
 for cooly immigration, under charter parties containing stringent securities for 
 due fulfilment of all the requirements of the Passengers' Act, which could be en- 
 forced by subsequent legal proceedings, whether the immigrants had been accepted 
 
 or not. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 (signed) Htnry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 6. 
 TO his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esq., Governor and CoTnmander-in-Chief in and over the End. in No.®- 
 Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the same, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 G* 
 
 Wb the undersigned, having by your Excellency's command been constituted as a Board 
 for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the cause of the great mortality which 
 occurred amongst the Chinese immigrants, embarked on board the " Lord Elgin," on her 
 
 986. E recent 
 
i8 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH recent voyage from Amoy to this colony, from such written and oral evidence- as might be- 
 GUIANA, available, have now the honour to report, that, 
 
 1. We have visited the barque in question, and measured the accommodation for immi'- 
 
 grants therein, and have ascertained from evidence that the ship was very crank. 
 
 2. We have inspected part of the provisions shipped at Amoy for the immigrants, and lef£ 
 on board. 
 
 3. We have examined the charts which point out the vessel's track on the voyage ini 
 question, and perused the very incomplete ship's journal, as well as the enclosed table of 
 diseases and deaths (enclosed No. 1), and the memorandum (enclosed No. 2) from Dr. David 
 
 "?»§53^- — "^ Shier, the medical oflacer on board. 
 __- — 4. We have, both verbally and in writing, put a variety of questions to liie surgeon, the 
 
 Yagc^S^^'" captain, and some of the men on board, with respect to the issues and quality of the provi- 
 ^,,^''' sions during the voyage, and received- from the captain a written reply as per enclbsure^ 
 
 No. 3, but from Dr. Shier we have as yet received no written communication but what is 
 referred to in para. No. 3. 
 ■pa^.?-^''''^ 5. We have ascertained that the voyage from Amoy, 25° north lat., to Singapore, 1.30 noEth 
 lat., occupied 62 days (from 23d July to the 23d September), during which time four 
 Chinese only died. 
 
 6. The voyage from Singapore to Anjar, a port in the Sti-ait of Sunda, on the Java shores, 
 ff* south lat:, occupied 23 days, from the 26th Septembertillthel9thOctaber, during which 
 time five Chinese died, four from anasarca, and. one from anemia, which, with the four men- 
 tioned in the last para., make only nine deaths during the 88 days,, just the half of the 177 
 days' voyage to DenLerara- 
 
 7. Twenty-four hours before reaching Port Anjar the barque struck on Brower's Bank, a 
 hard shoal close to Anjar, on the Java shore, but she got off without making water. 
 
 On the 24th Octobei', three days after leaving Anjar, at a distance from that place of 
 about 260 English miles, it was discovered that the vessel had sprung a leak, and! made 
 considerable water. Thereupon the ship was observed to be " steaming considerably," arising 
 from the fermentation of the cargo of rice below the passengers' deck, which fermentation, 
 aiccording to the evidence of Dr. Shier, filled the vessel with sulphurated hydrogen, gas to 
 such an extent, that everything painted became discoloured and black, and even some of 
 the medicines in stoppered bottles were decomposed, circumstances to which Dr. Shier 
 mainlya tributes the increased sickness and mortality among the passengers- The rice in 
 the undermost layers of the hold being wet, continued fermenting and infesting the vessel with 
 its deadly exhalations, and notwithstanding the rice, biscuit, salt-ft&h, &c., &c., given to the 
 Chinese, were, as far as the Board can ascertain, sufficient in quantity, and good in quality, 
 and that, as appears from the log-book and Dr. Shier's testimony, portions of smgar, lime- 
 juice, and garlic were issued, sickness, in the form of anasarca and dysentery, with much 
 scorbutic eruption and debility, increased among the immigrants, insomuch that in the 46 
 days of the voyage from Anjar to the Cape, there were 41 deaths; and duringHhe 39 days' 
 passage from the Cape to Demerara, where the vessel arrived on the 17th January 1863, 
 19 deaths, making altogether 69 deaths from among the 164 Chinese immigrants shipped 
 at Amoy. 
 
 8. The vess&l's stay at Singapore, Anjar, and the Cape of Good Hope, was very short, 
 only two days at the former, and three days at the latter of these places ; the captain has; 
 
 i <io. furnished the Board with a list of supplies purchased for the Chinese at those places, as well 
 pages ^93—""^ as at Anjar (see enclosure No. 4), and also a list of articles for their use taken on board at 
 -"^^ Amoy, as per enclosure No. 5. 
 
 9. Dr. Shier not having as yet furnished liis written report in reply to the applications of 
 the Board, we are left, as regards the water, to his verbal statement on this bead, from 
 which we gather that the Singapore warter was indifferent, and the Anjar water good j but 
 that before arriving at the Cape the Anjar water had been all used, which compelled the 
 captain to fall back on the Singapore water for use, until the ship arrived at the Cape, 
 where the water shipped was of good quality. 
 
 10. The ventilation on board the "Lord Elgin" was very deficient, the hatches being 
 small, the height between decks from plaiik to plank 6 feet, and only four small port-holes, 
 9 inches by 4, being on each side, and which, at sea, were but too often closed to prevent 
 the admission of sea-water ; besides which, there were no wind kokers or openings between 
 the timbers to take off the foul air, and even the main-hatch was covered with the long- 
 boat, 
 
 11. No arrangement for hospital accommodation existed during the voyage, so that the 
 sick, to the number of 12 to 14 at a time, were of necessity placed in the long-boat, whose 
 position is above described, and whose capacity is 22 feet long by 8^ wide, as a substitute 
 for a hospital. 
 
 12. The measurements of the vessel, as regards the accommodation for immigrants taken 
 by tlie Board, were as follows : — -a • ' 
 
 Depth under the beam ---___ -54 
 Depth under the deck ---..__gi 
 Width ---------- 23 5 
 
 Length ---- ,2 
 
 Being 9,936 cubic feet, or 1,656 superficial feet ; thus allowing for each immigrant only 
 11 superficial feet between decks, while the last Passengers' Act of 1852 requires for each 
 16 superficial feet. 
 
 From 
 
IKTEgODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 19 
 
 From the foregoing we have arrived at the conclusion that the causes of the great BRITISH 
 inortality on this voyage are attributable. GUIANA. 
 
 ^Firstly. 'TTo the very long confinement in foul air, as clearly demonstrated by the fact, that 
 
 in the former half of the voyage one-seventh only, and in the latter half six-sevenths of 
 the deaths occurred (see para. 6). 
 
 Secondly. To the crankness of the vessel, the want of room for exercise, as shown by 
 -the measurements (para. 12), and the deficient supply of variety in the food, especially fresh 
 provisions, .;&c. 
 
 Thirdly. 'By not having had i-ecourse to the rules and regulations of the Passengers' 
 Act of 1€52, which, if adopted, would, in the opinion of this Board, have prevented most, 
 df not all the evils which we have now to deplore. 
 
 Deeply in^pressed, therefore, with the correctness of the conclusions at which we have 
 arrived after due deliberation on this painful case, we most respectfully recommend that in 
 future the said Passengers' Act be made the groundwork of all regulations in importing 
 to'this colony immigrants from east of the Cape of Good Hope, and that for the purpose of 
 carrying out-these views, no ship of less than 1,000 tons be allowed for this service. 
 
 As regards the question of the bounty referred to us by your Excellency's minute on the 
 correspondence herewith returned between the health officer and the Immigration Agent- 
 general, we huntbly submit that we see no sufficient ground for a refusal to pay the same. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) A. D. V. Gon Netscher, Chairman. 
 Daniel Blair, 11.D., Surgeon-General. 
 R. G. Butts. 
 
 P^&. — Since the foregoing report was written, we have received Dr. Shier's answer to 
 the letters of the Soard, which is herewith laid over. No. 6. 
 
 (signed) A. D. V. Gon Netscher. 
 
 List of Stores on board " Lord Elgin" for Chinese at Singapore. 
 
 10 Wis. alum ; 1 <ask of arrack for crew and passengers, 80 gallons; 1 case, 139 lbs., pre- 
 served provisions for sick, if required, and 4 pigs, 2 for crew ; 6 peculs yams, and 4 peculs 
 chalots. half for crew ; 4 bags chunam, 6 bags sand, 20 peculs of 133 lbs. of best salt fish,, 
 5,000 pieces firewood. Bagar expenses for fresh fish, vegetables, and for coolies, 15 dollars ; 
 45 tons water, medicines, .^34. 50. 
 
 At Anjar. 
 
 17 tons water, 2 fathoms firewood, 16 peculs sweet potatoes, 100 cocoanuts for Basino, 
 100 pumpku^, 2 cases of geneva for medicines, 10 bags of chunam, 10 bags of sand, 6 pigs, 
 jar chloride of lime, 1 bott. of blistering fluid, 200 lbs. fresh pork, half cwt. vegetables. 
 
 At Cape Good Hope. 
 
 25 tons water, 1 carcass of mutton, 70 lbs. fresh beef; 8 sheep for coolies, 2 for crew; 
 vegetables for cooliee, 9l. 4s. 4rf.; 8 cwt. ship bread, medicines, chloride of lime, &c., 
 127. 11 «. 3 J. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General's Office, 
 Sir 28 January 1853. 
 
 In consequence of repeated applications having been made to me by the attorney of 
 Messrs. Booker to certify bis account for bounty on 86 Chinese, introduced in the ship 
 " Lord Elgin," I addressed a lettCT to the acting health officer, copy of which, with his 
 reply, are hereunto annexed, and are transmitted for the information of Jiis Excellency the 
 Governor, and respectfully request that I may be instructed whether I bave any right 
 to withhold my certificate for the introduction of the people in question for any longer 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. William Walker, (signed) William Uumphrys, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. Immigration Agent-General. 
 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General's Office, 
 Sir 26 Janwary 1853. 
 
 Having been applied to several times by the agent of Mr. Booker for my certificate of 
 the arrival of Chinese in his ship, the " Lord Elgin," I have on all occasions refused to do 
 so unril your report had been sent in to his Excellency the Governor ; as I am not aware 
 whether this has yet been done, I request to be informed with regard to this delay, and on 
 what grounds, so as to be guided in what manner I am to proceed. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 E. A. Manget, Esq., M.D. (signed) William Humphrys, 
 
 Acting Healtli Officer, Immigration Agent-General. 
 
 986. 
 
 £ 2 
 
 George 
 
20 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Sir, George Town, 27 January 185^. 
 
 GUIANA. In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, referring to Messrs. Booker's application for 
 
 your certificate, to enable them to receive the bounty money for the Chinese arrived by the 
 
 " Lord Elgin," I beg to state that I have already informed his Excellency that my report 
 could not be sent in until Dr. Shier, who is still very unwell, shall have furnished me th& 
 necessary information regarding the immigrants per " Lord Elgin." 
 I cannot say exactly when my report will be sent in. 
 
 If I be allowed to give my hiimble opinion, I would say that Messrs. Booker and Brothers 
 are entitled to the bounty money, the immigrants who have arrived by their vessel having 
 been already allotted. 
 
 I have, kc. 
 William Humphrys, &c. (signed) JS. A. Manget, M.D. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General. Acting Health Officer. 
 
 (True copies.) 
 
 (signed) William Humphrys, I. A. G. 
 
 Memorandum 
 
 On the return voyage from Amoy to Demerara with Chinese, which being a private spe- 
 culation, and not conducted under authority, I was not furnished with the necessary journals, 
 printed forms and documents required to be kept by surgeons on board emigrant ships 
 under authority. 
 
 During the voyage I kept a regular medical journal, but from the arduous nature of my 
 duties, from the enfeebled state of my health, and from the want of accommodation on board, 
 I was unable to transcribe it. 
 
 I am now engaged transcribing, but as the voyage extended to six months, and as the 
 amount of disease on board was very great, it will be rather a laborious task, and will 
 occupy some time; when finished I shall have much pleasure in laying it before the board. 
 In the meantime I shall be glad, if required, to appear before the board and answer 
 questions that may be put to me. 
 
 1 may add that on Sunday last I gave to the health officer a printed form, containing the 
 leading particulars regarding the mortality on board the " Lord Elgin" during the v6yage. 
 
 C. G. H. Davis, Esq., 
 Secretary to the Chinese Board. 
 
 (signed) D. S. 
 Pin. Kitty, 28 January 1863. 
 
 Invoice of Stores shipped for the use of Coolies, per " Lord Elgin," on the Voyage 
 
 from Amoy to Demerara. 
 
 360 bamboo pillows, 
 350 sleeping mats. 
 100 razors. 
 
 10 choppers. 
 500 rice bowls. 
 250 tea cups. 
 
 100 rice ladles, large and small. 
 200 brooms. 
 250 combs. 
 
 4 baskets soup peculs. 
 
 60 baskets. 
 
 60 mess rids. 
 6 bottles mustard. 
 
 12 rice measures. 
 6 gongs. 
 
 14 guitars. 
 
 12 flutes, 
 a bundles playing cards. 
 
 50 catties tobacco. 
 
 10 iron puns. 
 100 bricks for cooking places. 
 
 90 jars surd peculs. 
 
 16 peculs biscuits. 
 
 10 „ sugar. 
 
 50 tubs cabbage. 
 5 peculs garlic. 
 
 10 „ salt. 
 2 tubs vinegar. 
 2 peculs tea. 
 
 10 dried fish. 
 
 20 peculs salt fish. 
 
 12 „ tea oil. 
 
 20 „ potatoes and pumpkins. 
 
 50 large plates. 
 
 60 cutties sulphur. 
 ] 60 white waistcoats. 
 160 yellow trousers. 
 160 black ditto. 
 160 black jackets. 
 160 yellow ditto. 
 320 sheets. 
 295 pairs shoes. 
 200 wooden shoes. 
 
 22 tubs, salt beef. 
 
 33 peculs, cooking places. 
 8 large water tubs. 
 500 bales chop sticks. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 21 
 
 Barque " Lord Elgin," River Demerary, BRITISH 
 
 .Sir, 31 January 1853. GU I AN A. 
 
 In answer to your communication of date the 29th current (from the Chinese Board), ~~- . 
 
 for the information of the gentlemen composing that board, I beg to send the following Communicacion 
 
 answers, viz : — "*•• '• 
 
 Answer 1. At Hong Kong, 11 peculs of 133 lbs. each of stock fish, for coolies only, also 
 four pec. for cabin use. 
 
 Messrs. Tait 8c Co.'s list of stores, shipped list of stores at Singapore, at Anjar, and Cape 
 Good Hope, all herewith enclosed. 
 
 Answer 2. Arrack was issued to the Chinese at all times on Dr. Shier's order, and in 
 •quantities varying from half to a full wineglass per man per day, off the Cape Good Hope 
 in cold water daily. 
 
 Answer 3. The distance run may be seen by referring to that book, and the true position 
 by observation, by reference to the vessel's track on charts herewith sent. 
 
 Answer 4. The log-book contains, I believe, the amounts respectively issued for the 
 whole coolies on board, except sago and tea for the sick, which was at Dr. Shier's disposal, 
 and issued as requisite by him. On account of my own illness, 1 could not give the atten- 
 tion to this and other matters I should have wished. 
 
 Answer 5. Three charts are herewith sent, showing the vessel's outward track to Madras, Communication 
 also homeward track from China. No. 3. 
 
 Answer 1. Lat. 7.47 South, 101* 25' E. at 4.30 p. m. civil time, 24 October 1852, pumped 
 half an hour, and then had 17 inches at the pump. Made about one foot per hour accord- 
 ing as she lay over, and immersed her side, and increased the pressure more or less. 
 
 Answer 2. The extent to which the rice has been damaged is yet unascertained, but none 
 of damaged rice was issued to Chinese passengers. 
 
 Answer 3. The original log has b6en already sent. 
 
 C. H, Davies, Esq., 
 Secretary to Chinese Board. 
 
 I remain, &c. 
 (signed) A M'Cklland. 
 
 Port of Georgetown, Demerary, 
 17 January 1853. 
 Health Officer's Report of Immigrants by the Lord Elgin, which arrived here on the 17 
 January, 177 days from Amoy, having touched at Singapore, Anjar, Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 Master's Name 
 Surgeon's Name 
 Quarantine 
 
 A. C. M'Clelland. 
 David Shier. 
 
 Number of Crew - 15 
 
 Registered Tonnage - 353 
 Passengers' Deck feet by feet. 
 
 Numeral List. 
 
 EMIGRANTS. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Women. 
 
 Boys. 
 
 Girls. 
 
 Infants. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Embarked on the 23 July"! 
 1852 - - - -J 
 
 Died on the Voyage - 
 
 Born on the Voyage 
 
 Arrived in Port 
 
 For Hospital - 
 
 For Immediate Distribution 
 
 115 
 
 58 
 
 57 
 5 
 
 — 
 
 39* 
 11 
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 __ 
 
 154 
 69 
 
 85 
 
 Under 21 years of age. 
 
 986. 
 
 E 3 
 
 Ik 
 
BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 22 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 In Reply to Question No. 1. 
 
 List of Names of Chinese Immigrants who died on the Voyage from Jimoy to Demerara on 
 board the Barque " Lord Elgin," with a Statement of their Numbers in the Shipping List, 
 Ages, Diseases, and Dates of Death. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Num'dw in 
 List. 
 
 Age. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 DISEASE. 
 
 Date of Death. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1852. 
 
 1 
 
 58 
 
 19 
 
 Teoh Oo 
 
 Dysentery 
 
 August - 15 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 28 
 
 Ho What 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 Sept. 
 
 - 1 
 
 3 
 
 130 
 
 22 
 
 Tseah Laugh - 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 99 
 
 - 7 
 
 4 
 
 122 
 
 30 
 
 Yak Ong 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 99 ' 
 
 - 20 
 
 5 
 
 78 
 
 19 
 
 Tsooh Lai 
 
 Anaemia - . - 
 
 Oct. 
 
 - 9 
 
 6 
 
 64 
 
 18 
 
 Eung Kee 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 J9 
 
 - 13 
 
 7 
 
 145 
 
 25 
 
 Ong Seong 
 
 - ditto - - . 
 
 99 
 
 - 15 
 
 8 
 
 35 
 
 23 
 
 Tih Hieng 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 9> 
 
 - 18 
 
 9 
 
 69 
 
 24 
 
 See Tsong . 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 ^f 
 
 - 19 
 
 10 
 
 60 
 
 32 
 
 Yap Soo - - - 
 
 - ditto . - - 
 
 99 
 
 - 22 
 
 11 
 
 126 
 
 28 
 
 Goh Buing 
 
 Dysentery 
 
 99 
 
 - 27 
 
 12 
 
 107 
 
 30 
 
 Yop Yong 
 
 - ditto . - . 
 
 99 
 
 - 31 
 
 13 
 
 116 
 
 28 
 
 An Ong - - - 
 
 Congestion of lung - 
 
 Nov. 
 
 - 2 
 
 14 
 
 80 
 
 22 
 
 Tioh Huing 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 99 
 
 - 6 
 
 15 
 
 59 
 
 28 
 
 Lap Loh- 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 yy 
 
 - 6 
 
 16 
 
 65 
 
 22 
 
 NgBeh- - ^ 
 
 Fever, Typhoid 
 
 jf 
 
 - 9 
 
 17 
 
 103 
 
 24 
 
 Ng Koh - 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 J9 
 
 - 11 
 
 IS 
 
 118 
 
 19 
 
 Lan Yu - - - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 jf 
 
 - 16 
 
 19 
 
 105 
 
 22 
 
 Lim Cheong - 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 99 
 
 - 17 
 
 20 
 
 133 
 
 31 
 
 Kay Soo 
 
 Anaemia - - - 
 
 99 
 
 - 17 
 
 21 
 
 140 
 
 18 
 
 Ang Tiang 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 9^ 
 
 - 18 
 
 22 
 
 22 
 
 29 
 
 NgYoik 
 
 - ditto - . - 
 
 jy 
 
 - 18 
 
 23 
 
 83 
 
 30 
 
 Lan Lai - 
 
 - ditto - . - 
 
 
 - 19 
 
 24 
 
 93 
 
 33 
 
 Lee Whan 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 yy 
 
 - 19 
 
 25 
 
 129 
 
 21 
 
 Toh Piang 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 ^^ 
 
 - 19 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 30 
 
 Goh Ken 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 }y 
 
 - 19 
 
 27 
 
 104 
 
 24 
 
 Tan Tingh 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 99 
 
 - 20 
 
 28 
 
 56 
 
 27 
 
 ■TanLak- .- 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 99t 
 
 - 21 
 
 29 
 
 a4 
 
 18 
 
 Tarn Toh 
 
 i- ditto- 
 
 
 - 22 
 
 30 
 
 143 
 
 24 
 
 Tan Gieh 
 
 Congestion of lungs - 
 
 99 
 
 - 22 
 
 31 
 
 81 
 
 30 
 
 Tan Koon 
 
 , Dysentery 
 
 99 
 
 - 23 
 
 32 
 
 115 
 
 22 
 
 ' Zam Kim 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 
 - 23 
 
 33 
 
 57 
 
 20 
 
 ! Pee Seeung - 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 
 - 33 
 
 34 
 
 94 
 
 34 
 
 ' Lok Luam 
 
 - ditto . - - 
 
 " 
 
 - 24 
 
 35 
 
 137 
 
 24 
 
 Soh Twa 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 9> 
 
 - 24 
 
 36 
 
 41 
 
 21 
 
 Tee Heeik 
 
 - ditto - . - 
 
 *7 
 
 . 24 
 
 37 
 
 109 
 
 32 
 
 Ong Rat - 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 99 
 
 - 26 
 
 38 
 
 136 
 
 28 
 
 Ong Tsien 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 99 
 
 . 28 
 
 39 
 
 92 
 
 22 
 
 Seeung Lee 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 99 
 yy 
 
 - 29 
 
 40 
 
 a5 
 
 19 
 
 TumTowy 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 yy 
 
 - 29 
 
 41 
 
 92 
 
 30 
 
 Yap Pung 
 Loh Kan 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 
 - 30 
 
 42 
 
 144 
 
 30 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 Dec. 
 
 - 1 
 
 43 
 
 113 
 
 29 
 
 Oo Chuen 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 
 - 2 
 
 44 
 
 54 
 
 17 
 
 Lah Tsui 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 *' 
 
 - 2 
 
 45 
 
 45 
 
 28 
 
 Tan Twan 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 w 
 
 - 2 
 
 46 
 
 135 
 
 28 
 
 Lem Chieng - 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 99 
 
 - 3 
 
 47 
 
 12 
 
 28 
 
 Ng Tshut 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 99' 
 
 - 5 
 
 48 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 Lim Kiung 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 99 
 
 - 5 
 
 49 
 
 89 
 
 36 
 
 How Tih 
 
 Dysentery - -. 
 
 99 
 
 - 7 
 
 60 
 
 68 
 
 28 
 
 Gwa Pun 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 
 - 7 
 
 51 
 
 110 
 
 21 
 
 Tee Leong 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 99 
 
 „ 
 
 - 10 
 
 62 
 
 15 
 
 24 
 
 Koh Tshee 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 77 
 
 - 10 
 
 53 
 
 86 
 
 32 
 
 Lim Swa 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 W 
 
 - 11 
 
 54 
 
 66 
 
 34 
 
 Ng Chuen 
 
 Dysentery 
 
 if 
 
 - 11 
 
 65 
 
 17 
 
 23 
 
 Soh Pat - 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 
 - 11 
 
 56 
 
 75 
 
 25 
 
 Tan Kian 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 if 
 
 - 12 
 
 57 
 58 
 
 88 
 62 
 
 27 
 . 30 
 
 Oh Swanne 
 Ong Swan 
 
 Fever, complicated - 
 Anasarca 
 
 i9 
 » 
 
 - 16 
 
 - 17 
 
 59 
 
 10 
 
 24 
 
 Givee Chuen - 
 
 Fever, complicated - 
 
 99 
 
 - 18 
 
 60 
 
 83 
 
 25 
 
 Goh Tsee 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 » 
 
 - 18 
 
 61 
 
 111 
 
 24 
 
 Koh Mooie 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 J> 
 
 - 21 
 
 62 
 
 132 
 
 26 
 
 Tswa Ong 
 
 - ditto - - . 
 
 ?> 
 
 - 21 
 
 63 
 
 146 
 
 21 
 
 Gan Loo 
 
 - ditto - - - 
 
 99 
 
 • 9R 
 
 64 
 
 98 
 
 27 
 
 Lim Pok 
 
 - ditto ... 
 
 9* 
 
 - 31 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 23 
 
 Nnmber. ' 
 
 li'umberin 
 
 List. 
 
 Age. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 DISEASE. 
 
 Date of Death. 
 
 65 
 66 
 67 
 68 
 60 
 
 132 
 
 84 
 
 73 
 
 31 
 
 9 
 
 22 
 32 
 19 
 21 
 23 
 
 Tan Sing 
 Goh Him 
 Ung Why 
 Tsan Puing - 
 Lan Yam 
 
 Anasarca 
 
 - ditto . 
 
 - ditto ' - _ - 
 Diarrhoea, complicated 
 Anasarca 
 
 IBSS. 
 Jan. . 1 
 
 - 6 
 
 - 7 
 
 - 14 
 „ - 16 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Fever, Typhoid and complicated ... 3 
 Anaemia •-.-.... 2 
 Congestion of the lungs ----- 2 
 Dysentery - - - - . - -11 
 Dropsy ----.-.-51 
 
 69 
 
 In the commencement of the voyage the diseases that prevailed arose from derangement 
 of the digestive organs, as indicated by constipation, headache, diarrhoea, &c. The cause of 
 these diseases obviously was, that the immigrants were put on a regular and full diet, to 
 which most of them had been entirely unaccustomed. 
 
 Itch very speedily made its appearance, and spread over almost the whole of the immi- 
 grants. Ophthalmia also prevailed among a few in the early part of the voyage. The few 
 fatal cases arising from dysentery in the early part of the voyage occurred among those who 
 had been addicted to an immoderate use of opium, and whose constitutions are much 
 impaired before leaving China. 
 
 The most prevalent diseases, however, were dropsy, dysentery, and ulcerated mouth; 
 these arose from poisonous gases, bad ventilation,* and want of exercise ; but there was 
 comparatively little appearance of these diseases till towards the end of the third month of 
 the voyage. 
 
 List of Medicines and Medical Comforts. Supply for any number of Emigrants from 50 to 100. 
 The quantities to be increased for any additional number beyond 100, at the rate of half these 
 quantities per 100. 
 
 
 lbs. oz. 
 
 
 lbs. oz. 
 
 
 
 Acacia gum - . - - 
 
 - 6 
 
 Rhubarb powder - - - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Utensils. 
 
 
 Acetate of lead 
 
 - 3 
 
 Spirit of nitrous ether - 
 
 - 10 
 
 Tow, fine - - lbs. 
 
 li 
 
 Adhesive plaster . - - 
 
 1 4 
 
 Sulphuric ether - . . 
 
 - 6 
 
 Syringes, clyster, pewter 
 
 
 Alnmen . . - - 
 
 - 6 
 
 Sulphate of zinc ... 
 
 - 3 
 
 pint- - - - No. 
 
 1 
 
 Antimonial powder 
 
 - 2 
 
 Ditto of copper - - - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Syringes, penis ditto - „ 
 
 2 
 
 Aromatic spirit of ammODia 
 
 - 8 
 
 Sulphur - - - - 
 
 2 - 
 
 Tourniquet field - - „ 
 
 * 
 
 Blistering ointment 
 
 1 8 
 
 Senna leaves 
 
 1 - 
 
 Measure glass, 1 oz. - „ 
 
 J. 
 
 Blue pill . - . . 
 
 - 4 
 
 Tartrate of antimony - 
 
 - -i 
 
 Mortars and pestles, Wedg- 
 
 
 Carbonate of ammonia - 
 
 - 3 
 
 . Tincture of opium 
 
 1 8 
 
 wood . - - Ho. 
 
 1 
 
 Camphor . - . - 
 
 - 6 
 
 
 
 Scales and weights, small, box 
 
 1 
 
 Catechu . . . - 
 Cerate (simple) - - - 
 
 - 2 
 
 1 8 
 
 Country Medicines, &c. 
 
 
 Phials, sorted - - No. 
 Pill boxes - - papers 
 
 6 
 
 -i 
 
 Chloride of lime - - - 
 
 4 8 
 
 Splints, common, long - 
 
 I'setof 3 
 
 Bolus knife - - No. 
 
 1 
 
 Calomel - - . - 
 
 - 6 
 
 
 pairs each. 
 
 Bed pans - - - „ 
 
 2 
 
 Castor oil - 
 
 4 8 
 
 Ditto ditto - short - 
 
 1 ditto 
 
 Candles, wax - - ,, 
 
 6 
 
 Compound tincture of camphor 
 
 - 8 
 
 Lint . - - - oz. 
 
 6 
 
 Lanterns, small, or hand 
 
 
 Dover's ponder . - . 
 
 - 4 
 
 Leather skins, white - No. 
 
 2 
 
 lamp ... No. 
 
 1 
 
 EpsonMalts - - - - 
 Extract of colocynth 
 
 2 - 
 
 Cloth for bandages and plas- 
 
 
 Saucepan - - - „ 
 
 2 
 
 - 3 
 
 ters . - . yards 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Ginger powder . - - 
 I-pecacuan ditto . - - 
 
 - 6 
 
 Cumblies for fomentation. No. 
 
 3 
 
 Medical Comforts. 
 
 
 - 4 
 
 Cocoa nut oil for external ap- 
 
 
 An-ow root - - lbs. 
 
 25 
 
 - 3 
 
 plication - - -bottles 
 
 2 
 
 Brandy - - bottles 
 
 12 
 
 Nitrate of silver . - - 
 
 - -i 
 
 Rum for external application „ 
 
 20 
 
 Sago - - - lbs. 
 
 25 
 
 Opium .... 
 
 - 3 
 
 Soap for ditto - - lbs. 
 
 5 
 
 Spice - - box 4 oz. 
 
 
 Oil of peppermint . - - 
 
 - -i 
 
 Rice flour for poultices - „ 
 
 30 
 
 Sugar ... lbs. 
 
 100 
 
 Peruvian balsam - - - 
 
 - 6 
 
 Mustard, powdered -bottles 
 
 2 
 
 Lime juice - - - pints 
 
 100 
 
 Quinine .... 
 
 - -i 
 
 Salt, common - - lbs. 
 
 2 
 
 Vinegar . - - gal. 
 
 3 
 
 Red precipitate ... 
 
 - 1 
 
 Leeches - - . No. 
 
 100 
 
 Marine soap - half cwt. 
 
 
 The foragoing list of medicines and medical comforts was supplied to me by the Immigra- 
 tion Agent-general of Demerara before starting on the voyage to Madras with return Coolies ; 
 q86. e4 but 
 
24 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRAISTS RECENTLY 
 
 additions : — 
 
 
 
 2 lb. Acid, Acetic. 
 
 ^ oz. Bichd. Mercy. 
 
 i oz. „ 
 
 Arsenious. 
 
 2 lb. Bitart. Potash. 
 
 6 oz. „ 
 
 Hydrocyanic. 
 
 3 lb. Carbonate of Soda. 
 
 8 oz. „ 
 
 Muriatic. 
 
 2 oz. Chloride of Zinc. 
 
 lib. „ 
 
 Nitric. 
 
 2 oz. Chloroform, 
 
 lib. „ 
 
 Nitrous. 
 
 1 lb. Tr. Colch. Seeds. 
 
 ilb. „ 
 
 Sulphuric. 
 
 2 oz. Collodion. 
 
 2 lb. „ 
 
 Tartaric. 
 
 6 oz. Creta preparat. 
 
 2 Quart Bottles Alcohol. 
 
 1 Phial Croton Oil. 
 
 6 oz. Aloes. 
 
 |ij Hydr. C. Creta. 
 
 1 lb. Aqua Ammonia. 
 
 4 oz. lod. Potash. 
 
 3 oz. Assafostida. 
 
 1 oz. Iodine. 
 
 2 lb. Piper Cubebse. 
 
 1 oz. Oil of Cloves. 
 
 2 Quart Bottles Balsam Copaiba. 
 
 2 lb. W. Hellebore. 
 
 BRITISH but as I judged it exceedingly inadequate and defective, I submitted it to the Colonfal 
 GUIANA. Surgeon-general, who agreed with me in opinion, and we accordingly obtained the following 
 
 1 oz. Kreosote. 
 3ij Elaterium. 
 
 2 Bladders of Lard. 
 2 lb. Magnesia. 
 1 lb. Mur. Ammonia. 
 3ij „ Morphia. 
 
 1 lb. Nitrate Potash. 
 
 2 lb. Quassia. 
 
 1 oz. Scammony. 
 6 lb. Starch. 
 4 oz. Sulph. Iron. 
 
 2 Quart Bottles of Turpentine. 
 6 oz. Citrine Ointment. 
 1 pint Aqua Potassa. 
 
 Before we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the outward voyage, it was found that 
 some of the medicines had become exhausted, and the deficiencies were there supplied, and 
 this supply proved adequate to the requirements of the outward voyage ; but for the home- 
 ward voyage with Chinese, it was found impossible to obtain several important articles of the 
 materia medica, although eventually, as will be seen, these defects were supplied. 
 
 At Amoy a supply oiF medical stores and comforts was laid in; sago of fine quality was- 
 procured, and during the homeward voyage was freely supplied to the sick twice a day ; one; 
 dozen bottles of brandy, six dozen of beer, were also taken as stores. 
 
 On calling at Singapore a further supply of medicines and stores was procured, such as 
 jalap, ginger, camphor, kino, iodide of potash, calomel, lard, &c., but some of these were 
 found to be of bad quality. 
 
 At Anjar further supplies were obtained from the shipping, such as blistering fluid, sweet 
 spirits of nitre, nitre, &c. ; and at the Cape of Good Hope, when our previous supply of 
 medicines had become exhausted, especially such as were required in the treatment of dropsy, 
 one gallon tincture of digitalis, one gallon sweet spirits of nitre, sulphuric ether, laudanum, 
 jalap, ginger, nitre, acetate of potash, cream of tartar, calomel, two hundredweight chloride 
 of lime, &c. were obtained. 
 
 It is true that the medicines contained in the foregoing official list might suffice for the 
 exigencies of a voyage during which no endemic or serious disease occurred among the crew 
 or immigrants, but it is clearly altogether inadequate to the necessities of such a case as 
 occurred on board the Lord Elgin. Not merely are the quantities of the medicines insufficient,, 
 but many most essential articles of the materia medica are altogether wanting. 
 
 Reply to Question No. 2. 
 
 The long-boat was set apart at Amoy as, a hospital ; it was floored and roofed over, and 
 had curtains at each side, which could be raised at pleasure. 
 
 The long-boat could accommodate 14 patients, besides the keeper and his assistant. It 
 was but a poor substitute for an hospital, for the access to it was at the height of eight feet 
 above the deck; and the change of position caused by the tacking of the ship, a thing of 
 incessant occurrence during the first three months of the voyage, was very injurious to 
 the enfeebled sick. 
 
 Reply to Question No. 3. 
 
 A supply of water was laid in at Singapore on our outward voyage, in case any difficulty 
 might arise at Amoy in finding a sufficient supply. On the voyage from Singapore to Amoy 
 dysentery appeared among the officers and crew on board, and as the water had a most 
 offensive smell and taste, I ordered the whole of it to be rejected on our arrival at Amoy, and 
 after cleansing the casks, which were very indiff'event, had them filled with Amoy water. The 
 water at Amoy is very impure, containing a large quantity of vegetable matter and fine clay ; 
 but as we followed the custom which prevails universally in China, of boiling all the water 
 used for drinking and culinary purposes, and as it was water similar to what the immigrants 
 had been accustomed to use, I anticipated no bad results. 
 
 At Singapore all the empty water casks were filled up, I believe, to the amount of 
 25 tons. 
 
 The water supplied to the shipping at this place is very impure, containing a large quan- 
 tity of vegetable matter in a state of decomposition. Knowing the quality of the water, I 
 
 resolved 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 25 
 
 resolved to use every means in my power to prevent bad consequences. I sent on shore for B B ITI S H 
 quicklime but none could be procured; and I therefore used alum, a certain quantity of GUIANA 
 which was added in solution to each cask. 
 
 A small quantity of water of good quality was taken in at Anjar. 
 
 At the Cape of Good Hope a further supply of water was taken in; the water there is 
 from a mountain torrent, and is very pure. 
 
 I may here add that it is my opinion that change of water during voyasre is to be avoided as 
 much as possible, even although the water at first may not hava been of the very best quality. 
 
 (signed) David Shier, m.d. 
 Pin. Kitty, 3 February 1853. 
 
 --No. 7.— 
 (No. 2 1.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to His Grace the Duke of No. 7. 
 
 Newcastle. Governor Barkly to 
 
 the Duke of New- 
 Government House, 11 February 1853. castle. 
 
 (Received, 22 March 1853.) U February 1853. 
 
 My Lord Duke, (Answered, No. 48, 14 May 1863, page 115.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to submit for your Grace's consideration two Ordinances 
 passed by the Court of Policy, intituled respectively — 
 
 (No. 2 of 1853.) — "An Ordinance for regulating the rights, duties and This o,j- 
 relations of employers and servants in the colony of British Guiana." win befg"^''<'e 
 
 (No. 3 of 1863.) — "An Ordinance to repeal certain Ordinances now in ^PPeadix"^'^ ''^ the 
 force for the regulation and encouragement of immigration into this colony, ^'^^ent Pg" *^'« 
 and to make other provisions in lieu thereof," '^^^^^-.^^ '^ 
 
 together with usual Reports from the Attorney-General, Mr. Craig, upon their p. 'i^/^PP^i^ 
 provisions regarded in a legal point of view. ' ^~-~~~J- 
 
 2. It might seem at first sight that as no less than four Ordinances on the 
 subject of immigrants,— framed in the autumn of 1850, after the model of the 
 Mauritius laws sent for the purpose, and altered in the autumn of 1851, to meet 
 the objections of Earl Grey and the East India Company, — ^had come into actual 
 operation so recently as the 17th February 1852, it would have been more 
 prudent to await further e.\perience of their operation before again proceeding 
 to legislate on the subject ; but your Grace is doubiless aware that Sir John 
 Pakington, soon after he succeeded to the Colonial Department, promised the 
 West India body publicly that he would revise the laws affecting the relations 
 between employer and labourer, and as those in force in this colony had never 
 met the cordial assent of the Legislature, and were, it must be candidly admitted, 
 owing to the complexity of their details and the variety of the regulations they 
 prescribed for different classes of immigrants, little calculated to give satisfaction 
 either to the magistracy, the proprietors of estates, or the immigrants themselves, 
 I felt it my duty not to oppose a motion for a select committee, made by an elec- 
 tive member in the month of August last. 
 
 3. That committee, after a lengthened investigation, in which they were assisted 
 by replies from the stipendiary magistrates to a circular which I was requested to 
 issue, calling on those gentlemen for any observations they might wish to make 
 in regard to the working of the laws, sent in their report, of which I have the 
 honour to enclose a copy, recommending that those parts of the four Ordinances 
 regulating the Immigration Office, and the mode of introducing and indenturing 
 immigrants, should be consolidated into one ; and that all matters connected with 
 the relations between such immigrants and their employers should henceforth be 
 governed by the provisions of Ordinance No. 2* of 1848, commonly called " The 
 Master and Servant's Ordinance." 
 
 4. Two Bills were accordingly introduced, and after frequent discussions, in the 
 course of which they underwent innumerable alterations, have been matured, with 
 the unanimous concurrence of the Court, into the Ordinances now transmitted for 
 approval and confirmation. 
 
 5. "With regard to the first of these, I need add little to what the Attorney- 
 general has said. It differs little from its predecessor. No. 2* of 1848, which the 
 stipendiary magistrates, one and all, reported, after nearly five years' experience, 
 to have worked well and satisfactorily to all concerned ; and being myself respon- 
 sible 
 
 * This Ordinance will be found printed at page 489 of Papers relative to the West Indies, House 
 of Lords' Paper, No. 5250, August 1848. 
 
 g86. F 
 
26 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH sible for the principal amendments made, I have every confidence that I can show 
 G U I A N A. them to be deserving of that name. 
 
 6. The grounds on which I urged that jurisdiction should be given, in cases 
 involving less than 24 dollars (5 I) penalty, to one justice of the peace, instead of 
 to two, as proposed by the Committee, were, firstly, that it would have fettered 
 the independence and detracted from the utility of the stipendiary magistracy, on 
 whom the entire magisterial supervision of immigrant labourers has hitherto 
 devolved, and by whom nineteen-twentieths of all the other magisterial business 
 of the country is transacted, had it been rendered imperative for them to associate 
 with themselves another justice in all cases arising between employer and servant, 
 whilst to have urged an exception in their favour would have been both invidious 
 and useless ; secondly, because as the law has stood since the adaptation of the 
 11 & 12 Vict. c. 43, to our Statute Book, no appeal lies from the decision of two 
 justices where the amount is under that referred to, whereas the right of appeal to 
 the next session of the Inferior Criminal Court, now presided over by one of the 
 puisne judges, is given in till cases whatsoever decided before a single justice. 
 
 7. I am confident that the alteration in question will give much greater facilities 
 for thedue enforcement of the " Master and Servant's Ordinance," for though, since 
 the passing of Ordinance 30 of 1850,* some few magistrates, considering that it 
 repealed all pre-existing enactments of a contrary tenor, have adjudicated singly, 
 
 t See page 32. others, as will be seen from Mr.Strutt's Report,! took an opposite view ; and so much 
 inconvenience and loss of time was thereby frequently occasioned from the difficulty 
 of finding a second magistrate, that it operated as a denial of justice in the remoter 
 districts, and especially up the rivers and creeks, where gentlemen fit to hold the 
 commission of the peace are rarely to be found, and where, consequently, the 
 superintendents, going their periodical rounds have often been unable to enter- 
 tain complaints against woodcutters as to wages. 
 
 8. The second alteration of any consequence is in section 16, which is not 
 contained in the old Ordinance. The system of occupancy recognised in the 
 preceding section, by which the totally distinct questions of rent and wages are 
 confounded, has always appeared to my mind one of the most fatal errors com- 
 mitted by the planters after emancipation, and as having caused a larger number 
 of labourers to quit their habitations on the estates than would have dreamt of 
 going if house rent had at once been established upon a fair and independent 
 basis ; but as the planters were not alone to blame for the introduction of so bad 
 a system ; as it still prevails more or less in most of the West India colonies, and 
 is, no doubt, occasionally of service in the few districts of this colony where it still 
 prevails, in securing industry, I did not feel justified in pressing for an alteration, 
 or in opposing the fixing a maximum rent of 16 cents a day where no sum was 
 stipulated on entry, in lieu of leaving the amount, as heretofore, an open question, 
 to be decided by two justices. 
 
 9. Seeing, however, how many unfortunate disputes on the subject came bef6re 
 me, and how generally suspicion fell in the case of those incendiarj'^ fires M'hich 
 still occasionally occur in the megass logies (barns for fuel) upon some labourer, 
 recently ejected in a summary manner from his cottage, owing to a quarrel with 
 the manager of the estate, I felt it to be of the utmost importance, for the welfare 
 of society, to interpose in every instance such a delay as would give the latter time 
 to recover his temper, often, it must be confessed, tried beyond all bounds of 
 endurance, and afford the former a speedy and simple remedy against undue pre- 
 cipitancy or illegal stretches of authority in the mode of his ejectment, should it 
 be irrevocably determined on. 
 
 10. It must not be inferred that the law as it stood heretofore offered no redress ; 
 for though the case has never been tried, I entertain no doubt, that unless the 
 impUed contract between the labourer and employer had lapsed on due notice, or 
 been cancelled on account of misconduct by a magistrate, the labourer could not 
 have been lawfully dispossessed of his tenancy without the notice required to be 
 given by Ordinance No. 31 of 1846, " for facilitating the recovery of possession 
 of tenements after due determination of the tenancy ;" but in practice, nevertheless, 
 the right to bring a civil action against the party ejecting him, generally the head- 
 man of the estate, acting on a verbal order from the manager to break open the 
 door, and throw out the property on the dam (anglic^ "roadside"), was equivalent 
 to a denial of justice to an ignorant man, destitute of the means of retaining counsel, 
 and lead, there is too much reason to fear, to the mode of revenge above alluded 
 
 _^___^__ to, 
 
 * See page 593 of House of Commons' Paper relative to " British Guiana," No. 624, of 1 AiigastiSsi . 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 27 
 
 to, which generally had the anticipated result of depriving the manager of his BRITISH 
 situation. GUIANA. 
 
 11. I congratulate myself and the colony, therefore, on having obtained the 
 consent of the Court of Policy to section 16, which requires an interval of three 
 days to elapse, after a formal application to a justice of the peace, before a warrant 
 of ejectment can be obtained, and gives the labourer the easy remedy of com 
 plaining to the justice of any breach of these regulations, which can be enforced 
 by a penalty of 24 dollars upon the manager. 
 
 12. Turning next to Ordinance No. 3, I am afraid that I must enter at some 
 length upon a review of the sections which relate to immigrants introduced into 
 the colony from Her Majesty's possessions In the East Indies, as they vary ma- 
 terially from the provisions of the previous Ordinance specially enacted on the 
 subject, No. 21 of 1851*, " An Ordinance further to regulate and encourage the * Page 164. 
 immigration of coolies." 
 
 13. The very fact, indeed, of subjecting coolies to the ordinary law of master 
 and servant, as already explained, constituted an important departure from the 
 previous system. Whether the Honourable East India Company will object to 
 such a measure, I know not, but I would beg most respectfully to submit this 
 general argument in its favour, without reference at all to the obvious advantages 
 of simplicity and uniformity in such matters ; viz., that nothing can be more cal- 
 culated to shake the confidence of the lower orders of this country in the equal 
 administration of justice to all persons^ irrespective of rank or complexion, than 
 the infliction of one degree of punishment for the same offence committed by a 
 coolie, another when by a Portuguese, a third if committed by a native of the 
 colony ; and yet this strange spectacle has been exhibited for some years past. 
 
 Thus, for example, Ordinance 21 of 1851*, section 24, altered on the suggestion * Page 167. 
 
 of the East India Company, subjects a coolie to a fine of 2d. a day for breach 
 
 of contract ; no mode whatever of recovering even this trifling sum where no 
 
 wages are due being provided. Ordinance 20* of 1851, section 28, imposes on * Page 158. 
 
 all other immigrants than coolies for a similar default, a penalty equal to two days' 
 
 wages (say 2s. 8d. at the least), and enjoins imprisonment for two days, with hard 
 
 labour, if such penalty be not paid. Lastly, Ordinance 2 of 1848, section 2, 
 
 leaves it to the discretion of the justices, where Creole labourers are concerned, to 
 
 fine to any extent not exceeding 5 /., or to imprison for any time not exceeding 
 
 30 days. Such seeming partiality towards their competitors in the labour market, 
 
 aggravated, as it appears to them to be, by the payment of a bonus of 50 dollars 
 
 to the coolies at the end of their term of service, has been frequently and loudly 
 
 inveighed against by the emancipated negroes, and it is more than probable that 
 
 it has had not a little to do with their extensive secession from plantation work. 
 
 14. As the coolies are quite as intelligent in regard to their rights and duties 
 as the negroes,, as they are equally protected from injustice by the stipendiary 
 magistracy, and are able to earn very large sums of money by moderate industry, 
 as proved by their ovra declarations on their return to India, I trust your Grace 
 will see no reasons why they should not in future be rendered liable to the same 
 legal obligations as have for years past, with Her Majesty's sanction, been imposed 
 upon other British subjects resident in this colony. 
 
 15. Ordinance 3 of 1853 proceeds further to abolish, agreeably to the recom- 
 mendation of the committee of the Court of Policy, the monthly sums payable 
 under 21 of 1851, by any coolie not under indentures, requiring however in 
 return a practical proof of his having fulfilled the condition of industrial residence 
 upon which his claim to a free passage back to India depends, by payment of the 
 annual sum exigible by law for house rent and medical attendance from aU 
 immigrants working at the current rate of wages, ' towards the fund for providing 
 back passages. 
 
 16. I do not imagine that the directors of the East India Company will object 
 to this modification, as they have always strongly opposed the imposition of these 
 monthly sums, and though they urged Earl Grey to disallow Ordinance 24 of 
 1850, by which the Court of Policy endeavoured to throw a portion of the cost 
 of his back passage upon the coolie," they did not, as his Lordship observed upon 
 the occasion, do so upon the ground that the principle was an unfair one, but 
 sijnply because the deduction proposed, viz. six dollars per annum, amounted, 
 with the deduction of nine dollars for house rent and medical attendance, to 15 
 dollars, which appeared to them a larger sum than the immigrant ought to be 
 
 086. ^2 called 
 
G U I A N A. 
 
 28 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 i^u i^^v ^ called on to pay, if he were to be expected to carrj back any portion of his earn- 
 ings to India. 
 
 1 7. As the total contribution now suggested consists of the nine dollars a year 
 which the employer is now authorised to exact ; as it is to be payable by the 
 coolie solely in the event of his deciding on returning to India, and at his option 
 either monthly or in a lump sum ; as the arrangement, moreover, with regard to 
 those already in the colony, is to take effect prospectively, that is to say, that the 
 coolie who has been here three years will receive his back passage on paying 
 nine dollars in each of the two remaining years of his engagement, escaping the 
 necessity of proving industrial residence for the time of his residence ; I hardly 
 think a more equitable plan could have been devised. 
 
 18. I did indeed suggest to the gentleman by whom this section was intro- 
 duced, that a compulsory deduction from the wages of all coolies, for which the 
 employer could beheld responsible, would be preferable to his plan, as less trouble- 
 some to collect, and more nearly in accordance with the course suggested by Earl 
 Grey in the despatch already alluded to ; but he adduced such strong arguments 
 to prove that the attempt to make the employer of labour, in the present state of 
 this country, a collector of taxes for the State was impolitic, as creating a 
 feeling of fresh antagonism on the part of the labourer, and as tending to promote 
 wandering and idleness, with a view of evasion, that I yielded to the unanimous 
 opinion of the elective section. 
 
 19. It is necessary to add that section 53 provides that section 30, by which 
 this new arrangement, in regard to back passages is to be made, shall not take 
 effect before the 30th June next, so that there will be sufficient time for your 
 Grace to communicate your decision on the subject. 
 
 20. Section 31, it will be seen, contemplates the extension, with the per- 
 mission of Her Majesty's Government, of the term for which the natives of India 
 are, now allowed to engage themselves in this colony from five years to ten ; a 
 result ardently hoped for by the colonists, from the confidence they entertain in 
 the highly favourable nature of the report to be sent in by Mr. Caird. As it is 
 understood that the directors have at length agreed to allow their subjects the 
 privilege of emigrating to the Mauritius without any stipulation whatever for a 
 back passage, I trust that this less sweeping alteration of allowing them to come 
 here for ten, or at any rate eight years, will not be denied us. 
 
 21. Section 32 provides that in such case the sum to be contributed towards 
 the back passage shall not exceed in the whole 45 dollars, or at the rate of 
 4^ dollars per annum for 10 years, a sum, there is no doubt, much more likely to 
 be contributed by the generality of coolies than nine dollars, which would form a 
 very considerable proportion of the wages which many of them are now content 
 to earn, and on that account has indeed been irregularly, if at all, deducted by 
 their employers, for house rent and medical attendance. 
 
 22. Sections 33 and 34 were introduced to remove doubts which had arisen as 
 to whether parties employing such coolies as had accepted the bonus of fifty dollars 
 for entering upon a renewed term of industrial residence, were bound to pay 
 contract duty and to keep up proper hospitals, precisely as if those coolies had 
 been new immigrants introduced at the expense of the colony. Equity of course 
 required that it should be so, but in several instances the letter of the law was 
 pleaded, and coolies were actually urged not to enter, as they were disposed to do, 
 into written contracts with their old employers, but to go to the estates of parties 
 who were anxious to get them unindentured, for the purpose of evading the 
 requirements of the Ordinances. 
 
 23. I have now completed my explanations of that part of Ordinance No. 3 
 of 1853 which relates to coolies, and as they have necessarily been of a lengthened 
 description, I am unwilling to prolong this despatch by adverting to changes of 
 less moment in regard to other classes of immigrants, but it is my duty not to 
 omit pointing out that section 40 extends the contract permitted with liberated 
 Africans to three years, as sanctioned in Sir John Pakington's circular* of 3d 
 (October ; and I may add that I have succeeded, in section 41, in obtaining better 
 security for the religious instruction and education of such immigrants than has 
 hitherto existed, and I think that with the inducements held out by the Colonial 
 Board of Education to schoolmasters willing to co-operate to this end, there is little 
 risk of these essentials being neglected in future, even where proprietors of estates 
 or their representatives are of themselves unmindful of their obligations, which 
 I am bound to say is not often the case. 
 24. The 
 
 * See page 231 of House of Commons' Paper, No. 936, 16 August 1853,^' Trinidad." 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 29 
 
 24. The remaining provisions of the Ordinance are traceable, with such addi- BRITISH 
 lions or variations as experience has suggested, to some one or other of those GUIANA. 
 ■which have preceded it, the general machinery for conducting immigration 
 remaining, so far as I remember, entirely unaltered. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 7- 
 
 Sir, Attorney General's Office, 9 February 1853. End. i, in No. 7. 
 
 I HAVE tlie honour to report upon Ordinance No. 2, of the year 1853, intituled, " An 
 Ordinance for regulating the rights, duties, and relations of employer and servants in the 
 Colony of British Guiana." 
 
 This Ordinance has been framed in acccndance with the views of a committee of the elec- 
 tive section of the Court of Policy, and only differs from the old law upon this subject in 
 the following particulars. This Ordinance is made to apply to all classes of immigrants ; 
 jurisdiction is given to one justice of the peace instead of two, except in cases where the 
 amount of penalty requires a second magistrate ; and all complaints between " employers 
 and servants" are to be heard and determined in conformity with the rules laid down in 
 Ordinance No. 30, of the year 1850, the provisions of which have been taken from the 
 11 &; 12 Vict. c. 43, and a right of appeal to a superior tribunal is also given, which will 
 remove the objections which were formerly made to the authority of a single magistrate. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Robert R. Craig, 
 To His Excellency the Governor. Attorney General. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 7- 
 
 Sir, Attorney General's Office, 9 February 1853. Encl. 2 in No. 7. 
 
 I have the honour to report upon Ordinance No. 3 of 1853, intituled, " An Ordinance to 
 repeal certain Ordinances, now in force, for the regulation and encouragement of immigration 
 into this Colony, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof." 
 
 The object of this law, as expressed in the preamble, is to consolidate into one Ordinance 
 the provisions of the several Ordinances in force for the regulation and encouragement of 
 immigration into British Guiana, and for providing general regulations for immigrants intro- 
 <luced or to be introduced into the colony. 
 
 This course was suggested by a committee of the elective section of the Court of Policy, 
 and a material alteration has been made in reference to the provision for the payment of back 
 passages of coolies to the East Indies, a change which must await the decision of Her 
 Majesty's Government, as provided by the clause (No. 53) in which it has been introduced. 
 
 The general provisions of this Ordinance have been made to apply, as far as practicable, 
 -solely to the regulations to be observed in respect to the introduction of immigrants ; Ordi- 
 nance No. 2 of 1853, (the Master and Servant's Ordinance) however, makes ample provision 
 for the protection of the immigrants, in reference to any complaints or misunderstandings 
 which may occur between them and their employers. 
 
 I do not consider it necessary to enlarge upon the matters embraced in this Ordinance, as 
 no doubt anything which 1 could offer upon immigration generally will have been antici- 
 pated by your Excellency in your despatch to the Secretary of State upon the subject. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Robert R. Craig, 
 To His Excellency the Governor. Attorney General. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 7- 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Honourable Court of Policy of the End. 3, in No. 7- 
 Colony of British Guiana, at its Adjourned Assembly held at the Guiana Public Buildings, 
 Georgetown, Demerara, Friday, 26 November 1853. 
 
 [After prayers.] 
 His Excellency the Governor laid over the report of the committee of revision of the 
 Immigration Ordinances, and the same being read, 
 
 F. I. 
 
 It was ordered that his Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested to instruct the 
 Attorney-general to prepare and bring in the bills required to carry out the views of the 
 
 ■committee. 
 
 (True extract.) 
 
 (signed) W. Walker, Sec. 
 
 586. F 3 
 
 TO 
 
30 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 British 
 
 G U I A N V "^^ ^'® Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor, &c. &c. &c., and the Honourable 
 ' ' the Court of PoUcy of British Guiana. 
 
 The Report of the Committee appointed by your Honourable Court to " revise the 
 Immigration Ordinances," and for consolidating the Laws relating to " Masters and 
 Servants." 
 
 Respectfully shewetb, 
 That your reporters, after due consideration, have come to the conclusion of strongly 
 recommending to your Honourable Court to consolidate all the lavi^s merely regulating the 
 mode and manner in which the immigration of all labourers is to be effected and conducted 
 into one Ordinance, and that such Ordinance shall be exclusively confined to matters of 
 regulation, such as the amount of bounty to be paid, the conditions necessary to, insure a 
 back passage, the appointment of all officers connected with the business of immigration, 
 their duties and emoluments, the regulation of contracts of indenture, the allotment of 
 immigrants, and stipulations to ensure their medical care and treatment, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 That your reporters further earnestly recommend to your Honourable Court the adoption 
 of the Draft Ordinance herewith attached, and respectfully submitted by your committee, as 
 the only Ordinance hereafter to regulate all matters relating to " the rights, duties, and 
 relations of employers and servants," under the jurisdiction of the stipendiary and other 
 magistrates throughout the colony, premising that this Draft Ordinance is principally taken 
 from Ordinance No. 2 of 1848, which your committee respectfully submits is the best 
 Ordinance on the subject ever published in this colony, and has given by far the most 
 general satisfaction in its working to all the parties concerned. 
 
 That your reporters are well aware that the attempts made for the collection of monthly 
 Pao-e 164.. sums from the coolie immigrants, under Ordinance No. 21* of 1851, have given rise to 
 
 general dissatisfaction and discontent among these people, as well as disapprobation among 
 the planters ; they would therefore recommend to your Honourable Court to abolish that 
 tax on non-indentured coolies, and to do away with the distinction made in that Ordinance 
 between new and old coohes ; and that, in lieu thereof, it should be enacted, that all coolies 
 brought here at the expense of the colony shall, on their arrival, be indentured to some 
 estate or plantation for a period of not less than five years ; and that all coolies now here, 
 and whose first period of service has expired^ and who have not renewed their indentures to 
 some estate or plantation, shall be bound to do so, within such period as your Honourable 
 Court may appoint, for a period of five years from the termination of their last indentures, 
 and on their failing to do so, that they shall forfeit their right to a back passage at the 
 expense of the colony ; but they shall have the right to a back passage by paying in to the 
 Receiver-general's ofiice a sum of 50 dollars, within such time as your Honourable Court 
 may appoint, and after such prescribed residence in the colony as your Honourable Court 
 may consider reasonable. 
 
 That your reporters take leave to bring, under the notice of your Honourable, Court, the 
 difficulty experienced by the magistracy in defining specifically what is meant -by the words 
 " industrial residence " in the Imjnigration Ordinances, and in order to prevent any miscon- 
 struction of these words, your reporters respectfully submit th,e necessity to, have it defined 
 in any fajther, Ordinance on the subject what nuxaher of days' labour in every year is to be; 
 considered as " an industrial residence." 
 
 In conclusion, , your reporters beg respectfully to state their clear conviction, that the 
 distinct separation by only two Ordinances between all matters of mere regulation in the 
 details of immigration, or connected therewith, and the judicial business relating to the 
 "rights, duties, and relations" of employers and servants, will much simplify what has 
 hitherto been considered somewhat complicated, and will tend greatly to a better under- 
 standing of the law, besides saving much trouble and confusion to the magistracy. 
 
 All which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 By request of the Committee, 
 
 (signed) A. MacRae, 
 Georgetown, 25 November 1852. Chairman. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) W. Walker, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Sir, GuiEiina Public Buildings, 15 October 1852. 
 
 The committee appointed to revise the Immigration Ordinances, before proceeding in their 
 revision, respectfully request that the Governor will be pleased to order the various stipen- 
 diary magistrates to report to his Excellency any objections which they may have to offer to. 
 
 any 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 31 
 
 any of the clauses in the said Ordinances now in force, as well as relating to the Master B RITIS H 
 and Servant's Ordinance, in order that the same may be laid before the committee, for their GUIANA, 
 guidance in drawing up a final report. 
 
 By order of the Committee, 
 
 (signed) J., ii/ac 22 w, Chairman. 
 
 The Honourable William Walker, 
 Government Secretary, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 (A trae copy) 
 
 (signed) J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 10 February 1853. A. Gov. Sec. 
 
 [These reports being very voluminous, only two have been selected, as coming from magis- 
 trates of considerable experience ; the one from the county of Demerai-a, and the other 
 from Berbice.] 
 
 Stipendiary Magistrate's Office, District (D.), 
 Sir. 15 November 1852. 
 
 In comphance with the request contained in your communication, No. 737, dated 15th 
 October 1852, in reference to the revision of the Master and Servant, as well as to 
 the Immigration Ordinances, I would respectfully observe, that with the exception of a 
 few clauses in the first-named Ordinance, which seem to tije might be omitted, I do not 
 consider that this Ordinance requires any amendment, as its provisions are sufficiently 
 stringent and equitable, if the true intent and meaning of them are carried into effect. 
 The clauses 1 have alluded to in the Master and Servant Ordinance, viz., 12, 17, 23, 26, 27* 
 form part of the present Immigration Ordinances, and of Ordinance No. 30, 1850, and., 
 merely refer to tiie mode of recovering penalties, and to contracts of services entered into 
 elsewhere than in the colony, and to their duiations, all of which is provided for by the 
 existing Immigration Ordinances. 
 
 With reference to the Immigration Ordinances, which the magistrates have had so much 
 difficulty in putting into anything like practical operation, I would observe that Ordinance 
 20, 1851, embodies all that is necessary for the introduction of immigrants, and those clauses 
 which bear upon these points mi^ht remain as they are ; but the tax imposed under this 
 and the Coolie Ordinance appears to me objectionable and should be abolished, as inde- 
 pendent of the great difficulty of collecting ihe tax, the imposition of it is likely to lead 
 to dissatisfaction amongst those liable for the payment of it. 
 
 Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, of the Coolie Ordinance, have reference to the 
 payment of monthly sums, and to the mode in which they are lo be recovered; those sums, 
 as I before stated, should be done away with, and every coolie or immigrant brought to the 
 colony at the public expense should be compelled to enter into a contiact for a certain 
 number of years to serve some planter; and should a return passage be one of the 
 stipulations, he should be required, at the expiration of his indenture, to adduce satis- 
 factory proof I hat his residence in the colony has been an industrial one, otherwise he 
 should forfeit his right to the option of being sent back to the country from whence he 
 came, or lo the pecuriiary consideration now given for a protracted sojourn in the colony. 
 
 Another difficulty the magistrates have had to contend with, is not having been able to 
 enforce the contracts entered into by the coolies, owing to the leniency of punishment 
 for desertion prescribed under the Coolie Ordinance. This is an evil which has been 
 seriously felt, and has led to habits of indolence and wandering. 
 
 To remedy this state of things, I would suggest that any irnmigrant, without reference 
 to class, who should be guilty of any violation of contract, or committing any of the 
 offences set forth in the Master and Servant Ordinance (No. 2, 1848), should be amenable 
 in the same manner as any labourer not under a written obligation to serve who might 
 render himself liable to punishment for any infraction of this Ordinance. 
 
 I would further suggest that it would be an advantage if the Master and Servant and 
 Immigration Ordinances, as far as relates to the respective obligations of employer and 
 employed, as well as to the enforcement of the contracts, were consolidated, and that 
 one [general law, based upon these Ordinances, enacted, as it would tend to facilitate 
 the performance of the duties of the magistrates appointed to carry its provisions into 
 operation. 
 
 These few suec^estions, though imperfectly drawn up, appear to me to be sufficient to 
 make tiie indentured labourer more industrious than he has been, without rendering his 
 contract oppressive or unfair. 
 
 I have, fee. 
 
 The Hon. William Walker, (signed) Walter Howard Ware, &.^. 
 
 &c. &.C. &c. 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) W. Walker, Secretary. 
 
 986. F 4 Stipendiary 
 
32 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Stipendiary Magistrate's Office, District (D.), 
 
 GUIANA. Sir. 29 September 1852. 
 
 My attention of late has been drawn to the expense and trouble the employer of coolie 
 
 immigrants is subject to, in consequence of the leniency of punishment laid down in section 
 24, Ordinance 21, 1851. 
 
 By this section of the Ordinance it appears that any coolie under indenture absenting 
 himself from the service of his employer, without reasonable cause, shall forfeit the sum of 
 four cents for each absent day, but the Ordinance is silent as to the mode in which this 
 forfeiture is to be recovered, the only presumption being that it is to be deducted from any 
 wages due or accruing to the coolie. 
 
 In many instances recently brought to my notice, a coolie to whom no wages were due has 
 left the estate to which he is legally bound, and has proceeded to another district, and after 
 some expense has been incurred by his employer in apprehending him is brought before the 
 stipendiary magistrate. The magistrate, whose hands are in a measure tied, has only the 
 power to direct a certain sum for the absent period to be paid by the coolie, and his return 
 to the service of his employer. 
 
 A few days after the return to the estate he again absconds, and the employer is put to 
 the same trouble and expense as before in bringing him back, and the magistrate, whose 
 interference a second time is invoked, can merely repeat his previous order. 
 
 The irregular state of things has in one or two instances led to Ihe employers becoming 
 indifferent to the return of his labourer, as he very justly observes, that this line of conduct 
 may be pursued by the immigrant over and over again, unless effective means are adopted 
 to prevent its repetition. 
 
 In order to remedy this evil, I would respectfully propose, that as the Coolie Immigration 
 Ordinance is, I understand, about to undergo revision, that the coolie who absents himself 
 from the service of his employer, without reasonable cause, should be liable to the same 
 pains and penalties as other immigrants, as set forth in section 28, Ordinance 20, 1851, and 
 that the period of imprisonment, should he undergo any in default of payment of the penalty, 
 as well as the time he may be absent, shall not count as part of his industrial residence. 
 
 I will thank you to lay this communication before his Excellency the Governor. 
 
 I have, &c.. 
 The Honourable William Walker, (signed) Walter U. Ware, s.m. 
 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 W. Walker, Secretary. 
 
 Office of the Pro Sheriff, New Amsterdam, 
 Sir, ,20 October 1852. 
 
 I HAVE had the honour to receive your circular of the 15th instant, on the subject of the 
 Immigration Ordinances, and in reply beg respectfully to state that these Ordinances have 
 been in operation for so short a time, their practical working so little tested, and matters 
 upon the whole proceeding in my district so well under them, that I am not at present 
 prepared to offer any lengthened suggestions with a view to their amendment. 
 
 Many of the clauses are, I admit, complicated, and some very stringent, but a prudent 
 magistrate in carrying them into effect, will bear in mind that the object of these laws is to 
 keep united the bonds which exist between master and servant, and not to sever them, and 
 to promote the advantage of both ; he will, therefore, always so regulate his decisions, that 
 any seeming contradiction may be easily cleared up, and any unnecessary severity of punish- 
 ment avoided. 
 
 The only alterations that at present occur to me to be necessary, I have annexed. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Honourable Willliam Walker, (signed) C. H. Strutt, s. j, p. 
 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 (True copy. 
 
 (signed) William Walker, Secretary. 
 
 1. Ordinance No. 20, 1851.— Section 27 gives no discretionary power to the magistrate. If 
 a case be made out, under this clause he must impose a penalty of 23 dollars, with costs.. 
 This might be altered advantageously. 
 
 2. Masters and Servants' Ordinance, 2, 1848. — The jurisdiction under this Ordinance 
 might with safety be vested in one justice instead of being confined to two, as at present, 
 much inconvenience and loss of time frequently occurring from the difficulty of obtaining a 
 second justice. This point might be the more readily conceded, as under Ordinance 30 
 anno 1850, an appeal lies against the decision of any one justice, and this circumstance will 
 always tend to keep things right. 
 
 — No. 8. — 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 33 
 
 _^-o. 8.— BRITISH 
 
 (No. 24.) -'"••''• GUIANA. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from CJovernor Barkly to His Grace the 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. No. 8. 
 
 Governor Barkly 
 Government House, 11 February 1853. to the Duke of 
 My Lord Duke, (Received, 22 March 1853.) Newcastle. 
 
 By the passing of Ordinance No. 3 of 1853,* reported on in my despatch of this "£ AppJndfx/' 
 date, No. 21, the several proclamations fixing rates of bounty for the introduction p. j^^, 
 of immigrants from various ports were rendered null and void, Ordinance 22f of t See Appendix, 
 1851, under which they were issued, being therein repealed ; and it became neces- P- ^^9- 
 sary, therefoi'e, to publish a fresh proclamation, of which I have now the honour 
 to enclose copies. 
 
 No alteration has been made, except as regards the reduced bounty on Chinese 
 immigrants, which is to be withdrawn altogether, as far as the public generally is 
 concerned, after the 31st of July next ; the immigration from China being con- 
 ducted after that date solely in vessels specially chartered for the service by the 
 agent, Mr. White, or by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 I am glad that the Court of Policy thus at length concurred in my recommen- 
 dations on this subject, which I am confident will obviate, as I pointed out in my 
 despatch of 24th ult., No, 8,:j: most of the evils which experience has too clearly j Page 9. 
 shown to result from leaving such a service to so-called private enterprise. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 8. 
 
 West Indies. — British Guiana. 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 By his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over End. in No. 8. 
 the Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the same, &c. Sec. Stc. 
 
 By virtue of the power and autiiority vested in me, Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor of 
 the colony of British Guiana, by Ordinance No. 3, of the year 1853, intituled, " An 
 Ordinance to repeal certain Ordinances now in force for the regulation and encouragement 
 of immigration into this colony, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof :" 
 
 And in pursuance of a resolution of the Honourable the Court of Policy of the 31st 
 January 18.03 : 
 
 1 do, by this my proclamation, name tne ports or places from whicli immigrants may be 
 introduced into this colony, and the rates of bounties to be allowed for such introduction of 
 immigrants, under and subject to the provisions of said Ordinance, to be as follows : — 
 
 Names of ports or places from which immigrants may be introduced into the colony, and 
 rates of bounties allowed for the introduction of immigrants : 
 
 S- 
 
 Madeira . - - - - 
 Azores or Western Islands - 
 Canary and Cape de Verd Islands 
 Curacoa - - - - - 
 Margarita and Spanish Main 
 
 St. Helena i 25 
 
 Sierra Leone ----------- 125 
 
 Brazil- -, ' - - - - I 25 
 
 Havanna ------------jSO 
 
 United States of America and British North America - - - - j 30 
 
 China or Chinese from any port east of Point de Galle in Ceylon, imported | 
 
 on board any vessel which shall clear for this colony prior to the 31st day 
 
 of March 1853 .-- 
 
 China or Chinese from any port east of Point de Galle m Ceylon, imported 
 
 on board any vessel which shall clear for this colony between the 31st 
 
 day of March and tlie 31st day of July 1853 (at which latter date all 
 
 bounty will cease, except in vessels chartered on account of the colony) - 
 
 Given under my hand and seal of office, at the Guiana Public Buildings, in Georgetown, 
 Demerary, this 2d day of February 1853, and in the 16th year of Her Majesty' reign. 
 
 God save the Queen ! 
 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 
 William Walker, 
 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 986. ~G - ^'°- ^•~ 
 
 25 
 26 
 25 
 20 
 20 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
34 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 No. 9. 
 Governor Barkly 
 to the Duke of 
 Newcastle. 
 26 February 1853. 
 
 Despatch of 
 34 Jan., No. 8. 
 Page 9. 
 
 Enclosure, No. 1. 
 
 /VT <^^^ — No. 9. — 
 
 (No. 32.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor BarUy to His Grace the 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 Government House, 26 February 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, ' (Received, 4 April 1853.) 
 
 In reporting the arrival of the " Glentanner" and " Lord Elgin" with the first 
 Chinese immigrants ever brought to this colony, I reserved the expression of any 
 deliberate opinion as to their comparative efficiency as agricultural labourers until 
 I should have longer and better opportunities for inquiry and observation. 
 
 2. 1 have accordingly since availed myself of every means at my command to 
 ascertain the views of medical men as to their constitutions, of magistrates as to 
 the docility of their dispositions, and of planters as to their habits of industry ; 
 and having spent a day in visiting the plantations on which they are located, 
 inspecting the healthy in their cottages, the sick in the hospitals, and having 
 gone through the pay lists to see the amount of their earnings during the few 
 weeks of their residence, I am happy to state that I feel myself justified in con- 
 firming the somewhat sanguine impression which I have from the first commu- 
 nicated to Her Majesty's Government, of the probable value and importance of this 
 new source of future immigration to British Guiana. 
 
 3. Debilitated by -sickness and privation during their tedious voyage hither^ as 
 were most of the immigrants alluded to, it might have been anticipated that they 
 would prove peculiarly susceptible of the intermittent fever and ague so common 
 in this country, or even of the epidemic fever, whieh still continues its ravages 
 among those of European origin newly arrived ; but the report of the surgeon- 
 general shows that out of 29 invalids admitted oh arrival to the public hospital, a 
 single case of each tjpe has alone been exhibited ; whilst the recovery of the man 
 who caught the yellow fever, who ag yet forms the solitary exception to the three 
 hundred and odd other immigrants, corroborates, as Dr. Blair observes, the idea, 
 that the vital organisiil of the Chinese is exceedingly strong. His estimate that 
 double the mortality would have occurred among Africans or coolies exposed to 
 equal hardships, was more than confirmed to me by the opinions of the medical 
 men who have attended those Who were sent to the estates on the other side of 
 the River Demerara; one and all the managers, moreover, agreeing that the 
 proportion of the whole who had complained in any way of sickness was not half 
 what it usually was during the first month or two of the acclimatisation even of 
 Calcutta cooHes. 
 
 4. Although, therefore, Dr. Blair's concluding remarks as to selecting Chinese 
 immigrants from such districts of that vast empire as most closely resemble this 
 country in climate and geology, are worthy of atteatioli, there does not appear to 
 be much danger in continuing the present immigration from " Amoy, whilst it 
 must not be forgotten than a change from that extra-tropical and hilly locality 
 to the banks of the river on which Canton is situated, south, of the tropic line, 
 would materially complicate and enhance the difiiculties arising from the want of 
 interpreters, the natives of these two places being unintelligible to each other in 
 conversation, from their different mode of pronunciation, though using a common 
 language, and writing the words precisely in the same way. 
 
 5. In regard to the second point — the tractability of Chinese labourers; — much 
 difl^erence of opinion prevails among those who have had the best opportunities of 
 judging. The Dutch government in Java, down to the most recent period, have been 
 engaged in sanguinary struggles with the Chinese settlers in that island. The Mau- 
 ritius planters were very glad to be quit of the party introduced there a few years ago; 
 the captainsof the vessels employed in transporting them displaytrepidation g,ndalarm. 
 
 On the other hand, Dr. Bowring, acting superintendent of trade in China, who 
 has been so obhging as to communicate his views on the sulgect of this immigra- 
 tion under cover of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, represents them " as 
 of all people in the world most easily managedj if managed according to their ovra 
 habits, education, and usages ; but not to be safely dealt with by any despotigqi 
 ignorant of their thoughts and feelings." 
 
 6. Probably the last clause explains the cause of the failures and even terrible 
 catastrophes known to have occurred, but it hardly can sufiKce to relieve me from 
 anxiety in regard to the preservation of order among a people, of whom we cannot 
 possibly expect to acquire a competent knowledge for several years to come. My 
 best exertions will of course be directed, however, to the study of the Chinese 
 
 charabter. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 35 
 
 character, with a view to conducting this experiment to a successful issue; and BRITISH 
 I am the more sanguine as to the practicability of managing them from an ^t U lA^N A. 
 occurrence which at first inclined me to come to an opposite conclusion. 
 
 7. This occurrence was brought to my notice by a report from the stipendiary 
 magistrate of the district, Mr. Ware, who informed me that a serious affray had 
 taken place between the Chinese immigrants located on plantation " Blankenburg," 
 and the emancipated negroes inhabiting the adjacent freehold village of " Den 
 Amstell," and that he was greatly at a loss how to conduct the proceedings, upon 
 a charge brought in consequence against six of the former who had been taken 
 into custody by the police, owing to the want of any interpreter competent to 
 translate the evidence from English into Chinese, or vice versa, the best of the 
 number yet arrived scarcely comprehending the commonest sentence in the 
 former language. 
 
 8. Convinced of the necessity of nipping such quarrels in the bud, I at once 
 determined to repair to the spot, and be present with as much official display as 
 was convenient at Mr. Ware's investigation, to facilitate which I requested the 
 attendance of Dr. David Shier, who had accompanied these Chinese as surgeon to 
 the " Lord Elgin," and who understands their language when spoken, <though not 
 himself able to converse fluently in it. 
 
 9. A very painstaking and searching inquiry accordingly took place in my 
 presence, with the details of which I will not trouble your Grace any further than 
 to mention, that as it appeared clear that the conduct of the Chinese, after the 
 first dispute between one of their number and one of the villagers, which it seemed 
 probable originated in their ignorance of each other's intentions and language, had 
 been marked by great violence, and a formidable spirit of combination, which but 
 for the presence of mind of the manager of the plantation, and the firmness of three 
 policemen, whom he summoned to his aid from the nearest. station, must have led 
 to bloodshed, the six ringleaders were sentenced to a month's hard labour each in 
 Georgetown gaol. 
 
 10. My object, however, is rather to advert to the great deference to constituted 
 authority, exhibited by the Chinese throughout these transactions, 30 or 40 of 
 them, in the first instance, laying down their weapons, and allowing a part of their 
 number to be arrested, by a few unarmed policemen of the very race and colour 
 for which they had previously shown such extreme contempt as to attack, at least, 
 600 arrayed for the defence of the village, whilst the orderliness of their behaviour 
 was even more sti^ngly shown on the occasion of my visit ; as large a number as 
 the room in which the inquiry was held would accommodate being admitted, and 
 listening with grave attention to the evidence p7^o and con, as translated into 
 Chinese, or repeating it from time to time to their countrymen who surrounded 
 the house. Finally, though the six men convicted were conducted back for th^ 
 night to the station-house, and marched publicly along the high road next day to 
 gaol, under the escort of the same three policemen, not the least sign of turbulence 
 was manifested. 
 
 11. I am encouraged to hope, therefore, that this example will prevent any 
 further disturbance of the public peace, particularly as I endeavoured to explain to 
 them the proper mode of obtaining redress for any grievance they might suppose 
 themselves suffering under, and also enjoined upon the negroes patience and 
 forbearance towards them, which was readily promised, accompanied by an assurance 
 that they considered them more " respectable " than the Indian coolies, and should 
 be glad to live on good terms with them. 
 
 12. With respect to the remaining point, their efficiency in labour, it might 
 almost suffice to say that the six set to break stones within the goal, accomplish a 
 far larger amount of work in the allotted hours than has ever previously been got 
 out of either negroes, Portuguese, or coolies ; but I can also bear personal testimony 
 to the general approbation expressed of them as labourers in sugar cultivation by 
 all the planters who have yet had to do with them, corroborated by the material fact 
 of the large earnings to which they had entitled themselves in addition to their 
 
 keep. 
 
 13. Their houses were a model of cleanliness and comfort, and they were 
 described to me as distinguished by singular decorum and good breeding in their 
 deportment towards each other, never beginning their meals until all were ready, 
 and then dividing the food given them into equal portions before any one 
 commenced eating. They display their imitative tendencies in a most extraor- 
 dinarv way, several of them having attended a neighbouring missionary chapel on the 
 
 Q<{(^^ G 2 Sabbath, 
 
36 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 G U I A N A Sabbath, and gone througb the whole service as if they understood it, kneeling, 
 " sitting, or standing with the rest of the congregation. They have likewise pur- 
 chased already several articles of European attire, and seem disposed, unlike the 
 natives of India, to spend their money very freely in such things, or even in mere 
 luxuries and dainties. 
 
 1 4. On the whole I am so strongly convinced that the Chinese possess the 
 energy and intelligence attributed to them, joined vdth a power of enduring the 
 rays of the tropical sun, which the natives of Madeira, who have done so much 
 towards the prosperity and progress of society in this colony, can unfortunately 
 never be said to attain, or we should not have to go further for a suitable popu- 
 lation, that I perceive with very great regret that it is Dr. Bowring's opinion that 
 the emigration from that country to the West Indies will not proceed at the rapid 
 rate anticipated, and that it will moreover be next to impossible to domiciliate the 
 Chinese with wives and families in a foreign land. 
 
 15. Time alone can, however, satisfactorily solve these questions, and be the 
 obstacles what they may, I venture respectfully to hope that I have said enough 
 to induce Her Majesty's Government to do all in their power to promote an under- 
 taking so largely conducive to the benefit of all concerned. Dr. Bowring's state- 
 ment " that rice is an inaccessible luxury to hundreds of thousands," being far 
 surpassed by what Dr. David Shier told me, on the authority of parties resident 
 at Amoy, namely, that in years of scarcity one-eighth of the population of that 
 immense city perished, their places being filled up from the surrounding country so 
 rapidly that not the slightest change was presented in the aspect of the place. 
 
 16. Compared to such wholesale waste of human existence, the mortality 
 incidental to the passage hither, could it even not be reduced to an ordinary 
 average, by the employment of larger ships and the introduction of improved 
 arrangements, sinks into utter insignificance. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry BarUy. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 9. 
 
 jBclosureinNo.Q ^ ^ „ To his Excellency Governor -Bar%. 
 
 Your Jixcellency, 
 I HAVE the honour to enclose for your Excellency's information a tabular statement of 
 the admission of Chinese immigrants into the Colonial Hospital. It will be perceived that 
 the number admitted have been twenty-nine (29), out of whom 10 have died ; three are still 
 dangerously ill. But such was the severity of the cases on admission, that the mortality 
 must be considered as low, even should the three cases referred to terminate unfavourably. 
 
 I feel convinced that had similar grades of illness occurred among coolie immigrants or 
 liberated Africans, the mortality would have been «louble. I therefore entertain a very 
 favourable opinion of the constitutional power of the Chinese immigrants. 
 
 It is not unhkely that the Chinese boy (whose name we could not discover, and who is 
 designated as No. 4) brought his intermittent fever with him to the colony. " Goh Pi," who 
 had been, for a few days before admission, at Plantation Klyn Poudereyn, as will be seen 
 by the table, suffered from an attack of yellow fever in its virulent form, as a consecutive 
 disease. Considering the short period of exposure, this occurrence leads to the inference, 
 that the Chinese immigrants have no exemption from our epidemic influences. Hut still 
 the recovery of " Goh Pi" from so severe an attack corroborates the notion, that the 
 organism of the Chinese labourer is strong, and possesses much vital resistance; of course, 
 from such very limited experience as we yet possess on this subject, the conclusions can 
 be provisional only. I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency, that if the Chinese 
 immigration be continued, the immigrants should be chosen from such districts of country 
 as closely resembles this colony in climate and geology. It is probable that the superiority 
 of Calcutta over the Madras coolies in adaptability to our wants, is due to conditions of 
 this nature. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Daniel Blair, m.d., 
 
 Surgeon-Q eneral . 
 
 -No. 10.— 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 37 
 
 (No. 38.) 
 
 — No. 10. — 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Extract of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to His Grace the Duke of 
 Newcastle; dated Government House, 10 March 1853. 
 
 (Received, 4 April 1853.) 
 
 " The arrangement affirmed by a large majority of elective members is in 
 effect, that one moiety of the cost of future immigration shall be provided upon 
 the annual estimate out of taxes levied upon the public at large, in considera- 
 tion of the general benefits to vphich an increased population necessarily gives 
 rise, the other moiety being borne exclusively by the planters ; the export tax 
 novr levied upon their produce being set apart at its present low rate for the 
 purpose, and the remainder being made up by a direct payment from those 
 on whose estates immigrants are located, secured by a preferrent lien, upon 
 the principle of the advances authorised by the Drainage Loan Acts of Great 
 Britain, so as not to deprive the poor class of planters of the opportunity of 
 improving and extending their cultivation. 
 
 " I apprehend little difficulty will arise in carrying this arrangement into prac- 
 tical effect, and in providing under it sufficient money to defray from time to time 
 the expenses of introducing 4,000 immigrants annually, as contemplated in the 
 iirst resolution. And as 50,000 1, of the guaranteed loan still remains to be 
 raised, a considerable portion of which will not be wanted for the immigration of 
 185-3, whilst funds for future immigration will meantime be accumulating here, I 
 trust that the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners will not hesitate, 
 though the details are yet somewhat immature, to adopt at once the necessary 
 steps for chartering vessels for the conveyance of immigrants, both from India 
 and China, during the ensuing season, the Combined Court being anxious, as will 
 be seen from their subsequent resolutions, to procure 2,500 from the former and 
 1 ,500 from the latter country, including, in both cases, as large a proportion of 
 women as may be practicable. 
 
 "It is my duty further, in compliance with the request made to me, to move your 
 Grace to cause communications to be opened with the Government of the Nether- 
 lands, with a view of ascertaining whether Chinese, or half-bred Chinese, would be 
 allowed to be brought from Java here. I am not myself sanguine as to the result 
 of such an application, did Her Majesty's Government feel at liberty to make it ; 
 but it will be observed from a report of the debate in the Combined Court, which 
 I enclose, that the suggestion emanates from a gentleman whom I have several 
 times mentioned as being well acquainted with the views of the authorities in 
 the island in question, and it was, I believe, recommended to him by correspon- 
 dents in Holland, who conceive that no obstacles would be interposed, and that 
 such an immigration may possibly ere long be set on foot to the adjacent colony 
 of Surinam. 
 
 No. 10. 
 Governor Barkly 
 to the Duke of 
 Newcastle. 
 10 March 1853. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 10. 
 
 The following Resolutions were proposed by Mr. Gon Netscher, and adopted : — 
 
 " That his Excellency the Governor be requested to move the Secretary for the Colonies End. in No. lo. 
 to take the necessary steps in order to ascertain whether the Dutch government will allow 
 emioration of Chinese, or half-bred Chinese, from Java, to the amount of 3,000 per annum, 
 two-thirds males and one-third females ; the voyage from Java being but half of that from 
 Amoy, and the climate of the island the same as that of this colony, consequently tiie 
 people are better adapted for our purpose ; but in the meantime, that Mr, White be 
 lauthorised to take steps for the introduction of 1,500 Chinese from China."' 
 
 pS6. 
 
 G 3 
 
 No. IL 
 
38 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 Governor Barkly 
 to the Duke of 
 Newcastle. 
 la March 1853. 
 
 Enclosure 1. 
 
 * See pase 
 
 Enc 
 
 — No. 11.— 
 
 (No. 4'.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to His Grace the Duke oi Newcastle. 
 
 Government House, 12 March 1853. 
 (Received 23 April 1853.) 
 My Lord Duke, (Answered, No. 54, 26 May 1853, page 118.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to announce the arrival of a third ship, the " Samuel Bodding- 
 ton," with Chinese immigrants from Amoy, and am sorry to state, that though the 
 voyage was a very rapid one, occupying only 98 days, the mortality, as will be seen 
 from the health officer's report, amounted to 11 per cent. 
 
 2. In his opinion this excessive mortality mainly arose from the cessation of the 
 supply of opium to men whose habitual immoderate use of that drug had 
 rendered it essential for the prevention of diarrhoea, and it is clear that if this 
 immigration is to he continued to British colonies, all who are known to be 
 addicted to such a vice must be, as I pointed out in my first despatch upon the 
 subject, rigorously excluded from embarkation. 
 
 3. The surgeon in charge, who quite agrees in this view, cannot be held at all 
 responsible for the neglect of the precaution in the present instance, as the very 
 interesting extracts from his journal, forwarded by the health officer, prove that 
 his effiarts to enforce a proper selection of immigrants were frustrated by the 
 consignees selected by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, & Co's. agents at Canton, who insisted 
 on shipping no less than 150 whom he had on examination rejected. 
 
 4. Dr. Ely's journal indeed discloses such a system of procuring and embarking 
 immigrants, and so disgusting and alarming a state of things during the voyage, 
 that nothing but the conviction which I entertain, that the stoppage of the bounty 
 and the intervention of Mr. White, -will, so far as emigration to this colony 
 and Trinidad are concerned, put a stop to these evils, would induce me tp 
 refrain from urging Her Majesty's Government to prevent the continuance of the 
 experiment. 
 
 5. So soon as I learnt from the report of the Immigration* Agent-general that a 
 considerable excess of passengers had been embarked at Amoy, I directed the 
 Attorney-general to commence proceedings under the Act of Parliament. At the 
 very outset, however, serious difficulties presented themselves. In the first place, 
 it seemed doubtful whether such a voyage came under the provisions of the British 
 Passengers' Act, which defines (sect. 83) colonial voyages to signify " any voyage 
 from any port or place within any of Her Majesty's possessions to any port or place 
 whatever." In the second place the master alone is liable for the penalty, but 
 had he in this case been committed to gaol for nonpayment, the really guilty parties, 
 — the agents of Hyde, Hodge, & Co., by whom the vessel was chartered, at Canton, 
 to carry Chinese to the West Indies at 10/. per head, — ^would have altogether 
 escaped. 
 
 6. The great difficulty of all, however, arose from the impossibility of proving 
 the number actually embarked at Amoy, except from the evidence of the master 
 himself, for the port clearance was in the Chinese character, and although he at 
 first alleged that he had a clearance or licence from the British Vice Consul at 
 that port, he declined to produce it when challenged so to do. It is true that the 
 surgeon was available as a witness, but here a new question was sure to be started, 
 for it will be observed that the number of deaths recorded in his journal is only 
 40, whereas the deficiency reported, according to the health officer's account, 
 is 52, the difference consisting of a certain number " supposed to have jumped 
 overboard." 
 
 7. Dr. Ely admits, on the other hand, that the tally of the immigrants taken on 
 board from time to time during their stay at Amoy, was not checked by actual 
 enumeration, until they had been many days at sea, and as it does not appear 
 that any one was seen to throw himself overboard, with the exception of a man in 
 the last stage of disease, who is included among the " dead," though two other 
 unsuccessful attempts are mentioned, I would fain hope that this discrepancy 
 
 originates 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. sg 
 
 originates in a mistake, and that the full extent of loss of life is comprehended in BRITISH 
 the first statement. ^ " GUIANA. 
 
 8. At all events, as the master and his officers vehemently denied any occurrence 
 of the kind, it would have been impossible to get a conviction on such slender 
 evidence, and the consignee of the vessel having offered,* in consequence of the 
 Attorney-general's complaint, to plead guilty to an excess of 40 immigrants *'^<'epagc 
 under the tonnage check, and to give bond on behalf of the owners in London ^En^p — - '*'' 
 for the minimum penalty of 2 1, per head, should the Colonial Land and Emigra- '^^"''^, NoT^ 
 tion Commissioners think fit to enforce it, I decerned it best to accept this com- 
 promise, and trust my having done so under the circumstances above narrated 
 
 will be approved. 
 
 Had the Attorney-general proceeded to establish the excess according to the 
 superficial dimensions of the decks, the question would have hinged mainly upon 
 whether 12 feet or 15 feet was to be appropriated to each immigrant, and 1 there- 
 fore preferred going upon the tonnage. 
 
 9. It seemed doubtful whether, under the proclamation published, I could 
 withhold payment of bounty for any immigrant, capable of agricultural labour, 
 landed alive in the colony, but I felt it my duty to ascertain that all those in the 
 " Samuel Boddington" did fairly come within this category, and two experienced 
 planters were in consequence appointed to inspect the people, of whom they 
 reportedf favourably. 
 
 10. The only interpreter was a boy speaking but a few words of English, and '^ See n 
 
 I had therefore no alternative but to send these immigrants to the same district ^^" — — -_J^^ 
 as the former arrivals of Chinese had gone to, so as to have the benefit of the '^'°s^re, j^o q 
 services of the more competent interpreters already located there. 
 
 11. In conclusion, there is one point adverted to in Dr. Ely's Journal, which 
 will scarcely bear to be enlarged upon, but which it would be false delicacy alto- 
 gether to ignore, especially as it confirms the urgent necessity of procuring at the 
 earliest possible period a certain proportion of Chinese women for this colony. 
 
 12. So much uncertainty has hitherto prevailed as to the practicability of pro- 
 curing them, that I was glad to receive a communication from Dr. Ely, of which 
 I enclose copy,]: offering to undertake himself to introduce at least 600 early next 
 year. To explain this I should add, that besides his medical diploma, this gentle- 
 man is United States Consul at Bombay, and partner in an American house there, 
 engaged, as he makes no secret, in the opium trade, in the course of which he has 
 seen more than most people of the less frequented ports and villages on the 
 Chinese coast, and acquired considerable knowledge both of the language and 
 ideas of the people. 
 
 13. Not feeling at liberty to enter into a contract with Dr. Ely in terms of his 
 offer, he has, by my advice, entrusted to my care a tender § for transmission to the ^ ^ 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, which I beg leave to recommend r--^!.£^e ^^ 
 
 to their consideration. "'^^osure^ jy^ 
 
 I have, &c. ' "• 
 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 18 March 1853. 
 Postscript. — Mr. Humphrys having been applied to, to explain some discre- 
 pancy in his first report of the superficial dimensions of the deck, has sent in the 
 accompanying extra report,! showing that there was, in addition to the 'tween 
 decks, a forecastle, on which some of the immigrants were berthed. As regards ^^ 
 his allusion to an Ordinance of 1848, authorising three immigrants to every five ^ociog^^^ -~^ 
 tons, I can only say that I am not aware that the colonial law was then, or at any ^' ^o. 
 
 other time, at variance with the imperial statutes, always excepting immigrants 
 
 from Madeira. 
 
 Henry Barkh/. 
 
 «gg G 4 Enclosure 
 
40 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 End. 1, ia No. ii. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 11. 
 
 Port of Georgetown, Demerara, 
 9 March 1853. _ 
 Health Officer's Report of Immigrants by the Ship " Samuel Boddington," which 
 arrived here on the 4th inst., 96 days from Amoy, having touched at St. Helena on the 
 6th February. 
 
 Master's Name 
 Surgeon's Name 
 Quarantine 
 
 John W. Hurst. 
 Edward Ely. 
 None. 
 
 Number of Crew - - 28 
 
 Registered Tonnage - - 669 
 Passengers' Deck feet by feet. 
 
 Numeral List. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Infants. 
 
 
 EMIGRANTS. 
 
 Men. i Women. 
 
 Boys. 
 
 Girls. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 
 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 Embarked on the 23 Nov.-\ 
 1852 - - - ./ 
 
 352 1 - 
 
 1 
 
 _ 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 352 
 
 Died on the Voyage - 
 
 41 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 41 
 
 Jumped Overboard - 
 
 1 1 supposed - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 11 
 
 Arrived in Port 
 
 300 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 300 
 
 For Hospital - - - 
 
 29 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - ■ 
 
 - 
 
 29 
 
 For Immediate Distribution 
 
 271 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 271 
 
 Condensation of Surgeon's Weekly Abstracts. 
 
 For the information usually in this Form, see the " Abstract of the Medical Journal," 
 already furnished to his Excellency. 
 
 General Abstract of Surgeon's Journal. 
 Same observation applies to this Form. 
 
 Death List. 
 Died on the voyage 41, but no names are given. 
 
 Hospital List. 
 As above ; no names are given ; total, 29 men. 
 
 Summary. 
 
 Gross Number of Emigrants embarked . - - - 
 Total Number Sick, as per General Abstract - . - 
 Total Number of Deaths ------- 
 
 Per Centage of Deaths to Number embarked ... 
 
 Per Centage of Deaths to Cases of Sickness ... 
 
 Daily Average of People Sick - 36; Per Centage thereof, 10*22 
 
 Highest Number Sick in any one day .... 
 
 352. 
 ? 
 
 52. 
 14-46. 
 
 38. 
 
 Lowest Number ditto 
 
 ditto 
 
 General Remarks on Surgeon's Diary and Journal, Provisions, Water, 
 
 Vessel, &c. &c 
 
 The Abstract of the Surgeon's Journal, already furnished to his Excellency, shows the 
 manner in which the Journals have been kept. 
 
 The provisions are all apparently of good quality but of one article, which the Chinese 
 are said to be very fond of, I have no experience, viz. salted shark. 
 Water good. Vessel clean and well ventilated. 
 
 (signed) John M. Johnstone, 
 Health Officer. 
 
 Enclosure 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 41 
 
 17 1 o • XT 11 BRITISH 
 
 xLnclosure 2, m No. 11. GUIANA. 
 
 Abstract of the Surgeon's Journal of Proceedings on Board the Ship " Samuel Bod- 
 
 dington," during a voyage from China to Dcmeiaru. August 1852 to March 1853. End. 2, in No. 1 1. 
 
 1852: 
 
 Augt. 28. — Dr. Ely went on board the ship " Samuel Boddington," at Whampoa, to go to 
 Amoy for emigrants. 
 
 :Sept. 5. — Sailed for Amoy; medicines furnished in less quantities than ordered, and of 
 inferior quality. 
 
 ;Sept. 12. — Arrived at Amoy, and found many vessels there waiting for cargoes of coolies for 
 Sydney, West Coast of America, and the Spanish West India Islands. 
 
 "Oct. 21. — We have now been laying here (Amoy) 49 days; 1 almost despair of ever 
 getting a cargo for Demerara ; five ships have been despatched with full car- 
 goes, but we are still put off, although nine days upon demurrage. There are 
 two gentlemen, Spanish agents, from Havanna, staying at Tait & Co.'s, who 
 seem to possess sufficient influence to have all their ships despatched at once. 
 I attribute our delay to this cause." 
 
 Nov. 10. — This day being the 59th since the arrival of the ship at Amoy, and the 19th day, 
 of demurrage, there have been ninety-five (95) coolies sent on board. These 
 are the remnant of 215 which had been collected by Taits for us, but who, on 
 being sent off to our ship without any European to look after them, compelled 
 the Chinese crews of the boats they were in to run them ashore on the beach, 
 where they made their escape. It appears that many of them who offer as 
 coolies to go away, do so only for the purpose of obtaining a few days' food in 
 the receiving ship ; and, when they are to be sent away, take every means to 
 escape. I cannot imagine why it is that Mr. Tait, knowing all this, did not, 
 as has been his custom, place some Europeans in the boats to guard them. 
 
 " The small number we have received were those who were sent in the last 
 boat, and are the worst lot which were on board the receiving-ship. I shall be 
 obliged to reject more than half of them, but owing to the confusion to-day, I 
 must defer it till another day. I shall endeavour to keep those who are ill, 
 and have infectious diseases, as much as possible from those who are in good 
 health." 
 
 ■*' N,ov. 1 1 . — No prospect of any more; coolies for some time ; I am very much vexed at 
 what has' occurred, the more so as all those who have escaped from the boats 
 of Tait & Co. have gone to the Hongs of Syme and Muir to go to Havanna. 
 We shall thus be burthened by a set of half-naked, half-starved men for a long 
 time before our full complement can be collected. The weather is quite cold, 
 and some of the coolies have nothing but a loose nankin jacket ; some of them 
 wish to go ashore, and (say?) that they were deceived by Messrs. Tait & Co.'s 
 brokers. This evening two men endeavoured to swim ashore on some small 
 boards, a distance of two miles, but the gig was lowered, and they were picked 
 up almost exhausted." 
 
 " Nov. 12. — No more coolies ; several cases of serious sickness ; applied to Tait & Co. for 
 clothes for the coolies, but can get none ; they saying that it is the place of 
 the coolie brokers to furnish them with clothes here." 
 
 ^' Nov. 13. — Messrs. Tait & Co. sent on board 104 coolies, without either now or previously 
 having given either myself or Captain Hurst notice of their coming. More 
 than half of the 200 men we have on board are unfit for the purpose they are 
 intended, and still we are having them thrust aboard whether we wish it or 
 not." 
 
 " Nov. 14. — No more coolies ; many cases of sickness." 
 
 it Nov. 15. Five coolies sent on board and one taken out, who had been brought when 
 
 in a state of intoxication, and whose parents liad demanded him of the man- 
 darins." 
 
 " Nov. 16. — Ten coolies sent on board." 
 
 " Nov. 17. Thirteen coolies sent this morning. I have to-day made a general examination 
 
 of those on board, and find them as follows : — 
 
 " Healthy and able-bodied men 
 " Infirm, incompetent, &c. &c. 
 
 « Total 
 
 131 
 95 
 
 226 
 
 "Of the latter I sent 10 men ashore to Mr. Tait, in charge of the broker who 
 brino-s off the men. They were unfit on account of the foul nature of their dis- 
 eases to remain among so many men as we now have on board. The remainder 
 I shall send away as soon as it shall be convenient to Messrs. Tait." 
 It Nov. 18. — Two coolies received ; the weather is cold and stormy, and the men are still 
 naked ; many of them are suffering from catarrhs and inflammations, and still 
 I cannot procure for them any clothing. 
 q86. H [Here 
 
42 PAPEHS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH [Here follows a short correspondence between Dr. Ely, the surgeon siiperhitendent, and 
 
 GUIANA. Messrs. Tait & Co.] 
 
 Abstract of Journal resumed. 
 
 Nov. 19 and 20. — No more coolies. Cold and rainy weather. 
 
 Nov. 21. — Rainy day. At this rate I shall be obliged to reject a great many more men than I 
 should otherwise, on account of colds and inflammation of lungs, contracted 
 for want of clothes. I have been to-day to the coolie hong of Messrs. Syme, 
 Muir & Co., and there I saw a number of those who escaped from Tait's boats on 
 the 10th. Mr. Bradley, when I asked him the reason, gave no answer, only 
 that " we pay for our coolies." It is my opinion, and that of every one else, 
 that the escape on the 10th was a preconcerted measure among the merchants 
 themselves. Tait & Co. have a large contract to supply a certain number of 
 coolies to the Spanish agents in a certain time ; they have employed Syme 
 & Muir to assist them. * * * Mr. Mackay, cf the firm of Tait & Co.. 
 told me this morning that they were afraid they should be able to get no more 
 coolies for some weeks, and that I must not be too strict in my examination. 
 Directly afterwards I was on board a Spanish ship, consigned to Tait, for 
 coolies for the Havanna, and the surgeon informed me plainly, that they 
 expected to get away in a week after our ship, and thai Messrs. Tait had 
 told them their coolies were all ready. 
 
 Nov. 22. — Dr. Ely receives a letter from Messrs. Tait and Co., wishing the medical exami- 
 nation of the coolies next day. In the afternoon Mr. Mackay tells Dr. Ely 
 that in consequence of the ciry and country being " much disturbed," they 
 could get no more coolies, and that those collected must either be taken, or 
 they (Messrs. Tait) must throw up the charter. 
 
 Nov. 23. — One hundred and forty-seven coolies brought alongside ; those already on board 
 commenced heaving wood, pieces of iron bolts, belaying pins, &c. at the 
 Europeans and coolie brokers, because they had been " kept so long without 
 clothes or proper food." As soon aa we had got things a little quiet, and the 
 coolies allowed to come on board, I commenced the examination ; and out of 
 every ten men I inspected, six were in my opinion not of the kind to make 
 good labourers. " Mr. ConoUy continually told me that ihey could get no 
 more coolies ; that they had enough to make up our number on board, if I would 
 not be so veiy strict; that I was rejecting excellent men, wlio only wanted a 
 month's good provisions to regain their health, and that they should not pay for 
 any men who might be deficient, because there were a great plenty to choose 
 from.' Dr. Ely then overhauled the whole 366 men and boys, and found only 
 
 162 men 
 40 boys 
 
 Total - - 202 capable of embarkation. 
 
 " Mr, Conolly now in plain terms told Captain Hurst and myself we had but 
 one of two things to do ; either take our complement out of the rejected num- 
 bers, or lose any recompense for a short shipment, as they, as agents of the 
 charterers, considered they were quite good enough. Of course we could 
 do nothing else than take them, and we have now on board 352 coolies, 150 of 
 whom I had once rejected, and with whom I expect to have much trouble, and 
 among whom I expect to have many deaths." 
 
 Then follows a complaint that pi oper medicines weie not furnished, on the 
 ground that they could not be had, although " their own brig, the ' Alligator,' 
 brought from Hong Kong only a few days ago several well filled chests of 
 medicines, intended no doubt for the ships going to Havanna without sur- 
 geons." 
 
 1852 : Then comes a grievous complaint of the want of clothing, two suits of thin 
 
 cotton clothes for each person, and a mat to sleep upon, and a single cotton 
 sheet to " last through all weathers." 
 
 Then a charge that the Chinese clerks plundered the coolies of ten out 
 of the eleven dollars, which by their agreement they (the coolies) were en- 
 titled to. 
 
 Nov. 24.—" Amoy is in a state of great confusion and alarm." An army of armed Chinese 
 had entered the city, killed several Europeans, &c. " We have not been able 
 to get our supplies, and are going away without them." 
 
 The disturbance said to be caused by the coolie brokers having enraged the 
 community by enticing some young men to leave home and go on board the 
 coolie ships under false pretences. 
 
 Nov. 25. 
 
Nov. 
 
 26. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 27, 
 
 Nov. 
 
 28, 
 
 Nov. 
 
 29. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 30 
 
 Dec. 
 
 1 
 
 INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD, 43 
 
 1832- . BRITISH 
 
 Nov. 25. — Sailed from Amoy. " I find we have more than a hundred opium smokers on GUIANA. 
 
 board, and God only knows what is to become of them when their opium is 
 
 exhausted. I have no interpreter ; the one engaged effected 
 
 his escape in the hurry of sailing. I have employed one of the coolies, 
 who can speak a little English, to act as interpreter, but he can do very little 
 good." 
 
 -Warmer weather, but still very rough j got the people on deck with much 
 difficulty. 
 
 -Fine weather; no attempts at cooking yet; "to the few who want anything to 
 eat we give biscuit ; no cases requiring medicine." 
 
 -Sunday. Two men fighting ; one of them confined on the poop ; many cases of 
 indolent ulcers and scabies. 
 
 -People arranged into messes of 10 men each; an opium smoker attacked with 
 delirium tremens, in consequence of his stock being exhausted ; 
 
 -And died next day. 
 
 -Warm and squally. Most of the people appear to have been impoverished ; 
 many of them now affected with fevers, diarrhoeas, and diseases of the skin. 
 
 Dec. 5. — A desperate fight about a theft of some opium. In the afternoon the man who 
 has been in irons, broke the lock, and escaped below ; he was soon re-ironed. 
 " We should not be so rigid with him, but he has been threatening to kill the 
 one with whom he fought, jump overboard, &c." 
 
 Dec. 7. — Made the * Islands ; one case of bilious fever and five cases of * So in copy. 
 
 diarrhcBa constitute the sick list ; fine weather and smooth sea ; coolies " al- 
 most constantly fighting furiously among themselves, and so reckless and 
 savage, they use any weapon they can seize." 
 
 Then come suspicions of a mutiny. A search was made for weapons, and 
 there were found secreted in their bags " five heavy iron scrapers, two belaying 
 pins, and billets of firewood, besides other articles which they had picked 
 up about the decks, and secreted in their bags and on the ledges of the 
 beams." 
 
 Dec. 8. — " The appearance of things on board is assuming rather a serious aspect. Last 
 evening at eight o'clock, one of the young men of rather better stamp than the 
 others came to me, and endeavoured to make me understand something very 
 earnestly. From the few Chinese words I understand, and from his motions, 
 I learned that the boy Jim was a bad man, and that he had plenty more men 
 that were going to kill me and everybody else, and then run the ship ashore on 
 some of these islands. All day to-day .lim has not come aft as usual, and has 
 
 been with the gang I spoke of yesterday in earnest conference 
 
 We are all convinced that the coolies meditate taking the ship, but we can 
 do nothing now but go well armed constantly." 
 
 Dec. 9. — Coolies mostly looking better ; almost calm day ; thermometer SB" ; large tubs 
 of water placed on deck, in whicii the people bathe very generally. " I am 
 well convinced from the actions of all hands that a large party of coolies are 
 only awaiting an opportunity of taking the ship." 
 
 10 P.M. — "This afternoon the boy Jim asked the serang if he and his lascars 
 would remain neutral if the coolies were to rise upon the officers and European 
 crew." And this said Jim promises several boxes of dollars on board to the 
 lascars if they would take the ship back to Amoy, or run her ashore. The 
 ship's cook has then a tale of persecution to disclose, because " he would not 
 hand them out the knives belonging to the galley." "All hands are on deck ; 
 the fore braces are led aft upon the poop, and no one need go off except one 
 
 or two to work ship We would endeavour to get everybody 
 
 below, and put the hatches on, but it is so hot that they would suffocate. We 
 are all prepared in a moment to meet any outbreak that may occur." 
 
 Dec. 10. — "We have had an u^ly day. During all last night, instead of the usual 
 noise and the various lights, nothing could be heard but a suppressed whisper- 
 ing about the decks, and not a light was burned. We hung lanterns over the 
 front of the poop, so that they lit up the main deck, leaving us in darkness ; 
 every thing remained quiet till about four in the morning, when one of the 
 
 men reported a light close under the lee bow We looked 
 
 over the bows about a minute, and made the light to proceed from a Malay 
 prow, when, upon turning round, we saw the whole port side of the main-deck 
 full of men armed with wood, cook's choppers, and other things ; we ran to 
 the other side, which was clear, and before any one could come round the 
 galley, long-boat, &c., we had reached the poop-deck." Why it is they did 
 not rise " I cannot tell ;" but " after looking .at the prows and at ourselves, 
 they went below, and under the forecastle." 
 
 " We passed Gaspar Island." Coolies down' below, holding an earnest 
 
 conversation. To inquiries they reply, " Pil-long." point to the land, and make 
 
 " me understand exactly what 1 knew, that those on deck were watching 
 
 an opportunity to murder us and run ashore." 
 
 986. H 2 Then 
 
44 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH ^^52: 
 
 GUIANA. Then comes a story of Jim's about a threatened mutiny and butchery. "To- 
 
 ' night we were to have been butchered, at the time I was making my regular 
 
 round below, by first killing me below, and then rushing upon the poop with 
 whatever they could lay their hands upon, and by the force of numbers over- 
 power the crew : they then intended to run the ship ashore on one of these 
 islands, which they supposed to be China, rob her, and burn her." .... 
 " This afternoon drifted within a mile of the reefs and rocks off Pulo. The 
 anchor was let go immediately in'19 fathoms, and the sails clewed up." 
 
 Then comes a narrative of every man, i.e. sailor, being armed and stationed 
 upon the poop. Mr. Easthorn and the Doctor, with half a dozen lascars, went 
 forward with concealed weapons to the forecastle, and, " as usual," they " found 
 the two men deep in a serious discussion. Presenting pistols at the head of 
 each one, we suddenly seized them, and in spite of the desperate resistance of 
 one of them, dragged them upon the poop. The affair was so quickly and 
 silently done that they had no ideaof anything. of the kind till it was over, and 
 their surrounding companions seemed so taken by surprise that they offered no 
 remonstrance or resistance." 
 
 Then comes an account of their being placed in irons, and accusing Jim of 
 "starting the plot." Jim seems "very much confused;" but as nothing is to 
 be gained by punishing him, they are tacticians enough " never to let him know 
 but what they think him entirely innocent." 
 
 Next comes a lecture " about the good country where they were going to, 
 where they would be used well, and not made to work hard," &c. " And also 
 that if any disturbance was made on board, we should not do as we had now 
 done, and risk our own lives to save theirs, but we should shoot down the 
 actors without mercy; every one expressed his satisfaction," &c. 
 
 Doubts, however, are still recorded. " The greater part we have on board 
 are quite savage, many of them never having seen a European before coming 
 to Anioy to go away, and having as little idea of right and wrong as the 
 wanderinc; savages' of the wildernesses of America. They are fierce, cunning, 
 ill-natured, revengeful, and hypocritical ; and we have far more to do to keep 
 1853 ; anything like order among them than if they were so many monkeys." 
 
 Jan. 1. — "This morning we found one man dead on the lower deck;" cause of death 
 " supposed to be apoplexy." 
 
 Here also (p. 42) is entered a difference of opinion between the captain and 
 surgeon as to the duties of the latter. 
 
 Jan. 2. — Sick list contains 37 patients. 
 
 Jan. 3. — This day 30 patients. 
 
 Jan. 4. — Twenty-seven patients and two deaths ; one from diarrhoea, and the other from 
 hemorrhage from the bowels; this latter " caused, I believe, from unnatural 
 intercourse." 
 
 Jan. 6. — Another death from hemorrhage. 
 
 Jan. 6. — Thirty cases of sickness, and one death from diarrhoea. 
 
 Jan. 7. — Thirty-four cases of sickness, and one death as above. 
 
 Jan. 8. — Thirty-three on the sick list, 
 
 Jan. 9. — ^Thirty-five cases; latitude 25o south longitude, 560 east; 28 of the cases are 
 diarrhoea. 
 
 Jan. 10. — Thirty-five cases. 
 
 Jan. 11. — ^Thirty-four cases ; one death from peritonitis. 
 
 Jan. 12. — Case of intermittent fever, dead (No. 11.); also one opium smoker (diarrhceaV 
 (No. 12). 
 
 Jan. 13. — No new cases. 
 
 Jan. 14, — "Two cases of diarrhoea died (Nos. 13 and 14); one man endeavoured to throw 
 himself overboard, but was caught by a lascar." 
 
 Jan. 15. — " Captain Hurst has thought that emetics would have a good effect upon some 
 of the cases." 
 
 " Yesterday I gave a man an emetic which he picked out as a suitable case, 
 and lie died this morning (No. 16)." 
 
 " We mustered, and counted everybody to-day, and find we have but 333 
 men on board ; 15 have died, and the other four have at different times jumped 
 
 into the sea when we have not seen them." " My interpreter 
 
 says that the men have jumped overboard, because they did not "want to <'o 
 away from Amoy." 
 
 Jan. 16. — Two deaths from diarrhoea (Nos. 16 and 17). 
 
 Jan, 17, 18, and 19. — " Going on much the same; no new cases. Made, ' Ram Head and 
 Brazen Head,' on coast of Africa, 4 p.m., 19th," 
 
 Jan. 20. — One death from heart disease (No. 18). 
 
 Jan. 2U 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 43 
 
 1853: BRITISH 
 
 Jan. 21. — " One case of diarrhoea and prostration, which has resisted all remedies, and who GUIANA. 
 
 seemed determined to die, and who was only prevented from drowning himself 
 
 by being unable to get over the side;" died this evening (No. 19.. 
 
 Jan. 22. — Heavy head sea. " One man broke his arm going down the ladder to the lower 
 deck." " One case of inflammation of lungs, died to-day, caused by his per- 
 sisting in lying on the wet deck without clothes (No. 20)." 
 
 Jan. 23. — Fine weather ; thermometer, 72 decrees. 
 
 Jan. 24. — Case of diarrhoea and partial insanity, died (No. 21). 
 
 Jan. 25. — ^Thermometer, 68 degrees. Coolies suffering from cold. 
 
 Jan. 26. — Thirty-one on the sick list. 
 
 Jan. 27. — Passed the " Cape of Good Hope." Thirty-five on the sick list. 
 
 Jan. 28. — A boy died of worms (No. 22). 
 
 Jan. 29. — ^Thirty-four on the sick list. A case of diarrhoea died (No. 23). For an unnatural 
 crime, a man and a boy received two dozen lashes, besides being well pitched. 
 Jan. 30 and 31. — No alteration in the sick list. 
 
 Feb. 1. — Thirty-eight on the sick list. "This morning we found a man lying dead upon 
 the deck who had been in good health hitherto ; he had marks of blows on 
 his body, and the coolies (?) who slept near him said he fell down the hatch- 
 way in the night. A fall there could not have caused death, unless it was 
 instant from injury to the spine ; and I believe he has received his injuries from 
 the coolies. We cannot, however, discover." He makes No. 24. 
 
 This evening another of the lingering cases of diarrhoea, a man about 
 30 years of age, died (No. 25). 
 
 Feb. 2. —Forty-one on the sick list ; 25 cases of diarrhoea. " Many of these cases have been 
 on hand ever since they exhausted their supply of opium." " One boy with 
 worms died ; I chanced to see the anus after death, and it was a complete and 
 large syphilitic ulcer." (No. 26.) 
 
 The boy mentioned a few days ago as having been accidentally salivated, 
 died this evening. (No. 27.) 
 
 Feb. 3. — " Very little alteration ;" no new cases. 
 
 Feb. 4. — " Fine warm day; took the opportunity to give the lower deck a thorough good 
 washing and holy-stoning; the third it has received since leaving Amoy; ii is, 
 however, dry holy-stoned every morning ;" 41 cases on the sick list. 
 
 Feb. 5. — " One case of worms, died," (No. 28.); another chronic diarrhoea in evening (No. 
 29.) ; 40 cases on the sick list. 
 
 Feb. 6. Sunday. — Made the island of St. Helena at day-break; anchored oflF James Town 
 at 10 A.M.; went ashore to see if I could get some more medicine; got every- 
 thing I wanted except anthelmintics. 
 
 Feb. 7. — Lay all day taking in fresh water and vegetables for coolies ; 35 tons water,* * So in copy, 
 bags of potatoes, and 1,000 bundles of carrots; I deemed that we stood 
 greatly in need of these articles, and Captain Hurst succeeded in exchanging 
 some of the fat salt pork which we do not need for them ; purchased medicine 
 to the amount of -f- for which I have paid ; during the afternoon I received a t So in copy, 
 visit from Dr. Wilson, the colonial surgeon. "He expressed himself very 
 much pleased with the order and regularity, and perfect cleanliness on board, 
 in comparison to the state of the coolie ships he had seen recently." 
 Sailed from St. Helena at 7 p.m. 
 
 Feb. 8. — " Calm day and very warm ; one of the poor wretches with chronic diarrhoea, who 
 yesterday was on deck a great part of the day looking at the island, as soon 
 as the ship sailed, laid down, and commenced crying ; he died this morning. 
 (No. 30.)" 37 cases of sickness on the list. 
 
 Feb. 9. — " Lost one case of gastritis." (No. 31.) 
 
 Feb. 10. — " One case of worms died" (No. 32.); 32 cases on the sick list, 22 of which are 
 diarrhoea. 
 
 Feb. 11.—" One of the cooks died" (No. 33.); "also a case of paralysis" (No. 34). 
 
 Feb. 12. — " A case of diarrhoea lasting from Straits of Sunda died" (No. 35). 
 Feb. 13. Sunday — " Fine weather, growing warmer ; mustered all the people and counted 
 them." 
 
 "311 on board 
 35 deaths 
 
 346 
 
 352 first complement 
 
 6 missing. 
 Twenty-seven on the sick list. 
 Feb. 14 and 15.— No new cases. 
 
 986. H 3 Feb. 16. 
 
46 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 1853: 
 
 GUIANA, Feb, 16. — ^Twenty-two on the sick list. "The generality of the coolies look much better 
 
 and more lively than they have done. They are very fond of the potatoes we 
 
 procured for them at St. Helena, and are also in high spirits of soon landing at 
 their destination." 
 Feb. 17. — Twenty-three on the sick list. 
 Feb. 18. — " Case of diarrhoea on hand for the past six weeks died this evening (No. 36.); 
 
 21 on the sick list." 
 Feb. 19. — Twenty cases, 13 of which are diarrhoea. 
 Feb. 20. Sunday. — " Therm. 84°, hot and damp; crossed the equator at 11 a.m.,, long. 29" 
 
 40'; 21 cases of sickness." 
 Feb. 21. — Twenty-three cases, of which 11 are diarrhoea. 
 Feb. 22. — Sick list comprises : — 
 
 14 Cases Diarrhoea. 
 1 Gastritis. 
 
 1 Inflammation of Brain. 
 1 Convulsions. 
 6 Syphilis. 
 
 Total - - 23 
 
 Feb. 23. — " Lost two men, one of diarrhoea (No. 37.), and one of inflammation of brain 
 (No. 38.); three new cases of diarrhcea." 
 
 Feb. 24,' — " Yesterday, every one on board was put upon five pints of water per man, it 
 having been discovered that there were not more than 14 days' water in the 
 ship at that allowance" ****** 
 * • " Mr. Boys had never paid any attention to what he was doing; 
 and had he been left three days longer we should not have had a gallon of 
 water in the ship." 
 
 Sick List : 
 
 16 Cases Diarrhoea. 
 7 „ Syphihs. 
 3 „ Diarrhoea. 
 1 „ Worms. 
 1 „ Nephritis. 
 
 Total - - 28 
 
 Feb. 25. — Thirty cases of sickness. 
 
 Feb. 26. — Twenty-seven on the sick list. 
 
 Feb. 27. — " One death. One of the oldest and most obstinate cases of diarrhoea (No. 39.) ; 
 
 20 on the sick list." 
 Feb. 28. — Seventeen on the sick Hst. 
 
 " While we were at dinner this day one of the coolies who had been ill of 
 diarrhoea, threw himself over board. He told the others, before he did so, that 
 he feared to go ashore, because he could not work, and ' the mandarins would 
 kill him.'" (No. 40.) 
 
 "At 4 P.M., another young man who had been in a quarrel below with some 
 one, rushed upon deck, and climbing the rail, threw himself oflf". The fore top- 
 mast studding sail boom brace and after guy caught him as he fell, which 
 allowed time for qne of our lascars to seize him before he disentangled himself; 
 we brought him aft upon the poop, gave him two dozen for his attempt, and 
 confined him to one of the guns ; this is the way in which we have lost our 
 men ; they are the worst race of people I have ever met." 
 March 1 —Sick list : — 
 
 7 Diarrhoea. 
 
 4 Syphilis. 
 
 4 other diseases. 
 
 Total - - 15 
 
 besides some few trifling cases of diarrhoea, which I give an occasional dose of 
 opium. 
 
 March 2. — Sixteen on the sick list. 
 
 March 3. — Case of hemorrhage from the lungs died this morning (No. 40). All but a few 
 cases looking better. 
 
 March 4. — Friday morning made the Berbice lighthouse at 5 a.m., and Demerara light- 
 ship at 10 A.M." 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 47 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 11. GUIANA. 
 
 Sir, Health Office, Demerara, 4 March 1853. End. 3, in No. 1 1. 
 
 T HAVE the honour to state for the information of his Excellency, the Governor, that 
 1 this day visited the ship " Samuel Boddington," just arrived from Amoy, after 98 days' 
 passage. 
 
 I find there were embarked from the 10th to the 23d November last, 352 male adults. 
 
 Of these there have died on board 40, making a mortality of 11 per cent. 
 
 Of those who have arrived 27 are now on their way to the Colonial Hospital, chiefly cases 
 of diarrhoea and debility. 
 
 Both captain and surgeon report it a very troublesome matter to convey this class of 
 immigrants, chiefly from their quarrelsome disposition and vile habits. Ten men, or pos- 
 sibly more, jumped overboard in a state of excitement from fighting. A few cases of bilious 
 remittent fever occurred in the Straits of Sunda, but, generally speaking, the people are 
 reported to have been healthy. As soon as their supply of opium was finished, diarrhoea 
 commenced ; and out of the 40 deaths that have occurred, upwards of 30 may be ascribed 
 to the want of their usual immoderate quantity of that drug. As it is, upwards of two 
 pounds of opium, eight pounds of laudanum, one pound of Dover's powder, and half a 
 pound of the compound powder of chalk, the two latter medicines containing powdered 
 opium in their composition, have been consumed in the treatment of diarrhoea. This checked 
 the disease for a time ; but so soon as the medicine was intermitted, the disease re-appeared. 
 
 Lime juice was not used in any part of the voyage. The surgeon was refused it, along 
 with a number of other articles, such as vaccine lymph, sweet spirits of nitre, &c. 
 
 The provisions and water appeared quite good. 
 
 I have, 8cc. 
 To the Honourable W. Walker, (signed) John M. Johnstone, 
 
 Government Secretary, &c. &c. &c., Health Officer. 
 
 British Guiana. 
 
 Enclosure 4, in No. 1 1. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General's Office, End, 4, in No. li. 
 Sir, 6 March 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report the arrival on the 4th instant, of the barque "Samuel 
 Boddington," 98 days from Amoy, having touched at St. Helena, where she remained one 
 day. 
 
 The ship left Amoy with 352 statute adults; if, therefore, the "Samuel Boddington'' 
 comes within the limits of the Imperial Passengers' Act, there were a greater proportion of j^ „ 
 persons placed on board than are allowed by the statute, and the commander has rendered s. j, ^^ ^'ot 
 himself liable to a penalty. ;:::::;~^-,.,__^ ' ' ^' 
 
 The ship is 669 tons and carries a crew of 31 men, and her measurement is 118^ x 28|. 
 
 Under these circumstances I have the honour respectfully to request that the opinion of 
 the attorney-general may be taken, as to whether the Imperial Passengers' Act applies to 
 sJjips bringing Chinese from Amoy, as I consider it necessary that I should be instructed in 
 the matter before taking the people out of the ship. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Honourable W. Walker, (signed) Wm. Humphrys,l.k.G. 
 
 Government Secretary, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 5, in No. 11. 
 
 By his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over End. 5 in No. 1 v. 
 the Colony of 57'i7isA Gwiawa, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the same, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Henry Babkly. 
 
 These are to certify to all whom it doth or may concern, that James S. Hitzler, who has 
 signed the annexed document, is a sworn clerk and notary public of the registrar's office 
 of the counties of Demerara and Essequebo, in the colony of British Guiana, and that to 
 
 986. H 4 all 
 
48 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH all acts so signed by him in his aforesaid capacity, full faith and credit is and ought to be 
 GUIANA, given in judicature and thereout. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal, at the Guiana Public Buildings, Georaretown, Demerara, 
 this 24th day of March 1853, and in the 16th year of Her Majesty's^reign. 
 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 
 W. Walker, Secretary. 
 Fees to be charged to the Colony, 
 W. W. 
 Nil. 
 
 Gerard Oudvink, 
 
 For F. A. 
 
 G. G. Lowenfeld, Receiver-General. 
 
 (Security.) Not. Dep., Sch. B., No. 26,207. 
 
 Fees, seven dollars. 
 
 Received, G. G. Lowenfeld, 
 
 Colonial Receiver-General. 
 
 British Guiana, County of Demerary. 
 
 Before me, James Shanks Hitzler, sworn clerk and notary public of the registrar's ofRce> 
 of the counties of Demerary and Essequebo, in the colony of British Guiana, personally 
 appeared Colin .Simson, an inhabitant of the county of Demerary aforesaid, in his quality 
 as consignee and agent in this colony of Richard Davis and Thomas Boddington, the 
 younger, both of the city of London, trading under the style and firm of Boddington 
 & Company, owners of the British ship called the " Samuel Boddington," now at anchor in 
 the port of Georgetown, in the colony aforesaid, which appearer stated and declared that 
 the said ship or vessel arrived at this port on or about the fourth day of the present month 
 of March, having sailed from Amoy, in China, on or about the 26th day of November 1852, 
 with, as was then supposed, 352 adult immigrants on board, in addition to the master, 
 surgeon, and crew, to the number of 30, making the total estimated number of 382 persons. 
 
 And the appearer further stated that the registered tonnage said ship or vessel being 
 €69f tons, the owners of the said ship or vessel had become liable, under the 12th section 
 of the Act of Parliament of tlie 15th and 16th Vict., c. 44, to a minimum penalty of 2/. 
 sterling each person for an excess of persons or passengers over the number proportionate 
 to the tonnage of the said ship or vessel, as prescribed and lim.ited by the said 12th section 
 of the aforesaid Act of Parliament. 
 
 That he, the appearer, as agent aforesaid, had therefore admitted and acknowledged to 
 , the Government of this colony an excess of persons or passengers over the number pro- 
 portionate to the tonnage of said ship or vessel to the number of 40 persons or passengers, 
 and had also admitted and acknowledged a liability and responsibility on the part of the 
 said ship or vessel,' and of the said Richard Davis and Thomas Boddington, the younger, 
 as owners thereof, for the minimum sum of 80/. sterling for the aforesaid excess and breach 
 of said Act of Parliament. 
 
 And the appearer further stated that it had been agreed on the part of the Government 
 of this colony, that no proceedings should be taken against the said ship or vessel, or the 
 master thereof, under the aforesaid Act of Parliament, for the recovery of said sum of 
 €0^. sterling, provided he, the appearer, entered into this present bond of security. 
 
 Wherefore, the appearer, the said Colin Simson, as agent and consignee, as aforesaid, of 
 the said Richard Davis and Thomas Boddington, the younger, by these presents, in the 
 name and on behalf of the said Richard Davis and Thouias Boddington, the younger, and 
 of each of them, and of their, and each of their heirs, executors, and representatives, de- 
 clared to renounce from the exception of non nvmeratcp. pecunitE, or no sufficient value 
 received, and from all other plens and exceptions known in law, or otherwise, which, if 
 availed of, might lessen, or tend to lessen, the true intent and meaning, force, and effect 
 of these presents, and under such renunciation, the appearer, by these presents, declared to 
 bind and oblige the said Richard Davis and Thomas Boddington, the younger, and each 
 of them, and their, and each of their heirs, executors, and representatives to and in favour 
 of the colony of British Guiana, that they, the said Richard Davis and Thomas Boddington, 
 the younger, and each of them, and tlieir and each of their aforesaids, shall well and truly 
 pay, or cause to be paid, unto the order, and upon the requisition and demand of Her Ma- 
 jesty's Land and Emigration Commissioners, at tlieir office in London, and at such time 
 as such requisition and demand shall be made upon them, the said Kichard Davis and 
 Thomas Boddington, the younger, the sura of 80/. sterling money of Great Britain, being 
 the minimum penalty of 2/. steiling for each person constituting the excess of persons 
 over the number proportioned to the tonnage of the said ship or vessel hereinbefore men- 
 tioned and acknowledged by him, the appearer. 
 
 And 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 49 
 
 And for the due and faithful performance and fulfilment of the conditions and stipulations BRITISH 
 of tliis bond, the appearer, the said Colin Simson, declared to bind and oblige the persons GUIANA. 
 
 and properties of the said Hichard Davis and Thomas Boddington, the younger, and of 
 
 each of them, firmly by these presents. 
 
 In witness whereof the appearer hath hereunto set his hand, and I, the said sworn clerk 
 and notary public have also subscribed my name at the city of Georgetown, county and 
 colony aforesaid, this 12th day of March 1853, in presence of the subscribing witnesses. 
 
 The original, of which this is a true copy, is duly signed. 
 
 Quod Attestor. 
 (Seal.) (signed) James S. Hitzfer, 
 
 Fee to be charged to the Colony, Notary Public. 
 
 W. Walker, Secretary. 
 G. G. Lowenfeld, 
 
 Colonial Receiver-General. 18 March. 
 
 Not. Dept,, Sched. B., No. 26,242. 
 
 W.H. 
 Fee for grosse, $2. 50. 
 Received, 
 
 G. G. Lowenfeld, 
 
 Colonial Receiver-General. 
 
 Enclosure 6, in No. 11. 
 Sir, Georgetown, -5 February 1853. End. 6, in No. n, 
 
 I HAVE to acknowledge receipt of your communication of this date respecting the 
 Chinese immigrants per " Samuel Boddington," and in conformity with his Excellency's 
 suggestion, beg to name Mr. John Ross, of Wakenaam, to act on behalf of Messrs. Hyde, 
 Hodge & Co., associated with such planter as his Excellency or the Immigration Agent- 
 general may nominate, to inspect and report upon the fitness of these people for agricultural 
 purposes. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 To the Hon. William Walker, (signed) Peter Rose. 
 
 Government Secretary. For A. Duff. 
 
 Sir, Georgetown, 5 March 1853. 
 
 By desire of his Excellency the Governor we proceeded on board the barque " Samuel 
 Boddington," from Amoy,with Chinese immigrants. We had them mustered on deck, and 
 inspected them, and from their general appearance we are of opinion that they are well 
 adapted for agricultural purposes. 
 
 (signed) We have, &c. 
 To the Hon. Wm. Walker, Jno. JRoss, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. Rd. Henderson. 
 
 Enclosure 7, in No. 11. 
 
 Deraerara, 9 March 1853. End. 7, in No. n. 
 
 Having been frequently applied to since my arrival by planters and others interested in 
 Chinese immigration, for information regarding the practicability of obtaining Chinese 
 females for importation, and the character of such females, I have thought it better to 
 address to you a reply, and also to add my conviction that, without their own females, the 
 Chinese, as has been found in India, will never make steady or tractable settlers. 
 
 I have for some time had an intimate intercourse with the Chinese at the several sea- 
 ports with which our mercantile house in Bombay have had commercial connexions, and 
 having spent several months in the country for the express purpose of familiarising myself 
 ■with the peculiarities of the people and their local manners and customs, I am perhaps as 
 well prepared to give you a correct opinion in regard to the matter mentioned as any one 
 
 else at hand. 
 
 A few years since it would have been almost impossible to have cariied a Chinese female 
 out of the country, owing to the strict prohibitory laws of the empire, and the national 
 iealousy of the natives ; but that jealousy is now diminishing in the seaport towns, and the 
 laws are not enforced when the embarkation is not too publicly conducted. 
 
 Within the past two years two or three hundred women have thus left China for the 
 different places to which men had already emigrated. I may mention Batavia, Bali, 
 Lomboc, Penans, Singapore, and San Francisco. 
 
 At present their emigration cannot be conducted through resident agents or Chmese 
 brokers, because no one would thus render himself liable to a penalty which might be 
 enforced by a mandarin. 
 
 I am well assured that a number of girls and young women, say six hundred, can be 
 voluntarily engaged at once from either of the Chinese ports of Fou Tchan, Chin Chew, 
 Amoy, Namo, or Whampoa, to proceed to the West Indies to join the emigrants already here. 
 
 It will however requiie a person well versed in the peculiarities of the people, to proceed 
 in the vessel which is to convey them, to have absolute charge of said vessel, that he may 
 conduct his arrangements successfully and satisfactorily. 
 
 986. I ^^^ 
 
50 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMiMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH The coast line of China is so densely inhabited, that infanticide has been universally 
 
 Gr U I A N A. resorted to for the purpose of preventing^ a superabundant population. Emigration, how- 
 —— ever, will soon render this practice obsolete. 
 
 The Chinese women of the lower clas.ses bein^ but little better than slaves at home, are 
 not averse to emigrating, where the vigilance of the mandarins may be avoided, especially 
 to places under the English government. 
 
 The classes of women who would emigrate are those accustomed to manual labour, such 
 as gardeners and boatwomen (the most numerous), washwomen, fishermen's daughters, 
 and the various artisans of the country,— as taiioresses, pastry-cooks, embroiderers, and 
 those engaged in menial occupations in the houses of wealthy natives. 
 
 All these have full-grown and undeformed feet, are strong and well formed, and would 
 be very useful on a plantation, independently of rendering the male labourers steady and 
 permanent settlers. 
 
 The advantages that would arise from the importation of Chinese females into this colony 
 would, independently of labour they might perform, amply repay the expense in obtaining 
 them. 
 
 Better classes of Chinese would emigrate, and those already here would form matrimonial 
 connexions at once; thus becoming, at the expiration of their term of servitude, steady and 
 industrious settlers. 
 
 Without some arrangement of this kind is adopted, I fear that constant disturbances will 
 arise between the Chinese and the people of other countries already here; because an 
 universal hatred seems to exist between them and the black people of India and Africa 
 also, that upon the expiration of the period of their servitude they will become, as in their 
 own country, lawless and violent vagabonds. 
 
 Enclosed is a circular of our house in Bombay, which in the absence of a card I send 
 you. At all times until my departure for the United States, which will now be soon, I shall 
 be most happy to give you any information in my power regarding the subject of this com- 
 munication ; and shouild it be determined to import Chinese females into this colony, I will 
 undertake, in the name of our firm (Edward Ely & Co.), upon suitable conditions, to accom- 
 plish it satisfactorily. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 To his Excellraicy Henry Barkly, Esq. (signed) Edward Ely. 
 
 Governor of British Guiana. 
 
 Enclosure 8, in No. 1 1 . 
 
 Demerara, 21 March 1853. 
 End. 8, in No. 1 1. I hereby offer and agree, for and in the name of the mercantile house of " Edward 
 Ely & Co.," in Bombay, to regularly place at the disposal of the honourable the Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners, or their agents, in any of the ports of China, as many first class 
 (at Lloyd's), well ventilated and fast-sailing ships of not less than 800 tons registered 
 tonnage, comfortably fitted up for passengers, and provided with a competent English sur- 
 geon, as will be required by the emigration agents, to embark all the Chinese emigrants 
 destined for the British West Indies, during a period of six years, or less, from this date, 
 without detention, disappointment or difficulty. 
 
 I will further agree as above, that each ship thus destined for the West India voyage shall 
 be well supplied and found in the following particulars, before such time as she may be 
 required to embark ker emigrants, viz. — 
 
 Between the 20th day of March and the 1st day of November. 
 
 Five months' water, at the rate of one gallon 
 per diem, for every adult carried by the 
 ship< 
 1000 bags sound rice. 
 450 baskets sound salt fish. 
 800 casks salt beef or pork. 
 1 50 tubs hard bread. 
 60 „ brown sugar. 
 10 „ sago. 
 
 2 „ sulphur. 
 12 chests black tea. 
 6 „ tobacco. 
 2 peculs black pepper. 
 12 „ Chinese garlic 
 
 Between the 1st day of November and 20th day of March. 
 
 Four months' water at the beforementioned rate. 
 
 All other provisions and necessary articles, same quantity as beforementioned. 
 
 I further agree, that the emigrant passengers shall* be carried as speedily as possible, after 
 their embarkation, to the port of their destination, touching at no place on the voyage, 
 unless from some accident it be necesBary for the health, comfort or safety of those on 
 board, and that the arrival of the ship shall be immediately reported to the proper authorities 
 at that port. 
 
 The 
 
 5 cwt. salt-water soap. 
 
 50 tons fire wood. 
 100 mess kids and plates, &.c. 
 1000 plates,, basins, trays and scoops. 
 1000 sleeping mats and pillows. 
 1000 packs playing cards. 
 Musical instruments, gongS', &c. 
 Cooking, utensils, combs, razors. 
 An ample stock of suitable medicines and 
 
 medical comforts, instruments and utensils. 
 Wine, brandy, opium, &c. 
 As great a quantity of fresh provisions as will 
 
 keep till consumed, &c. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 51 
 
 The consideration asked for the full performance of the stipulations of this offer, is 20Z. 
 (twenty pounds sterling money) per caput, for each emigrant of the age of 14 years and up- 
 wards, landed alive; the same to be payable to an authorised agent of our firm, within 30 days 
 after the landing of the emigrants. Thirty days shall be allowed to expire as lay-days, after 
 the stated time the ship arrives at her port in China, as per order of the emigration agent, 
 prepared in all respects to receive her passengers and proceed to sea ; after which time, a 
 demurrage of sixpence (6d.) per registered ton per diem shall be paid for every day of 
 detention. Ten days shall be allowed as lay-days in the West Indies, after the notified 
 arrival of the ship, for the disembarkation of the passengers, after which a demurrage of 
 sixpence (6 d.) per registered ton per diem shall be paid for every day the emigrants are 
 continued on board. 
 
 Address " Edward Ely & Co.," Bombay. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (signed) Edward Ely, 
 To S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary, for Edward Ely & Co., Bombay. 
 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Georgetown, Demerara, 21 March 186.3. 
 
 Being quite uncertain by whom, and in what manner shipping will hereafter be employed 
 for the conveyance of emigrants from China to the West Indies, I hereby, according to your 
 Excellency's kind permission, entrust to your care a tender to the honourable the Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners, that in case a regular contract with them be required, I shall 
 have at least the opportunity of a fair competition with other parties. 
 
 Should my proposition meet with the approval of the honourable Commissioners, and be 
 accepted, I shall by that time have arrived in London, where all the necessary arrangements 
 can be concluded ; but should the matter have been left entirely in the hands of the 
 emigration agent in China, I shall nevertheless immediately proceed to dispatch a fine class 
 of ships regularly from Bombay to China, and as almost all our mercantile relations are at 
 present with that country, I shall myself supei'intend in person the fitting out, ample finding 
 and good despatch of all our vessels there. 
 
 That your Excellency may be acquainted with my address, in case of a wish to commu- 
 nicate, J will say that letters will reach me at " New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania," 
 until 1st of June next; in " London," to the care of" Hon. Abbot Lawrence, American 
 Minister, &c." till 25th July, and afterwards to our address, Bombay. 
 
 Retaining a deep sense of the kindness Mid courtesy I have experienced at your Excel- 
 lency's hands during my short stay in this colony, I shall still beg the indulgence of 
 remaining 
 
 Your Excellency's most humble and obliged servant. 
 
 To His Excellency Henry Barkly, Esq., (signed) Edward Ely. 
 
 Governor of British Guiana, &c. 
 
 Enclosure 9, in No. 11. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General's OflSce, Georgetown, 
 Sir, 18 March 1853. 
 
 In addition to my report of the 6th instant, I have the honour to state, that upon inspec- 
 tion, I find the forecastle of the ship had been taken into consideration, and that 60 Chinese 
 were actually berthed in that part of the ship, measuring 26 by 34 ; the crew having been 
 taken into the cuddy. I submit also copy of the clearing certificate given at Amoy, and signed 
 by Messrs. Tait & Co. ; this form was taken from a local ordinance, which Captain Hurst 
 had taken from this colony in 1848, when he brought coolies here, and which I believe at 
 that time allowed three adults to every five tons. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. W. Walker, (signed) W. Humphry s, I.A.G. 
 
 Gov. Sec. 
 
 End. 9, in No. 11. 
 
 Cleabing Certificate for Emigrants at Amoy. 
 
 Nil ME or Shif. 
 
 Samuel Boddingtod 
 
 Name of Master. 
 
 J. W. Hnrst 
 
 Tons per 
 Itegister. 
 
 669 
 
 Total 
 
 Number of 
 
 Statute Adults, 
 
 exclusive of 
 Master, Crew, 
 
 and Cabin 
 
 Passeogera, the 
 
 Ship can 
 
 legally cany. 
 
 986. 
 
 335 
 
 I2 
 
 Aggregate 
 Number 
 of Superficial 
 Feet in the 
 several com- 
 parts for 
 Passengers. 
 
 4)1 52 Amoy 
 
 Sailing 
 from 
 
 Intending 
 
 to 
 touch at 
 
 Bound to 
 
 Demerara. 
 
 We, 
 
52 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the foregoing appear to be the burthen 
 
 Cr U I A N A. and dimensions of the above-named vessel, and that having regard as well to space as to 
 
 tonnage, the greatest number of passengers she can carry by the Passenger Act, 1849, is 
 
 386 ; and we further certify, that lo the best of our knowledge and belief she is in all 
 respects seaworthy, and that the provisions, water, and stores actually laden on board, have 
 been duly surveyed by us, and are sufficient in quantity, as well for the number of passengers 
 now about to proceed in her, as for the crew ; and that the same are of proper quality, and 
 in good and sweet condition ; and lastly, that all the directions contained in the Immigra- 
 tion Ordinance of British Guiana, and also in the Passenger Act, 1849, so far as such Act 
 applies to said vessel, for securing the health and safety of the passengers, have been duly 
 complied with, so far as circumstances permit. 
 
 Dated at Amoy, this 24th day of November 1852. 
 
 (signed) Tait S; Co. 
 
 * 
 
 — No. 12.— 
 No. 12. (No. 54-) 
 
 Governor Barkly CoPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Barldy to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. 
 to the Duke of 
 
 Newcastle. Government House, 7 April 1853. 
 
 T April 1853. j^j-y Lqj,^ Duke, (Received, 4 May 1853.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Grace's despatch of the 28th February 
 Page 101. (No. 20)*, enclosing copy of a further communication on the subject of Chinese im- 
 
 migration from the acting superintendent of trade in China, and directing me to 
 examine into and report upon the allegations contained therein as to the abuses 
 practised in procuring emigrants in that countiy. 
 Despatches of ^* My reports upon the arrival of the " Glentanner," " Lord Elgin," and " Samuel 
 
 94 January, No. 8, Boddington," would subsequently show your Grace that the existence of these 
 and 1-2 March, abuses did not escape my attention, but that I communicated to Her Majesty's 
 Jio. 41. Government, as promptly as possible, all the information I could procure on the 
 
 subject. 
 
 3. Those reports would also demonstrate the impracticability, from the want of 
 competent interpreters, of instituting anything like a searching inquiry on this side, 
 into the motives and expectations which induced the people to emigrate, the nature 
 of the representations made to them, or the precise details of the treatment they 
 met with in the depots. 
 
 4. For my own part, I am inclined to think that the account Dr. Bowring has 
 received of these matters is somewhat over-coloured, no allowance apparently being 
 made for the difference between Asiatic and European ideas— either of good faith 
 or of comfort, — a difference which in the latter respect may be illustrated by the 
 simple fact, that many of the Chinese, who arrived here in the " Glentanner," had, 
 according to their own assertion, never before lived in a house of any kind, and 
 regarded a floor, even if of bamboo, or a roof, even of thatch, as luxuries ; whilst, 
 as regards good faith, I have little doubt they would have thought it just as allow- 
 able to cheat the Chinese depot-keeper out of the advances made to them, or to 
 pocket them over and over again by escaping and re-entering, as he on his part would, 
 to employ deception, fraud, or even violence towards them, if it suited his purpose. 
 
 5. That it is desirable to find a remedy for such a state of things, is clear, but I 
 must beg leave to differ altogether from Dr. Bowring's view of what that remedy 
 should be ; since even were it practicable, as he suggests, to ascertain on the arrival 
 of each vessel in the West Indies, whether the emigrants on board had been deceived 
 by falsehoods or kidnapped by force, and thereupon to decide whether they should 
 be allowed to land or be sent back to China at the expense of the colony, it is not 
 shown how such an arrangement for punishing the innocent vicariously for the 
 guilty, could have the slightest effect in checking malpractices among Chinese 
 <3rimps. 
 
 6. It is tme that Dr. Bowring further proposes to give the colony the means of 
 redress against the misdoers, but he does not explain how this is to be accom- 
 plished. 
 
 7. A far simpler remedy might, in my humble opinion, be devised by the 
 British authorities on the spot, as the whole of the emigration is conducted by 
 British merchants, subject to consular jurisdiction, and almost entirely in British 
 vessels. Why, for instance, should not a heavy penalty be imposed upon the agent 
 or consignee of any vessel clearing for any part of the world, without an affidavit, 
 ^wom to by himself, by the master and by the surgeon, before the Vice Consul at 
 
 the 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 53 
 
 the nearest port open to British trade, to the effect that all the passengers are BRITISH 
 voluntary emigrants, and were put on board without any exhibition offeree what- GUIANA, 
 soever ; or if this be impracticable, why should not a bond, with power to recover 
 in any port to which the vessel may be destined, in the event of complaints being 
 substantiated by the emigrants, be exacted from the captain and his securities, 
 as in the case of vessels bringing coolies from Calcutta to the West Indies. 
 
 8. I will only add that 1 have no reason whatever to believe that any of the 
 Chinese introduced into this colony were brought against their will, and that 
 they are going on in a very satisfactory manner, — as shown by the enclosed report 
 irom the stipendiary magistrate of the district in which they are all located. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 12, 
 
 Stipendiary Magistrate's Office, End. in No. 12, 
 
 Sir, District D, April 6, 1853. 
 
 Many of the Chinese immigrants having now been in the colony for a period of nearly 
 three months, I deem it my duty to acquaint his Excellency the Governor with the opinion 
 entertained by the managers of the estates on which these people are located, as to their 
 capabilities as agriculturists. 
 
 From the reports I have received from the gentlemen in charge of the respective estates 
 Schoonord, Windsor Forest, La Jalousie and Blankenburgh, it appears these immigrants are 
 giving the greatest satisfaction, and I find that the wages they are now earning average 24 
 cents per day, which, for people unaccustomed to the field-labour of a tropical climate, 
 certainly evinces a disposition to industry. 
 
 Mr. Butts, the manager of La Jalousie, in writing to me on the subject of the Chinese, says, 
 " I am better pleased with them than any class of immigrant that has been introduced into 
 the colony, and my experience in this respect for the last five years has been varied." Mr. 
 G. Bascome, of Windsor Forest, and Mr. C. Bascome, of Schoonord, both assert that they 
 would rather have one Chinese than two coolies, as they consider their physical strength 
 greater. 
 
 The report from plantations Vreedenhoop and Ponderoyen is less satisfactory, owing to the 
 debilitated state many of these immigrants were in when they arrived upon the estate, con- 
 sequently they have performed but little labour, but an improvement here is, I am happy to 
 say, gradually taking place. 
 
 The experiment of introducing this class of immigrant here being a novel one, considerable 
 doubts have naturally existed as to its success ; but as far as my own personal knowledge 
 has enabled me to judge, coupled with the cheering reports which I have received, induces 
 me to believe that Chinese immigration, judiciously conducted, will be advantageous to the 
 
 colony. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Honourable William Walker, (signed) Walter Howard Ware,^. M. 
 
 Government Secretary. 
 
 — No. 13. — 
 
 (No. 73-) • No. 13. 
 
 'Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Barkly to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. Governor Barkly 
 
 ^ TT o Ti*- -loro to the Duke of' 
 
 Government House, 3 May looo. Newcastle. 
 
 My Lord Duke, (Received, 31 May 1853.) 3 May 1853. 
 
 Upwards of two months having elapsed since my first visit to the plantations 
 on which Chinese immigrants are located, and those ea.' " Samuel Boddiugton" 
 having subsequently been sent to the same district, I deemed it my duty to make 
 another tour of inspection, accompanied by the Immigration Agent-general, whose 
 official report of its very satisfactory results I enclose for your Grace's information. 
 
 2. All that I learned on this second occasion confirms my previous view of the 
 high value of the Chinese as agricultural labourers, the best proof of which is, that 
 though under the recent resolutions of the Combined Court, the amount to be 
 repaid by those receiving this class of immigrants is very considerable, there is not 
 one employer who already has them, who would not be willing to pay for more. 
 
 3. Their presence, indeed, proved the greatest boon during the recent severe 
 drought, when the ground was so hard that neither hoe nor shovel could be used 
 to break it up, for they cheerfully set to work with the agricultural fork, a tool 
 recently introduced with the greatest benefit into colonial husbandry, but to which, 
 
 986. I 3 fro^i 
 
54 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH from its novelty, the negroes manifest an almost insuperable aversion ; and thus 
 GUIANA, the planters veere enabled to get most effectual work performed at the most 
 
 desirable moment, for the effect of a tropical drought in pulverizing the stiff clays 
 
 can only be likened to that of a frost upon tillage at home ; at a moment too, when 
 but for the Chinese, and a few of the robuster Indian coolies, no work at all oovM 
 have been done, except perhaps that preferred by the negro shovelmen, throvdng 
 the mud out of the draining trenches, which on all estates might not be needed. 
 
 4. Though this forking is, as may be supposed, rather hard work where the soil 
 is baked like a brick, I saw one Chinaman on plantation Windsor Forest, who, 
 having been laid up with fever during the first two days of the week, had turned 
 out and performed with ease to himself six tasks in the remaining four days, 
 thereby earning 2 dollars (8*. 4 J:), the same as his comrades. 
 
 5. Another curious proof of their eagerness to earn money was mentioned to me 
 by the proprietor of this estate, no less than 40 of them having turned out to work 
 in the cane fields one Sunday morning, without the knowledge of the manager, and 
 on their being afterwards remonstrated with, replying that Sunday was well enough 
 for black people, but that it was hard that the Chinese should not be allowed to gain 
 wages every day if they chose. 
 
 6. A hint that they would not be entitled to payment for work so done, had 
 however the desired effect, and they have not since tried the experiment. Their 
 conduct on the subject forms a striking contrast to that of the Indian immigrants, 
 for 1 never heard of a cooly's proposing to stir a finger either on Sunday or 
 Christian holiday, although accustomed throughout India to work upon them just 
 the same as on other days. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Barkly. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 13. 
 
 Immigration Agent-general's Office, 
 Sir, 3 May 1853. 
 
 End. in No. 1 3. Having had the honour of accompanying his Excellency the Governor on his visit of 
 inspection to the estates on the west coast, upon which Chinese have been located, and 
 having since visited the two River estates employing labourers of this description, I take 
 an early opportunity of reporting officially such facts as came under my observation as 
 aifording fair conclusions of the advantages o£Fered to the people, their adaptation to the 
 climate, and the results that may be anticipated on the future exports of this colony by the 
 influx of such labourers. 
 
 Independent of the desirableness of locating these people on estates contiguous to town, 
 although so distinct as to separate them from pernicious influences, no portion of the colony 
 was more in want of an immediate and large addition to its resident population, from the 
 very great extent to which the cultivation has been increased. 
 
 Being first-class estates, also, in a healthy locality, with abundant means, proper hospitals, 
 and ample house accommodation, no more appropriate locality could have been selected to 
 test a first experiment, and to judge of the propriety of a continuous stream of immigration 
 from China. 
 
 The first estate visited by his Excellency on the 21st ultimo was " Stewartville," to which 
 44 Chinese had been allotted from the " Samuel Boddington " on the 4th of March, and 
 amongst whom two cases of mortality, from fever, occurred soon after their location 
 upon the estate ; five were in hospital from slight intermittent fever and diarrhoea, as 
 commonly the case after a long sea voyage and cliange of diet, but the rest were in general 
 good health, earning on an average 6 d. per day independent of provisions, including fresh 
 meat twice a week gratuitously distributed by the estate. 
 
 At "Anna Catharina" but one death had occurred out of the 47 immigrants placed there 
 out of the same ship, and, with the exception of six in hospital with light and temporary 
 indisposition, and one crazy man, who will never be fit for service, the rest were working 
 steadily and cheerfully, making Is, to 1 s. 4:d. per day, of which id. was being stopped for 
 provisions. 
 
 On the " Hague," the adjoining plantation, we found but 37 Chinese of the 39 sent there 
 ex " Samuel Boddington," one having died from yellow fever, and the other from the effects 
 of the voyage ; 16 v»ere in hospital with intermittent fever and small sores, the latter arising, 
 in a great measure, from insects and the scratches of the cane leaves, which always occasion 
 some inconvenience to new-comers, and more particularly to those who, having encountered 
 a long sea voyage, are predisposed to irruptions. We remained on this estate until the 
 field gang had been sent for, and although it was but 12 o'clock when they made their 
 appearance, all of them had even then completed six-yard and eight-yard tasks. They were 
 neatly clad in clothes ^ven them by the proprietors, in cheerful spirits, and pleased beyond 
 
 measure 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. ^'is 
 
 measure at exhibiting the fruits of their labours, which in one instance reached 10 s. During BRITISH 
 the month of March 30 of them had earned $02. 52., from which ^28. 48. had been GUIANA. 
 
 deducted on account of the advances made in China by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., all 
 
 rations having been liberally issued by the proprietors free of charge. This system was to 
 be continued through the month of April, when all but the sick were to be thrown upon 
 their own resources, which they preferred to the specific amounts fixed by the indentures 
 and rations. 
 
 At die "Blankenburg" estate ail the Chinese, 83 in number, were from the "Lord 
 Elgin," and no death could be attributed to this climate, as the only three deficient had 
 sunk from debility (two in January and one in April) after their discharge from the Colonial 
 Hospital. In the Estates Hospital, an airy and most comfortable building, we found but 
 one case of intermittent fever, five others being there temporarily with slight indisposition, 
 the manager preferring the expense and trouble of their maintenance even in trivial cases 
 to the slightest risk. On this plantation a very correct account of the disbursements inci- 
 dental toi the acclimatization of so large a gang had been kept. In provisions, clothing, 
 and hospital expenses, these amounted from the"l8th January to the 9th April to ^769. 47. 
 independent of wages, which had been paid at the same rate as to all other labourers on 
 the plantation. Their progTessive earnings afforded the best test of their health and value 
 to the property, 
 
 Amounting in the first six weeks to - - - ^136. 24. 
 
 „ in the next four weeks to - - 133. 52. 
 
 And in the last two weeks to _ - - _ io5. 96, 
 
 Previous to the allotment of these people to Blankenburg the gr«at scarcity of labour in 
 the district had compelled the employment of non-resident labourers or task gangs (one of 
 the crying evils of this country), at the extra cost of 4rf. per task. With such an accession 
 of labour these have been dispensed with, and, by a calculation shown me by the manager, 
 he makes out that by this measure the first heavy outlay would be returned to the pro- 
 perty on the completion of 151 tasks by each man, or say by the saving of 151 bitts, or 
 ^12. 08. 
 
 No attempt had been made to obtain repayment of the advances of Messrs. Hyde, 
 Hodge & Co., which could not well have been expected whilst the proprietors were them- 
 selves incurring a heavy outlay under the supposition that so far the wages were inadequate 
 to the support of the immigrants. 
 
 On the " Jalousie" estate, to which his Excellency then proceeded, we found 101 Chinese 
 out of the 104 allotted ex "Glentanner" in the month of January, one having died a few 
 days after arrival, and two in the month of March. There were no serious cases of sickness 
 in the hospital, and the gang when assembled for inspection gave every indication of good 
 health, and of ability to support themselves from the produce of their earnings. 
 
 It appeared to me very unfortunate that this estate should have adopted in.its transactions 
 with the Chinese a course different to that pursued by the adjoining plantations; for how- 
 ever just it might have been in the abstract to recover from the people the amount expended 
 in clothing, still it was but probable that less liberal treatment than that experienced on 
 other plantations would cause dissatisfaction. Moreover, I apprehend that if stoppages 
 were to be made, those of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. had a primary lien on the wages of 
 the labourers. 
 
 From the 17th January, when the people first commenced working for money, their earn- 
 ings have, as elsewhere, been progressively on the increase ; viz. : 
 
 For the first four weeks - - - 7 cents per day's labour. 
 For the next four weeks - - - 7i - ditto - - ditto. 
 For the next three weeks - - - 11 - ditto - - ditto. 
 
 For the first two months rations were issued without a charge, and independent of the 
 money wages; but since the 1st of April not only have the people been thrown upon their 
 own resources (which in most cases, it is but justice to say, have ranged from ^1 to ^1. 25 
 per week), but stojjpages have been made for clothing given elsewhere as a douceur. 
 
 "Windsor Forest," which next came under inspection, also received Chinese from the 
 "Glentanner," and but one death in the month of January had occurred out of the 104 
 sent to the estate. W'e found the same liberal treatment in operation here as at Blanken- 
 burg, and a more healthy and contented set of beings it was impossible to see. Their rooms 
 were tidy in the extreme, their persons cleanly, and the labours of the day being over, they 
 wer« singjng, cooking, and amusing themselves as if totally devoid of care, and as happy 
 as larks. Oh inspection of the pay-book for the preceding week I found many of the 
 people had earned ^1. 56., many more ^1 . 12., and that all were fairly in a position to main- 
 tain themselves, and contribute to the advances made by Hyde, Hodge & Co., if the proprietor 
 will not himself' assume them. 
 
 The last estate visited by his Excellency on the 21st ultimo was the " Haarlem/' on 
 which 45 had been located" from lie " Samuel Boddington;" and,, although no deaths had 
 occurred, two were in the hospital with yellow fever, whose chances of life were but very 
 doubtful, and seven others were confined temporarily with intermittent fever and sores. 
 The remainder were in perfect health, and earning, as the manager informed us, on an average 
 from ^1 to ^1. 44. A-t the period of our visit they were, with the exception of the sick, on 
 the same footing as all other labourers in the colony, having experienced' the same liberality 
 
 986. I 4 '^ 
 
56 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 in clothing and household utensils from the owner of the estate as at Windsor Forest and 
 other places. 
 
 I regret that the removal of the 45 Chinese from the Vreedenhoop to Anna Regina, on the 
 Arabian coast, has prevented my embracing in this report all immigrants of this class 
 hitherto imported. I am informed, however, that but one death had occurred upon that 
 estate up to the date of their departure. 
 
 The only two other river estates receiving Chinese, and which I visited yesterday, are the 
 "Kleyn Ponderoyen" and Schoonord;" to the former 44 were sent ea; " Glen tanner," and 
 to the latter 61 from the " Samuel Boddington." The Kleyn Ponderoyen Chinese appear 
 to have been a sickly lot from their first location upon the estate, four having died soon after 
 their arrival, two having continued throughout in the hospital, and eight others being still so 
 weakly as to be unfit for field labour. The remainder were looking healthy enough, and 
 although not so robust as elsewhere, were earning, according to the estates-book, suflScient 
 for their proper maintenance. 
 
 At " Schoonord," the last estate embraced in this report, but one death had taken place 
 (in the month of April), and only two were in hospital with intermittent fever. A number of 
 others were suffering from the scratches of the cane and itch ; but the doctor, who met me on 
 the property, was of opinion that they would be better employed about the buildings so long, 
 and that in a few days they would be perfectly well. At foot you have the number of 
 Chinese allotted to each estate from the three ships that have arrived, together with the 
 mortality reported ; referring to which, 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 The Hon. William Walker. (signed) J. Gardiner Austin, I. A. G. 
 
 " Samuel Boddington." 
 
 - - 
 
 - 
 
 Immigrants. 
 
 Death. 
 
 4 March 1853. Anna Catharina - 
 Schoonord - 
 Vreedenhoop 
 Haarlem 
 Stewartville - 
 Hague 
 
 47 
 51 
 45 
 45 
 44 
 39 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 Total 
 
 271 
 
 7 
 
 " Lord Elgin." 
 17 Jan. 1853- - Blankenburg 
 
 - 
 
 83 
 
 3 
 
 " Glentanner." 
 
 12 Jan. 1853 -- Jalousie 
 
 Windsor Forest - 
 Kleyn Ponderoyen 
 
 104 
 103 
 
 44 
 
 3 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 Total 
 
 251 
 
 8 
 
 Totals 
 
 - 
 
 605 
 
 18 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 Acting-Governor 
 Walker to the 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 24 May 1853. 
 
 Page 111, 
 
 — No. 14.— 
 
 (No. 9.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Acting-Governor Walker to his Grace the Duke of 
 
 I^ewcasde. 
 
 Government House, Demerary, 24 May 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, (Received, 16 June 1853.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Grace a series of resolutions, prepared by 
 the Commissioners of Immigration Correspondence, and adopted by the Court of 
 Policy at its meeting yesterday, relative to the arrangements to be made prospec- 
 tively, for securing the continuance of emigration from China and Madeira to this 
 colony. 
 
 Having had the opportunity of perusing a private letter from Mr. White to Mr.- 
 Rose, of a later date than that of his official communication to the Colonial Land 
 and Emigration Commissioners, enclosed with your Grace's despatch No. 35,* this 
 
 day 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 57 
 
 day received, wherein he expresses himself in even more decided terms as to the BRITISH 
 necessity of superseding the bounty system by one of Government agency ; and G U lA N A. 
 having myself been long convinced of the disadvantages attendant on the introduc- 
 tion of immigrants by means which admitted of no effective control or supervision, 
 I deemed it right to request the early attention of the Immigration Correspondence 
 Commissioners to the subject, in a minute of which I beg to transmit a copy. 
 
 I was the more desirous of avoiding further delay upon this very important 
 matter, because the months from September to March are stated to be those in 
 which it is to be preferred that vessels with emigrants should leave the ports of 
 China, and because I understand that Mr. White will be in England at the same 
 time with Governor Barkly ; and it is of course highly expedient that in discussing 
 plans for the future management of emigration to tlais colony, they should be in 
 possession of the views and wishes of the Legislature up to the latest date. 
 
 I trust it may be practicable to induce Mr. White to return to Hong Kong in 
 time for the ojiening of the season, and to organise an effective system from that 
 port as a centre or depot ; great confidence is felt here, in his judgment and zeal, 
 and as there seems to be no reason to anticipate the arrival of any further supplies 
 of Chinese immigi'ants this year, it is considered the more urgently necessary that 
 timely exertions should be used to secure an adequate supply for the next season. 
 
 I may here add, that, adverting to Mr. White's suggestion, as to the propriety 
 of some of the Chinese being enabled to return to their own country, so as to in- 
 spire their countrymen with confidence in the expatriation to which they are invited, 
 it becomes of essential consequence that they should receive favourable impressions 
 on their first location in this colony ; and as their habits and feelings are very 
 peculiar, I think it will be desirable to frame, from the hints afforded by Mr. White, 
 and other sources, a short manual for the use of managers and others to whose charge 
 they may be entrusted. Some have been already committed to gaol for theft, deser- 
 tion, and refusal to labour, and considering it very likely that such an offence as 
 the last-named might arise from misconception, I have requested the stipendiary 
 magistrates to furnish me with a special report of any such cases. 
 
 With respect to the resolutions generally, I am not aware that it is necessary 
 for me at the present moment to discuss them at. any length ; one or two of them, 
 however, require a brief remark. 
 
 The first of these refers to the suggested transfer of the duties of the Colonial 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners, in regard to emigration to this colony, from 
 that board to the Immigration Loan Commissioners in London. Upon this being 
 read, I felt it to be due to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to 
 elicit from the elective members of the Court a distinct disclaimer of any intention 
 to cast censure or disparagement upon those gentlemen, accompanied by the ex- 
 planation that the ground for the expression of the desire embodied in the resolu- 
 tion, is simply a conviction upon the minds of the Members of the Commission 
 that the great pressure upon the time and attention of the Colonial Land and Emi- 
 gration Commissioners, arising from the extraordinary tide of emigration from the 
 mother country to the Australian and other colonies, renders it difficult for those 
 gentlemen to bestow upon the emigration from Africa and Asia to this colony that 
 constant and immediate attention which its successful prosecution demands. 
 
 Another point in the resolutions, which attracted my attention, was the request 
 that I should express my "disapproval" of the exorbitant charges now made in 
 Madeira for parish papers and passports. I certainly do not conceive that I am 
 in a position to authorise me to express officially any opinion upon a matter of 
 entirely domestic arrangement between the Portuguese Government and their own 
 subjects ; added to which, the object in view will be much more effectually attained 
 by the raising of the bounty upon immigrants from Madeira from 25 dollars, the 
 rate recently allowed, to the old rate of 30 dollars per head. 
 
 This chano-e was carried by the adoption of a resolution, moved by the Honour- 
 able Mr. Porter, in conformity with previous notice, and of which I beg to enclose 
 an extract minute. I thought it right to remark upon the inconvenience of frequent 
 alterations in the rates of bounty, which was admitted, but it was urged in reply that 
 the payments demanded of the emigrants by the local authorities and the advance 
 in the cost of freight, render the present increase absolutely necessary ; while as 
 these immigrants are now equally with others subject to serve under indenture for 
 a term of years, they are, after all, the cheapest immigrants introduced. 
 
 The 15th and 16th resolutions, referring to the number of immigrants which it 
 is desired to obtain from China and Calcutta respectively during the season of 
 
 986. K 1853-54, 
 
58 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 1853-54, I beg leave to submit for your Grace s decision ; with respect to the 
 "^ deficiencies of the present season, therein adverted to, it may be proper for me to 
 
 state that I have since the meeting of the Court received your Grace's despatches. 
 No. 38 and 41, covering advices of the departure from Calcutta for this colony of 
 the ships " Adelaide " and " ApoUine," vi^ith coolies; and also that by a note, 
 received yesterday, from Governor Barkly, dated at St. Thomas, I am apprised of 
 the possibility of one of the vessels intended for Trinidad with Chinese immigrants, 
 being sent on to this colony. I believe, however, that under any circumstances, 
 there will be sufficient funds to defray the expense of importing all the immigrants 
 now requested, should so large a number be procurable. 
 
 I beg to enclose an extract from the " Royal Gazette " newspaper, containing a 
 tolerably accurate report of the discussion upon the resolutions now transmitted ; 
 and at the same time to apologise for any imperfections in this despatch, which 
 has been avoidably prepared with some degree of haste in order to secure the im- 
 mediate communication to your Grace of a document of considerable importance. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) W. Walker. 
 
 P. S. — I ought perhaps to state, as is the wish of the Immigration Agent-general, 
 that he objected to the terms in which the 10th resolution was originally framed, 
 and that it was modified at his suggestion. W. W. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 14. 
 
 End. I, in No. 14. Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of tlie Honourable the Court of Policy of 
 the Colony of British Guiana, at its adjourned Assembly held at the Guiana PubMe 
 Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, Monday, 23d May 1853. 
 
 [After Prayers.] 
 His Excellency laid over an Extract Minute of the Proceedings of the Committee of 
 Immigration Correspondence at a meeting held on the 19th instant. F. J. 
 
 Ordered, the Court approves of the report of the committee, and recommends, in additioa 
 to it, the adoption of a resolution, extending the term of service of coolie immigrants to not 
 less than eight years, in case the return passage to India should be insisted upon. 
 
 (True extract.) 
 
 (signed) W. B. Woheley, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Committee of Immigration Correspondence, at their 
 meeting held at the Guiana Pubhc Buildings, on the 19th of May 185'3. 
 
 Despatches from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, covering letters from the Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners and Mr. White, on the subject of Chinese immioration, with a 
 minute of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, having been .read, it was resolved that the 
 following recommendations should be submitted to the Legislature : — 
 
 "1st. That the system of payment of bounty for Chinese immigrants should be discon- 
 tinued, and that no bounty should be payable upon any Chinese immigrants brouglit to this 
 colony by any vessel leaving a Chinese port subsequent to the 1st of October 1853. 
 
 " •2d. That emigration from China should, in future, be conducted by an agent appointed 
 by the colony under the authority of Government, whose head quarters should be at Hong 
 Kong. 
 
 "3d. That vessels should be chartered in England sufficient, if possible, to carry one 
 half of the Chinese immigrants to be introduced into British Guiana, during the season of 
 1853-54. 
 
 ".4th. That the agent at Hong Kong should be authorised to charter vessels on the spot 
 for the remainder. 
 
 " 5th. That the vessels taken up in England should be chartered simply for carriage, 
 fittings, and water, and that in such as are proceeding direct from England to Hong Kong, 
 shipments of beef and pork should be forwarded to the agent. 
 
 " 6th. That a communication should be addressed to the agent at once, to ascertain what 
 quantity of such, supplies he may require, in order that shipments should be forwarded to 
 him by other vessels, if necessary, without loss of time. 
 
 " 7th. That care should be taken to send a proper proportion of interpreters, say one to 
 every fifty, and that a native surgeon and one or two Nayang players or musicians should 
 be in every vessel. 
 
 " 8th. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should be requested to issue a notice 
 calling upon all persons desirous of obtaining Chinese immigrants, during the next season, 
 to forward applications to the Immigration Agent-General on or before the 15th of June 
 next,, alter which date no applications would be recorded for the season. 
 
 "9th. That 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. sg 
 
 " 9th. That, as a general rule, no vessel of less than 800 tons register should be taken up, BRITISH 
 and that the Agent should be recommended to secure, if possible, such as were of 1,000 tims GUIANA. 
 and upwards. 
 
 " 10th. That as the time of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners is so fully 
 taken up with emigration from the United Kingdom, his Excellency the Lieutenant- 
 Governor should be requested to urge on Her Majesty's Government the propriety of appoint- 
 ing the Loan Commissioners of British Guiana to discharge the duties connected with the 
 chartering of vessels, shipment of supplies, payment of drafts, correspondence with agents, 
 and all operations connected therewith in tne immigration to this colony from China and 
 India. 
 
 " 11th. That tiie Agent should be authorised to defray all the necessary expenses of 
 emigration, and to make advances to the emigrants themselves, not exceeding 10 dollars 
 per head, inclusive of clothing, and that all these disbursements should be charged in his 
 account as forming a portion of the cost of introduction. 
 
 " 12th. That Mr White's suggestion for the introduction of between 200 and 300 young 
 females (if with families the more preferable) by a separate vessel should be adopted, and 
 arrangements made for their passage, the advances to secure that object being left to his 
 discretion. 
 
 " 13l.h. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should be requested to express to 
 Mr. White the high sense entertained of bis services by the inhabitants of British Guiana, 
 and their anxiety for his early return to China, should he unfortunately have already left for 
 England. 
 
 " 14th. That Mr. White's suggestions of sending implements of husbandry and mosquito 
 nettings, as used in China, should be adopted to a limited extent. 
 
 "15th. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should be requested to give the 
 necessary instructions for the introduction of 1,500 Chinese during the next season, exclusive 
 of the deficiency of the season of 1853-53. 
 
 " 16th. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should be requested to order 2,&00 
 Calcutta coolies for the season of 1853-54, exclusive of the deficiency of the previous 
 season, with as large a proportion of females as possible, and to urge on Her Majesty's 
 Government at the same time the hardship of compelling the colony to pay a return pas- 
 sage, the charge of which is burthensome in the extreme, and should be discontinued; but 
 in the event of its being insisted upon, that the term of service should be extended to not 
 less than eight years." 
 
 A dei^patch from the Duke of Newcastle, with enclosures from Mr. Spring Rice, having 
 been also read, it was resolved — 
 
 " That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should be requested to express to Her 
 Majesty's Government the full concurrence of the Commissioners in the views therein 
 stated, and to urge the necessity of immediate communications to the Portuguese Govern- 
 ment, having for their object the removal of all restrictions on the emigration from Madeira 
 to British Gniaua. 
 
 " That his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor should also be requested to express his 
 disapproval of the exorbitant charges now made in Madeira for parish papers and passports, 
 and to intimate the readiness of the colonists to defray any reasonable charges for such 
 
 purposes." . 
 
 (signed) Peter Base, Cbawmarr. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 14. 
 
 I SHOULD be glad if the Immigration Correspondence Commissioners would take up the End. 2, in No. 14, 
 subiect of Chinese immigration, as referred to them in the despatches from the Secretary of 
 State, recently laid before the Court of Policy. My own opinion has always been adverse 
 to the bounty system, or at all events to its continuance ; its adoption in the first instance 
 mioht be, perhaps, justified, upon the ground of the necessity for avoiding delay ; but the 
 experience of its working shows that it would not answer to continue it except, under more 
 effective and direct control, and upon a better organised system than has been hitherto- the 
 case. This' view is confirmed by the tenor of the communications from Mr. White, of 
 which copies were enclosed in the despatch above-mentioned ; but 1 have, moreover, had' 
 access to a private letter from Mr. White to Mr. Rose, dated 9lh February, at Hong Kong, 
 the contents of which are very interesting. I think it is of somewhat later date than his 
 latest official letter ; at all events he distinctly states that the negotiation for the charter of 
 the Lord Warriston has failed, as had that for the Martin Lutiier, previously. 
 
 Mr. White expresses himself on the subject of the emigration, to this effect: that, from 
 the want of shipping, it is doubtful if anything more can be done this season ; that he is 
 unwilling to press emigration far at this moment, because any such accident as has occurred 
 on the Cuban voyages might have a serious effect upon the ultimate success of our own 
 arrangements- that emigration should be conducted from Hong. Kong alone, or at least of 
 makino- it the depot; that vessels chartered in England should be engaged for the voyage 
 only and not for provisions also ; that a supply of the utensils and mosquito nets used by 
 the Chinese should be sent with each vessel ; and that some native doctors should be also 
 sent for which he assigns very satisfactory reasons ; that the shipments should take place 
 between September and March ; and that the laying in of provisions should be part of the 
 agent's duty. 
 %86. K2 From 
 
6o PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH From all this I think it is clear that we are not to expect any more Chinese irami- 
 
 Q U I A N A. grants this year, but that the return of Mr. White to England, and the experience he 
 
 has gained, will be most beneficial to the colony, if proper advantage be taken of the 
 
 circumstance of the Governor being at home at the same time. 
 
 I would suggest, then, for the consideration of the Commissioners, the propriety of 
 recommending the Legislature to declare that no bounty shall be payable upon any Chinese 
 immigrants brought here in any vessel which shall have left a Chinese port subsequently 
 to the 1st of October next ; that the emigration shall in future be conducted by an agent 
 appointed by the colony, and acting under authority of the Government ; that such agent 
 be empowered to charter vessels on the spot, failing an adequate supply of tonnage being 
 engaged in England, and to take charge of the arrangements for victualling and providing, 
 such other necessaries as the peculiar habits of the Chinese may seem to him to require; 
 that care be taken to send a proper proportion of interpreters and a native surgeon with 
 each ship ; that the attention of the agent be specially directed to sending some women ; 
 that he be authorised to make advances to a limited amount per head to the emigrants ; 
 that, as a general rule, no vessel of less than 600 tons register be taken up for the service ; 
 and that Mr. White be induced, if possible, to return immediately to China, and, as the 
 colony agent, organise a system of emigration, for which the head quarters shall be 
 Hong Kong. 
 
 Mr. White's letter contains much judicious advice as to the treatment of the Chinese, and 
 1 think Mr. Rose would not object to allow a copy of it to be taken for reference. I should 
 wish the subject to be brought forward if possible on Wednesday in the Court of Policy. 
 
 14 May 1853. (signed) W. W. 
 
 As the Commissioners of Immigration Correspondence are to meet this morning, I am 
 desirous to submit for their perusal the accompanying memorandum, from which I propose 
 to draft a short memorandum for the use of managers and others entrusted with the charge 
 of the Chinese immigrants, as 1 fear that great mistakes may be made in their manao-ement 
 from the want of a due appreciation of their very peculiar character, and from ionorance of 
 their language and habits. 
 
 19 May 1853. (signed) W. W. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 14. 
 
 Bncl. 3> in No. 14. Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Honourable the Court of Policy of 
 the Colony of British Guiana, at its Adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public 
 Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, Monday, 23 May 1863. 
 
 [After Prajers.J 
 
 The honourable Mr. Porter, in pursuance of notice, moves, seconded by the honourable 
 Ml". Jones, 
 
 That in consequence of the great advance which has lately taken place in the rates of freight, 
 g,nd the expenses for passports, &c., incidental to persons leaving Madeira, it is the opinion 
 of this Court, it is expedient to increase the bounty on the introduction of Portuguese 
 immigrants from 25 dollars to 30 dollars, it being distinctly understood that this sum is to 
 cover all expenses. 
 Carried unanimously. 
 
 (True extract.) 
 
 (signed) W. B. Woheley, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 4, in No. 14. 
 
 Eaq], 4^JnNo. J4. The following Extract Minute from the proceedings of Commissioners of Immigration 
 Correspondence was read : — 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Committee of Immigration Correspondence, at their 
 Meeting held at the Guiana Public Buildings, on the 19th of May 1853. 
 
 Despatches from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, covering letters from the Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners and Mr. White, on the subject of Chinese Immigration, with a 
 Minute of his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor, having been read, it was resolved that the 
 following recommendation should be submitted to the Legislature : — 
 
 " 1. That the system of payment of bounty for Chinese immigrants should be discontinued, 
 and that uo bounty should be payable upon any Chinese immigrants brought to this colony 
 by any vessel leaving a Chinese port subsequent to the 1st of October 1853. 
 
 " 2. That emigration from China should, in future, be conducted by an agent appointed 
 by the colony under the authority of Government, whose head quarters should be at Hong 
 Kong. 
 
 " 3. That vessels should be chartered in England, suffirient, if possible, to carry one-half 
 of the Chinese immigrants to be introduced into British Guiana during the si^ason of 
 1853-54. 
 
 "4. That 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 61 
 
 " 4. That the agent at Hong Kong should be authorised to charter vessels on the spot for BRITISH 
 the remainder. GUIANA. 
 
 " 5. That the vessels taken up in England should be chartered simply for carriage, fittings, ■ 
 
 and water, and that in such as are proceeding direct from England to Hong Kong, shipments 
 of beef and poik should be forwarded to the agent. 
 
 ' " 6. That a communication should be addressed to the agent at once, to ascertain what 
 quantity of such supplies he may require, in order that shipments should be forwarded to 
 him by other vessels, if necessary, without loss of time. 
 
 " 7. That care should be taken to send a proper proportion of interpreters, say one to 
 every 50, and that a native surgeon, and one or two nayang players or musicians should be 
 in every vessel. 
 
 "8. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should be requested to issue a notice 
 calling upon all persons desirous of obtaining Chinese immigrants, during the next season, to 
 forward applications to the Immigration Agent-general on or before the 16th of June next, 
 after which date no applications would be recorded for the season. 
 
 " 9. That, as a general rule, no vessel of less than 800 tons register should be taken up, 
 and that the agent should be recommended to secure, if possible, such as were of 1,000 
 tons and upwards. 
 
 »" 10. That as ihe time of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners is so fully 
 taken up with emigration from the United Kingdom, his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor 
 should be requested to urge on HerMajesty'aGovernment the propriety of appointing the Loan 
 Commissioners of British Guiana to discharge the duties connected with the chartering of 
 vessels, shipment of supplies, payment of drafts, correspondence witli agents, and all opera- 
 tions connected therewith in the immigration to this colony from China and India. 
 
 " 11. That the agent should be authorised to defray all the necessary expenses of emigra- 
 tion, and to make advances to the emigrants themselves, not exceeding 10 dollars per head, 
 inclusive of clothing, and that all these disbursements should be charged in his account, as 
 forming a portion of the cost of introduction. 
 
 " 12. That Mr. White's suggestion for the introduction of between 200 and 300 young 
 females (if with families the more preferable) by a separate vessel should be adopted, and 
 arrangements made for their passage, the advances to secure that object being left to his 
 discretion. 
 
 " 13. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should be requested to express to 
 Mr. White the high sense entertained of his services by the inhabitants of British Guiana, 
 and their anxiety for his early return to China, should he unfortunately have already left for 
 England. 
 
 "14. That Mr. White's suggestions of sending implements of husbandry and mosquito 
 nettings, as used in China, should be adopted to a limited extent. 
 
 " 16. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should be requested to give the neces- 
 sary instructions for the introduction of 1,500 Chinese during the next season, exclusive of 
 the deficiency of the season of 1852-53. 
 
 " 16. That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should be requested to order 2,500 
 Calcutta coolies for the season of 1853-54, exclusive of the deficiency of the previous season, 
 with as large a proportion of females as possible, and to urge on Her Majesty's Government 
 at the same time the hardship of compelling the colony to pay a return passage, the charge 
 of which is burthensome in the extreme, and should be discontinued ; but in the event of its 
 being insisted upon, that the term of service should be extended to not less than eight years." 
 
 A despatcii from the Duke of Newcastle, with enclosures from Mr. Spring Rice, having 
 been also read, it was resolved — 
 
 " That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should be requested to express to Her 
 Majesty's Government the full concurrence of the Commissioners in the views therein stated, 
 and to urge the necessity of immediate communications to the Portuguese Government, 
 having for their object the removal of all restrictions on the emigration from Madeira to 
 British Guiana. 
 
 "That his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor should also be requested to express his 
 disapproval of the exorbitant charges now made in Madeira for parish papers and passports, 
 and to intimate the readiness of the colonists to defray any reasonable charges for such 
 
 purposes. 
 
 " Peter Rose, Chairman." 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor. — Would the Court be pleased to say whether they approved of those 
 .r-ecommendalions ? 
 
 Mr. Gon Netscher.- -As a member of the committee, he agreed to them, and had signed 
 •them ; but there was one observation which he wished to make, with respect to the para- 
 t^raph relating to the size of the vessels to be employed. Some time ago he had been 
 appointed by the Governor a member of the committee to inquire into the circumstances of 
 .tlie mortality on board of the Chinese immigrant ships; and he had then concurred in the 
 opinion, that no vessels of less than 1,000 tons should be employed. That opinion might 
 appear inconsistent with his acquiescence in the present recommendation ; but he must 
 inform the Court that he had proposed to the commissioners on the present occasion to 
 adopt the same standard of 1,000 tons. That proposition, however, was not agreed to. The 
 majoiity were at first disposed to go as low as 600 tons ; but they afterwards consented to 
 ■fix it at 800 tons, with which, as the nearest approach to the former recommendation, he 
 was obliged to be satisfied. 
 
 g86. K 3 Lieutenant- 
 
62 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Lieutenant-governor. — There could not be two opinions on the subject. The larger 
 GUIANA, vessels were in every way, even in point of economy, better suited to the purpose than the 
 small ones. 
 
 Mr. Porter.: — There was no difference of opinion as to the desirableness of getting large 
 vessels ; but from the great demand for shipping they could not easily get vessels above 800 
 tons. Not only himself, but every member of the committee, agreed with his honourable 
 friend that large vessels were to be preferred whenever they could be obtained. But there 
 was another point on which he (Mr. Porter) wished to speak, as it was one which, rather 
 strangely, had escaped the noti' e of himself and his colleagues at their meeting. When 
 Mr. Caird was here he had suggested the probabihty of their obtaining an extension of the 
 term of service on the part of the coolie immigrants from five to ten years. It was not too 
 late to add to the report an application to that effect. 
 
 Mr. Gon Netscher. — Certainly not. He did not know how it had escaped their memories 
 in committee. 
 
 Mr. Porter. — Three members of the committee were now present, and he did not think 
 that there could be any objection to it. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — The Court could add any recommendation it pleased. Honourable 
 members would find that in the 31st clause of the new Immigration Ordinance such an 
 extension was contemplated. * 
 
 Mr. Porter. — Yes: he moved that the addition to that effect be- made to the report. 
 
 The proposition was agreed to, and the addition made to the report. 
 
 Lieutenant governor. — There was another point to which he would call their attention. 
 Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. were under contract with the colony to bring free Africans here 
 at the rate of 6 ^. a head ; but perhaps they would prefer to employ their vessels in conveying 
 immigrants from Madeira. 
 
 Mr. Gon Netscher. — But, besides the 5 /, bounty which they received, they were in the 
 habit of charging for advances made to the people. Now, the 30 dollars, to which the 
 bounty on Portuguese was to be increased, was intended to cover all expenses. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — Even in that case, it might be found that they were the best parties- 
 to be dealt with. 
 
 Mr. Gon Netscher.— He had no objection to deal with them on those terms. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — Madeira was not much out of their way from the coast of Africa. 
 Perhaps it would be well to introduce in <he report some reference to them. 
 
 Mr. Gon Netscher. — He did not think it necessary. Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.'s 
 vessels were all very large, and experience had proved that the immigration trade betweeu 
 this and Madeira did not pay large vessels. Mr. Croal had tried it with the " Palmyra," 
 and failed. Only vessels capable of carrying from 80 to 100 people were successful. This 
 was owing to the length of time for which vessels were kept at Madeira before they could get 
 filled. It was not likely, therefore, that Vlessrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. would trouble themselves 
 with this trade; but if they were inclined to do so, there was nothing to prevent them 
 from entering into it, even in the absence of any express reference to them by the Court. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — Very well. He would not press his suggestion. He confessed 
 that he did not like too frequent changes in the rates of bounty, because he thought they 
 were likely to produce confusion ; but if the Court thought an increase necessary on the 
 present occasion, he would not offer any opposition. He admitted that they would have to 
 contend against a very active competition on the part of other colonies. 
 
 Mr. Porter.— Yes; there was a very great necessity for increasing it at the present 
 moirient. He begged leave to move the resolution of which he had given notice, to increase 
 the bounty from 25 dollars to 30 dollars. 
 
 Mr. Jones had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, as he felt satisfied that the 
 Portuguese were the best description of immigrants that could be introduced here. Every 
 circumstance combined to render them such. They were got much cheaper than any others; 
 they required no return passages ; they were to a man industrious in one way or another; 
 and they came here with their families. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — Would the Court not make some reference to Mr. Taylor, the 
 agent, as to the way in which the money was to be expended? It was intended that five 
 dollars should cover the expenses for parish papers. 
 
 Mr. Porter. — Perhaps it would be better to divide the sum; 20 dollars to be paid for the 
 bounty, and five dollars to be placed at the disposal of Mr. Taylor to pay for the parish 
 papers. 
 
 On the suggestion of Mr. Jones, the resolution was altered to the following effect :— That 
 in consequence of the great advances that have taken place in the rate of freights, and the 
 expenses for passports incidental lo emigration from Madeira, it is expedient to increase the 
 bounty from 25 to 30 dollars, it being understood that this last sum is to cover all expenses. 
 The resolution, thus altered, was unanimously adopted ; and it was agreed that it should 
 come into operation immediately. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — He approved of the report of the committee; but there were two 
 points in it on which he must make some lemark. The first was, the recommendation that 
 the management of the Chinese immigration should be transferred from the hands of the 
 Colonial Land and Immigration Commissioners to those of the Immigration Loan Commis- 
 .=;ioners. The Colonial Land and Immigration Commissioners had always had the conduct 
 of immigration from India, and although much of their time had been taken up with those 
 duties, he did not believe that any fault had been found, or could be found, with the 
 manner in which they had discharged them. The next point was, the recommendation that 
 
 he 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 63 
 
 he (the Lieutenant-governor) should convey his disapproval of the exorbitant charges made 
 in Madeira for the parish papers and passports of the people before they could emigrate. 
 He did not know that it was competent to him to do so. It was an arrangement of police 
 adopted by the Government of a foreign colony, and, whatever might be his opinion as to 
 the justice or the wisdom of it, he could not presume to dictate to them on the subject of its 
 continuance. But even if he could be justified in taking such a course, it was rendered 
 iMinecessary by the vote to which the Court had just come, allowing a sum sufficient to 
 cover all those charges. 
 
 Mr. Porter. — Yes, the recommendation v\as unnecessary now. With regard to the other 
 point referred to by his Excellency, be hoped that the recommendation of the Committee 
 would not be considered to have been intended invidiously. The Colonial Land and Immi- 
 gration Commissioners had, in addition to their duties connected with immigration from 
 India, superintended up to the present moment immigration of Chinese to this colony ; and 
 while that immigration was limited to tens and hundreds of people, they might have been 
 able to get through both duties; but it would be impossible for them to attend to so exten- 
 sive an immigration from China as the colony required, especially when, as was recom- 
 mended in the report, vessels were to be chartered and provisioned in England. It was 
 simply for this reason that the committee recommended that they should be relieved, and 
 that the duty should be transferred to the other commission; but it was not intended to 
 east the shghtest reflection on the Colonial Land and Immigration Commissioners, to whom 
 the colony was much indebted. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor. — He was perfectly satisfied. His only object was to elicit an 
 opinion on the subject. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 — No.15.— 
 (No. 13.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Acting-Governor IVaUer to his Grace the 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 Government House, Demerara, 
 1 June 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, Received, 2 July 1853.) 
 
 1. In connexion with the subject of the obstacles interposed to emigration from 
 Madeira to this colony, upon which was based one of the series of resolutions 
 enclosed with my despatch of the 24th May, No. 9,* I have now the honour to 
 submit' to your Grace a further communication which T have received from the 
 Immigration Agent-general, pointing out the desirableness of ascertaining with ^^ 
 accuracy the causes and nature of the difficulties which obviously exist and impede iV^ 
 the free course of such emigration. 
 
 2. An inquiry through Her Majesty's Consul would, perhaps, afford the most 
 satisfactory means of attaining this object ; as private interest probably combines 
 to some extent with Governmental restrictions in producing the effect com- 
 plained of. 
 
 3. With respect to the question of the rate of bounty, I may however observe 
 that while 25 dollars per head might be found sufficiently remunerative for vessels 
 of the class usually trading between this colony and Madeira direct, it would not, 
 I think, adverting to the increased demand for and consequent rise in the price of 
 freight, induce shipowners to make vessels of large tonnage call at Madeira on 
 their outward voyage, for the chance of obtaining a sufficient number of emigrant 
 
 ^^? I avail myself of this opportunity to apprise your Grace that immediately 
 after sending ofF my despatches by the last mail, I was reminded that by a 
 proclamation issued by the Governor in the month of February, it had been already 
 declared that all bounty upon immigration from China should cease from and after 
 the 31st July next ; thus rendering it unnecessary to act upon the resolution of 
 the Court of Policy, founded upon the report of the Commissioners of Immi- 
 gration Correspondence, by declaring that it should cease from and after the 1st 
 October next I have to express my regret that this circumstance should have 
 escaped my recollection at the moment, as it appears also to have done that of the 
 members of the Immigration Correspondence Committee. 
 
 5 I have herewith the honour to enclose copy of the proclamation issued m 
 accordance with the resolution of the Court of Policy, announcing the augmentation 
 of the bounty on immigrants from the island of Madeira from 25 to 30 dollars, 
 including all expenses. ^ ^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 (signed) ' JV. Walker. 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 Acting-Governor 
 Walkerto the Duke 
 of Newcastle. 
 1 June 1853. 
 
 Page 56. 
 
 986. 
 
 K4 
 
 Enclosure 
 
64 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Tj , 1 • XT ^- 
 
 G U I A N A. Enclosure !., m No. lo. 
 
 _ , ~r~.r (No. 161.) Immigration Agent-General's Office, 
 
 Encl.i.mNo. 15. gi,^ 28 May 1853. 
 
 In reference to the subject of immigration from Madeira, which engaged the attention of 
 the Committee of Correspondence on the 19th inst., I have the honour to observe for the 
 consideration of his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor, that the difficulties attending it are 
 not caused solely by the cost of parish papers and passports, but by the Portuguese pas- 
 senger regulations, which, although occasionally relaxed in tiieir stringency, limit, as I am 
 given to understand by parties here, the number of passengers by every vessel to two for 
 every five tons, and render all operations impossible unless with the clandestine removal of 
 a very large portion of the emigrants. 
 
 Whether the statement made to me on this head is correct I am not at present able to 
 ascertain, although I shall lose no time in communication with Mr. Taylor, the Madeira 
 agent, on the subject, but it is quite clear that some cause or other militates very unfavour- 
 ably against emigration from Madeira to this colony, and that the exorbitant disbursements 
 in the island are an effectual bar to the introduction of a large number of most valuable 
 labourers. 
 
 The cost of victualling passengers from hence to Madeira is, I am assured on good 
 authority, but 7 dollars per head, and there is no reason why there should be any increase on 
 the shorter return voyage. 
 
 If only legitimate charges of agency were added to this, with 4 dollars per head for 
 advances, and 5 dollars for parish papers and passports, there would be sufficient margin 
 even in the late bounty of 25 dollars (one per ton being allowed, as in the Local Passengers' 
 Act), to induce all vessels trading between this and the United Kingdom to call at Madeira, 
 but the attempts hitherto made having, from the heavy expenditure in Madeira, proved the 
 reverse of profit, it is useless, in my opinion, to expect favourable results, even with the 
 augmented bounty of 30 dollars, until the causes influencing it are brought to light. 
 
 If, from the cupidity of individuals, it would be well that the fact should be ascertained, 
 and the odium removed from the Portuguese Government, and it will be for the consideration 
 of his Excellency whether any measures can be appropriately adopted through official but 
 disinterested channels to secure this object. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 The Hon. W. B. Wolseley, (signed) J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 Acting Government Secretary. Immigration Agent-General. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) Hugh W. Austin, 
 
 Acting Assistant Government Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 15. 
 
 End. 2, in No. 15. Proclamation 
 
 British Guiana. By His Excellency fVilUam Walker, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor and 
 [L. S.] Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony o? British Guiatia, Vce- 
 
 William Walker. Admiral and Ordinary of the same, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Whereas by a pioclamation dated the 2d day of February 1853, issued byhis Excel- 
 lency Henry Barkly, Esq., Governor of British Guiana, it was declared and made known, 
 that the sum of 25 dollars should be the bounty, that is to say, the rate of passage-money 
 and maintenance to be allowed under the provisions of the ordinance then in force, to regulate 
 and encourage immigration into this colony from the island of Madeira: 
 
 And whereas it hath been resolved by the Honourable the Court of Policy that such rate 
 of bounty is now insufficient by reason of the charges made for passports and the increased 
 rate of freight, and ought therefore to be increased : 
 
 Now, I, William Walker, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of British Guiana and its 
 dependencies, in virtue of the power and authority in me vested, do hereby proclaim and 
 declare, that in respect of immigrants arriving in this colony from the island of Madeira 
 from and after the publication of this order, so much of the hereinbefore recited proclamation 
 as relates to the rate of bounty payable on immigrants from Madeira, shall be, and the same 
 is hereby rescinded and annulled, and that the bounty, that is to say, the rate of passage- 
 money and maintenance to be allowed henceforward shall be for each and every such Immi- 
 grant Thirty Dollars in full of all charges whatsoever, instead of Twenty-five as specified in 
 the said hereinbefore recited Proclamation. 
 
 Given under my Hand and Seal of Office, at the Guiana Public Buildings, George- 
 town, Denierara, this'lwenty-eighth day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and 
 Fifty-three, and in the Sixteenth Year of Her Majesty's Reign. 
 
 Go I) Save the Queen. 
 
 By His Excellency's Command, 
 
 (signed) W. B. Wolseley, 
 
 Acting Government Secretary. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 6.5 
 
 BRITISH 
 -No. 16.- GU^NA. 
 
 <^°-29-) No. .6. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from ActingrGovernor Walker to His Grace the Acting-Governor 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. Walkerto the Duke 
 
 of Newcastle. 
 Government House, Demerara, 8 July 1853. 8 July 1853. 
 (Received, 1 August 1853.) 
 My Lord Duke, 
 Having observed in one of the local newspapers reiterated statements, to the p-^, 
 effect that the Chinese immigrants were worthless, idle and troublesome, and that tlncio''^^ts, 
 the experiment of their introduction was an expensive failure, I have thought it ~~~~-~-i!!2jN 
 might be satisfactory to your Grace, notwithstanding that ample reports were so ~~~^ 
 
 lately transmitted by the Governor upon this subject, to which will have been since 
 added the advantage of his personal knowledge of the facts, to receive a further 
 statement, brought down to this date, of the opinions formed of the character and 
 value of these people, by parties who may be fairly regarded as impartial judges, and 
 at all events not likely to be strongly biassed in favour of a race whose successful 
 management must obviously require great pains, great command of temper, and 
 unremitting attention. 
 
 2. Yet I think that more satisfactory testimony to their actual usefulness and 
 ultimately greater value could hardly be expected with any show of reason, than is 
 borne in the several communications from the only stipendiary magistrates in whose 
 districts Chinese are at present located, which I have now the honour to forward, 
 and which embody the results of their inquiries amongst the gentlemen having 
 charge of the estates upon which those immigrants are employed. 
 
 3. When it is remembered that these Chinese were not selected with a view to 
 any peculiar fitness for the labour which is assigned to them, but that apparently 
 the chief object was to fill the ships, and this in the absence of any adequate con- 
 trol on the part of responsible agents of the Government to ensure proper accom- 
 modation and treatment on the voyage, it seems to be rather matter for surprise 
 that the result should have been thus far so favourable, than that there should 
 exist any ground for cavil or objection. 
 
 4. I have thought it advisable to suggest to the magistrates the exercise of 
 caution in familiarising the Chinese with the associations of a prison, where the 
 proper discharge of their duty will admit of the substitution of any other punish- 
 ment ; and with respect to those committed, I have directed that for the present 
 they shall be withdrawn from the public streets and worked within the goal. 
 
 5. Having, in my despatch, No. 9, of the 24th of May, alluded to my intention of 
 circulating a memorandum, embodying some suggestions for the judicious treat- 
 ment of the Chinese, I take the liberty to enclose a copy of that document, which 
 has met the concurrence, so far as I am aware, of all the gentlemen more imme- 
 diately interested, and which I respectfully hope may also merit your Grace's 
 
 ^PP''"'''^- I have &c 
 
 (signed) W. Walker. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 16. 
 
 Extract from the Colonist of British Guiana, of June 3d, 1853. End. i, in No. iC, 
 
 " The brick dam will for ever attest the industry and skill of the gaol people in weeding, 
 especially the Chinese culprits, who could hardly be expected to survive their superhuman 
 exertions in letting the hoe fall of its own weight once in five minutes. The growth of the 
 sour grass in consequence is astonishing." 
 
 Extract from the Colonist of British Guiana, of June 13th, 1853. 
 " If we can afford to pay 100 dollars each for Chinese, who, after all, it would appear, are 
 useless labourers, we can hardly repine at 60 dollars per year for the whole mamtenance of 
 a pauper, at least, we cannot balance the introduction of immigrants against the perfornmnce 
 of one of the strictest obhgations of society.'' 
 
 Extract from the Colonist oi British Guiana, of June 15th, 1853. 
 " In so far as the disallowance of Ordinance, No. 3, of 1853, may tend to neutralise the 
 arrangements for the introduction of Chinese and coolies, we certainly cannot regard u as 
 p8ti ^ ^ calamity, 
 
66 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH a calamity, because the expense attending on the importation, and the necessity of affording 
 GUIANA, the latter a return passage, must ever militate against the success of the scheme. The 
 
 Chinese, again, appear to be of little use as labourers, if we may judge from the specimens 
 
 we have seen in the penal gang, and from the ominous silence of the planters since their 
 arrival." 
 
 (True extracts from the " Colonist" newspapers.) 
 
 (signed) Hugh W. Austin, 
 
 Acting Assistant Government Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 16. 
 
 End. 2, in No. i6. 
 
 Stipendiary Magistrate's Office, 
 Sir, District D, 21 June 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th instant, 
 in which you request me to report upon an observation which appeared in the " Colonist" 
 newspaper, reflecting upon the industry of the Chinese labourers lately introduced into the 
 colony. 
 
 I beg to state, for the information of his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor, that I lost 
 no time in conferring with Mr. Vander Gon Netscher and Mr. Dalzell, the proprietors of 
 the respective estates on which some of these people are located, and both agree in opinion, 
 that, though these immigrants are at present sickly, that if once acclimatized, they will no 
 doubt hereafter be equally as valuable labourers, indeed if not more so, as thexoolies, as 
 they appear to possess a greater amount of physical strength and intelligence ; and that, 
 until these gentlemen had had further experience of the capacities of this class of immigrant, 
 it would seem premature at this early period of their introduction in declaring that immigra- 
 tion from China had been attended either with success or failure. 
 
 Many of the Chinese, at the time they were allotted to Ponderoyen, were labouring under 
 some disease, and though not sufficiently ill to make it necessary for them to be sent to the 
 Colonial Hospital, still rendered them unable to do much work, therefore as yet this estate 
 has derived but little benefit by their services. 
 
 The manager of Schoonord informs me that those who are in health evince every disposi- 
 tion to be industrious, and that their monthly earnings, which are about four dollars, exceed 
 the wages of newly-arrived coolies ; it may therefore be inferred, provided the climate is 
 not prejudicial to their health, that the services of the Chinese hereafter will be as much in 
 demand as those of the coolies. If they were considered, by those who have the best oppor- 
 tunity of judging of their capacity, " worthless," it is not probable that so many applica- 
 tions would have been made by the planters to have drafts of these labourers sent to their 
 estates. 
 
 The great drawback which has hitherto attended the introduction of Chinese has been the 
 want of inteUigent interpreters capable of communicating the wants on the one side, and 
 the wishes on the other, and if this obstacle were once removed, there is no doubt that it 
 would tend much to the comfort of the immigrant and to the advantage of the employer. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Hugh Austin, Esq., (signed) Walker Howard Ware, S. M. 
 
 Acting Assistant Government Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) Hugh W. Austin, 
 
 Acting Assistant Government Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 16. 
 End. 3, in No. 16. Sir, Union, 2 July 1853. 
 
 I BEG to lay before his Excellency the Governor the following copies of letters received 
 from managers of estates who have Chinese labourers in their employment: — 
 
 Dear Sir, Windsor Forest, 24 June 1853. 
 
 I AM happy to inform you that the Chinese on this estate are some of my best labourers ; 
 for strength and endurance they are equal to the Africans. 
 
 Last month I had an average of 90 of these fine labourers at work everyday, performino- 
 the following work, viz. — ^ 
 
 Cutting canes, forking cane fields, supplying canes, hauling cane trash off the fields 
 recently cut, working on the copper wall as boilermen, working in the distillery, loading 
 cane punts, carrying megass, &c. '^ 
 
 Without our Chinese boys I do not know how we would manage for megass carriers, as 
 there is not a single creole working with them. 
 
 The men cutting canes get the same amount as the black people per punt, and they work 
 on an average for three bitts per day. 
 
 They 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 67 
 
 They say, as tsoon as we have been in the colony long enough to understand the different BRITISH 
 kind of work, we will make as much money as the creole people. G U 1 A N A. 
 
 In forking many of them work for one guilder per day, and few of them make less 
 
 than three bitts ; supplying canes, they make the same amount as forking, hauling, and 
 tying cane trash, which is hght work ; they make the same amount as black people ; and I 
 must do them the justice to say that they do that kind of work 50 per cent, better than the 
 Creoles. 
 
 The men in the boiling-house get from five to six bitts per day, according to the quantity of 
 sugar made ; those in the distillery get a shilling per day, as their work is light, and they 
 finish early ; the children carrying megass, and working about the building, get 12 cents. 
 per day, that being the usual price paid by estates. 
 
 The people are happy and contented and cheerful, and I am well satisfied with them; 
 I hare advised Mr. Bascom to make application for a hundred more, and sincerely hope we 
 may get them. 
 
 You are aware there has been but one Chinaman sent to gaol from this estate, and he was 
 committed for an act of violence. 
 
 Three or four of the men keep a night scliool, and are teaching the boys to write and 
 sing ; I often go to their house in the evening, and they always appear glad to see me, and 
 ask many questions about their work ; I think I have only done my people justice in 
 speaking of them in a flattering manner. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 James Glen, Esq., S.J. p. (signed) Griffin H. Bascom. 
 
 Sir, Plantation Stewartville, 29 June 1853. 
 
 I RECEIVED from you a short time ago a communication stating that you wished, for the 
 information of the Governor, my opinion of the Chinese labourers located on this estate, as 
 to whether they are useless labourers or not, and I now take the opportunity of replying to 
 the same ; my opinion of the Chinese is, that in course of time they will be very good and 
 useful labourers ; but the heavy wet season coming on so shortly after their arrival has been 
 greatly against them, giving them fevers and ague, which they are very much troubled 
 with at present; they are also much troubled with little sores. I have at present daily in 
 the field, on an average, 15, and the highest amount worked for has been one dollar and 
 80 cents ; but there is another and very serious drawback to their well doing, which is that 
 there is no one among them that can talk a word of English, consequently we can only 
 communicate with one another by signs. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 James Glen, Esq., s.m. (signed) Alex. M. Bethune. 
 
 Dear Sir, Plantation Haarlem, 24 June 1853. 
 
 I BEG to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, requesting me to inform 
 you my opinion of the Chinese as labourers, and whether they are useless as such or not. 
 I beo- to state for your information that I have every reason to be satisfied as yet with those 
 located on this estate, and it is my humble opinion that the Chinese are likely to turn out 
 as good labourers as we have in the colony. 
 
 1 remain, See. 
 (signed) F. A, Matheson, 
 James Glen, Esq., s.m. Manager. 
 
 Dear Sir, Plantation La Jalousie, 28 June 1853. 
 
 Your note of 20th June was received on the 22d ; I was indispofsed at the time, or would 
 have replied before. 
 
 You request my candid opinion relative to the Chinese as labourers. 
 
 I consider them a very useful class of people, exceedingly apt and intelhgent, and very 
 willing, quite equal to any coolies we are now receiving ; and when a little more care and 
 judgment has been exercised in their selection, I am confident they will prove far superior 
 
 in every respect. • i • i, . i 
 
 We have laboured under the disadvantage of so many being landed with itch and other 
 
 skin diseases, which have been tedious and troublesome to heal. 
 
 Since I assumed the management of the estate they have been principally employed m 
 
 cane cutting and forking, of which latter work they have been doing a good deal, and which 
 
 no class of Immigrants, save the Portuguese, have as yet taken kindly to. 
 
 They have also been employed about the buildings on the copper wall, and workmg the 
 
 megass wagons ; they have also begun to use the shovel in planting canes, and promise 
 
 to be very expert at it. , , ^ ^i ^ . . 
 
 Like every description of immigrants they are a little troublesome for the first two or 
 three months; but I am of opinion when they become seasoned they will prove a better 
 class of labourers for any and every description of work, than those we are receiving from 
 
 the East Indies. • r v, n i t 
 
 Any other information respecting the Chinese which you may require 1 shall be most 
 
 happy to give. ' 
 
 ^^•' ° I am, &c. 
 
 James Glen, Esq., s. J. p. (signed) Stephen R. Butts. 
 
 986, 
 
 L 2 
 
 Plantation 
 
68 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Sir, Plantation Hague, 22 June 1853. 
 
 GUIANA. In reply to your communication of 20th instant, I beg to say that I find the Chinese 
 
 labourers allotted to this estate a tractable and useful people ; I may mention that since 
 
 the rainy season set in, they are not earning much money, yet they are not idle for a day, 
 nless in case of sickness, of which I cannot complain. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 James Glen, Esq., s. J. p. (signed) M. VaugJian. 
 
 Dear Sir, Blankenburg, 23 June 1853. 
 
 Your communication regarding the Chinese labourers located on this property is at 
 hand, and from what source the Governor got his information that these labourers are use- 
 less I know not, nor am I disposed to report to you the contrary, but must invite you and 
 any disinterested planter you may be pleased to select, indeed one that may appear most 
 prejudiced I will prefer; and you can both visit the field where these people are at work, 
 and judge for yourself. 
 
 i herewith forward you a statement of the wages earned by these people last week (as 
 I suppose the latest date preferable) ; also a statement of the creole and coolie gangs for 
 the same time, and by comparing them you may draw your own inference. 
 
 The Chinese are like all other immigrants, a number of indifferent people among them; 
 they are far more turbulent and refractory than any other immigrants ever brought to my 
 notice. Prompt and decisive measures should be strictly observed towards them ; I have 
 experienced this by several who Mr. Ware and yourself have committed from time to time 
 from the gangs here, and several of them whom I could not get to work on any terms 
 have since their release from gaol turned out serviceable and penitent. 
 
 The estates books are open for your inspection regarding the statement I forward. 
 
 I have had Africans for the space of 18 months without even preferring a charge against 
 one before a magistrate, I may add coolies also, but Chinamen are not to be classed with 
 these. 
 
 In conclusion I must only say, that I am willing to take 50 or 100 more Chinese on the 
 terms I got the last, or if any planter may be dissatisfied with his batch I will be glad to 
 take them over, with the consent of the representative of this property. 
 
 I have,&c. 
 
 James Glen, Esq., s.M. (signed) B.Trotman. 
 
 Abstract from the Blankenburg Pay List Book for the Week ending 18th June 1853. 
 
 26 Chinese shovelmen, worked 112 days for - 
 
 Average, 4^ days, ^ 1. 70. pay; or about 39| c. per diem. 
 
 5 Creole shovelmen, worked 16 days for - 
 
 Average, 36 days, 1 1. 28. pay; or about 40 c. per diem. 
 
 5 Coolie shovelmen, worked 25 days for - 
 Average, 5 days, $ 2. 34| pay ; or about 46J c. per diem. 
 
 19 Chinese weeders, worked 47 days for - 
 
 Average, 2^ days, $ 0. 75^ pay; or about 30 J c. per diem. 
 
 23 Creole and African weeders, worked 44 days for - 
 Average, 2 days, $ 0. 29. pay ; or about 14| c. per diem. 
 
 29 Coolie weeders, worked 120 days for _ _ _ 
 
 Average, 4^^ days, ^ 1. 20|f pay ; or about 30 c. per diem. 
 
 Recapitulation of Chinese. 
 Shovelmen -------- 
 
 Weeders --_-_-__ 
 In Buildings -------- 
 
 Superintendent ---_-_- 
 Domestic -------» 
 
 In Hospital -------- 
 
 In Goal -------- 
 
 Not at work or idle duringf the week 
 
 44 24 
 
 6 40 
 
 11 72 
 
 14 32 
 
 Total - 
 
 12 76 
 
 36 76 
 
 26 
 19 
 2 
 1 
 1 
 10 
 1 
 
 60 
 16 
 
 76 
 
 The 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 6g 
 
 The Chinese weeders worked badly last week, owing to the weather (which was beneficial B R ITI S H 
 and easing the work for the shovehnen) ; I have no hesitation in saying the weeders will do GUIANA. 
 
 much better this week ; every allowance must be made for the inclemency of the weather 
 
 and the people's late arrival, this being the first wet season they have experienced. 
 
 The coolies appear to have done a fiir task per diem this week, but I can prove from the 
 books of the estate, some months the coolies' average pay did not exceed 2 dollars, and these 
 people are much reformed since the late prompt measures have been adopted. 
 
 (signed) Saml. B. Trotman. 
 
 I have now for the information of his Excellency given copies of all the letters received 
 by me from managers who have Chinese labourers on the estates under their charge ; the 
 manager of Anna Catherina is the only one who has neglected to reply to my note ; I will 
 see his employer on Monday, and I have no doubt he will direct him to forward a reply. 
 
 The answer to my circular will show to his Excellency that the Chinese are by no means 
 fi useless set of labourers ; on the contrary, they promise to be as good labourers as any class 
 of people. They were in general landed in a most miserable state, filthy and covered with 
 sores, but still very few deaths have taken place, which shows that they have good con- 
 stitutions, and that care on the part of the managers must have been bestowed upon them. 
 
 When it comes to be considered that these people were landed in a strange country, and 
 among a population strange to them, with hardly any interpreters, and the few that did 
 come with them very bad ones, it is only strange that they have got on so well as they 
 have done. 
 
 They now begin to understand that there are equal laws in this country, that they can be 
 punished if they behave badly, and at the same time that they are protected in every way. 
 
 I can assure his Excellency that no exertions have been wanted, or will be wanting, on 
 jiiy part to see that ample justice is done to those strangers ; at the same time they must 
 be taught that acts of violence, theft, insubordination, &c., on their part, can and will 
 be punished. 
 
 All which is most respectfully submitted. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 H. W. Austin, Esq. (signed) James Glen, s.j.p. 
 
 Assistant Government Secretary. District E. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 (signed) Hugh W. Austin, 
 
 Acting Asst. Govt. Secy. 
 
 Enclosure 4, in No. 16. 
 
 Sir, Queen's Town, 2 July 1853. End. 4, in No. »6. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 15th instant, 
 requiring me to report for the information of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, the 
 -result of my experience as regards the working of Chinese immigrants in their districts. 
 
 In reply, I beg respectfully to state for his Excellency's information, that my opportuni- 
 ties of observation, relative to this class of immigrants, have been very limited, as there is 
 only one estate in the two districts, viz., Anna Regina, on which they have been located. 
 
 Forty-three of them arrived there April last ; they had not recovered the eflPects of the long 
 voyage, and were much debilitated and in bad health ; they came from Plantation Vreed en 
 Hoop, in the county of Demerary, to which estate they were originally indentured. 
 
 They have required considerable medical care since their arrival at Anna Regina, but 
 but only one has died ; another was accidentally drowned. The manager reports them to be 
 cheerful, peaceable, and well disposed; but their earnings have been small, in consequence 
 not only of their weakly condition, but as they are unaccustomed to the various descrip- 
 tion of work required on a plantation, they do not yet get through their tasks with facility. 
 The amount of wages paid to them in May was $ 65. 72., and in June, to the 27th, $ 98. 
 68 • they are certainly more muscular and athletic than the cooly, and unless prevented by 
 illness have hitherto turned out regularly to their work every morning ; they are under the 
 superintendence of an interpreter who speaks highly of their docility and obedience. None 
 of them have been charged with any offences ; they are all males, and reside together in 
 a large building, which is exclusively devoted to their accommodation. 
 
 I have no doubt that they will in two or three months prove a valuable addition to the 
 labouring force of Anna Regina. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 H. W. Austin, Esq. (signed) Edward Carbery, s.n. 
 
 Assistant Government Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 (signed) Hugh W. Austin, 
 
 Acting Asst. Govt. Sect. 
 
 986. L 3 Enclosure 
 
70 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. Enclosure 5, in No. 16. 
 
 End. 5, ia No. i6. Chinese Immigration. 
 
 [Memorandum.] 
 
 The costliness of the experiment of introducing Chinese as cultivators into this colony, 
 and its great importance, looking to the effect which its success or failure may possibly, or 
 even probably, have upon the material interests of the community, combined with the very 
 peculiar, and as yet but httle understood, character of those people, and the almost insuper- 
 able difficulty of communicating with them directly through any common medium, are con- 
 siderations sufficient to indicate the desirableness of suggesting some general principles of 
 treatment and management which, being bused upon the testimony and information of 
 parties well qualified by personal knowledge of the people to ouide us, may prove useful to 
 those who are entrusted with the duty of pioneering the way for fully and fairly testing the 
 experiment in question. 
 
 It is to be borne in mind that, prima facie, the Chinese are well adapted to answer the 
 ends for which they are introduced here. Agriculture has in all ages been honoured and 
 fostered in China, although, as respects the degree of practical skill developed, the Chinese 
 raiher excel as horticulturists than as agriculturists : they are also, however, very expert 
 in the mechanical arts. 
 
 In regard to moral character, it is to be regretted that the concurrent accounts of all writers 
 represent the national standard as being very low, though a distinction exists in this as in 
 other respects between the native Chinese and their Tartar rulers, who occupy most of the 
 chief offices of state, the balance being greatly in favour of the latter. Of the class with 
 whom especially it is likely we shall have most to do, it is alleged that they are plausible 
 and artful ; having no great regard for truth, nor being particularly sensitive to shan)e ; the 
 only effect produced upon them hy the infliction of punishment being that attendant on the 
 sense of physical pain. A Chinese peasant, it is asserfed, will pilfer and steal whatever is 
 within his reach, whenever he can hope to escape detection; and comparing the minuteness 
 of the enactments of their penal code in regard to the strict observance of morals* with 
 their actual attainments, they may be said to present a most striking illustration of the 
 utter incompetency of legislation, unaided by the influence of religious principle, to produce 
 anything like real social virtue amongst men. But with respect to their alleged disregard 
 to the rights of property, it may be very fairly doubted if they are worse than other descrip- 
 tions of Asiatic immigrants. 
 
 The religion of the Chinese may be broadly defined as a system of superstition intimately 
 connected with ceremonial observances in teniples. " His Imperial Majesty," says Sir J. F.. 
 Davis, " worships the heavens in one temple, the earth in another, the winds in a third, and 
 every mountain and river throughout the country has its altar and its presiding genius. I 
 have myself seen a market gardener (in his particular vocation) paying devout adoration to 
 the fertile powers of the earth, under the semblance of a huge pebble stone ; the same cir- 
 cumstances of smoothness and roundness which would have caused an English school boy 
 to select it for a missile having led this poor Chinese to choose it as the object of his especial 
 addresses." 
 
 For offertders against the laws there are five degrees of punishment under a code by no 
 means recommended for adoption or even imitation : the first is inflicted with the lesser 
 batnboo,t the correction extertding from 4 to 20 blows: the second degree extends from 
 20 to 40 blows of the larger bamboo : J the third is temporaiy banishment to the distance 
 of 150 miles for from one to three years: the fourth, perpetual banishment, preceded by 
 100 blows of the bamboo : the fifth, death, by strangulation or beheading. Torture of 
 vnrious kinds is had recburse to to extort confession or evidence. The usual form of a 
 Chinese oath is by decapitating a cock. 
 
 Having thus briefly stated those particulars which seemed most strikingly illustrative of 
 the peculiar characteristics of the Chinese, whether nationally or individually, I proceed to 
 notice the suggestions which have been made as to the mest judicious method of dealing 
 with them on their first introduction to a country so remote from their own, and to a society 
 so strange as ours is to them. In this, as in many other things, the earliest impressions are 
 of the highest consequence. If the Chinese once acquire confidence in their employers and 
 the authorities, they will be easily managed ; they are tractable, and no people better 
 understand the nature of a bargain, and if the other party deal fairly and liberally with 
 them, they will rigidly adhere to their part of the obligation. They possess indomitable 
 industry and perseverance, are shrewd and intelligent, and fond of money ; they will work 
 for this to the last ; but harsh measures will be cei-tain to fail, and will rouse a spirit of 
 resistance and insubordination difficult to quell. They are naturally of a cheerful tempera- 
 ment, excellent mimics, and easily amused with trifles ; but if they once lose confidence 
 they will become disheartened and yearn for home (a feeling indicated by a peculiar bending 
 
 backward 
 
 * Abusive language addressed by a child to its parents or grandj)arents, or by a wife to the parents or 
 grandparents of her husband, is punishable with death by strangulation. ,, 
 
 + This instrument of punishment is 6 feet 8 inches long, 2 inches broad, 1 inch and l-6th thick, and 
 weighs 1 pound and 6-6ths. 
 
 t The larger bamboo is 6 feet 8 inches long, 2^ inches broad, and 2 inches thick, weighing 2f lbs. The 
 punishments are inflicted in open Court immediately after sentence. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 71 
 
 backward of the thumbs), and thus their usefulness will be destroyed. They should be BRITISH 
 therefore treated kindly, but at the same time firmly, and kept in their proper places. If GUIANA. 
 
 rationed,* the food should be seived out to them punctually, and without any desire to be 
 
 too precise as to the quantity, which would only give rise on their parts to attempts to 
 defraud. Rice is with them, at home, the staple food, and tea the universal beverage"; the 
 lower orders, however, eat all sorts of animal and vegetable substances, even in a putrescent 
 state, not rejecting, amongst other delicacies, dogs, cats, and rats. 
 
 Then- habit of opium smoking becomes a most degrading vice, and the Legislature has 
 wisely ordered that certain restrictions shall be applied to its introduction and use here. 
 
 Although the portrait drawn above of this remarkable people is not, perhaps, upon the 
 whole prepossessing, it will be readily inferred that, being a mere handful as compared to 
 the mass of the community, hopes may be legitimately entertained of their ultimate general 
 improvement. It would, however, be obviously wrong, and would have an injurious effect, 
 to expect that such a process can be other than a tedious and difficult one. It is evidently 
 requisite, with the view of facilitating it, that, sTj far as practicable, the exchange of countries 
 should be effected with the smallest possible interruption to their ordinary associations. 
 Hence the desirableness of their being accompanied by a native musician or two in each 
 vessel, and also by a native surgeon or, more properly, barber ; for, although almost entirely 
 ignorant themselves of the heaUng art, which can be scarcely said to exist amongst them 
 as a separate professiouj they have no confidence in, but rather an aversion to, the treatment 
 of European medical practitioners, which, as applied to them, should be of the mildest 
 de-cription, since, however robust and muscular, they cannot stand active depletory re- 
 medies. An amusing illustration of this is given by one of ray authorities in the case of 
 a Chinese, who said — " Me no like English doctor ; he wash out my inside all same as one 
 tea-cup." 
 
 It might further answer to supply them at first with some of the implements of husbandry, 
 however rude, to which they have been habituated, although in practice, I believe it has 
 been found that they experience no great difficulty in accustoming themselves to the use of 
 the hoe and the " grapes," or agricultural fork. 
 
 The offences for which the Chinese have as yet been brought before the magistrates 
 have been petty thefts, disobedience of orders, and refusal to work, sometimes accom- 
 panied by manifestations of violence. With respect to the first mentioned there can be 
 nothing said, except that the more promptly punishment follows detection the better; 
 and it will be apparent from what has been before stated, that a Chinese cannot understand 
 the payment of money as in itself a punishment, although, doubtless, he is familiar with 
 its employment to purchase exemption from the bamboo. With respect to the others, 
 however, allowance may be reasonably made, not merely for the want of comprehension 
 of directions given and of obligations incurred, but for the malicious interference or 
 jealous and overbearing dispositions of the Creole foremen or "drivers" employed to 
 overlook the Chinese labourers, a practice which should not be adopted if it be possible 
 to avoid it; indeed, it is considered that it would be expedient to keep them separate 
 from the negroes in their dwellings as well as in the fields ; for being a social people 
 they like to keep together, and will, probably, if encouraged, by allowing them a direct 
 interest in the produce of their toil, settle down and become permanently a valuable class 
 of the population. On the other hand, they have a strong tendency to combination, and if 
 they become dissatisfied or disappointed, it must naturally be expected that they will 
 CO operate for evil rather than for good. 
 
 It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to observe, task work being generally adopted in this 
 colony, that the system of daily pay will not answer with the Chinese; they should, 
 liowever, be afforded the opportunity of earning at least as much as the estimated 
 amount of daily wages, say 4 dollars per month, exclusive of the value of house, garden, 
 and other privileges. 
 
 I have only to add that the foregoing remarks have been thrown together from the 
 article "China," in Chambers's Information for the People, the Transactions of the Royal 
 Asiatic Society, the manuscript communications of Mr. J. T. White, the Colonial Agent in 
 China, and other equally authentic sources. If they shall prove to be of the slightest use 
 to- those directly interested in the management of Chinese immigrants, my only object 
 in compiling them will be fully attained. 
 
 Public Buildings, 23d June 1853. W. Tf. 
 
 * The ration allowed on their engagement is li lb. rice with i lb. salt fish or salt pork, and tea and 
 vegetables, per man per diem. 
 
 g86. L 4 Despatches 
 
BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Despatches from the Secretary of State. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Riglit Honourable 
 Earl Grey to 
 Governor Barkly. 
 13 February 1852. 
 * Page 1. 
 
 i%5l: 
 
 — No, 1.— 
 
 (No. 448.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Honourable Earl Grey to Governor Bark/j/. 
 
 Sir, . Downing-street, 13 February 1852. 
 
 With reference to your despatch of the 26th August last, No. 124,* enclosing an 
 extract minute of the proceedings of the Court of Policy, with reference to the 
 encouragement to be given to the immigration of Chinese ; I have now to acquaint 
 you that Mr. Peter Rose has expressed to me his disappointment at finding on his 
 return to this country that the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners had 
 not sent a ship to China for emigrants. 
 
 I therefore think it right, lest the same feeling should be entertained in British 
 Guiana, to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter from the Commissioners,, 
 which will explain to the Court of Policy why nothing has yet been done on the 
 subject. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Grey. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 1. 
 
 i»5i: 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, 8 November 1851. 
 
 1. With reference to your letter of the 13th October, directing us to place ourselves ia 
 communication with Mr. M'Gregor on the subject of Chinese emigration, we have to state- 
 for Earl Grey's information, that after communicating with that gentleman, we have just 
 received a letter from him, in which he intimates that Mr. White will shortly arrive in this 
 country fiom Calcutta, and expresses his wish that the consideration of this matter should 
 stand over till his arrival. 
 
 2. We have also the honour, with reference to our letter of the 13th ultimo, forwarding 
 the copy of a report* addressed by Mr. White to Governor Barkly, to enclose copies of" 
 further reports which have reached us from that gentleman. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) Tho. C. Murdoch. 
 T. Fred. Elliot, Esq. Frederic Rogers. 
 
 Sub- Enclosure 
 
 1, in Enclosure in No. 1. 
 
 Sir, Macao, 21 June 1851. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in China on the 26th ultimo,, 
 and that since then I have been engaged in making inquiries and obtaining information on 
 all points connected with my mission to this country. 
 
 2. I presented to the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George S. Bonham, letters of introduction 
 from Earl Grey and Lord Palmerston, and I have received from his Excellency every 
 facility he could afford me. 
 
 8. My first intention was to have remained a few days at Penang and Singapore, where large 
 numbers of Chinese are engaged in the cultivation of sugar and of spices, but I found that 
 this would have occasioned considerable delay, by losing the direct steamer for China ; and 
 I thought it better 10 proceed at once to my destination. It may, however, be desirable to 
 have some information with regard to the system pursued towards the Chinese as labourers 
 in those colonies, and with regard to their habits and feelings as English colonists, and I 
 shall remain there a few days on my return from China. 
 
 4. I have been in communication with gentlemen long resident in this country, who are 
 well acquainted with the Chinese character, and are conversant with the language ; and I 
 have taken advantage of every opportunity that offered to make excursions into the country, 
 in order to see the villages and to acquire some information as to the habits, character, and. 
 
 condition 
 
 The Report referred to forms Sub-Enclosure 1 to this communication. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 73 
 
 condition of the peasantry. These excursions have necessarily been limited to the immediate BR ITISH 
 neighbourhood of Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao, as the Chinese Government in this GUIANA. 
 
 quarter is excessively jealous of foreigners, and it is impossible to proceed any distance with- 
 
 out personal danger. 
 
 5. I have no hesitation in recommending the Chinese as emigrants for the West Indies. 
 They are represented to me as tractable,' easily managed, when they understand the work 
 they have to perform, and as possessing indomitable industry and perseverance in everything 
 they undertake. As far as my own very limited experience extends, I have found them 
 civil, of apparently quiet and inoffensive character, working late and early, and anxious to do 
 anything that offered, by which they might earn a small consideration. The repugnance 
 shown to foreigners in the districts round Canton, arises, I believe, entirely from the instiga- 
 tion of the Government, and that the people if left to themselves would allow travellers 
 and strangers to proceed throughout the country without let or hindrance. I believe the 
 Chinese to be of rather a mild character and fully alive to the necessity of authority for 
 their regulation and control; but harsh measures towards them will be certain offailurej 
 and will rouse a spirit of resistance and insubordination, difficult to quell. They will not 
 submit to be beaten or treated roughly, but will cheerfully obey any regulations, which^ 
 when explained to them, they understand to be for their benefit, and which are founded on 
 considerations of kindness and justice. 
 
 6. They are generally a strong muscular race, broad shouldered, and bony, and capable 
 of enduring great and continuous fatigue. They are hardworking and industrious, and in 
 physical ability for labour, and the endurance of toil, I should consider one Chinese equal 
 to two of the inhabitants of Bengal. With exception of beggars lounging about the joss 
 houses (or temples), I have not seen a single man idle. The heat of the climate here in the 
 summer is about an average of that in Demerara, and I see the people engaged in ploughing 
 land, cultivating rice, making embankments to recover land from the river, and in other 
 occupations of agriculture from morning to night, and I infer from this that people who are 
 so industrious in their own country, will be good Jtibourers in any other, where their industry 
 will meet with a better reward. 
 
 7. There are two traits in the character of the Chinese which will make them 
 valuable labourers in the present state of the West Indies. In the first place they are 
 fond of money, and so devoted to the acquisition of it, that being never satisfied with what 
 they possess, they will continue the pursuit of gain to the very last, and in the second placcy 
 they are extremely shrewd and intelligent, keenly alive to their own interests, and will soon 
 perceive the advantage to be derived from culiivatmgland on their own account, either under 
 lease or for an interest in the produce, or nett proceeds from the soil. In fact they have 
 suflBcient intelligence and ambition to rise in the world, and in a short time would become 
 useful and valuable as a middle class in the West Indies. 
 
 a. Effective agricultural labourers may be obtained here, and in the adjoining province of 
 Fokien, under agreement of five years' service, without any stipulation as to return passage, 
 at the rate of 4 dollars monthly wages, food and lodging being found by the importers. I 
 believe it is a matter ofdittle moment, what contract may be entered into here. The custom 
 of monthly wages, except for domestic service, is foreign to the habits and feelings of the 
 Chinese. It may be necessary for the first few months after their arrival in the West Indies, 
 to pay them a fixed rate of monthly wages, but I have no doubt that as soon as they know 
 somethino- of the nature of the work required from them, and are satisfied with the climate 
 and with "their position, that they will gladly exchange the payment of monthly wages for a 
 system of taskwork. The latter gives a stimulus to industry, whereas the former tends 
 rather to check it, and the Chinese are so fond of money, and so eager to realise gain by 
 any amount of exertion, that they will not hesitate to adopt whatever system they find most 
 conducive to their interests. In Penang, or rather in the Province Wellesley, where the 
 cultivation of sugar is carried on principally, if not almost entirely, by Chinese, the system of 
 monthly wages was tried and persevered in for some time without success. The other system, 
 of oiving the Chinese an interest in the cultivation, either by a share of the produce or by a 
 pecuniary consideration proportionate to the return, has been adopted instead, and has been 
 followed' by favourable results. In Singapore, the Chinese are in possession of money 
 and laud. They are clearing the forests and establishhig spice plantations, and by their 
 industry and per^everance have obtained a monopoly of nearly all the profitable secondary 
 occupations of the colony. 
 
 9, From the above it will be evident that the Chinese, in my estimation, possess all the 
 elements necessary to constitute useful labourers and good colonists in the West Indies. 
 They possess strength, industry, and intelligence, and are so eager after gain that they will 
 continue to work on as long as it is possible to earn anything by persevering exertion. But 
 there is one great difliculty in the way of a successful emigration and permanent coloniza- 
 tion of the West Indies by means of Chinese, and that is the impossibility of obtaining 
 women and families. Extensive emigration has been going on for many years to almost 
 every island in the Indian Archipelago, to Manilla, to Borneo, to Java, where there are 
 several hundred thousand ; to Singapore, Malacca, and other places, but in every case the 
 emigration has been of men alone, and there is hardly one solitary instance of the emigration 
 of women or families. In all these cases the Chinese have formed connexions and inter- 
 married with the Malay or other women of the country where they have settled, and the 
 want of female emigration has consequently not been felt. In Singapore 1 saw numbers of 
 children, the offspring of Chinese apd of Malay women, whom they had obtained by pur- 
 chase. This offspring will, from the pressure of Chinese emigration, become more and 
 
 986. ■ M 
 
74 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITI 
 (}U I A 
 
 SH 
 
 N A. 
 
 more assimilated to the Chinese race; and I believe that in course of time the Malays will 
 necessarily succumb to the superior energy of tbe Chinese, and will ultimately disappear 
 from the soil whenever the two races are brought into immediate contact. 
 
 10. In all the islands and countries where the Chinese have hitherto settled as emigrants, 
 they have found branches of the Malay family and races cognate to their own ; this 
 would not be the case in the West Indies, and I have very great doubts whether they 
 would form connexions of a permanent character with the negro women, so as to become 
 contented and resident colonists. If this difficulty can be got ovei', I have no doubt as to 
 the successful result of Chinese emigration on the future destinies of the West India 
 colonies. ' , 
 
 11. I have made inquiry as to the reasons which prevent the emigration of women and 
 families, and 1 have had the opportunity of conversing with intelligent Chinese on the 
 subject. One or two gentlemen, whose opinions are entitled to consideration, think that 
 women and families may be obtained if proper steps are taken, and that the only reason 
 why they have not emigrated hitherto has been the absolute want of means to pay the 
 expenses of the voyage. They sttite that in all the countries in v.'hich the Chinese have 
 been sought as labourers, the emigration of women and families has not hitherto been made 
 an object, but that if a free passage were offered, there is every probability that they would 
 avail themselves of it to rejoin their friends and relations. This opinion is, however, greatly 
 overborne by the opinion of other parties, who think that there are reasons in the peculiar 
 state of Chinese society to operate as a bar against the emigration of women. Domestic 
 female slavery is universal throughout China,' and girls are purchased at prices varying 
 from 10 to 60 dollars, or even upwards, according to their age and supposed intelligence ; 
 and they think that the poor people will, as a matter of course, sell their girls to families, 
 where they will be well taken care of, rather than allow them to leave the country, by which 
 they can derive no practical benefit. If, therefore, it be an object to obtain women and 
 families, a bonus must be given for them, and that by this means alone can the difficulty 
 be overcome. I may add that here, in Macao, female domestic slavery is very common 
 among the Portuguese families, and that nearly all the female servants and ayahs have been 
 obtained by purchase as children. 
 
 12. If the colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad shall decide upon giving a trial to 
 the emigration of Chinese from this quarter, various courses are open for the attainment of 
 this object. 
 
 First. There are several houses here of high character and established repute who 
 would probably undertake to send effective agricultural labourers to the West Indies, 
 receiving a certain fixed sum per head for every emigrant landed. With reference to this 
 I enclose two letters, one from Syme, Muir & Co., and the other from J.D. Muir of the same 
 firm, and, I believe, the only partner now in China. These letters are the result of a cor- 
 respondence I have had with Messrs. Syme, Muir & Co. I am also at present in commu- 
 nication with Messrs. Dent & Co. and with Messrs. Russell & Co. upon the same subject, 
 and I shall be able to communicate the result by next mail. I consider that a point of 
 some importance will be gained if Messrs. Dent & Co. undertake 'the operation. They 
 have been so long established in China, are so well known and so highly respected by the 
 Chinese, that any undertaking in which they are interested will be viewed favourably by 
 the Chinese ; while their high standing will be a guarantee to the Chinese emigrants that 
 they will receive just and fair treatment in the country to which they are emigrating. 
 
 Secondly. There are various parties, who have been engaged in the shipment of Cliinese 
 to Manilla, and to Peru, and other places, who would undertake to procure emigrants, 
 and to sliip them on board with clothing, food, water, and all necessaries for the voyage 
 (the colony taking the risk of the varying rates of freight), or they would procure a certain 
 complement of emigrants within a given time, leaving the supplies, as well as the freight, 
 to be arranged for by the colony. On this subject I have received two memorandums, 
 copies of which are enclosed. 
 
 Thirdly. The establishment of a bounty, paid in the colony upon all effective agricultural 
 labourers, without reference to tbe party by whom they may have been sent forward from 
 China. This bounty ought not to exceed 18 Z. sterling, which is the amount fixed by Syme, 
 Muir & Co., as the sum for which they will undertake to land emigrants in the West 
 Indies. If a proclamation shall be issued on this subject it will be uei-essary to define the 
 ports, and for the present I would confine them to Namoo and Amoy, both in tbe Fokien 
 province, and perhaps also the port of Canton and the harbour of Macao. Good labourers 
 may, no doubt, be obtained from this quarter (Canton and Macao), but as far as my infor- 
 mation goes, labourers of a better description, and with the certainty of their being agricul- 
 turists, can be obtained in Fokien than in the neighbourhood of Canton. I would exclude 
 Singapore and Penang altogether. The people who go there from China in the annual 
 fleets of junks are generally seafaring men, and of the refuse population, and the probability 
 is that the colony would have the second refuse, the best people finding employment on the 
 island, or proceeding to Malacca and other places where they have friends and connexions. 
 
 Fourthly. The appointment of an emigration agent, whose business it should be to obtain 
 vessels for the conveyance of emigrants of the proper description, and to procure ihe neces- 
 sary supplies at the most economical terms. An establishment somewhat similar to the 
 emigration depot at Calcutta would be required, but on a less expensive scale. Should this 
 system be adopted, arrangements might be made, through Her Majesty's Government, f«r 
 tbe employment in this service of the vessels engaged in taking convicts to Australia. 
 These might call at Amoy, or elsewhere, on their return, and having already all the neces- 
 sary 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 75 
 
 sary fittings, and the casks and tanks for water, would probably convey emigrants to the BRITISH 
 
 West Indies at a cheaper rate than could be obtained by the employment of other vessels. GUIANA.. 
 
 13. Of these various methods of conducting Chinese emigration, I am not as yet in pos- 
 
 session of sufficient information to recommend any one in preference to the others. I lean 
 
 to the opinion that the first will be found most convenient and judicious, and that under it 
 a better class of labourers will be obtained than under the second or the third. Any person 
 appointed as emigration agent will necessarily have to act, in the first instance, through 
 the intervention of such houses as Dent & Co., and others of established reputation, and 
 it would probably be better to allow them to manage the whole affair, and to take upon 
 themselves the responsibility of all the details connected with the question. 
 
 14. There can be no doubt as to obtaining any number of labourers that may be required. 
 This country is peopled to exc ss, and there is a constant struggle to obtain the bare neces- 
 saries of life. In spite of the regulations of the Government, by which emigration is strictly 
 prohibited, the Chinese themselves are anxious to emigiate, and will go anywhere where 
 they have the chance of earning a subsistence. Thousands go to Singapore every year, 
 and are thence gradually spreading over the adjacent countries. The tin mines in the 
 island of Banca are worked entirely by Chinese. In Java there is a population of several 
 hundred thousand. I have been informed that the number amounts to nearly a million, 
 and that the Dutch, in alarm at their increasing numbers, have recently prohibited their 
 introduction. They have found their way to Borneo, and have established large commu- 
 nities in some parts of the island. There are great numbers of them in Manilla ; and the 
 Spanish Government, with the view to encourage their immigration into the island, have 
 removed several restrictions that were found injurious. They have found their way also to 
 California, paying their own expenses ; and so eager are they to reach this El Dorado, that 
 they are willing to encounter the risk of the voyage in their own junks, totally unfitted as 
 these vessels are for the risks attendant on so long an undertaking. 
 
 15. With a people so prone to emigration, and with a population in excess of the means 
 of subsistence, there can be no doubt, I think, that any nfimber of labourers may be obtained, 
 and if emigration be once set a-going, there can be little doubt as to a favourable result. 
 I consider the Chinese as being superior to the Bengalees in every point of view with refer- 
 ence to colonization ; and if hereafter any means should be found to overcome the difficulty 
 which now exists as to the non-emigration of women and families, I am confident that the 
 Chinese will be found the best labourers that have yet been introduced into the West 
 Indies. 
 
 16. There are many details with regard to the habits and character of the Chinese to 
 which I do not refer at present, as it-would extend this communication to an unnecessary 
 length. I may state, however, that if the colonies decide upon giving a trial to this emigra- 
 tion, it will be necessary that they should have a sufficient number of emigrants to form a 
 society of their own. The Chinese are essentially a social and a gregarious people, and 
 must be located in masses together, and not scattered throughout the colony. They must 
 be kept in the first instance distinct and separate from the negroes, not only at their 
 work, hut also in their dwellings ; and if arrangements could be made for locating them 
 in separate villages, it would conduce much to the success of the emigration. They 
 are naturally of a cheerful disposition, and gratified with trifles, and whatever promotes 
 good humour among them, will tend materially to make them contented and willing 
 labourers. 
 
 17. All the information I have received leads me to conclude that Amoy, which is the 
 principal port in the province of Fokien, offers greater facilities for obtaining good la- 
 bourers than can be procured elsewhere. This is the great seat of emigration influences, 
 and hence the Chinese wander to all parts of the Indian seas. The country between Canton 
 and Amoy is also the principal seat of the sugar cultivation. I purpose going as far 
 as Amoy by the first .opportunity that offers. This will not occupy more than two or 
 three weeks, and on my return thence I shall proceed to Singapore and Penang. If the 
 colonies decide upon Chinese emigration it will be quite unnecessary that I should revisit 
 Calcutta ; if information be required as to the probability of obtaining good labourers from 
 the Madras presidency, this object may be effected in a few weeks. 
 
 18. I wriie to your Excellency at present under some disadvantage, as all my letters a,nd 
 papers are in Hong Kong; the steamer by which I intended to return there, imd which 
 ousht to have been here yesterday, has been otherwise employed, and I am obliged to send 
 this forward by a sailing-boat on the chance of its being in time for the mail. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 p 5 ;\s far as I am aware, no stipulation has ever been introduced into any of the 
 
 contracts made with Chinese emigrants, securing a return passage at the end of five years, 
 or, if introduced, it has never been claimed by the emigrants. 
 
 I have ascertained that in all cases where the Chinese emigrants have proved refractory on 
 board ship, as in some recent cases to. South America, it has arisen solely from maltreatment 
 by the officers of the ship, or by the want of sufficient and proper food and water for their 
 subsistence. 
 
 To his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esq. James T. White. 
 
 Governor of British Guiana, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 986. 
 
 M 2 
 
76 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Sir, Hong Kong, 31 May 1851. 
 jG U I A N A. Referring to the several conversations we have had on the subject of Chinese coolie 
 labour for the West India islands, we have the following remarks to offer. 
 
 The experience of eight years residence at Anioy, the principal seaport of the Fokien 
 province, has satisfied us that the natives of that district are the best adapted for the pur- 
 pose required, being mostly agriculturists, and though equally enterprising, much more 
 docile and tractable than those of the Canton province, from whom they differ in every 
 characteristic, and even language. 
 
 The excessive population and their adventurous disposition led them to emigrate many 
 years ago, and now they are the agriculturists of the Philippine group, and nearly the whole 
 of the Malayan Archipelago, from which places they have carried on an extensive barter 
 trade with Amoy. Latterly they have proceeded as free labourers to Bourbon and to 
 Australia, in both of which places they have been found to answer extremely well. About 
 three years ago a Spanish company induced a body of 800 to go to the Havanna, where it is 
 known they arrived in safety, but of their after fortune no information can be obtained. 
 More recently another Spanish company engaged 500 to cultivate the island of Batan, in 
 the Bushee group, and we learn that olthough they have only been there about a year and 
 a half, a great part of the island is already in full production. 
 
 We are willing to undertake to furnish as many men as might be required for the West 
 Indies, say adults and boys under 10 years of age, latter on the comparative scale of three 
 to two of former. The terms on which we have hitherto engaged them are two dollars to 
 four dollars per month, finding them passage, rations, food, medical attendance, habitation, 
 and two suits of clothing per annum, also passage back if required, but the latter stipulation 
 has 'never been exacted, and to remove all trouble we would suggest a bonus being given 
 instead, to every one who actually embarked for home on the expiry of his agreement, as 
 few would be found to avail of it. We thfiik with you however, that taking into consideration 
 their industrious habits and the necessity as well as the value of labour, it would be advisable 
 to give them the option on arrival of doing job instead of day work, and to pay them 
 accordingly, guaranteeing of course that they would make per month the same at least as 
 agreed on. 
 
 It would be advisable to send one headman and two or three subordinates who could 
 speak, read and write English, to communicate their wishes till they became conversant 
 with the language of their superiors. Such men could easily be procured at Amoy, but 
 Avould require to be closely watched, as presumption on authority for personal aggrandize- 
 ment is inseparable from the Chinese character in every situation of life. 
 
 One or two native doctors and the same number of musicians (who with the cooks would 
 be exempt from other labour, unless tliey choose, when not professionally occupied) are 
 indispensable, not only to keep them in health but in spirits, as otherwise they are very sub- 
 ject to " mal de pays^' which when established is very fatal to them. 
 
 Although they have been found to intermarry freely with the aborigines wherever they 
 have gone, and the " Chinese mestizo" of the Philippines are, physically speaking, a very 
 fine race, it would be desirable at first to introduce, if possible, a few families, for which, if 
 practicable, a bonus would require to be given, as independent of emigration being by the 
 Chinese laws strictly prohibited, their attachment to country and locality is very strong. 
 We have made every inquiry as to expense of transport, which is the only point on which 
 we are at a loss, and the result has decided us on tendering to land the coolies at the 
 rate of 18 I. (eighteen pounds sterling) per head for adults landed at the port of destination, 
 or 7 I. shipped at Amoy, with provisions for the voyage ; we should however prefer the 
 former, as we would be enabled thereby to select both ships and commanders, which is a 
 most important particular, as thereon, in a great measure, depends the success of the 
 operation. 
 
 Should we be favoured with the contract we need hardly observe that our best efforts 
 will be employed to give every satisfaction, as independent of the influence it will give us 
 in the employment of shipping, we will be able to put into practice a favourite theory of 
 many years' standing, and should experience enable us to reduce the expense hereafter, we 
 will cheerfully modify the rates accordingly. 
 
 One member of our firm purposes making a short visit to England in the course of two 
 months, and will be glad to give there any information not embodied in this letter that 
 may be required, and should anything also- occur to you before the departure of the mail 
 that has not been touched, we will be happy to satisfy your inquiries. 
 
 In conclusion we may mention that the sanction, or rather recognizance by Her Majesty's 
 'Govtrnment, of the operation through the Governor here and the consul at Amov, will be 
 ,of considerable importance in carrying it out. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 
 James T. White, Esq. (signed) Syrne, Muir 8; Co. 
 
 My 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 77 
 
 My dear Sir, Hong Kong, 3 June 1851. BRITISH 
 
 I NOW proceed to reply to your favour of 31st May in detail. G^^ U I A N A. 
 
 I have no objection to make the modification you suggest regarding children in either 
 
 way that may be practicable. 
 
 The opium, as well as everything else necessary for the voyage, we would of course pro- 
 vide, and I merely mentioned this circumstance as a necessity, which will at first be 
 required to be provided after arrival, in case it should be wanted, not as a matter of course. 
 
 The rations are about 1 ^ lb. of rice, and J lb. of salt fish or meat to each adult per day, 
 with tea and vegetables, which as they are so very cheap, have never been rated. 
 
 The coolies would do the full day's work, nine hours, and I have no doubt would prefer 
 task-work, as they would thereby earn moie money. 
 
 The clothing would consist of banjam and trousers of cotton or drill and China shoes ; 
 any finery they would provide themselves. 
 
 The headman I would pay well, in order that he should maintain with respectability his 
 position of Mandarin. I would suggest 200 Z. per annum and a house. 
 
 The native doctors, musicians, &c., would do their work in the colony with the others; 
 but would require additional pay for their " professional" services ; indeed they are to be 
 considered as necessary adjuncts for the good working of the scheme. 
 
 The advance would be two months' pay before leaving, which they generally leave with 
 their friends, or expend in the purchase of little comforts for the voyage, and being cash 
 advanced must be recoverable from their pay within six or eight mon'Jis after arrival. 
 
 It is of course understood that, with the exceptions I have named, and perhaps one or 
 two " barbers," all the emigrants are to be agriculturists, and to enter for five years' service 
 in the colony; to have the option of working under contract, or on their own account on 
 payment of a small tax, the monthly wages lor which they engage being guaranteed them. 
 
 The Government recognizance would remove all obstacles, and I imagine it would cheer- 
 fully be given to any feasible project intended for the benefit of the colonies. 
 
 I have no copies of contracts by me, but will get them from Amoy; they are, however, in 
 my opinion, very vaguely framed, and I imagine illegal from informality, so would be value- 
 less as guides. 
 
 1 have written for the information regarding the export of coolies from dififerent parts of 
 China, but think that in round numbers I could name them for the last two years. 
 
 From Cumsingmoon for South America - - 2,200 
 
 „ Hong Kong „ California _ - . . 4,000 
 
 „ Shanghae „ » - - " - ^00 
 
 „ Amoy for sundry places _ - - - 18,000 
 
 Namoo, beino- part of the Fokien province, is included with Amoy. It is a small island 
 with about 10°000 inhabitants, and its only importance consists in being the dividing 
 boundary of the two provinces of Canton and Fokien. 
 
 I hope these remarks will be of use, and should more information be required, I will be 
 happy to supply it if in my power. 
 
 The question has gone abroad but not through me; I have even been applied to, to ascer- 
 tain if shipping is wanted, but I have replied that I have no authority to say anything in the 
 
 matter. ^ ^ 
 
 I have, etc. 
 
 James T. White, Esq. (signed) J. Z>. Muir. 
 
 Victoria. 
 
 My dear Sir, . Macao, 17 June 1851. 
 
 I HAVE the pleasure of sending you the memorandum required of expense ot shippmg 
 <;oolies : 
 
 Commission for each man 
 
 Ditto to Chinese collector 
 
 Food for each man per month - - - - .^ 3 50 
 
 Water ditto ditto, a gallon a day - - - - 2 - 
 
 5 50 
 
 5 - 
 4 - 
 
 27 50 
 
 2 - 
 1 50 
 
 3 - 
 
 Estimating the voyage at 5 months (including the purchase of 
 
 casks) - -" 
 
 2 suits of summer clothing ,-.---- 
 
 1 suit of winter ditto _------ 
 
 Various articles for the voyage - 
 
 Fittino- between decks and kitchen will cost, for 300 men, about 400 dollars ; wages, 4 
 -dollars per month, and one month's advance will be required. The coohes will engage 
 themselves for fiv; years ; are to be fed, lodged, and medical attendance at the expense of 
 
 *^'The freiglnpaid here has been, for Peru, 25 to 30 dollars a man, for a voyage of 120 days, 
 
 -with provisions put onboard for 150 days. „ , ,, . , ■ . j \t^^^^u 
 
 The Government of Peru allows a premium of 30 dollars for each man impoited. Vessels 
 
 q86. m 3 ^* 
 
78 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH of about 1,000 tons are required for 400 men, and it is very essential to have ports between 
 GUIANA, decks for ventilation. The greatest attention is to be paid in choosing good captains of mild 
 
 temper and temperate habits. The Chinese are generally of mild character, but will not 
 
 bear rough handling. _ . 
 
 If you want any more information, give me your views, and I shall do everything in my 
 
 power to satisfy you. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) J. A . Durram. 
 
 jp^ S. I am not aware tliat any stipulation has ever been made for the return of coolies to 
 
 China. I am certain that nothing was provided in the exportations to Peru. J. A. D. 
 
 J. T. White, Esq., Macao. 
 
 Memorandum of J. E. Endicott, Cumsingmoon : 
 
 Commission ---------- 
 
 Ditto to Chinese collector ------- 
 
 Supplies of food, &c., on a voyage of five months, at 5 dollars a 
 month ---------- 
 
 * Cash advanced to coolies for supplying themselves with clothing 
 
 !4 - 
 4 - 
 
 2 5 
 4 - 
 
 Syme, Muir& Co., in their letter of 31st May, undertake to put emigrants on board at 
 Amoy for the sum of 7 /., say ^33. 60, with provisions, water, and all necessaries for the 
 voyage. 
 
 These memoranda must be considered " private " until some arrangement is definitely 
 made. 
 
 James T. White. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 2, in Enclosure in No. 1 . 
 (No. 13.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 19 July 1851. 
 
 I HAD the honour to address your Excellency from Macao, under date 21st ultimo, No. 
 12, meniioniiig my arrival in China, and what steps I had taken in furtherance of the objects 
 of my mission to this quarter. Thinking it advisable that I should make myself acquainted 
 with the appearance and condition of the people in the neighbourhood of Amoy, and with 
 the prospect of obtaining labourers from that quarter, I left this on the 26th ultimo, and 
 returned on the 16th instant; the voyage there and back occupying 10 days. 
 
 2. Amoy lies about 300 miles to the eastward of Hong Kong ; it is situated on an island 
 off the mamland,. numbers a population of upwards of 100,000 inhabitants, and has for 
 years past been the seat of extensive emigration to all parts of the Indian Archipelago. 
 The trade and commerce of the port are considerable and gradually increasing. Several 
 European houses are established there, and a large portion of the coasting trade has fallen 
 into their hands ; the southern coasts of this great empire being so infested by pirates, which 
 the government or naval authorities are either unable or unwilling to destroy, that the 
 Chinese merchants prefer the security of foreign shipping to the risks attendant on their 
 own junks. 
 
 The sugar cane is extensively cultivated throughout the entire district from Canton to 
 Amoy. At Changchow, a large town seated on a shallow river, about 40 miles above Amoy, 
 I visited an extensive refinery, where I found the processes of manufacture .precisely similar 
 to what prevailed in England previous to the introduction of the vacuum pan. The few 
 cane pieces which I saw in the neighbourhood were luxuriant in appearance, and had been 
 cultivated with the greatest care. 
 
 3. During uiy short stay at Amoy, I visited as much as possible of the surrounding 
 country; going into the villages and examining the habits and character of the people. I 
 did not meet with the slightest obstruction, although I frequently went alone and unattended. 
 I found the people civil and obliging. At Changchow we were followed, at first, by con- 
 siderable numbers, but they offered neither insult nor rudeness, and displayed only that eager 
 curiosity which may be supposed natural to ])eople, many of whom had probably never seen 
 a European previous to our arrival. 
 
 4. As far as my observation extends, the people of this province are not so robust or 
 muscular as those in the province of Canton. They are,however, considered to be of a more 
 quiet and orderly character, hardworking, and submissive to authority. They are almost 
 entirely agriculturists, are eager to emigrate, and are so poor that they will go anywhere on 
 any conditions that may be offered, provided they can secure the bare necessaries of life. 
 Their language is a peculiar dialect of ihe Chinese, but differing so entirely from that spoken 
 in the Canton province, that the inhabitants do not understand each other, and are obliged 
 to resort to interpretation in their oral communications. Any number of people may be 
 obtained, for the country is peopled to excess, and a careful selection of those offering: as 
 emigrants, would secure good and effective labourers, 
 
 5. A vessel 
 
 * This is to be refunded by the cooliesjafter iheir arrival in the colony. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. yg 
 
 5. A vessel called the " Amazon " was lying in harbour, and had been engaged some time BRITISH 
 previously to convey emigrants to the Sandwich Islands, bui in consequence of some pecu- Gr U I A N A. 
 
 niary difficulties affecting the ships, which occasiuned her detention, the emigrants had been 
 
 dismissed. Through the agency of the house entrusted with the operation I sent for some 
 
 of these people. It was stated to me that the best and most efiective of them had returned 
 to their villages, and that those I saw were the worst description ; they were all young men 
 from 16 to 30 years of age, the greater part of them strong-framed and effiective, but all of 
 them thin and meagre, and evidently sufferine; from the want of sufficient food ; a few were 
 very inferior, and not tit to be sent out as emigrants to the West Indies ; they had all been 
 engagfd at wages varying from two to three dollars per month. The inspection of these 
 people led me to infer that such low wages are insufficient to induce the emigration of the 
 better class of labourers, and that under any circumstances great care must be taken in the 
 selection. 
 
 6. The wages ought to be fixed at four to five dollars a month, with food, lodginji, and 
 medical attendance; or perhaps it would be more congenial to the Chinese character if the 
 wages were placed at six to seven dollars per month, leaving them to provide food and 
 lodging from their own resources; both conditions might be set forth in their contracts, 
 leaving them to make their own selection as soon as possible after their arrival. 
 
 7. Great weight seems to be attached by the Chinese to their receiving an advance of 
 money previous to their departure ; hitherto. this has been only six dollars, but I am led to 
 believe that if the amount were fixed at ]0 to 12 dollars, it would ensure a better description 
 of emigrants, even more so than by giving them a high rate of wages. The Chinese are essen- 
 tially a domestic people, fond of their family, and extremely attentive to their aged relatives. 
 Of this advance four dollars at least would be required to enable them to purchase the clothing 
 and other comforts necessary for the voyage ; the rest would be given to their relatives and 
 friends, or disposed of in the settlement of debts to enable them to leave the country. 
 
 I am assured that there never has been any difficulty in recovering from the Chinese 
 emigrants the money advanced to them previous to their departure from China. The iimount 
 has been stated in the contract with the condition of repayment by monthly instalments 
 of one or two dollars, and this condition has been carried out without difficulty or demur. 
 
 8. The emigration from China may be carried on throughout the year, but probably to 
 more advantage, and perhaps also with more economy, during the period between November 
 and March. This is the season of the north-east monsoon, when the passage may be made 
 from 30 to 40 days -quicker. Agricultural operations are in some measure at a stand, and 
 less employment can be obtained in the fields ; better men may therefore be obtained, and 
 perhaps also on more fiivourable terms. 
 
 9. At present an abundance of shipping might be secured for the emigration service. The 
 large influx of American clipper-built vessels from California has had a most injurious effect 
 upon British shipping, as a preference is given to them for the conveyance of teas on account 
 of their superior sailing qualities ; British shipping has consequently been thrown out of 
 employ. Many of these are well fitted up and well found, and would be obtained now on 
 lower terms than will be the case hereafter, when the balance of the shipping interests 
 shall be readjusted by the construction of better vessels in England, capable of competing 
 with the American shipping. 
 
 10. All the further information I have received confirms the opinion expressed in my last 
 communication to your Excellency, that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to 
 induce the emigration of women and families; they never have done so hitherto, and the 
 Chinese cling with such tenacity to ancient customs that they will hardly be persuaded to 
 adopt a new course in -this instance. Women are considered as pioperty, and can be 
 obtained only by purchase, and I believe that the only feasible plan of securing their emi- 
 gration would be to give an advance of 20 or 30 dollars to such of the emigrants as were 
 disposed to procure respectable women. This might perhaps induce some of them to take 
 their wives and families with them, and the additional sum thus advanced might be deducted 
 by monthly instalments out of the wages of the husband. 
 
 A few women might probably be procured by such means, and if the accounts sent home 
 by them to their relatives should be satisfactory, the confidence thus estabhshed would no 
 doubt induce others to follow, and in time an adequate number of women and tamiies 
 might be obtained, but in the first instance this will be attended with considerable difficulty. 
 I am afraid, also, that if any large number of women should be found to leave tbe country 
 it would attract the notice of the mandarins, and have the effect of putting an entire stop 
 to emigration. The mandarins would readily avail themselves of this as a plea to obtain 
 some pecuniary " consideration." ^ i • e 
 
 11. I cannot account satisfactorily for the difficulty of procuring women, temale intan- 
 ticide is verv common in the province of Fokien, and I saw at Amoy, m some ponds m tire 
 centre of the town, several bundles of mattinc.-, which were pointed out to me as containing 
 the bodies of new-born female infants. Under such circumstances one would natural y iniei 
 that the Chinese would be glad of the opportunity offered by means of emigration to 
 relieve the country of its superabundant female population. The men appear to me to oe 
 domestic and fond of their fam.ilies and children, and yet, while they ^^'iSrate by thousanas, 
 there is hardly an instance of any woman having left the country. Many «* ^lie (^ninese 
 settled in Sinoapore, Java, and elsewhere are comparatively wealthy; but instead ot senain 
 for their families they prefer making remittances to them, and the connexion is kept up oy 
 occasional visits to their native land. The few Chinese women in Singapore were P"'"'^'^^^^^^'^ 
 
 986. M 4 
 
8o PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH here as young girls, and I am informed that this system is carried on now, but not to any 
 
 GUIANA, great extent. 
 
 12. It must be borne in mind that the women in China do npt work in the fields, at least I 
 
 have never seen any engaged in any agricultural operation. Probably one-half of the floating 
 population, who live in boats on the rivers and along the shores of China, are women and 
 girls. 1 hey are extremely hardworking and industrious, and manage their boats with as 
 much tact and facility as the men. I am inclined to think that these women, from their 
 habits of hard work "and eagerness to acquire money, would soon take to the lighter 
 descriptions of field work in the West Indies, and to the weeding and the moulding of the 
 cane. They are large footed, while those living in the country are doomed to perpetual 
 inactivity in consequence of the wretched practice that prevails of having their feet distorted 
 to unnatural smailness. 
 
 13. Boys of eight to ten years of age may be obtained, I believe, inconsiderable numbers 
 at wages varying from one dollar to two dollars per month; girls can only be obtained by 
 purchase. If families should hereafter be induced to ernigrate, it would be necessary to pay 
 the father a bonus for each girl. This advance might be recoverable from tliegirl by resolving 
 it into so many years' wages paid to her in advance, or, as she would soon form some per- 
 manent connexion, the amount might be recovered from her husband. I saw several young 
 girls, from six to ten years of age, being hawked about the streets in Amoy, for whom the 
 price asked was from 20 dollars to 50 dollars. These were small-footed girls, and conse- 
 quently of higher value. 
 
 14. I have no reason to alter the opinion formerly expressed, that the Chinese are admi- 
 rably adapted as labourers for the West Indies ; they are strong, active and intelligent, 
 disposed to work, and to make money. The climate here, atleast at this season of the year, 
 is very similar to that of the West Indies, and I think they would enjoy health and strength 
 in their new location. The extensive cultivation of rice and of sugar in the lowlands in the 
 two provinces of Canton and Fokien would seem to qualify them for a residence in Trinidad 
 and Demerara, and I believe they will be found hardy and industrious. 
 
 The system of payment by monthly wages will not answer well, it discourages industry, 
 and the Chinese will, no doubt, take advantage of it to do as little work as possible. 
 The system of job-work is more consonant to their habits; and though it may be necessaiy 
 that there should be contracts of service at monthly wages in the first instance, the sooner 
 they are supplanted by special agreements the better will it be for the convenience and interest 
 of both parties. 
 
 15. There is one trait in the character of the Chinese which makes me somewhat doubt- 
 ful as to their conduct in the West Indies, I refer to their habit of combining together for 
 all purposes, whether good, bad, or indiflFerent. No Chinaman ever acts from individual 
 impulse, but always in concert with others. This principle of their character, if pushed to 
 any extent in such colonies as British Guiana and Trinidad, where the demand for labour is 
 greater than the supply, might be found very incDnvenient and injurious. They are also 
 represented to me as being of rather stubborn and wilful disposition ; but I believe that this 
 arises principally from the idea of their own vast superiority over all other people, and would 
 probably give way to better information. These two traits will render it necessary to exer- 
 cise a firm, judicious, and vigilant control in order to check misconduct a^ its very com- 
 mencement. I think that giving them an interest in the soil and its produce will probably be 
 the most effectual means of preventing such combinations. 
 
 16. I think also that some consideration is due to the great distance of the West Indies, 
 the want of intercourse with China, and to the impossibility of their visiting their native 
 land. With exception of Australia and California, to which emigration has only recently 
 set in, there is frequent intercourse between China and every island in which they have 
 settled, so that emigration is, as it were, only a removal from one part of the empire to 
 another. To remedy the inconveniences probably arising from this, it will be necessary to 
 give facilities for enabling them to correspond with their friends, and to make remittances of 
 money. This will tend to remove the feeHng of distance from home, and the necessity for 
 it will decrease as greater numbers settle in the country, and they become organised into a 
 society of their own. 
 
 17. I have several forms of contract, but I send only two, which may serve as samples for 
 the rest. These were entered into by emigrants for Sydney and the Sandwich Islands. I 
 send also a form in which the principle has been adopted of giving them an interest in the 
 soil. These people emigrated to the Bashee or Babuyane islands, a small group to the 
 noithward of, and a dependency of Manilla. I am informed tiiat the experiment so far has 
 been successful, but as the emigration only took place recently (about a year ago), it is too 
 soon to form any definite opinion. 
 
 18. The emigrants to Sydney and Moreton Bay have given entire satisfaction, and 
 arrangements are now in progress to send in 1,000 more without delay. Messrs. Tait & 
 Co. inform me that the emigrants in Sydney appear to have given up entirely the Chinese 
 dress, and endeavour to, assume as much as possible the manners and appearance of 
 Europeans, so that a shipment of Chinese clothes made to Sydney was found useless and 
 wiis returned to Amuy. This incident, which is quite contrary to their usual practice, 
 shows their aptness for emigration, as it indicates a desire, under favourable circumstances, to 
 naturalise themselves in a new country, and would probably insure their settling permanently 
 on the expiry of their engagements. In general, however, they adhere rigidly wherever they 
 go to their own dress, customs, and national peculiarities, but this may perhaps arise in a 
 
 sreat 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 81 
 
 great measure from their having only been brought into contact with people of a lower BRITISH 
 civilisation, the number of Europeans being too few and scattered to exercise much influence GUIANA, 
 on their social characteristics. 
 
 19. If the colonies shall decide upon giving a trial to this emigration, I would recommend 
 that it be left, in the first instance, to (he management of any respectable firm willinj; to 
 undertake the operation; 1,000 or 1,200 men to^Demerara, and 800 to Trinidad, would 
 be sufficient as an experiment. If these should answer well and the colonies desire to 
 carry on emigration upon an extensive scale, it would then be advisable to establish an 
 agent, and to organise a system somewhat similar to that in Calcutta. Better people would 
 be obtained, and the operation carried on with more economy. But at first this emigration 
 must be looked upon as experimental, and any house that may undertake to procure and 
 send forward the emigrants will, from a regard to their own character, and looking to the 
 prospective advantages likely to arise to themselves, if the emigration should be successful, 
 take all necessary precautions to obtain efficient labourers. 
 
 20. My absence in Amoy has prevented me from coming to any definitive arrangement 
 with the several parties referred to in the 11th paragraph of my last communication, No. 
 12, so that the matter is still under consideration. I have a good deal of correspondence, 
 which I shall forward to your Excellency as soon as I can get the letters and papers 
 transcribed. 
 
 21. In all my communications with the various parties here and at Amoy, 1 have con- 
 sidered the English Passengers' Act as the basis of negotiation, and have stated distinctly 
 that the general provisions and stipulations of that Act, as far as applicable to this emigration, 
 would be insisted on, as being necessary to the safety and well-being of the emigrants. 
 I have also stated that nine hours of steady and continuous labour, or the taskwork corre- 
 sponding thereto, would be required from the emigrant as an equivalent for his monthly 
 wages. 
 
 22. If your Excellency should deem it advisable to issue a proclamation on the subject of 
 emigration from this quarter, I would suggest that it be worded so as to include all ports or 
 places in the provinces of Canton and Fokien. My reason for this is, that the best agricul- 
 tural labourers will probably be obtained not at Hong Kong or Amoy, or other large ports, 
 but at such places as Cumsingmoon, and Namoa. These are opium stations, where the 
 opium receiving vessels lie in sheltered harbours off the mainland ; they are at a distance 
 from any large town, but are close upon large agricultural districts and villages, where 
 
 ' labourers may be obtained with comparative facility. 
 
 23. In comparing this emigration with that from India, I think there can be little doubt 
 as to its superior advantages. The Indians are certainly more docile, and more easily 
 managed than the Chinese, but the latter possess physical strength, industry, and an eager 
 desire to obtain money and to better their position. They have no thought of a return 
 passaae, and hitherto have settled permanently in every country to which they have 
 emigrated. The question as to obtaining a supply of women, seems to be attended with almost 
 equal difficulty in India and in China, and in both Countries a long time must elapse before 
 the diffi,culties can be overcome. 
 
 I believe that ultimately the cost of emigration from here will be very little higher than 
 from India, and may fairly be represented by the difference in length of voyage, wliich^ 
 under ordinary and similar circumstances, will not exceed 12 or 14 days. 
 
 Estimating the local charges in India (everything inclusive) at 
 And the shipping expenses - 
 
 This gives 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 2 10 - 
 
 10 10 - 
 
 as the average cost of Indian emigration. 
 
 The local charges in China, under a responsible agent, appointed by 
 the colony, wil! not exceed, probably not amount to, so muc h as tne 
 charges in India, say --------- 
 
 The freight ought not to exceed ------- 
 
 This jrives ------£. 
 
 13 - 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 2 10 - 
 
 12 10 - 
 
 &' 
 
 15 
 
 or a difference of 2l. per man in the cost of this emigration. It will in all probability be 
 more expensive at first, but once regulated, and formed into a system, wdl not exceed the 
 
 sum named. , i- i j 
 
 The cost of the return passage will be entirely saved 
 
 24 In comparing this emigration with that from Africa, I cannot disguise from myself 
 the conviction that Africa is the proper and legitimate source whence a supply of labour 
 may beltaLd for the West Indies^ I am inclined to look very favourably upon Chmese 
 Sration, for I think their habits and character dispose them to become useful laboui^rs, 
 Se manent settlers ; but the distance hence is very great ; the cost of their emigration 
 w fl be^onsiderable, aAd the difficulty, or rather the apparent impossibihty, of obtaining 
 women and female children except by purchase, present great difficulties in the way of a 
 successfurand permanent colonizatLn. 'on the other hand, the coast of Africa is comparatively 
 
 986. ^ 
 
82 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITI8 H near, the cost of emigration will be trifling, and women may be obtained (except in such 
 G U I A N A. cases as the Kroomen) in equal proportion to the men. 
 
 """" The Chinese possess more intelligence, and habits of greater industry, and have attained 
 
 a higher civilisation, but, all circumstances considered, it will probably be found that the 
 Africans, especially if they can be obtained at a young age, are better suited to the peculiari- 
 ties of soil and climate in the West Indies, and to supply the immediate want of labour. 
 Their importation will cost little, and there can be no doubt that they will be permanent 
 residents in the country. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Excellency Henry Barkly (signed) Jawes T. White. 
 
 Governor of Bitish Guiana > 
 &c. &cr 
 
 Enclosure in Sub-Enclosure 2. 
 
 Memorandum of an Agreement made this day of a.d. 185 . 
 
 I, , in consideration of a free passage to the Hawaiian or 
 
 Sandwich Islands, and for the further consideration of dollars per month, to be paid 
 
 to me, my heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, and also for the further consideration 
 of a suitable dwelling, food, and medical attendance, in all cases except where the sickness 
 is contracted by my own imprudence, to be furnished to nie by ,,,■ 
 
 of Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, his heirs, executors, administrators> or assigns, do 
 hereby promise and agree with the said , his heirs, executors, 
 
 administrators, and assigns, that I will, for and during the term of five years, to begin and 
 be accounted from the day of my arrival in the Sandwich Islands, serve, abide, and continue 
 ■with the said , his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, his/ 
 
 and their covenant servant, diligently and faithfully according to the utmost of my power, 
 skill, and knowledge, do and perform such service and business whatsoever, as well relating 
 to the business of labour on sugar and coffee plantations in said islands, as in and about all 
 other business matters and things whatsoever as the said , his 
 
 heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, or any of his or their superintendents or agents, 
 may from time to time order and direct, to and for the greatest profit and advantage of the 
 said , his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, so far as lies in 
 
 my power; and having received from the agent in Araoy, of the said , 
 
 the sum of dollars advance, 1 agree to repay the same in the Sandwich Islands by 
 
 a monthly deduction of one dollar from my wa^es until the said dollars be repaid 
 
 in full. 
 
 In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first above written. 
 
 In presence of 
 
 Articles of Agreement made and entered into this day of in the year 
 
 of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty , between George Plomer Collard, 
 
 of London, of the one part, and , a native of , in the empire of China, 
 
 labourer, of the other part. 
 
 Whereas the said George Plomer Collard being about to sail from China aforesaid, by 
 the ship or vessel , for Brisbane, Moreton Bay, in the colony of New South 
 
 Wales, hath contracted and agreed with the said to enter into the service of 
 
 the said George Plomer Collard for the term of five years, to be computed from the time of 
 his arrival at Brisbane aforesaid, in the capacity of shepherd, farm and general servant and 
 labourer, and with, under, and subject to the terms and conditions and in manner hereinafter 
 mentioned ; Now therefore these presents witness, that each of them the said George 
 Plomer Collard and doth hereby covenant and agree with the other of them, 
 
 his executors, administrators, and assigns, in manner following, that is to say : 
 
 That the said shall and will hire himself -to and serve the said Geoige 
 
 Plomer Collard as and in the capacity of shepherd, farm and general servant and labourer, 
 
 during the said term of five years, to commence and be computed from the time of his 
 
 arrival aforesaid ; and the said George Plomer Collard shall take and employ the said 
 
 as such servant as aforesaid for and during the said term. 
 
 That the said shall and will during the said term conduct and demean 
 
 himself in an orderly and proper manner, and give his faithful and zealous services to the 
 said George Plomer Collard, his executors, administrators, and assigns, and use his best 
 endeavours to serve the said George Plomer Collard, his executors, administrators, and 
 assigns, at such place or places as the said George Plomer Collard, his executors, adminis- 
 trators, and assigns shall from time to time direct, and shall and will well and truly obey all 
 the orders of the said George Plomer Collard, and all such person or persons as shall be 
 placed in charge over him as superintendent or overseer by the said George Plomer Collard, 
 and also shall and will make himself generally useful in performing any duties which fnay 
 be reasonably required of him by the said George Plomer Collard, his execiitors, adminis- 
 trators, or assigns, or his or their overseer or superintendent. 
 
 That 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 83 
 
 Thiit the said George Plomer Collard shall and will at the end of every three months BRITISH 
 during the said terna ot five years aforesaid pay or cause to be paid to the said G V I A^ A. 
 
 for such his due and faithful services aforesaid, after the rate of three dollars per month in 
 
 British sterling money, at the exchange of four shillings per dollar, such wages to commence 
 trom the date of his arrival as aforesaid; and also shall and will, during such faithful servitude 
 ot the said , provide or cause to be provided for the said the 
 
 tollowmg weekly provisions, viz., nine pounds of meat, eight pounds of flour, one-eighth of a 
 pound of tea, and one pound of sugar. ' & 
 
 , '^1'^' j^^ -^f^^ ' '" consideration of his passage by the vessel aforesaid, 
 
 shall and will consent to be assigned, by written indenture or agreement if necessary, to, and 
 serve such person or persons within the colony of New South Wales aforesaid upon the 
 terms ot this agreement, as the said George Plomer Collard, his executors, administrators, 
 or assigns shall think fit and proper, and shall and will enter into a contract or agreement 
 with such person on the terms herein contained; also shall and will pay by four equal 
 quarterly payments to the said George Plomer Collard, his executors, administrators, or 
 assigns, or to such person to whom he may be assigned, out of the first monies or wages to 
 be received by him the said , the sum of dollars now advanced 
 
 to him. 
 
 In w^itness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and 
 seals tile day and year first above written. 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said George"! 
 Plomer Collard, in the presence of - - ° -J 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said 1 
 
 , the contents of this agreement having I 
 
 been first read over and explained to him in the f 
 
 Chinese language by - - - - -J 
 
 Mr. James Tait, Spanish Vice Consul at Amoy, in the name of, and in representation of, 
 Messrs. Maiia, Menchacatorre and Co., Mr. B. A. Barreto, and Mr, J. B. Marcaida, on 
 the one part, and the Chinese on the other part, have agreed and contracted 
 
 as follows : — 
 
 1. The Chinese engages to proceed and establish himself on the Batanes 
 or Babuyanes Islands, and there to devote himself exclusively to the cultivation of the 
 grounds to be allotted him by the above mentioned body or company, of which Mr. 
 Marcaida is at present director. 
 
 2. The term for which the Chinese engages to work in the agriculture of 
 the said islands is for five years. 
 
 3. Mr. Marcaida will advance the cost of the passage money of the said 
 
 to the said islands, and he will advance him in Amoy the sum of dollars, where- 
 
 with to purchase clothes and other necessaries. 
 
 4. Mr. Marcaida will advance the cost of the tools or implements necessary for the work. 
 
 5. Mr. Marcaida will supply the cattle which may be necessary for the labour of the 
 ground. 
 
 6. Mr. Marcaida, if it appear to him desirable, will supply with cows, goats, 
 &c. for the purpose of breeding, and any profit thereon is to be equally divided. 
 
 7. Mr. Marcaida will provide for daily food of ube, gabe, camote, ducay, 
 and maize, with a proportionate quantity of ulam, and in the quantity necessary for the 
 daily sustenance of a labourer for six months, except in cases hereinafter specified. 
 
 , 8. The first labours of shall be directed to the cultivation of plants, &c. 
 
 suitable for his own sustenance. 
 
 9. shall exert himself to produce by his labour as soon as possible, the 
 articles necessary for his sustenance ; and so soon as this is attained (though the six 
 months specified in art. No. 7 have not expired), he shall cease to receive rations from Mr. 
 Marcaida. 
 
 10. The expense of the passage of , the cost of the tools, the expense of 
 the maintenance of , the cost of the cattle, seeds, &c., and all other expenses 
 incurred, and outlays made by Mr. Marcaida, shall be deducted from the produce of the 
 labour of , and after this deduction is made, the remainder shall be divided 
 into two equal parts, one for , and the other for the company, of which Mr. 
 Marcaida is director; but before dividing the produce, will have the disposal, 
 of what of the ube, gabe, camote, and vegetables he may have grown, he may require for 
 his own consumption. 
 
 11. The expenses and advances of which the foregoing article treats, shall be deducted 
 from the produce of the labour of in the two first years of his contract, with 
 the exception of his passage money, which will be deducted in the three last years in equal 
 parts, so that in the five years of his contract shall have repaid the company 
 all the advances and expenses mentioned in articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11. 
 
 12. If should not devote himself to agriculture, or should refuse to work in 
 the manner customary and reasonable for a labourer, and by his bad conduct neglect the 
 cultivation of the ground; his daily rations will be immediately suspended, and he will be 
 
 g86. N 2 compelled 
 
84 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH compelled to repay all the expenses and advances incurred on his account, and Mr * 
 GUIANA. Marcaida will be at liberty to dismiss him and oblige him to leave the islands, to preveii 
 any ill consequences from his bad example. 
 
 13. Mr. Marcaida is security to that the soil of those islands is fertile, that 
 the water is good for drinking, that the climate is healthy, and that the natives of the said 
 islands shall not in any way molest him. 
 
 14. Mr. Marcaida is security to that for 15 years he shall not have to pay 
 any tax whatever, and that after 15 years are past, the Government tax will be two reals 
 per month, and if likes to take with him from China, his wife and children, 
 they will likewise be exempt from taxation on the same terms as 
 
 15. Mr. Marcaida, with the view of encouraging the exertions of obliges 
 himself to renew the contract after the expiry of five years, for as long as or his 
 heirs may wish, but with the stipulation, that in such a case, shall always be 
 represented or substituted by an able-bodied labourer of more than 16 years of age, 
 approved of by the company; and with the further condition, that or his repre- 
 sentative shall never sell the ground, nor transfer his obligations or rights under the 
 contract, without the approbation of the company; and also with the stipulation, that if he 
 leave oft for one year, the cultivation of any of the ground he previously worked, the com- 
 pany are at liberty to take said ground from him, and give it to whom they please, without 
 
 being entitled to any remuneration for the same. 
 
 16. If during" the first five years should become sick, and his health be not 
 restored in two or three months, and he should wish to leave for Manilla or Amoy, Mr. 
 Marcaida will pay his passage to either place, and will not recover from him any of the 
 advances due. In such a case, however, to Mr. Marcaida will belong the right to all the 
 ground wliich may have worked. 
 
 Lastly, the intended meaning of this contract is, that while works with assi- 
 
 duity, and behaves himself well, fulfilling the conditions of this contract, and while 
 
 can substitute in his place a man of more than 16 years of age, approved of by the com- 
 pany, he and his heirs shall possess the right to continue cultivating the grounds they may 
 have opened, it being an express condition, that the obligations entered into in this contract 
 are understood to be valid between and whoever may, in place of Mr. Marcaida, 
 
 represent the company, or may have acquired its rights. 
 
 In witness whereof, we, namely, Mr. James Tait as representative of Mr. Juan B*" 
 Marcaida, director of the Company, and Chinese for himself, have hereunto afiixed 
 
 our signatures at the Spanish Vice-Consulate, Amoy, this day of in the year of 
 
 our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 3, in Enclosure in No. 1. 
 <No. 14.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 23 July 1851. 
 
 Since addressing your Excellency on the 19th instant, I have, at the instance of Dr. 
 Gutzlaff, had an interview with some Chinese in reference to emigration to the West Indies. 
 The Doctor had been in previous communication with them, so that they came prepared on 
 the subject. 
 
 2. Subjoined are the terms proposed ; they were fairly drawn out on paper in Chinese, and 
 I noted down at the moment the verbal translation as given by Dr. Gutzlaff. 
 
 Proposition of Ching-a-Soo on the part of the Tung-kwan sugar-growers, subject to 
 the modifications of the British employer : — 
 
 1. Each labourer to receive six dollars per month, and his employer to feed him. 
 
 2. Over 12 to appoint a headman, who shall receive in advance 100 dollars, under the 
 obligation to marry, and then to receive with his wife 12 dollars per month. 
 
 3. One headman over 60 labourers, wages to be 26 dollars ; to be a married man, and 
 to receive the same bonus in advance. 
 
 4. To pay two months' advance to each labourer, recoverable from his wages. 
 
 Proposition on the part of Hahva, Bourtong from Teo Cheo, the easternmost part of 
 
 Kwang Tring Province. 
 
 1. To pay each labourer six dollars per month. 
 
 2. Over 10 a headman to receive 10 dollars per month. 
 
 3. Over 100 a headman to receive 100 dollars per month. 
 
 4. As to going out married, with a wife, it is almost an impossibility, and hence an 
 advance of 100 dollars must be made to each of the headmen, to enter the 
 matrimonial state purposely, and the sum be subsequently deducted from their 
 wages. 
 
 5. Married couples to receive nine dollars per month. 
 
 6. The headmen to be careful in enforcing habits of diligence, and to fine those that 
 indulge in idle habits. 
 
 7. Every one to have the utmost facility to make remittances of their monthly wages 
 to their relatives. 
 
 8. To 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 85 
 
 ■8. To receive on embarkation three months' wages in advance, to be deducted after BRITISH 
 their arrival. GUIANA. 
 
 9. The above propositions subject to the modifications of the individuals who engage 
 
 the cultivators. 
 10. Only strong and hale men, who do not indulge in the habit of smoking opium, from 
 Fokien, Teo-Cheo, and Hai Hong, to be engaged in this work. 
 
 3. The general result of the interview was that they would take four to five dollars 
 a month (exclusive of food and lodging), or six to seven dollars (without), according to their 
 relative strength ; in the last case they would require a small piece of ground for their own 
 use. 
 
 4. That one headman in 25 would be sufficient, who should receive seven dollars a month 
 with food and lodging if single, or 10 dollars if married. 
 
 5. That the headman over 50, if married and speaking the English language, should have 
 20 dollars, it being understood that he should also be a physician. The deputation from 
 Teo Cheo said that nobody could be got there who understood the English, and they 
 seemed quite satisfied with 10 dollars per month for their headman. 
 
 6. They all adhered steadily to the advance required, which they looked upon as a " sme 
 qua nan," to pay their old parents and -relatives, who "could receive nothing for some time 
 after they left;" a portion of it was intended also to supply themselves with clothing and 
 other necessaries for the voyage, and for their use after their first arrival. 
 
 7. They did not ask a single question about the colony, or the nature of the work, or the 
 climate, or the people ; their observations were confined solely to the cost of living, and to 
 the price of rice; they did not make a single remark leading to the inference that they had 
 the least idea of returning to their own country, 
 
 8. I asked them if they intended to take large or small-footed women; they replied, that 
 they would take some of the former if required, but that the latter were more respectable, 
 and would make the emigration better liked by the people. 
 
 9. On asking why women did not emigrate from China to Singapore, and other places, 
 -where the men went, the only reason they gave was that the sea-sickness would kill them, 
 and tiiat their friends always sent home money to enable them to live in China. 
 
 The Chinese are great negotiators, and I believe the only way to deal with them is to lay 
 down certain terms, and to adhere to them, and when they find that there is no disposition 
 to make any change, they will probably come into them after a little diplomatic reserve. 
 
 10. I have also seen a gentleman from Manilla, who has resided many yeafs in the island, 
 and is well acquainted with the condition and circumstances of the Chinese. 
 
 He informs me that the number is from 7,000 to 8,000, of whom 4,000 to 5,000 live in the 
 town, and the rest in the country. Of the latter, some are holders of land, on which they 
 cultivate sugar upon a small scale ; others, and by far the greater number, are employed in 
 the sugar factories, where they are found to be intelligent and attentive, and give great 
 -satisfaction ; others again are shopkeepers, and pedlers, and very few, if any, are engaged 
 as daily labourers on the soil ; nearly all these people came to the island originally as coolies, 
 under engagement to work as labourers, but after a short time forsook the field for other 
 pursuits. He describes them as being very hardworking and industrious for the first six or 
 eight months, during which they hoard up every farthing of their earnings, but that as soon 
 as they have realised a few dollars they start oifFfrom field-work, and set up as hawkers and 
 .travellino- agents for the richer shopkeepers in town, or engage in some one of the various 
 trades and occupations to which the Chinese are especially addicted, business of any kind 
 teino- preferred to field industry. The character given of them by this gentleman corresponds 
 so precisely with that of the Portuguese settled in Demerara, that, with change of name, the 
 description of the one would stand perfectly well for the other. 
 
 11. He informed me also, that the Spanish Government, with a view to encourage their 
 settlement as labourers in the country districts, had taken off the poll-tax hitherto levied on 
 them and had imposed a proportionate higher tax on the shopkeepers and others ; but that 
 he thought this would be ineffectual, the habits of the Chinese being essentially com- 
 mercial. 
 
 12. The above statement, carefully considered, shows the necessity of extreme caution in 
 
 are hardworking and industrious (partK ,.,,■. - ,-. 1 ^ ,j ,1. 
 
 of extreme population. These people may change their habits, and forsake field work when 
 placed in circumstances more favourable to the development of their natural character. 
 
 13 This gentleman also stated that the Spanish planters considered the Chinese unable 
 to bear the continuous heat of the climate so well as the native Indians. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) J. T. White. 
 
 p S—1 have omitted to mention that the Chinese deputies stated, "That any number 
 
 of bovs could be obtained of the age of 10 or 14, at about two dollars per month ; some 
 
 .rirU of the same age might be got, but only by making advances to their parents and 
 
 rp atives " Bovs of 12 years of a'ge would readily become acclimatised, and would adapt 
 
 Of: ' ' jj <j themselves 
 
86 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH themselves to the customs and requirements of the country; they would be easily managed, 
 G U I A X A. and in time would probably become useful and valuable labourers. It may be worth con- 
 
 sideration, wiiether an emigration of this kind, properly conducted, and with an admixture of 
 
 girls, might not prove, ultimately, more conducive than any other to the permanent interests 
 of the colony. 
 
 His Excellency Henry Barkly, James T. White. 
 
 Governor of British Guiana, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Sub Enclosure 4 in Enclosure in No. 1 , 
 
 (No. 3 5.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 21 August 1851. 
 
 When I had last the honour to address your Excellency, under date ■21st July, it was my 
 intention to have left this by the steamer on the 5th instant. I have been detained, how- 
 ever, in consequence of the collision between the two steamers, " Pacha " and " Erin," by 
 which the former was sunk, and the latter has sustained considerable injury. I shall leave 
 this by the steamer of the 24th, and after remaining a few days at Singapore and Penaag, 
 shall proceed on to Calcutta. 
 
 2. I have visited Canton and Macao a second time, in order to see some gentlemen from^ 
 whom I expected to get further information as to the probability of inducing women and 
 families to emigrate ; and I have seen also several Chinese of respectable station in life, and 
 of good intelligence, who are willing to undertake the collection of emigrants for the West 
 Indies. 
 
 3. The favourable opinions expressed in my former communication to your Excellency, have; 
 been confirmed by subsequent information and expeiience. In the villages and country 
 districts which I have visited in the neighbourhood of Macao, and on the mainland opposite 
 to Hong Kong, I have found the Chinese always occupied and industrious, and engaged 
 either in ploughing the land, or turning it up with the hoe, or in labouring at the pumps to 
 raise water for irrigation. These pumps are, in principle, similar to the chain pumps in use 
 on board of ship. They are worked by a drum, which is made to revolve by the feet, so that 
 the process resembles the treadmill, and the labour is constant and severe. The cultivation 
 resembles a garden, and every spot of ground is turned to profit by irrigation and manure 
 The rice crop was ripe, and I saw a considerable number of women reaping the grain. The 
 women thus employed were all boat-women. My guide informed me that they always assisted 
 in reaping the crop, but took no other part in agricultural labour. He said, that although he 
 had never seen women engaged in cutting canes, he thought they would have no objection 
 to that work if paid for their labour, and that the only reason why they did not engage in 
 it in this district was, that the cane land belonged to richer people, who requiring hired 
 labour, preferred that of men, which could always be obtained. The rice fields, on the con- 
 trary, were the property of the families whom I saw engaged, or of the villages to which they 
 belonged. 
 
 4. The Chinese women are small in comparison with the men. These are in size and 
 strength equal to the African, perhaps not so tall ; but the women are of slighter build, and 
 incapable of the great endurance of fatigue which characterise the African women. As far 
 as my observation goes, there are more large footed women in this province than in Amoy. 
 The immense amount of river and canal navigation in the neighbourhood of Canton, and in 
 the adjoining districts, will account for this ditference, but the prejudice in favour of small- 
 footed women, as a mark of distinction, seems to exist to the fullest extent. 
 
 5. I have reason to believe that the information which I received at Amoy,, as to the 
 extreme prevalence of female infanticide,, was not altogether correct. Two respectable and 
 well-informed Chinese, with whom I had conversation on the subject of emigration, admit 
 that the practice of infanticide exists, biit not to the extent I was led to suppose, and that 
 it prevails with regard to male as well as to female infants. They tell me that the body of 
 an infant is supposed to be without soul until it begins to speak, and that the destruction 
 of life previous to this, if the parents have no means of supporting their offspring, is not 
 considered as a criminal offence. They say, also, that infants who die before they can speak 
 are not buried in the ground, but are thrown into water ; and that the bodies which I had 
 seen floating in the ponds at Amoy were probably the bodies of children who had died from 
 natural causes. From the extreme affection which the Chinese show for their children, I 
 am inclined to think that this statement may be correct; but at the same time I must add 
 that the practice of female infanticide in Amoy was spoken of as a matter of certainty, and 
 of frequent if not daily occurrence. 
 
 6. The people in this district appear to me extremely desirous of emigrating, and that 
 any number of them may be obtained. In no one instance did they make any inquiry as 
 to the climate or character of the country to which I proposed they should emigrate, or 
 show, by any casual remark, the slightest wish or intention of returning to China. They 
 were anxious only to know if the country belonged to the English, if they should have rice, 
 with fish and pork, for their provisions, and if they could make remittances to their fiiends. 
 and relations. They expressed a great dislike to go to any country which belonged to the 
 Spanish, as the accounts which they had received from their countrymen who went to Cuba 
 had been very unsatisfactory. They expressed great eagerness to go to California, from 
 which some very large remittances had been sent home, and two or three individuals had 
 
 returned 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 87 
 
 returned with considerable sums of money ; but the paramount idea was evidently to obtain 
 food wherever it could be got, and that, to secure that object, they were ready to embark 
 for any country that offered the means of conveyance. 
 
 7. The people who go to California pay for their own passage, and hitherto this emigra- 
 tion has been confined to the better class of artisans, and of shopkeepers possessed of some 
 little property. In the districts round Cumsingmoon I found that all the carpenters had 
 left for this new El Dorado, and the reports they had sent home of the f.icility of finding 
 gold seemed to have created quite a ferment, and to have given a new impulse to the desire 
 for emigration. 
 
 Those who go down to Singapore and Penang, being unable to pay for their own passage 
 in the first instance, come under engagement to refund the amount out of the first earnings 
 after their arrival. According to returns published in one of the Singapore papers, the 
 number of Chinese emigrants who arrived there in 1849 was 10,928, and in 1850, 8,204. 
 These people do not all remain in Singapore, but go on to Java, Banca, Borneo, Malacca, 
 Penang, or wherever else they can find employment for their labour; so that the Chinese 
 race is being gradually but surely diffused over the whole Eastern Archipelago. 
 
 8. There are at present two vessels preparing to take in emigrants for Sydney. Captain 
 Simson, of the "General Palmer," informs me that those who were sent there some time 
 ago have given entire satisfaction. Captain Simson entered into engagements with several 
 private individuals before he left Sydney, to bring over a certain nun\ber of emigrants for 
 each, at the rate of 10 /. 5 s. per head, all charges inclusive. The terms he is authorised to 
 offer are three to four dollars wages per month, with food and lodging. The indentures of 
 service to be for five years, and there is no stipulation whatever as to a return passage. He 
 has been directed to take them from Amoy, as all the Chinese emigrants now in Sydney 
 came from that quarter. The total number ordered is about 1,000. Should the accounts 
 which have reached this of the discovery of gold in large quantities in the neighbourhood 
 of Sydney prove correct, there can be litile doubt that a very extensive emigration will set 
 in from China to that country. 
 
 9. A.nnexed is the translation of a " Document" which I received a few days ago from 
 a very intelligent person, with whom I had an interview some days previous, lie promised 
 to go into the country, and to ascertain from the people themselves on what terms they 
 would be disposed to emigrate, and whether they would be willing to take their wives and 
 families. The document in question shows the result of his inquiries. Your Excellency 
 will observe that he starts no difficulty as to procuring women and families. He cannot 
 undertake to say whether the women would engage in weeding canes, or doing other field- 
 work required ; they are not in the habit of doing such work here ; but would, he thinks, 
 probably do so in any other country, if adequately paid. The wages of two dollars a month 
 only contemplates domestic employment, the reaping of rice, preparing of flax, and other 
 light occupations of a similar nature. 
 
 10. 1 had also an interview with a person in Macao, who has been engaged in collecting 
 emigrants for the west coast of South America. His statement to me was, that from 300 to 
 400 young men a month could be obtained from the sugar districts, at the average wages of 
 four dollars. They would require three months' wages in advance. With this they would 
 furnish themselves with clothing and necessaries for the voyage, and would pay the collect- 
 ing agent ; the balance, about six dollars, they would leave with their relatives and friends 
 as means of support until they could make remittances from the " new country." 
 
 This man thought that single families would not leave the country, and that the only way 
 to obtain them would be to take all the collateral branches. In many of the villages there 
 are only two or three families or clans, each having a distinctive name, and living under the 
 authority and control of the oldest members. Each of these families or clans have an 
 " ancestral hall," which is considered by them as sacred. It is here that they assemble on 
 great festive occasions to do honour to the names of their ancestors. It is often used as 
 the school for all the children of the family. It is the place of pubiic meeting to consult 
 on all matters of general ir.terest, and is in every way identified with the welfare and hap- 
 piness of the clan." Veneration for their ancestors, and respect for the aged, may be con- 
 sidered as the practical religion of the Chinese, and it will therefore be readily understood 
 how unwilling single families must be to separate from all that they hold sacred. 
 
 BRITISH 
 
 GUIANA. 
 
 tice, 
 
 not entirely, . , ■ t> ^ * 
 
 castors, and would re-establish their ancestral halls ni their new locations, but a paramount 
 difficulty still remains. The women being small-footed, would be useless as labourers, and 
 the cost of emigration would be greatly enhanced without any corresponding benefit. 
 
 Your Excellency will perceive that there is great difference of opinion among the Chinese 
 themselves as to the probability of obtaining women and families. At first, no doubt, there 
 will be considerable difficulty, but if the accounts sent home by the men, and the amount 
 
 their remittances, be considered satisfactory, I am inclined to think, after comparing 
 all the information I have received, on the subject, that by judicious management the 
 difficulties may be overcome, and the emigration placed on a healthy and advantageous 
 footing. 
 
 11 
 in a separate 
 Owing 
 
 With reference to the probable cost of emigration, 1 have addressed your Excellency 
 jparate communication, containing such further information as I am possessed ot. 
 the continued arrival of American vessels from" California, which, from their 
 superfor sailing qualities, are preferred for the conveyance of silks ar:d teas, u great number 
 986. ° N4 
 
 their 
 er 
 of 
 
88 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH of British vessels are now seeking employment, and might be obtained for emiitratiort 
 
 G U I A N A. purposes at a reasonable rate. The principal diflBculty whicli occurs to me is with regard 
 
 — — to a supply of proper butts or casks for water. These could not be obtained in sufficient 
 
 number to meet any sudden demand, and there is no wood in the country applicable to the 
 
 construction of water-tight packaoes. 
 
 There would be some difficulty also in procuring surgeons if the conditions of the Pas- 
 sengers' Act were rigidly insisted on. The Chinese are great adepts in medicine and surgery 
 according to their own notions, and I am informed that a respectable man might be obtained 
 to <ict as suro-eon for the voyage. It would not be prudent to trust entirely to these men, 
 but one or two of them, engaged as assistants to the European surgeon, would probably 
 be found very useful after their arrival in the colony. 
 
 12. Instead of depending entirely upon the chance of obtaining vessels in China, I would 
 suggest that arrangements be made by Her Majesty's Government, through the Laud and 
 Emigration Commissioners, for the supply of a portion of the requisite shipping, on a plan 
 similar to what prevails for the Indian emigration. The vessels to arrive out here at stated 
 periods, say at intervals of one month, and to give 30 hiy days for the embarkation of 
 emigrants. The vessels employed in conveying troops, emigrants, and convicts to the 
 Australian colonies would probably be glad of the opportunity thus afforded for continuous 
 employment in the emigration service, and would take emigrants to the West Indies on, 
 as favourable terms as any that could be obtained here. 
 
 I have already stated in a former communication, that the best season for carrying on 
 emigration is from October to April. The north-east monsoon prevails at that season of 
 the year, and vessels would therefore make quicker passages, and take emigrants on lower 
 terms. But there is no reason why emigration should be discontinued during the other 
 portion of the year. The hardy frames of the Chinese would bear with comparative indif- 
 ference a degree of cold that would prove injurious to the slender Bengalee, and an extra 
 suit of clothing would furnish him with every comfort he would require when crossing the 
 stormy latitudes of the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 1.3. I am still of opinion, that before entering upon any large scheme of emigration, it 
 would be prudent to ascertain by experiment on a small scale, whether the Chinese are 
 likely to answer well as agricultural labourers. Although industrious and hard-working 
 beyond measure in their own country, where necessity compels them to field labour to pro- 
 cure subsistence, it is possible that they may not prove so hardworking and industrious- 
 when placed in other circumstances, and removed from the pressure of want. By habit and 
 character they are essentially a commercial people, fond of traffic and barter, of shopkeeping, 
 and petty manufactures, and of all kinds of desultory employments. I am led to believe 
 that even in Java, where the number is so large, they do not work in the field, or engage 
 in the actual cultivation of the cane, but are employed principally as superintendents to- 
 regulate and direct the cultivation and the manufacture. They are fond of authority, and 
 being supported in the exercise of it, use little moderation towards the natives of the island, 
 by whose manual hibour the cultivation is maintained. Many of them are men of sub- 
 stance, and farm the revenues from Government; and they have possession of nearly all 
 the internal traffic of the island. 
 
 This statement corresponds in a great measure with my information ■ regarding Manilla. 
 In both of these countries there is, however, a settled labouring population, adequate to the 
 immediate wants of the country, and the Chinese emigrants on their arrival fall naturally 
 into that position in which their services are most required, and which is at the same time 
 most consonant to their habits and character. I can discover no good reason why the 
 Chinese, possessed as they are of strength, intelligence, an extreme desire to make money,, 
 and habits of agricultural labour, should not become useful and permanent settlers in the 
 West Indies. 
 
 14. I have not yet been able to make up my mind definitively as to the relative advantages 
 of the Amoy or Canton district, with a view to iheestablishing a permanent system of emigra- 
 tion. It is probable that a greater number of labourers might be obtained at the former, 
 and at somewhat less cost. Here the labourers appear to me of stronger build, and there is, 
 perhaps, a better prospect of obtaining women and families. Shipping will be obtained with 
 greater facility. Should the Colonial Government decide hereafter to appoint an agent 
 specially charged with the care of emigration, Macao appears to me to offer many advan- 
 tages for the establishment of a depot. The place is in decay, and property is of compara- 
 tively little value, so that the necessary premises might be procured at a moderate cost, and 
 the Portuguese Government would afford every reasonable facility, to establish and carry 
 out a regulated system of emigration. There is constant intercourse with the mainland by road 
 as well as by water, and the inner harbour, or the Typa, afford excellent anchorage for vessels 
 of considerable burthen. Its contiguity to Hong Kong would enable the English colonial 
 authorities to exercise whatever supervision might be considered necessary, to prevent the 
 possibility of abuses. A competent surgeon would be always at hand to examine emigrants- 
 previous to their embarkation. My belief is that the Chinese, finding themselves well treated 
 at the depot, and having full confidence that they would be protected and taker, care of by 
 the English Government, would flock to the dep6t in sufficient numbers to supply any 
 amount of emigration that would probably be required for British Guiana and Trinidad. 
 Should it be otherwise, the agent could at any time make arrangements to procure emi- 
 grants at Amoy, and by visiting that part occasionally, the emigration from both places 
 might be carried on under his immediate superintendence. 
 
 15. The peculiar character of the Chinese will render the management of them, on their 
 
 first 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 89 
 
 first arrival in tlie West Indies, a matter of some difficulty before they oret accustomed to BRITISH 
 their new locations. To all appearance they are perfectly impassive, cold, and hard as a GUIANA. 
 
 rock. Yet they are fond of music, such as it is, and of theatrical shows and amusements, 
 
 and at their sing-song exhibitions, 1 have seen hundreds, if not thousands of them, convulsed 
 from ear to ear with roars of laughter. They have an inexhaustible fund of obstinacy, and 
 yet they are always willing to do anything that is required of them, provided it be clearly 
 explained to them, and that they are allowed to do it in their own way. On their first 
 arrival they must be kept cheerful and managed with kindness, and a consideration for their 
 feelings and habits. Yet indulgence will spoil them, for they are extremely cunning, and will 
 
 J)rofit by the least opening to obtain an advantage. They are large eaters, and must be well 
 ed at first, but if allowed a small plot of ground in lieu of their rice and other bread stuffs, 
 they will soon cultivate an abundance for their own use. Possessed of strong animal passions, 
 I am afraid they may become sullen and discontented unless they should form connexions 
 with the negro women ; but if this difficulty can be overcome, they will be found cheerful, 
 contented and industrious. 
 
 It will soon be found necessary to give up the system of monthly wages, and to put ihem 
 in piece work. With exception of domestic service, all work in China is done by the piece, 
 and as this is the habit of the nation, it will no doubt be found to answer better with the 
 emigrants in the West Indies than any other system. It will give a stimulus to exertion, 
 and will enable the planters to get rid of the system of paying monthly or weekly wages to 
 every individual labourer on the estate, by which the cost of production is now considerably 
 enhanced. 
 
 When emigration is once fairly established, and the people perceive the advantages to be 
 gained by emigrating to the West Indies, I think it is more than probable that they would 
 undertake to pay a portion of their own passage-money ; at present it cannot be expected 
 that they should make any such engagement. Like all other emigrations this will probably 
 have difficulties to encounter in the first instance, many of which do not occur to me at 
 present; but if the Chinese government do not interfere, and the emigration be fairly and 
 judiciously conducted, there can be little doubt of obtaining an abundant supply of agricul- 
 tural labourers. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 P.S. — Annexed is an extract from the Calcutta newspaper, the "Hurkaru," having^ 
 reference to the relative value of the Bengalees, Dhangahs and Chinese as agricultural 
 labourers. The writer entertains the same opinions nearly as those I have expressed to your 
 Excellency, giving a preference to the Dhangahs over the Bengalees, and to the Chinese 
 over both. As he had seen the three races working together, his opinion is perhaps worthy of 
 attention. 
 
 I annex also blank form of contract under which it is proposed to engage labourers for 
 Sydney, referred to in paragraph No. 8. 
 
 His Excellency Henry Barkly, J. T. W^ 
 
 Governor of British Guiana, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 (A.) 
 
 1. It is hereby clearly stated that every labouring man shall receive four dollars per month 
 wages, and his food shall be furnished at the expense of the contractor. 
 
 2. While remaining on board ship, after reaching the anchorage, each company of 50 men 
 shall recive 5 dollars per day for food and necessary expenses. 
 
 3. The labourers shall not be under 16, nor over 40 years of age. 
 
 4. Each person from 10 to 15 years old shall receive wages two dollars per month. 
 
 5. Each woman shall receive wages two dollars per month. 
 
 6. Each child, whether male or female, under 10 years of age shall receive food, but no 
 
 7. For every 50 labourers there shall be a superintendent who understands a little 
 English, who shall receive wages eight dollars per month. 
 
 8. On reaching the anchorage each labourer shall receive in advance four dollars. 
 
 9. On the ship being ready to leave each man shall rective in advance four dollars 
 more. 
 
 (B.) 
 
 Our recent remarks on the subject of employing Chinese labourers in the plantations of 
 the West Indies have brought us some notices of an experiment bearing on the question and 
 tried in this country. Our informant having occasion to bring into cultivation some new 
 land overgrown with a thick-spreading broad-leafed grass, every root of which it was neces- 
 sary to remove, and despatch and careful culture being objects of equal importance, he 
 emplojed — but let us quote his own words : — 
 
 " He employed a number of labourers from different parts of the country, Bengallces, 
 Dangars, and Chaniars, in addition to whom he had a gang of 20 Chinese. The rate at 
 which each of these classes were employed was Ms. 2. 12. per month to the Bengallees, two 
 
 986. O rupee* 
 
go PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH rupees to the Dan gars, and four rupees to the Chamars; the Chinese being engaged at 
 G U 1 A N A. eight rupees each. For a short time he took no particular account as comparing one clas& 
 — - with the other. After a time, however, keeping each class in its own contract, he began to 
 
 make comparisons, the land and labour generally that was allotted to each being preoiseljr 
 similar ; and the result showed more exactly than he could have well conceived, that the 
 Dangars did as much as two Ben9:allees, the Chamars equal to Dangars, and the Chinese 
 overran two Chamars, the result fully proving the greater economy of the higher paid labour, 
 his eight rupees a month being equivalent to 12 rupees to the Dangars, or 38 rupees to the 
 Bengallees. 
 
 "Independently of this greater extent of labour performed by the Chinese, his work is 
 much more neat and regular, as he does not go over the field a second time, but as he pro- 
 ceeds breaks the clods and collects the grass. In planting also they have the advantage of 
 a correct eye, not requiring a line to guide them ; their paces also being very accurate,, those 
 who have ever cultivated will know the value of them." 
 
 This is not very clearly expressed, but it supports the belief that Chinese labourers,, of 
 whom doubtless any number may be had at Singapore, would be found irery useful on the 
 sugar plantations of the West Indies. 
 
 Our correspondent elsewhere expresses some surprise that gentlemen here who pride 
 themselves on their gardens do not employ Chinese gardeners, seeing liow much these are 
 renowned for skill in horticulture. 
 
 Extracted from the Bengal Hurkaru of the 27th May 1851. 
 
 (C.) 
 
 Memorandum of Agreement made and entered into this day of 
 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty- between 
 
 a native of China, of the one part, and 
 of in the territory of New South Wales, of the other part, witnesseth 
 
 that the said agrees to serve the said 
 
 and such person or persons whom he may place in charge over the said 
 
 in the capacity of shepherd, farm and general servant, and labourer in the 
 said territory, for the term of five years, to commence from the date of the arrival of the said 
 
 in the said territory ; and to obey all his lawful orders and 
 the orders of such persons as may be placed in cViarge over him. And the said 
 
 agrees to pay the said at the end of every 
 
 three months, wages at the rate of three dollars per month, the said amount to be paid in 
 sterling Biitish money, at the exchange of four shillings per dollar; and also to provide the 
 following weekly rations, namely, — 
 
 1 lb. of sugar, 
 
 8 lbs. of flour, 
 
 9 lbs. of meat, 
 
 2 oz. of tea. 
 
 And the said agrees to pay to the said 
 
 out of the first moneys or wages to be received by him by four equal quarterly payments 
 
 the sum of six dollars now advanced to him. 
 
 — No. 2.— 
 
 (No. 6.) 
 No. 2. ^ ' 
 
 Right Hon. Sir CoPY of a DESPATCH from the Right Honourable Sir John S. Pakingttm, Bart., 
 J. S. Pakingion, to Govemor Barkly. 
 
 Bart., to Governor 
 
 ^^'^^^'' Sir, Downing-street, 13 March, 1852. 
 
 ftc». With reference to my predecesBor's despatch of the 13th ultimo, No. 448,* I 
 
 ^■a^^^t.^'-'-'^^ transmit to you an extract from a letter from the Colonial Land and Emigraition 
 
 --^ Commissioners, in fiirther explanation of the causes of delay in setting on foot an 
 
 * Page 72. emigration of Chinese labourers to the West Indies, 
 
 On the arrival of Mr. White in this country I will not fail to consider what 
 steps can properly be taken by Her Majesty's Government on this subject. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) John S. Pakington. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRIWIDAD. gi 
 
 Enclosure in No. 2. 
 
 Extract of a Report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to 
 H. Merivak, Esq., dated 1st March 1852. 
 
 " YouK letter of the 23d ultimo transmits the copy of a despatch to Governor Barkly, 
 explaining the cause of the delay which has occurred in setting on foot an immigration of 
 Chinese labourers, and calls our attention to your letter of the 19th of January, from which 
 •we learnt that the government of Trinidad was anxious for the immediate introduction of 
 Chinese immigrants. 
 
 " In reply to this letter we beg to state that we have repeatedly communicated on this 
 subject with Mr. Macgregor, to whom we were referred by Lord Grey's desire, and that the 
 delay in taking any steps for commencing this emigration has arisen from the desire of that 
 gentleman, repeatedly expressed to us, that no definite arrangements should be entered into 
 till the arrival of Mr. White in this country. We learn that this gentleman's departure from 
 Calcutta has been unexpectedly delayed, bu< that he is now on his way to England, and may 
 be expected in two or three weeks. 
 
 " It is perhaps desirable that we should state why we concur with Mr. Macgregor in think- 
 ing that the emigration should not be set on foot without communicating with Mr. White, 
 and perhaps engaging his services as Government agent at the seat of emigration. The emi- 
 gration is attended with considerable difficulties. Specific arrangements must be made for 
 the treatment of the Chinese during the voyage ; the mode of collecting them, and the seat 
 of operations determined upon; terms of engagement must be framed, such as will secure 
 acceptance by the West Indian employers, and be also fair to the Chinese, with due regard 
 to the different claims of head men and others, and to the peculiar nature of the engage- 
 ments under which alone the Chinese are found to work profitably. It is moreover important 
 to remember that although a very large emigration does constantly proceed from Chinese 
 ports to various points in the Indian seas, yet that all this emigration is, jind that the 
 West Indian emigration will be in contravention of the Chinese Law, and therefore a 
 matter to be handled with much delicacy, especially when encouraged by Government. 
 
 " Under all these circumstances it has appeared to us that any hasty step might be pro- 
 ductive of the greatest disadvantage, and that before moving it would be of the highest 
 importance to arrange the details with Mr. White himself, if not also to place the conduct 
 of the emigration in his hands; unless, therefore, we receive contrary instructions from 
 Sir J. Pakington, we shall not take any further step in this matter till we are apprised of 
 Mr. White's arrival. 
 
 " We should perhaps add, that we have reason to believe that Messrs. Hyde, Hodge 
 and Co. have despatched two ships on their own account to bring emigrants from China to 
 British Guiana, where a bounty of 100 dollars a head is payable on such emigrants under a 
 recent proclamation." 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 End. in No. 2. 
 
 — No. 3.— 
 (No. 76.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Sir John S. Pakington, 
 Bart., to Governor Barkly, 
 
 Sir, Downingrstreet, 1 November 1852. 
 
 With reference to the previous communications which have passed between 
 yourself and this department, on the subject of the emigration of labourers from 
 China to the West Indies, I now transmit to you for your information a copy of a 
 letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, showing the steps 
 that have been taken for complying with the wishes of the Court of Policy on this 
 matter. 
 
 I trust that the arrangements which have been made by the Commissioners unda* 
 my sanction will prove satisfactory. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) John S. Pakington. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Right Hon. Sir 
 .T. S. Pakingion, 
 Bart., to Governor 
 Barkly. 
 1 November 1852. 
 
 -1^0. 
 
 cfob, 
 
 er 
 
 %2. 
 
 986. 
 
 O2 
 
 Enclosure 
 
92 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. Enclosure in No. 3. 
 
 (Immediate.) 
 
 Enclosure in No. 3. Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 
 Sir, 28 October 1862. 
 
 1. With reference to our letter of the 9th instant, we beg to submit to Sir John Pakington, 
 for the information of the authorities of British Guiana and Trinidad, the followino- account 
 of our proceedings relative to Chinese emigration, from the period at which we were first 
 directed totake measures for setting it on foot. 
 
 2. We begin with a statement of the steps taken with regard to British Guiana. 
 
 3. On the 13th of October (1851) last, we received an intimation that the authorities of 
 , g\ng^°' that colony had decided on commencing Chinese emigration, and were directed with this 
 
 E"'^ ^^. "BarWy ^24, object to place ourselves in communication with the West India Committee, this we forth- 
 ^s' .v^V>.r*°" with did; but it was the opinion of those gentlemen, in which we entirely concurred, that 
 
 the emigration was one which could not be safiely allowed to fall into chance hands, and 
 that no steps should therefore be taken till it could be commenced under Government 
 superintendence. With this view the committee desired that further proceedings should be 
 postponed till the arrival in this country of Mr. White, who tiiey hoped would undertake 
 the management of the service in China. 
 
 ^p, 4. On the 16th of December last we were infoi'med that the Court of Policy had decided 
 
 •ptvcW*'"^ V\v** ^'^ expending 50,000/. of the guaranteed loan in the importation of Chinese, and was content 
 
 vctn^^ t5o.'^5'' to leave the conduct of the emigration to Her Majesty's Government; Governor Barkly, 
 
 X)e£V^ ftri.^„^ however, stated that it was generally thought best to arrange with some great mercantile 
 
 ^ Oc^;:^'^^-'''''^ firm for a fixed supply of labour at fixed rates. 
 
 6. Meantime, however, a bounty of 100 dollars was payable on Chinese emigrants, and 
 as Mr. White's arrival was delayed longer than had been expected, we received a variety of 
 applications from shipowners for information respecting this bounty. The course we pursued 
 in such cases was substantially the same, simply to place at the disposal of the inquirers, if 
 they chose to consult it, such information as we possessed, namely, the colonial ordinances. 
 But we were unable to give them any authoritative, or, indeed, any opinion respecting the 
 extent to which, under the terms of the colonial ordinance, a compliance with the EnoHsli 
 Passengers' Act would be insisted upon as a condition of receiving bounty. Under this 
 uncertainty, and as certain provisions of the ordinance could not be literally complied with, 
 only one firm in England, as far as we are aware, engaged in the enterprise, Messrs. Hyde, 
 Hodge, and Co. Those gentlemen, whose experience of colonial matters, joined to the 
 knowledge which they had obtained, that one or two ships had left British Guiana with the 
 view of obtaining the bounty, led them to believe that they would run no risk in embarking 
 in the enterprise, early informed us that they had decided to send two or three ships to Chinii 
 with this object. 
 
 6. On Mr. White's arrival in England in the beginning of June, an endeavour was made 
 to persuade Messrs. Dent & Co. to take the emigration into their hands. It was supposed 
 that their wealth, experience, and connexions would enable them to ensure a successful 
 prosecution of the undertaking, and there was reason to believe that they would have under- 
 taken it on terms of receiving a commission on the money expended, which it was further 
 supposed by Mr. White, and by a partner in the house of Messrs. Dent, would not exceed 
 100 dollars a head. The West India Committee were extremely desirous that these terms 
 should be accepted, but Messrs. Dent, in the event, declined to take the conduct of the 
 matter, and the committee expressed their desire that Mr. White should be sent out as a 
 Government agent, with a salary of 1,000/., to run on continuously fi'om his first appointment 
 as agent tor the colonies. 
 
 7. To this proposal we believe, after some negotiation with the committee, Mr. White 
 acceded, and accordingly left England for China by the mail steamer of August ; his formal 
 appointment was delayed from the necessity of communicating with the Foreign Office, but 
 that appointment, with the necessary instructions, were transmitted to him by the last 
 post. We enclose a copy of the instructions, as revised and approved by the Secretaiy 
 
 nc%V, page^ of State. 
 
 8. But before Mr. White's appointment it had been ascertained that measures had 
 been taken for a far larger bounty emigration than had been oris>inally imagined, 
 Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. having in fact instructed their agent in China to ship, if 
 possible, no less than 1,200 emigrants for British Guiana. And it appeared probable that 
 the ships despatched with the same object from the colony would raise this number to 
 nearly 1,700, at an expense to the colony (if all were landed alive) of 34,000 Z. 
 
 9. This being the state of the money applicable to this service, it was obvious that no 
 large number of ships could be safely engaged in England. We proposed to take up two, 
 and the West India Committee were anxious that at least that number should be engag. d 
 in England, if the freight were below 16/.; but on advertising for lenders only orie was 
 sent in, that of the ship " Martin Luther," which we engaged (us ultimately arranged) at 
 the rate of 16/. 7 s. per statute adult. It will be seen by the charter party (of which wc 
 enclose a copy) that she is to be placed at the disposal of Mr. White, at Hong Kong, on 
 
 the 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 93 
 
 the 1st of February, which will enable the ship to leave China before the setting in of the BRITISH 
 south-west monsoon (a point on which the West India Committee have uniformly GUIANA. 
 
 expressed great anxiety), and also to secure a tolerable passage round the Cape of Good 
 
 Hope. 
 
 10. We have instructed Mr. White that he will be at liberty to take up further shipping 
 for the service on the spot; but under the circumstances, we have been unable to lay down 
 the limits of his expenditure more definitely, than by informing him of the liabilities actually 
 incurred, or likely to accrue, and instructing him to ascertain the extent to which bounty 
 emigration has actually been carried on, and to expend tiie remaining bulance, leavini;- 
 a margin of 2,000^. for accidental expenses, over and above the deductions from tlie boun- 
 ties which may arise from deaths on ihe voyage. 
 
 11. We have also instructed Mr. White, that in filling ships, it will be sufficient to allow 
 the space of 12 feet per statute adult required by the Indian Law, instead of 15, as required 
 by the Passengers' Act, which, of course, does not extend to an emigration from a foreign 
 country. We have felt justified (on the suggestion of the West India Committee) in 
 making this relaxation, because the ventilation and fitting of the ships emjiloyed will be 
 now subject to the inspection of a government officer; because it appeared probable that 
 the Indian Government would have exercised a sound judgment as to the space required for 
 orientals, and because we found that the emigration from Madras, which wiis conducted on 
 that principle, had been very healthy; the average mortality amounting only to 147 per 
 cent. The far larger mortality in the Calcutta ships is well known to have proceeded from 
 cholera. 
 
 12. We now proceed to state the steps which we have taken with regard to Trinidad. 
 By your letter of the 19th of January 1852, we were informed that this colony desired the 
 introduction of 1,000 Chinese, but on the grounds already mentioned, we concnrred with 
 the West India Committee, that it would be better to defer the commenceinent of the emi- 
 gration till it could be set on foot by Government. For a long time, therefore, we took no 
 steps in consequence of your letter, but when we learnt that emigration to British Guiana 
 was already set on fool by private persons, we felt that the planters of Trinidad might be 
 very naturally discontented if they heard of arrivals in tlie sister colony, while they were 
 depriv'ed of any corresponding supply of labourers, with an alleged object, which those very 
 arrivals showerl to have failed. We also felt uncertain how iar the expressed wishes of 
 the West India Committee (to whom no reference had been made in your letter of the 
 19th January) would be considered by the Trinidad colonists as justifying our inac- 
 tion ; but we entirely concurred with the committee in their reluctance to allow the 
 new and delicate operation of collecting emigrants in a country like China, to fall into the 
 hands of chance tenderers, and we therefore thought it the safest course to request Mr. Hodge 
 to send to Trinidad one of the ships ("The Clarendon ") which he had mformed us he was 
 about to send to British Guiana, and on the same terms on which he was to send them to 
 that colony. This arrangement was subsequently extended to two other ships, which will 
 •exhaust the whole number which we are directed to send to Trinidad. Of the ships thus en- 
 gaged, the "Clarendon," it is hoped, will have shipped her emigrants at Amoy in September. 
 The "Australia," a ship capable of carrying, under the Passengers' Act, about 656 persons, 
 was to arrive there before the 16th of November. The third would be taken up in China. 
 
 13. Our engagement with Messrs. Hyde, Hodge 8c Co. (of which we enclose a copy for 
 ^transmission to Trinidad) was made before Government superintendence could be counted 
 upon, and we have accordingly required the space of 16 feet for every adult. But we anti- 
 cipate that one, if not two of these ships will, in fact, fall under Mr. White's superintendence, 
 and with reference to the last of the three ships, we have instructed that gentleman, that if 
 he finds he can do so with advantage to the colony, he will be at liberty to be satisfied with 
 a space of 12 feet, and also (having ' reference to the difficulty of procuring ships of pre- 
 cisely the required size) to allow the shipment of somewhat more than the exact number 
 
 of 1,000. , . 
 
 14. We rust that these arrangements will be satisfactory to the colonies concerned ; but 
 we would point out that we shall now have exhausted the sums applicable to this emigra- 
 tion, and that we ought to receive an intimation what fresh sums will be devoted to it in 
 time' to take up shipping for the next season, which, with the double object of seeming the 
 benefit of the monsoon, and avoiding the winter passage round the Cape, should, vve think, 
 be confined as much as possible within the period now allotted to the Calcutta emigration, 
 namely, from September to February (or March) inclusive. 
 
 •" ^ We have, &c. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq., (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. iredenc Rogms. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 3. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 
 Sjj. 23 Octobei- 1852. 
 
 I AM 'directed by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to inform you that 
 
 the Secretary of State has appointed you to the office of Government Emigration Agent at 
 
 the Port of Victoria, and at such other pons on or near the coast of China as the Governor 
 
 of Hon<- Kono- shall designate. You will please to understand that the service to which 
 
 986." . ° o 3 yo» 
 
94 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 m 
 
 BRITISH y°^ ^''6 ^^'^^ appointed being of very doubtful duration, the appointment is not of a per* 
 GUIANA, manent nature, or such as to give rise to a claim for compensation for loss of office. 
 
 2. Your duties will have relation first to a bounty emigration which is at present in pro- 
 gress to British Guiana and Trinidad, and next to such further emigration as shall be set 
 on foot under Government superintendence to these or to any other West India colonies. 
 
 3. Arrangements have been sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government for sending three 
 ships on bounty to Trinidad ; and there is reason to suppose that private shipowners have 
 taken steps in pursuance of a recent colonial ordinance to import about 1,700 Chinese into 
 British Guiana. It is probable that these emigrants will be dispatched from Amoy. But 
 this it will be your duty, in the first place, to ascertain, and to use the influence which you 
 possess as Government agent to facilitate or secure their judicious selection and proper 
 treatment. You will probably find httle difficulty in effecting this, as regards Trinidad, the 
 matters being in the hands of a single shipowner, who has contracted with this Board to 
 supply a dietary approved by this Board, and toplace no greater number of emigrants 
 on board than is allowed by the Passengers' Act. As regards British Guiana, you will 
 observe by the eighth clause of the ordinance. No. 20 of 1851, every vessel taking emigrants 
 from a port for which you are appointed agent will be unable to obtain bounty unless fiir- 
 nished by you with a certain list and certificate. If you should find that the authority given 
 by this ordinance could be exercised with advantage in any Chinese port you will request 
 the Governor of Hong Kong to designate that as one of the ports for which you are to act 
 as Government agent. 
 
 4. It will not be at present necessary to send any emigrants to Trinidad beyond those 
 whose conveyance is already provided. To British Guiana as great a number should be 
 sent out as with those who may be dispatched on bounty can be paid for by the sum of 
 50,000/., which has been appropriated to that purpose by the legislature of British Guiana. 
 You will, however, receive by this post more specific instructions respecting the number of 
 emigrants to be sent out, and the mode of providing shipping. 
 
 5. You are yourself fully aware of the class of emigrants required for the West Indies; 
 but I am to impress upon you the extreme importance, both morally and economically, of 
 sending as large a proportion of females as possible. 
 
 6. With the male labourers you will be authorised to make contracts, if possible, on the 
 terms laid down by the Court of Policy of British Guiana, in a Minute from which I annex 
 an extract. But if possible, you will consider yourself at liberty to increase the proposed 
 advance authorised by that Minute, especially in the case of women, and to offer wages 
 amounting to five dollars a liead per month, with food and lodging, or seven dollars without 
 such allowance. These contracts, as you are aware, may be made for five years, but ar& 
 determinable by the emigrant at the end of each year, and should be made with the for- 
 malities prescribed by the 5th clause of the British Guiana Ordinance, No. 22 of 1851. 
 
 7. You will also be authorised toincur the expense necessary for procuring and sending 
 out at least one competent interpreter in each ship, and, of course, those contingent on 
 the collection of the emigrants and their maintenance for a short period before their 
 embarkation. 
 
 8. Your salary will be at the rate of 1,000 Z. per annum; and you will be considered to 
 have been continuously in the employment of Government at that rate of salary since the date 
 of your first appointment in September 1850. For this salary, as well as for your travelling 
 expenses, and for the sums which you are authorised to expend in the collection and 
 shipping of emigrants, not exceeding, until further orders, 2,000 L, you will be at liberty to 
 draw bills upon this Board at not less than 30 days' sight, transmitting to them, however, 
 proper advices of such drafts, and furnishing them with quarterly accounts, countersigned 
 by the Governor of Hong Kong, who should also certify, as required by the British Guiana 
 Ordinance already referred to, that, as far as he knows, the expenditure has been incurred 
 in conducting the emigration of Chinese to the West Indies, and appears to him just and 
 reasonable. 
 
 9. The freight of any ships which you may engage in China should be made payable by 
 bills drawn by the Governor of British Guiana or the Commissioners, at not less than 30 
 days' sight. 
 
 10. In conclusion, the Commissioners are directed by Sir John Pakington to apprise you, 
 that Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to authorise the expenditure of pubhc 
 money and the employment of public agency in promoting emigration from China, under 
 the impression that the law of the Chinese empire against the emigration of its subjects, 
 which is said to have once existed, has fallen into desuetude; but that if the fact should 
 prove to be otherwise, and if the Chinese government or public authorities should insist 
 upon that law having present force and effect, and should consequently oppose the emio^ra- 
 tion, it will be your duty at once to desist from any operations within the territory of China 
 (if any should have been there carried on, either by you or by any persons acting under your 
 authority and direction), which may involve a contravention of that law. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) S. Walcott, 
 J. T. White, Esq. Secretary. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 95 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court of Policy, held 25 August 1851. 
 
 Your Committee would, therefore, respectfully recommend As it appears 
 
 that the Chinese labourers require to be guaranteed a certain rate of wages for the period of 
 service, we recommend the emigration agent, at the port of embarkation in China, to be 
 instructed to engage them at wages not exceeding four dollars per month, and the scale of 
 allowance of food as stated in the annexed mennorandum, stating at the same time, that if 
 they should prefer to be paid at the same rate for the work they perform, they finding their 
 own provisions as other labourers in the colony, they would have the option of doing so. 
 
 That the emigration agent be authorised to advance a sum not exceeding 10 dollars to 
 each effective emigrant before embarkation, to be repaid by instalments in British Guiana. 
 
 Scale of allowance of food for Chinese emigrants, being similar to that fixed for African 
 ships : — 
 
 Biscuit - - - - - - ^ lb. 
 
 Rice - - i lb. 
 
 Beef, pork, or salt fish - - - jj lb. 
 
 Women to receive the same rations as men. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 — No. 4.— 
 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 26 January 1853. 
 
 I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 2d October last, 
 No. 1 56,* transmitting a copy of a proclamation you had issued, notifying the reduc- 
 tion, in the case of vessels clearing from British Guiana after the 31 st March 
 last, of the bounty on Chinese immigrants from 100 to 80 dollars. 
 
 I concur with you that it would have been better that the former proclamation 
 should have been withdrawn altogether upon the completion of the arrangements 
 for carrying on this service, under the superintendence of Mr. White, and I think 
 it is not improbable that the Court of Policy may have adopted the same idea upon 
 the receipt of my predecessor's despatch of the 1st November last. No. 76 .f 
 
 But, under any circumstances, I think it is absolutely necessary for ensuring the 
 proper conveyance of these people, that the payment of the bounty should be made 
 contingent, in addition to other regulations, on obtaining a certificate from Mr. 
 White, that the vessel has been cleared with his sanction. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 4. 
 Duke of Newcastia 
 to Governor 
 Barkly. 
 26 January 1853. 
 
 * Page 8. 
 
 t Page 91. 
 
 — No. 5. — 
 (No. 10.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Dvike of Newcastle %o Go\eriioT Barkly. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 31 January 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, copies of two letters from the 
 Foreign Department, forwarding copies of despatches and other documents, received 
 from Dr. Bowring, relating to the emigration of Chinese labourers. 
 
 I also enclose a copy of a letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Com- 
 missioners, to whom these papers have been referred. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle, 
 
 No. 5 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor 
 Barkly. 
 31 January 1853. 
 
 986. 
 
 O4 
 
 Enclosure 
 
96 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 ' Enclosure 1, in No. 5. 
 
 End. 1, in No. 5. 
 
 ^^ Sir, Foreign Office, 4 December 1862. 
 
 \'i1''^^ I AM directed by the Earl of Malmesbury to tr.ansmit to you, for the information of 
 
 ^°" iSB^-—^ Secretary Sir John Pakington, a copy and an extract of two despatches from Dr. Bowring 
 — -'^SeVii^^'^'^ relative to the emigration of Chinese coolies. 
 yh-^^""^^^ I am, &c. 
 
 H. Merivale, Esq. (signed) H. U. Addington. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 5. 
 
 End, 2 in No. 5. Si"*, Foreign Office, 27 December 1852. 
 
 With reference to my letter of the 4th instant, I am directed by the Earl of Malmesbury 
 
 bev 1*5*'^ to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before Secretary Sir John Pakington, copies of 
 
 ^ QcV^ further despatches from Dr. Bowrinsr, respecting the emigration of Chinese coolies, and 
 
 " also a letter under flying seal from Dr. Bowring to the Governor of British Guiana on the 
 
 same subject. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) H. U. Addington. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No 5. 
 
 End. 3, in No 5. Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 
 Sir, 7 January 1853. 
 
 1. We beg to acknowledge your letter of the 18th ultimo, enclosing the copy of a letter 
 from the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in which he transmits the following 
 documents relating to Chinese emigration : — 
 
 1. A letter from the Superintendent of Trade at Hong Kong, respecting the means 
 of preventing abuses in English ships concerned in that trade. 
 
 2, 3, and 4. Letters from the consuls at Canton and Shanghae, and from the first 
 assistant at the Amoy Consulate, containing answers to a list of queries proposed by 
 Lord Maluiesbury's directions to the consuls at Chinese ports. 
 
 •2. We also take this opportunity of enclosini^ the copy of a letter which we have received 
 from Mr. White, the recently appointed emigration agent in China, reporting the first steps 
 which he had taken on his arrival at Hong Kong. 
 
 3. The mutinies and loss of life which have taken place on board the " Lady Montague," 
 and other vessels conveying Chinese emigrants, have led the English Government to consider 
 whether any measures could be taken for imposing rules on this emigration so far as it is 
 carried on in British ships. Such rules might be enacted by the Legislature of Hong Kong, 
 or by Order in Council under the Act 6 & 7 Vict. c. 80, but if so passed they would 
 only be binding in China, and within 100 miles of the coast. In order to give them a 
 sreater extension, the consul at Shanghae urges that they should be imposed by Act of 
 Parliament, 
 
 4. We would point out, however, that under any circumstances it would be very difficult 
 to enforce the law against any Britisli ship after it has left China for any foreign country ; 
 so that in this case the Legislature of Hong Kong would be competent to enact almost all 
 that could practically be carried into effect. 
 
 5. But Dr. Bowring observes that, even in China, any British law could only be enforced 
 through ihe British Consuls, and that the persons concerned in the emigration could, with 
 the support or connivance of the Chinese authorities (which would be readily obtained), 
 ship their emigrants at places at which no British consular authority existed, and in which 
 consequently the ships would escape even the general check on their proceedings which is 
 derived from the presence of such an authority. If this be so, it appears to us to present 
 a very great obstacle to the enforcement of any effective regulations on ships (even though 
 
 British) 
 
 • These despatches will be found printed at pp. 6 to 18 of " Correspondence with the Superin- 
 tendent of British Trade in China upon the subject of Emigration from that country," presented to 
 The Hoiise of Commons by command of Her Majesty, 20th August 1853. 
 
 t This despatch will be found printed at p. 1 8 of " Correspondence with the Superintendent 
 of British Trade in China upon the subject of Emigration from that country," presented to The 
 House of Commons by commimd of Her Majesty, aoih August 1^53. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 97 
 
 * 
 
 British) proceeding from China to any other foreign country. Itis, liowever, possible tliat BRITlSli 
 if penalties were imposed on any British ship which took in passengers before receiving GUIANA, 
 
 a certificate from the Consul of the seaworthiness and other necessary matters, or took in 
 
 a greater number than was allowed by that certificate; and if in the first instance the power 
 thus given was exercised with caution and forbearance, shipowners might not find it worth 
 their while to resort to other places of embarkation ; and, if they did, the emigration from 
 the great ports might obtain a superior character for safety and accommodation, which would 
 draw emigrants, and consequently the emigrant trade thither. This, however, appears to 
 be a matter to be considered by the Foreign Office and Board of Trade, who are best able 
 to estimate what can be effected" at their foreign ports. In any case it is to be hoped that, 
 as these mutinies are said to have arisen from want of consideration for the Chinese, ship- 
 owners will find themselves obliged, by motives of mere self interest, to consult the feelings 
 of those for whose conveyance they undertake ; and we should point out that the Assistant- 
 consul at Amoy expresses his opinion that the crowding of vessels has not been carried so 
 far as might have been expected in an unregulated trade, and that the amount of provisions 
 put on board has generally been ample. 
 
 6. The emigratiunto Biitish colonies is more susceptible of regulation, as a check can be 
 applied at the port of disembarkation. 
 
 7. That to Australia is conducted as a matter of private speculation, without any aid from 
 Government; but we are not aware that hitherto any abuses have occurred in it. We would 
 recommend that the authorities in New South Wales and Victoria should be directed to 
 watch the emigration, and in case any serious abuses should come to light or appear pro- 
 bable, to propose to the Legislatui'e an Act imposing penalties on all ships bringing immi- 
 grants to those colonies in which it should appear that a certain portion of space had not 
 been allotted to the emigrants, or a certain issue of provisions made regularly to them 
 throughout the voyage, or that the ship had left China in an unseaworthy state. The details 
 of such a measure it would, of course, be for the local authorities to determine. 
 
 8. The emigration to the West Indies is as yet in its commencement; probably by this 
 time five or six ships will have left China for Demerara or Trinidad. This emigration, with 
 the exception of a few ships proceeding on bounty to British Guiana, will be entirely con- 
 ducted by Mr. White, the recently appointed Emigration Agent. Over this, therefore, the 
 control of Government is complete, and no abuse is to be apprehended; and the proceed- 
 ings of private ships maybe controlled, from the circumstance that the bounty on Chinese 
 emigrants is not legally claimable (Ordinances 20 and 22 of 1831), unless the ship bringing 
 them to the colony shall have been inspected, and proper certificates given by the Govern- 
 ment Emigration Agent at the port of departure. It will be seen by reference to the 
 Instructions first issued to Mr. White that this point has been fully attended to. We are 
 
 indeed ourselves of opinion that Government emigration being now set on foot, the bounty Commissioners* 
 might very properly be withdrawn. There are evident inconveniences in the concurrent Report, 28 OcU 
 existence of two systems of emigration, one of which is, that a given sum being voted for 
 emigration, it is impossible to predict with certainty how much will be claimed by persons 
 importing immigrants on bounty, and by consequence how much remains available for purely 
 Government emigration. 
 
 8(b). But if the bounty be retained, we think the clauses requiring the certificate of the 
 Government Emigration Agent, as a condition of its payment, should be more clearly 
 framed. They should, we think, declare that bounty should not be payable on Chinese 
 immigrants except they were shipped at ports at which a Government Agent had been ap- 
 pointed, nor without a certificate from him, or some person deputed by him, stating the 
 number of emigrants placed on board; that the ship was seaworthy; that a space of 12 
 superficial and 72 cubical feet per adult was allowed to the passengers; that provisions and 
 water equal to 25 weeks' supply, on a scale to be fixed by the Emigration Agent, had been 
 placed on board ; nor unless it appeared that the emigrants had been well treated on the 
 voyage, and provisions issued according to the above-mentioned scale. 
 
 9. The enclosures to Dr. Bowring's despatch contain merely matters of information, from 
 which, however, it may be useful to select some leading facts bearing on the prospects of 
 the emigration. The statements of the different consular authorities are so much of the 
 same character with each other, and with the reports previously received from Mr. White 
 and others, that they need not be separately stated. 
 
 10. The Chinese appear to be valuable immigrants, fitted for labour in the West Indies, 
 and reaoy to leave their country in almost any numbers. From Amoy alone it is said that 
 6,000 or, with improved facilities, 12,000 emigrants might be procured annually. The 
 Canton people are said by the Consul to be strong, intelligent, thrifty, industrious, and of 
 all Chinese the best adapted for labour in the West Indies. Those of Amoy are described 
 as persevering, and suflSciently robust, but slow. A large average of industrious and quiet 
 labourers might be procured there, though it is not to be expected (nor indeed desired) that 
 persons better off in the world would emigrate to the West Indies. The Shanghae people are 
 good humoured and fairly industrious, but they do not bear to be hurried or kept too close 
 to their work. Without a certain amount of idling and holiday-making they become sulky 
 and impracticable. 
 
 11. The wages of an ordinary labourer* near Canton appear to be at most two dollars a * P.S. — 11 Jan\ 
 month with his rice ; and in the neighbourhood of Amoy 3 rf. or 4 </. a day without any such And at Ningpow 
 
 gS6. P allowance. 
 
98 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 G F I A N A. 
 
 + P. -S'. n Jan.— 
 The consul at 
 Amoy estimates it 
 at 17/. 
 
 allowance. A first-class labourer, possessing somewhat of agricultural science, may obtain 
 6 d. They would be ready to emigrate on the terms offered by the West Indies, especially 
 after some of them had gone out and returned with their gains, or with a good account of the 
 country. With this view it is recommended that return passages should be given to a few 
 of the immigrants soon after their arrival in the West Indies. And Mr. White expresses 
 his intention to engage two or three respectable men on short contracts for two or three 
 years, to be sent back (free, we presume) at the end of that terra. Indentures are recom- 
 mended, both for the safety of the importer and the satisfaction of the Chinese, by whom 
 they are generally well understood. And the contracts in use for the West Indies (which offer 
 food, lodging, medical attendance, and four dollars a month) are considered liberdl and 
 suflScient. 
 
 12. It appears to be, at least for the present, impracticable to set on foot any female 
 emigration, except by the simple purchase of women, a proceeding which, independently of 
 other objections, would, it is said, give great umbrage. 
 
 13. The* Chinese law comprises apparently some constructive prohibition of emigration ; 
 but it appears wholly obsolete. Emigrants are collected by the publication of placards, and 
 are sent oflF in thousands from Canton and Amoy. The following table siiows the numbers 
 despatched in the last few years from Canton and those who left Amoy under contract with 
 foreigners. 
 
 
 1848. 
 
 1849. 
 
 1850. 
 
 1851. 
 
 1862. 
 
 Canton - - - 
 Amoy - - - 
 
 10 
 120 
 
 900 
 • 280 
 
 3,118 
 1,000 
 
 3,608 
 2,066 
 
 First 6 months, 
 17,025 
 
 First 8 months, 
 1,739 
 
 But besides this, the Assistant-Consul speaks of " a flood of 50,000 able-bodied men" as 
 emigrating annually from the province of Fokien, under what are called native contracts. 
 Only a few hundred Chinese have left Shangliae. But these numbers are sufficient to show 
 that the Chinese authorities do not seriously oppose emigration. Indeed it is said the attempt 
 to do so would excite resistance and greatly aggravate the disturbances which take place in 
 the famines which occur periodically in China, and for which the officers attempting to enforce 
 the law would be made responsible. The only interference which appears to be considered 
 probable is that of exacting bribes from the Chinese crimps and agents in case anything 
 occurred which was likely to become a scandal. 
 
 14. There is reason to hope that the collection and conveyance of these emigrants may 
 eventually cost less than the 100 dollars originally fixed as a bounty in British Guiana; the 
 conveyance being estimated atf from 12Z. 10 s, to 16 Z. ahead, while the expenses of collec- 
 tion appear to be trifling. We feel much doubt, however, whether it will be practicable to 
 reduce the cost of emigration so much as these figures would indicate. We learn from a 
 letter lately received from Mr. White, that the bounty for Havanaah is as muth as 
 126 dollars, and that the profits of the contractor are not estimated at more than 40 dollars', 
 leaving 85 dollars or about 18 /. as the cost of collection and conveyance. 
 
 15. WeshalLnot fail to bear in mind so far as they have not been anticipated, the various 
 suggestions of detail respecting the conveyance of the emigrants which these papers contain, 
 but with these it is unnecessary to trouble the Secretary of State. Those which regard the 
 securing of Government superintendence have been in a great measure either anticipated by 
 the appointment of'Mr. White, or answered by Dr. Bowring, 
 
 16. Mr. Winchester also supplies some interesting information with regard to the pros- 
 perous emigration of Chinese to the Malayan Archipelago, and their less fortunate passages 
 to America. The details which he mentions do not bear much on West Indian emigration ; 
 but it is perhaps worth observing that the planters in Cuba find it worth tha'r while to 
 importChiwese labourers, at 125 dollars a head, in order that they may employ them at 
 wages amounting to 3 dollars a month, besides rations. The fact may throw some light 
 on the cost and profits of sugar growing in Cuba, the rival of our free colonies. 
 
 1'?. In conclusion, we have only to suggest that copies of these papers should be sent to 
 the colonies of Jamaica, British Guiana and Trinidad, to whom every information must be 
 
 important 
 
 * P.S., Jan. 1 1 .—The state of the Chinese law is rather more specifically stated by Mr. Parkes. It 
 appears that it is occasionally so far enforced, that the properly amassed by emiigrants is, on their 
 return to China, wholly or in part confiscated for emigration, without license. This, however, bears 
 the aspect of mere extortion, and of course would counteract pro tanto the' alleged desire of all 
 Chinese emigrants to return to their country. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 99 
 
 important respecting the character and management of the immigrants whom they are about n t» Tmr o tr 
 
 to receive. Attala 
 
 «T , 1 1 GUIANA. 
 
 18. We would also recommend that copies of Mr. White's letter should be sent to the 
 
 colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad, with reference especially to Mr. White's intention, 
 judicious as we think, to guarantee two or three back passages. We should, however, 
 explain that the delay in sending out Mr. White's instructions, to which thai gentleman 
 refers, arose from the necessity of obtaining the concurrence of the Foreign Office, and that 
 the employment of Messrs. Tait & Co. is a circumstance arising out of the bounty emigration 
 of this year. If that mode of emigration is discontinued it will be open to Mr. White to 
 suggest a different mode of proceeding for the next season. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. Frederic Sogers. 
 
 8i.c. &c. &c. 
 
 ■P. S, — Jan. n. — Since writing the above report we have received your letter of the same 
 date (7th instant), enclosing two further despatches from Dr. Bowring, with memoranda 
 from the Consuls at Araoy and Ninorpo, and from a gentleman named Parkes, who appears 
 to act as Chinese interpreter at Hong Kong. 
 
 This latter memorandum, and the despatch enclosing it, contain some interesting informa- 
 tion respecting emigration to the neighbouriug countries, and especially respecting the 
 organization of the Chinese emigrants in Java, under a species of municipal board of their 
 own countrymen. We should apprehend, however, that such a system would be scarcely 
 desirable in the \A'est Indies: first, because the Chinese must, to a certain extent, be dis- 
 persed in small bodies through the sugar estates, and not collected in one large body ; 
 secondly, because we imagine it would promote isolation, instead of the amalgamation of 
 the immigrants ; thirdly, because the principal questions of law which would arise would be 
 between them and their employers, which must be settled by British law and British judo-es; 
 and- lastly, because the law courts of the colony would, we trust, amply secure to the 
 immigrants that justice and freedom which in Java can perhaps be only attained by this 
 kind of imperium in imperio. 
 
 It will by seen by Mr. White's letter (annexed) that the proposal of Messrs. Turner & Co. 
 to procure labourers in the neighbourhood of Canton, to which Dr. Bowring objects, origin- 
 ated with him, and we are aware that he expected to obtain a supply of useful persons from 
 that neighbourhood. As he states himself to be in free communication with Dr. Bowring, 
 it cannot be doubted that the advantages and disadvantages of the different localities will 
 be fully considered ; it is a question which evidently can best be settled on the spot. 
 
 The slender information given in the consular letters now forwarded, so nearly coincides 
 with what had been already received, that it merely requires theaddition to our report of 
 two or three marginal notes, which will be found in their places. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 3, in No. 5. 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 16 October 1852. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform you that I arrived here on the 10th instant. 
 
 On the evening of that day I proceeded to Canton, in order to place myself in communi- 
 cation with Messrs. Turner & Co., who have been authorised by Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., 
 to attend to the shipment of emigrant labouiers for Demerara and Tiinidad. 
 
 I returned from Canton on the 14th, and shall leave this for Amoy on the 17th, and I 
 write this some days in advance of the mail, in case I should not find any opportunity of 
 writing from Amoy. 
 
 The instructions which I expected to receive. by this mail, via Marseilles, have not come 
 to hand; I shall, hovvevei", act in accordance with what I conceive to be the spirit of my 
 instructions, and shall meanwhile use every effort in my power to forward the emigration of 
 labourers, and 10 place it on a satisfactory footing. 
 
 I had a long interview yesterday with his Excellency Dr. Bowring, the Superintendent of 
 Trade J he stated to me fully the views which he entertains on the subject of Chinese 
 emigration to the West Indies, and has no doubt of its ultimate success, provided the 
 system be well organised, and fairly and honestly carried out. 
 
 Several cases of great mortality, of mutiny and murder having occurred recently on board 
 of vessels bound to Peru and Panama, with Chinese labourers, he has thought it necessary 
 to issue a, notification having reference to British vessels engaged in the transport of coolies; 
 a copy of which (marked A.) is annexed for your information. As far as my information 
 goes, all these cases have occurred through, and have been occasioned by gross mismanage- 
 ment on board, or bad treatment on the part of the commanders of vessels engaged in the 
 
 986. P 2 service. 
 
100 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH service. The food has been bad, or the supply inadequate, or the peculiar customs and habits 
 GUIANA, of the emigrants have been unnecessarily interfered with. Harsh treatment has been followed 
 
 by resistance, and mutiny and murder have brought the voyage to an unhappy termination. 
 
 It is alleged that some emigrants engaged to go to Saa Francisco, in California, have been 
 carried to Lima in Peru; and that others engaged as agricultural labourers for Peru, have 
 been on their arrival there transferred, in a condition little, if at all, better than slaves, to the 
 Guano Islands, where many of them have sought in suicide a relief for their miseries. It is 
 to be regretted that the Government of Peru does not take steps to regulate this emigration, 
 and to put it on a proper footing. The labour of the Chinese is invaluable to the Peruvians, 
 but the emigration, as now conducted, is open to every possible abuse. 
 
 The " Glentanner" left Amoy on the 1st September, and the " Lord Elgin" on the 16th. 
 I have not been able to ascertain the exact number on board of each vessel. The " Lord 
 Elo-in " had left Singapoi'e two days before my arrival there in the steamer on the 1st instant, 
 and I was informed that the emigrants were all well, and had expressed themselves satisfied 
 ■with the food and the treatment they had received. The " Samuel Boddington " is now 
 lying at Amoy, and the " Lucknow " left this for Amoy a few days ago. At present I am 
 not aware when the "Samuel Boddington" is likely to get away. All these vessels are for 
 British Guiana. 
 
 I have been informed that emigrants do not come forward at Amoy as readily as was 
 anticipated. One reason for this may be that the people have been engaged in harvesting 
 their rice, and will not leave until that has been secured for the benefit of their families, but 
 I apprehend that the principal reason is the .account they have received of bad treatment 
 and cruelty on board some of the emigrant vessels, and of the deception practised on the 
 emigrants in regard to their future destination. With a knowledge of these facts, it is not 
 to be expected that men should come forward to emigrate Cbeing ignorant of the country to 
 which they are going), unless driven to it by actual and pressing necessity. 
 
 Looking to the apparent difficulty under present circumstances of obtaining readily good 
 labourers at Amoy, I have intimated to Messrs. Turner & Co., that it would be desirable 
 to try one vessel with emigrants from the districts along the Canton River. Tunu; Kwan, 
 which is a sugar-growing district, was strongly recommended by Dr. GutzlafF, and eflports vrill 
 be made to obtain labourers from that quarter. The " Clarendon," expected to arrive, will 
 be placed on this service for Trinidad. 
 
 Messrs. Turner & Co., agents of Hyde, Hodge & Co., with whom the Commissioners 
 made arrangements for procuring and conveying emigrants to the West Indies, have their 
 estabhshment at Canton. They have no establishment at Amoy, but have appointed 
 Messrs. Tait & Co. who are resident at Amoy, to procure labourers for the vessels sent out 
 by Hyde, Hodge & Co. as they arrive. Messrs. Tait & Co. are a very respectable house, 
 but they are engaged to supply labourers for Cuba, and I consider it objectionable that the 
 same party should have the shipment of labourers to the British West Indies, at the same 
 time they are engaged in sending labourers to Cuba. 
 
 Mr. Wardrop, a gentleman connected with the Havana, and partner in a firm there, is 
 now at Amoy. It is said that he holds a contract under the Spanish Government for 8,000 
 Chinese labourers, and is to receive a bounty of 12r» dollars on every emigrant landed at the 
 Havana. It is evident that he is in a better position to procure emigrants on the bounty of 
 125 dollars than other parties are, on behalf of British Guiana and Trinidad, who are limited 
 to the sum of 100 dollar?. Common rumour asserts that he expects to realise 40 dollars 
 upon every emigrant landed in Cuba. 
 
 There is also an agent here on behalf of certain parties in Peru, who hold contracts for the 
 supply of labourers, from the Peruvian Government. I have not been able to ascertain the 
 exact terms on which this gentleman is authorized to obtain labourers; but he goes up to 
 Amoy in a few days tu carry out the object of his mission. The additional demand for 
 labour thus created will enhance for a time the difiiculty for procuring emigrants for the 
 West Indies. Some vessels are also expected from Australia to take down labourers to that 
 quarter ; and notices of the gold diggings, with the regulations in force there, have been 
 circulated here in English and Chinese, in order to induce a feeling favourable to that emi- 
 gration. The emigration to California has ceased for the present, owing to the regulations 
 in force there. 
 
 It is my intention to engage two or three respectable men, on a short contract of one or 
 two years, to be sent back at the end of that term. If confidence can once be instilled into 
 the minds of the Chinese, any amount of emigration will readily be obtained ; but they will 
 believe nothing until some of their own countrymen return here, to tell their own tale. It is 
 my intention also to inform them, that letters for their friends may be forwarded once a 
 month, and that remittances of money to their friends and relations will be taken care of 
 and forwarded by Government. At present, and at the commencement of this new emiora- 
 tion, I consider these three points essential, afe a means to instil confidence. The slight 
 expense they may occasion will be more than compensated by tiie favourable results. 
 
 I trust that the Government, and my fellow colonists will not expect too much at first- 
 It is certain that any given number of emigrants may be sent forward within a given time ; 
 but looking to the future, they will do well to be satisfied with a smaller at the commence- 
 ment of this emigration. As the Chinese acquire confidence, they will come forward more 
 readily; and as soon as it becomes manifest to them that the emigrants are prosperous in 
 
 the 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. loi 
 
 the new country to which they have transferred their labour, there will be no lack of able, ^^''^'^^^^ 
 willing, and effective hands eager to emigrate. I feel satisfied that this emigration, surely G U I A N A. 
 and steadily conducted, although slow at prst, will be found more conducive to the ultimate 
 interests of the colonies than any convulsive and unregulated efforts. 
 
 I need not enter into any further details at present, as my information is but superficial ; 
 but I beg to assure the Commissioners that I will leave no effort untried to promote the 
 object of my mission. Difficulties must be expected at the commencement of this new 
 enterprise, but the country overflows with a population who are willing to emigrate, and 
 there must be gross mismanagement somewhere if it do not lead to a favourable and satis- 
 factory issue. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 — No. 6. — 
 (No. 20.) 
 
 TVT ^ 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governor 
 Sir, Downing-street, 28 February 1853. Barkly. 
 
 With reference to my despatch to the 3ist ultimo, I transmit to you a copy of 28 February 1853. 
 a letter from the Foreign department, enclosing copy of a further one from Dr. so j^ 
 Bowring in reference to the emigration of the Chinese, together with a copy of 7sp"~-^^2^^1^5^3 
 a report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners on the subject. ^ 
 
 You wiU examine into and report on the allegations contained in the last para- 
 graph of Dr. Bowring's letter, as suggested by the Commissioners. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 Enclosure 1 , in No. 6. 
 
 yjr Foreign Office, 20 January 1853. 
 
 With reference to my letter of the 27th ultimo, I am directed by Lord John Russell to 
 transmit to you, for the information of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, a copy of a further 
 despatch from Dr. Bowring respecting the emigration of coolies from China. 
 
 1 am, &c. 
 H. Merivale, Esq. (signed) //. U. Addington. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 6. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 gjj 18 February 1853. 
 
 1 We beo- to acknowledge your letter of the 29th ultimo, enclosing a letter fmm the 
 Foreign Office, with a despatch addressed by Dr. Bowring to the Secretary for Foreign 
 Affairs respecting emigration from China. 
 
 2 This letter states, on the authority of Commander Fishbourne, of the " Hermes," that 
 the "accommodation of the emigrants at Amoy, while in depot previous to embarkation, 
 was very bad; that some appeared not to be free agents, but escaped when they could ; 
 that others who refused to embark were allowed to leave; and that others objected to the 
 treatment, but considered it better than starvation in their own country. 
 
 3 It is evidently probjible that the crimps and others employed in the various emigra- 
 tions to Cuba, Peru, California, Australia, and the West Indices have been guilty of mal- 
 practices. 
 
 » This despatch will be found printed at p. 28 of « Correspondence with the Supenntendent of 
 r.ritish Trade in China upon the subject of Immigration from that country, presented to the House 
 ,of Commons by command of Her Majesty, 20th August 1853. 
 
 986. ^ 3 
 
102 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH practices. But we fear that the British government would find it very difficult to prescribe 
 G U I A N A. the treatment which Chinese (apparently paupers) should receive before embarlcation, 
 "~~~ except in cases where the emigration was carried on directly or indirectly by Government 
 
 funds. 
 
 4. Nor are the statements of Commander Fishbourne sufficient alone to justify any 
 decisive interference in the matter. Part of ihem seem to be explicable, by the circumstance 
 that the Chinese insist on an advance of some dollars from the contractor with whom they 
 engage. They are, therefore, of course under an inducement to escape from him if they 
 can, and obtain a second bounty from a second person. Wa shall, however, request Mr. 
 White, who, in conducting West Indian emigration, will necessarily be brought into contact 
 with emigrants to other countries, to furnish us with the best information he can collect on 
 this subject. 
 
 5. With regard to the general repression of malpractices in British ships we have little 
 to add to the suggestions contained in our report of the 7th ultimo. Something would of 
 course be gained, even in regard to emigration between China and foreign countries, if 
 regulations were established by or under authority of an Act of Parliament, as in that case 
 the penalties of disobedience might be enforceable against the ship, if she returned to this 
 country. But the greatest difficulty would exist in procuring a conviction under such an 
 Act, unless a very ^yide departure from the ordinary rules of evidence were authorised by it; 
 and it appears to us that a case is hardly yet made out for such an exceptional pro- 
 cedure. If the case were sufficiently grave to justify the employment of Government 
 cruisers in watching this traffic, it would of course be far easier to give effect to any law 
 which might be passed on the subject. But this, we presume, would scarcely be contem- 
 plated. 
 
 6. Dr. Bowring adds that he is informed that 1,000 emigrants are to be shipped at 
 Namoa for Demerara, that an unusual number of them are boys, whose parents have 
 claimed them in vain, and that very many have pscaped on their way to the emigrant 
 ships. 
 
 7. It will perhaps be remembered that Mr. White has expressed his hope that he should 
 obtain emigrants at Namoa, and by the subjoined list of ships recently dispatched from 
 China on the part of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge k Co., it will be seen that the " Australia" 
 took 445 coolies (represented to us by Mr. Hodge as being all adults) to Trinidad. We 
 should confidently anticipate that the report which had reached Dr. Bowring would prove 
 unfounded, but we shall transmit a copy of his despatch to Mr. White for such explanation 
 as he may be able to offer on the subject. 
 
 8. We would suggest that copies should also be sent to the Governors of Jamaica, British 
 Guina, and Trinidad, in order that they may examine into the allegations contained in the 
 last paragraph. But we do not think that the colony could properly be required to send 
 back any Chinese who stated himself to have been seduced or kidnapped. Nor, we think, 
 would it be safe on such evidence (even could it be legally done) to refuse the usual bounty 
 to the importers. On this point, however, the colonial authorities will be best able; to 
 judge. 
 
 9. We learn that the " Glentanner " has arrived at Demerara with Chinese emi<»rants. 
 We presume that the next mail will bring the official report of her condition on arrival, and 
 the state of the immigrants. 
 
 10. Besides that ship, the following vessels of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. are stated to 
 us by these gentlemen to have left China for the West Indies with emigrants : — 
 
 SHIP. 
 
 Date of 
 ' Departure. 
 
 Port of 
 Departure. 
 
 Destination. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Emigrants. 
 
 
 1862: 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel Boddington - 
 
 24 Nov. - 
 
 Amoy 
 
 Demarara - 
 
 f308 adults, 
 t 44 boys. 
 
 Australia - - - 
 
 14 Dec. - 
 
 Namoa 
 
 Trinidad - 
 
 445. 
 
 Clarendon 
 
 26 Dec. - 
 
 Whampoa - 
 
 Ditto 
 
 257. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. 
 &c. &,c. &c. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C Murdoch. 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 103 
 
 — No. 7.— 
 (No. 26.) 
 
 €opY of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor 
 Barkly. 
 
 ^i*"' Downing-street, 22 March 1853. oarKiy. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith an extract from a letter from the Colonial Land and ^^ ^^^^^ i^53 
 Emigration Commissioners, transmitting copies of two letters received from Mr. , 
 White, the agent for conducting Chinese emigration, reporting the progress that "-^^^uar^ 
 had been made in despatching emigrants to the West Indies. ~-^ '* 
 
 '53. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 7. 
 
 Extract of a Report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to 
 H. Merivale, Esq., dated 24 February 1853. 
 
 " We beg to enclose copies of two letters respecting emigration from China to Britigtf 
 Guiana and Trinidad, which we have received from Mr. White, the agent for conducting 
 that emigration. 
 
 " 2. It appears from these letters, that, on Mr. White's arrival at Amoy, he found 10 ships 
 waiting, for emigrants, six for Cuba, three for Australia, and one for Demerara; and He 
 found, as might perhaps have been expected, that those emigrations, being carried on upon 
 bounty, were conducted simply as commercial operations, with many irregularities and abuses. 
 Mr. White, however, had no official connexion with any but the West India emigration ; 
 and it will be observed, that even in regard to these colonies, he had not, up to the date of 
 his letters now transmitted, received the instructions which contained his appointment. They 
 were, as we have before now mentioned, detained after his departure for the consideration of 
 the Foreign Office. He was, however, known by those concerned in the West India emigra- 
 tion to be acting with the sanction of Government, and was allowed, therefore, to exercise 
 a certain influence on that part of the emigration. He gives the following analysis of the 
 emigration to the West Indies : — 
 
 Bhittsh Guiana. 
 
 End. in No, 7. 
 
 Name op Ship. 
 
 Date of Sailing. 
 
 Numlier Bmbarked. 
 
 Lord Elgin 
 
 Glentanner _ - - 
 
 Samuel Boddington - 
 
 1852: 
 23 July - 
 
 1 September - 
 
 23 Novetnber - 
 
 155 
 
 305 
 
 r 308 Men, 
 22 Boys. 
 
 Australia - 
 Clarendon 
 
 Trinidad. 
 
 17 December - 
 Ready to sail - 
 
 450 
 
 Of these ships, the two first had sailed, before Mr. White's arrival, from Amoy. 
 
 " 3. The ' Samuel Boddington' sailed from the same port in which the rival emigrations 
 to South America, Cuba, and Australia had introduced great irregularity; and tnis was 
 rendered more mischievous by the circumstance that one of the agents for the Cuban con- 
 tract was also employed by those concerned in the West Indian emigration. The captain of 
 the ' SaflMiel Boddington' complains that in consequence be was not fairly treated, inferior 
 emigrants having been supplied, and a large number having escaped when en the point of 
 being shipped ; Mr. White considers these complaints to have been exaggerated ; but we 
 think that copies of Mr. White's letter (No. 4), and of the letters from Captain Hurst and 
 Messrs Tait enclosed in it, should be forwarded by the next post (March 2) to the Governor 
 
 986. F 4 *^f 
 
104 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITI'^H of British Guiana. We do not forward copies of the instructions, invoices, and clearing 
 GUIANA. certificate referred to by Mr. White, as we do not apprehend that they will be of any use in 
 
 the colony; the certificate is signed only by the agents of the shipowner. A copy of 
 
 Mr. White's letter should also, we think, be forwarded to Trinidad, on account of the 
 information it gives as to the ship "Austraha" bound for that colony. That ship was, 
 under Mr. White's advice, sent to Namoa, where he states her to have obtained an excellent 
 set of emigrants. The Duke of Newcastle will remember that a large number of boys 
 were said to have been sent from this port against the wishes of their parents. We do not 
 doubt that this was a mistake ; but we have requested Mr. White to furnish us with an 
 explanation on the subject. 
 
 '•' 4. Mr. White was of opinion that the space of 15 feet per adult, required by us in oar 
 contract with Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. respecting Trinidad emigration, and allowed in 
 this ship, is more than is necessary. The Duke of Newcastle may remember that we 
 have since reduced the space to that required for coolies from Calcutta (12 feet); but we 
 should point out that the colony of Trinidad will not be called on to pay more than the 
 bounty of 100 dollars per adult proclaimed by the authorities of British Guiana, and payable 
 on emigrants arriving in that colony. 
 
 "5, The 'Clarendon' was filling at Whampoa, Mr. White having (judiciously as it ap- 
 pears to us) persuaded those concerned in the West Indian emigration to withdraw their 
 ships from Amoy. 
 
 " I 
 
 6. The ' Lucknow,' a ship employed by a firm of British Guiana to bring out 
 Chinese emigrants, had not appeared at Amoy, and it was feared she had met with some 
 accident. 
 
 t( I 
 
 ' 7. Mr. White appears to have decided that it will be best to make Hong Kong the port of 
 emigration to the West Indies. This has the obvious advantage of placing his operations 
 effectually under British supervision, of disjoining them from the Spanish and other less 
 regularly conducted emigrations, and of avoiding ail appearance of interfering with a foreign 
 power. Whether he will obtain emigrants at Hong Kong may be doubtful; but under the 
 circumstances he appears to us to judge very rightly in trying the experiment." 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 1, to Enclosure in No, 7. 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 26 December 1832. 
 
 I AM prevented from acknowledging the receipt of any communication by this mail, as all 
 the letters to my address have been inadvertently sent up to Amoy, and cannot come to 
 hand before the departure of the mail for England on the 28th. His Excellency the Governor 
 has, however, been kind enough to allow me to peruse the papers and despatches with 
 which he has been furnished in reference to my appointment. As soon as I receive the 
 " specific instructions" referred to in the fourth paragraph of my instructions, they shall 
 have my most careful attention. 
 
 2. I had the honour of addressing you last on the 15th October. Since then I have been 
 engaged in collecting information as to the actual state of affairs at the different places from 
 which emigration was likely to be established (so as to decide definitively upon my future 
 arrangements), and have endeavoured, by way of suggestion, advice, or remonstrance, to 
 put the bounty emigration to British Guiana and Trinidad on as favourable a footing as 
 circumstances would permit. 
 
 3. The " Samuel Boddington," for Demerara, left Amoy on the 24th November with 
 308 men and 44 boys. The " Australia," for Trinidad, lett Namoa on the 17th instant with 
 450 men. I have addressed you separately (No. 4) with reference to these two vessels.. 
 The " Clarendon," for Trinidad, will leave from Whampoa in the course of a few days, 
 probably before the 31st, and I leave this for Canton to-morrow, in order to see the emi- 
 grants and vessel before they leave. The "Lucknow" had not reached Amoy on the 
 20th instant, and as she was then 70 days out from Hong Kong, it is to be feared that she- 
 must have met with some fatal disaster. The emigration to British Guiana and Trinidad 
 stands thus at present : — 
 
 British Guiana. — Lord Elgin - - - sailed 23 July - 
 
 „ Glentanner - - - „ 1 September - 
 
 „ Samuel Boddington - „ 23 November - 
 
 and 44 boys _.---- 
 
 Trinidad. — Australia _ _ _ - sailed 17 December 
 " Clarendon - - - - ready to sail - 
 
 155 
 305 
 
 308 men. 
 22 
 
 790 
 
 450 
 
 4. The- 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 105 
 
 4. The whole question of emigration is at present on an unsatisfactory footino-, and unless 
 regulated, and judiciously and carefully conducted, will lead to unpleasant c'onseauences, 
 injurious, if not destructive of its ultimate success. The sudden demand for labour/created 
 by the Cuban and Peruvian contracts, and the competing emigration to Australia and the 
 British VVest Indies, with the fact that the parties now engaged view the question of emi- 
 gration simply as a commercial operation, to be carried on at the lowest cost, with little 
 reference to other considerations, will at once account for many of the irregularities and 
 abuses that have occurred, and for the feeling that now prevails to a certain extent adverse 
 to emigration. 
 
 5. Immediately after my arrival at Hong Kong, I went to Canton in order to see Messrs. 
 Turner & Co., and on my return I proceeded to Amoy where I remained until the 9th of 
 November. I found 10 vessels in the river, waiting for emigrants, and others daily 
 expected. Of those 10 vessels, six were for Cuba, three for Australia, and one for Deme- 
 rara, viz; : — 
 
 BRITISH 
 GU lANA. 
 
 For Cuba. 
 
 For Australia. 
 
 For Demerara. 
 
 Blenheim. 
 
 Royal Saxon, 
 
 Boddington. 
 
 Inchinnan. 
 
 Spartan. 
 
 
 Columbus. 
 
 Eleanor Lancaster. 
 
 
 Lady Amherst. 
 
 
 
 Juliau d'Unzueta. 
 
 
 
 San Andres. 
 
 
 
 The " Sir Thomas Gresham," (afterwards chartered for Cuba) arrived during my stay 
 there, and the " Australia" the day after I left. I found everything in an unsatisfactory 
 position. The rivalry of the parties engaged in emigration, and the eagerness to obtain 
 emigrants, in order to prevent the vessels from coming under demurrage, had given rise, 
 and a sanction, to irregularities and abuses which ought not to have been permitted, and 
 could not have existed under a moderate and regulated emigration. 
 
 6. Of the three houses engaged, Messrs. Tait & Co., and Syme, Mure & Co. had the 
 working out of the Spanish contracts, under Messrs Wardrobe and Ferrand (Spanish 
 agents) for one contract, and Mr. De Castro (Spanish Agent) for another contract ; and Mr. 
 Eobert Jackson had two out of the three Australian vessels. Messrs. Tait & Co. were also- 
 engaged to procure emigrants for British Guiana and Trinidad, thus combining a double 
 agency, on the one side, on behalf of British Guiana and Trinidad, and on the other, on 
 behalf of Cuba. This double agency appeared to me exceedingly objectionable ; but as 
 Messrs. Tait & Co. were acting for Turner & Co., the agents of Hyde Hodge & Co., I could 
 not interfere with pending arrangements, 
 
 7. The above and other reasons led me to conclude, that under existing circumstances, 
 Amoy was not the port best adapted to test the question of a successful emigration to the 
 British West Indies. During my say at Amoy I had received favourable accounts from 
 Namoa, confirming the opinion I had formed regarding it, on my last visit to China. The 
 " Sir Thomas Gresham" having arrived, I made a conditional arrangement with the con- 
 signees, that if I found matters favourable at Namoa, I would charter the vessel at 10 I. for 
 Demerara ; but finding upon my return to Hong Kong that no instructions had come out to 
 me by the last mail, I was obliged to relinquish this project. On my way down from Amoy- 
 I spent a day at Namoa, and found everything exceedingly favourable ; the people strong^ 
 and healthy, and willing to emigrate, and the Chinese authorities anxious to encourage it. 
 Immediately on my return, I put myself in communication with Turner & Co. on the 
 subject, and it was arranged by Tait k Co. that the " Australia," which had arrived at 
 Amoy on the 10th, should take emigrants from Namoa. I was anxious that the " Claren- 
 don" (arrived on the first of December) should also go up to Namoa ; but being ill-adapted 
 for beating up the coast against the north-east monsoon (she was 05 days from Singapore), 
 and as Messrs. Turner had been making arrangements to obtain emigrants from the neigh- 
 bourhood of Whampoa, it was decided not to lose time by sending her to Namoa, but to 
 ship emigrants from Whampoa. 
 
 8. You will perceive that this scattered emigration, partly at Amoy, partly at Namoa, 
 and partly at Whampoa, renders it impossible to establish any well-regulated system. I 
 had at one time some thought of establishing my head-quarters at Cumsingmoon, or rather 
 at Macao, from which Cumsingmoon is not far off; but 1 found Cumsingmoon monopolised 
 by parties engaged in obtaining coolies for Peru (of whom Senor Saveila is the principal 
 contractor) and Macao bv Senor Jorge, who is engaged on account of Cuba; and I have 
 therefore decided to remain at Hong Kong, and set on foot an emigration from this port. 
 
 986. 
 
 Q 
 
 9. I shal. 
 
io6 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 9. I shall address you separately with reference to some serious disturbances that have 
 
 G TJ I A N A. taken place at Amoy, connected with emigration, or rather with the manner in which it has 
 
 been carried on from that port; but I will state now as briefly as possible the reasons which 
 
 have influenced me, under present circumstances, in fixing upon Hong Kong in preference 
 to any other place hitherto considered as better adapted for emigration purposes. 
 
 1st. At Amoy there still prevails a strong feeling of irritation among the respectable 
 part of the population, in consequence of the recent disturbances, and of the abuses 
 practised by the Chinese crimps ; and this irritation might lead to collision. 
 
 2d. At Namoa and Cumsingmoon, and such other outlying stations, there is an 
 absolute want of supervision, consequently, great facility for the perpetration of abuses. 
 Besides which the great opium houses are decidedly averse to it, and will throw diffi- 
 culties in the way, as (from the recent occurrences of Amoy) they consider it would 
 tend to endanger their property, frequently of very large amount, by drawing to these 
 stations, along with the respectable and bona fide emigrants, thieves and vagabonds 
 and persons of dangerous character. 
 
 3d. Whampoa is too near to Canton ; and should any disturbance take place there in 
 connexion with emigration, it might re-act upon Canton, and involve the national 
 relations by endangering life and property. Macao possesses no peculiar advantages, 
 and the moderate supply of labour that can be obtained there is already forestalled by 
 the parties connected by the Cuban emigration. 
 
 4th. In all these places emigration to the British West Indies will have to compete 
 with other emigrations, ])articularly Cuba and Peru ; and any prominent advantages 
 held out to the emigrants for the British West Indies will be immediately laid hold of 
 and held out to the emigrants for Cuba and Peru; so that they would be induced to 
 embark for those places under promises not likely ever to be realised. 
 
 5th. If the emigration be conducted from Hong Kong, it may be placed under the 
 strictest possible supervision, and every guarantee afforded to the emigrant, that the 
 terms held out as inducements to him to emigrate will be fairly carried out in the 
 colony to which he is about to transfer his labour. Its establishment from this port 
 will also prevent all question of a breach of international law on the part of England 
 towards China, by the carrying on emigration on Chinese territory in violation of the 
 Chinese laws, by an agent sanctioned and appointed by the English government. 
 The emigration agent will be placed under the immediate supervision of government, 
 and his accounts accurately tested ; and the port itself, as the great rendezvous of 
 shipping, offers facilities for procuring vessels that do not exist at any other port or 
 place in China. 
 
 6tb. Considering the mutinies and disasters which have occurred within the last two 
 years on board of Chinese eraiiirant vessels, and the recent disturbances at Amoy, I 
 believe that public opinion in England will be better satisfied to learn, that the emi- 
 gration to the British West Indies is being conducted openly and fairly, and under 
 every possible guarantee for the safety of the emigrants, from, a British port, than if it 
 were established at any outport away from the public supervision and control. 
 Nor is it necessary that the emigration should be actually restricted to Hong Kong ; 
 but the head-quarters of the agent being established there, arrangements may be made 
 by him to obtain emigrants from other places, should circumstances render it advisable 
 to do so, and these he may superintend and control by occasional visits. 
 
 10. I have not yet made any arrangements for emigration from here, as I have been 
 anxious to weigh the matter well before coming to a decision. I have consulted several of 
 the official authorities and the residents ; some are in favour of it ; others, who are against 
 it, state that there is a prejudice among respectable Chinese against Hong Kong, and that 
 goodi labourers will not come here. 1 attach no great weight to these objections. My 
 olgiect is to put emigration on a footing such as has never yet been attempted from China ; 
 and I believe that good labourers will come, if respectable Chinesie agents are employed, 
 provided that they are treated on their arrival with consideration and kindness, and are 
 assured of being taken on board of good English ships, provided with every comfort. 
 
 11. I went up to Amoy on the 19th inst. to be present at the investigation into the causes 
 of the recent disturbances there, and returned on the 20th. I go up to Canton and 
 Whampoa to-morrow, in order to see the " Clarendon" before she leaves. On my return 
 I shall make arrangements to procure emigrants for the two vessels which you expect to 
 arrive here between the 15th January and 16th February. I propose to send one if not 
 two interpreters by each vessel, and to place every 50 emigrants under a headman, who 
 will be responsible for their conduct. I believe some organisation of this kind to be neces- 
 sary, and that it will prevent the occurrence of those mutinies and disasters at sea which 
 have so often of late cast a painful stigma upon Chinese emigration. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary (signed) James T. White. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 107 
 
 BRITISH 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 2, to Enclosure in No. 7. GUIANA. 
 
 (No. 4.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 26 Dec. 1852. 
 
 Under cover are four papers connected with the •* Samuel Boddington." 
 
 1. Letter of instructions to the captain. 
 
 2. Invoice of clothing. 
 
 3. Invoice of stores put on board. 
 
 4. Clearing certificate. 
 
 And the same papers with reference to the "Australia"; all furnished at my request hy 
 Messrs. Tait & Co. at Amoy, who are acting for Messrs. Turner & Co. in Canton, the 
 agents of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. 
 
 I have not the slightest reason to doubt that all supplies stated in the invoices have been 
 put on board, and all that I examined were of excellent quality ; you will observe that the 
 cost of provisioning each emigrant per "Samuel Boddington" for the voyage would 
 amount to ----_..___ ^n. 02. 
 
 And of the clothing ------- 2. 12. 
 
 (Estimating the number of emigrants at 330.) 
 
 And that the cost per "Australia" would be - - - - ^19. 70. 
 
 And clothing -------- 4. 40. 
 
 (Estimating the number of emigrants at 450.) 
 
 And this supposes all the provisions, &c. &c. laid in, to be consumed on the voyage. 
 
 Beef and pork should be sent here, when vessels are chartered in England for the emi- 
 gration service. These articles are generally expensive, and the supply is very irregular and 
 uncertain. 
 
 In addition to the above papers, I request your attention to the letter of Captain Hurst, 
 in command of the " Samuel Boddington," having reference to the condition of the emigrants 
 placed on board of the vessel by Messrs. Tait & Co. on ihe same subject. 
 
 Althougii Captain Hurst's statements are exaggerated, I have good reason to believe 
 that many of the emigrants were neither agricultural labourers nor in sound health. I was 
 not at. Amoy when the " Boddington" left ; but I obtained this information on my recent 
 visit there, from parties perfectly disinterested, and in no way connected with emigration. 
 
 On my first visit to Amoy, between the 20th October and 9lli November, I had occasion 
 to address both Messrs. Tait & Co., and Captain Hurst in reference to the quality of the 
 emigrants, and to the number of boys who were intended to be reckoned as adults. Subse- 
 quently to my leaving Amoy the people intended for the " Boddington" thouaht proper to 
 run away (at least the greater part did so), without, so far as I am aware, any reason for 
 their doing so beyond caprice, and an unwillingness at the last moment to leave their 
 country. 
 
 Many of these came back to Tait & Co., and others engaged themselves to other 
 parties; but from the number of vessels in the river waiting for emigrants there was great 
 difficulty in procuring the requisite complement for the " Boddington." She was under 
 demurrage; and my information goes to this point, that persons were passed as emigrants 
 who, under other circumstances, would have been rejected. 
 
 It appears to me desirable that the Governor of British iGuiana should be furnished with 
 information in regard to the emigrants per "Boddington," in order that if the authorities 
 think proper to do so, the proper steps may be taken to protect the .public interest. 
 
 The people per "Australia" are a very fine set, the best who have yet emigrated. The 
 " Australia" is admirably adapted for emigration service. Her great height between dedks 
 gives abundant ventilation ; and although she was Hmited by the first instructions of Messrs. 
 Hyde, Hodge & Co. to carry emigrants on the allowance of 15 superficial feet per man, she 
 might safely and comfortably have taken 80 to 100 more emigrants, giving to all the full 
 allowance of 12 superficial feet. 
 
 My information regarding the " Boddington" was obtained on my second visit to Amoy, 
 between the 12th and 20th instant. 
 
 I enclose a few lines for Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., with copies of the letters from 
 Captain Hurst and Messrs. Tait& Co., which please forward, provided you approve of what 
 I have done ; the letter is open for your perusal. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary (signed) James T. White. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 I have partly engaged the services of a respectable interpreter to go by the first vessel to 
 Demerara. 
 
 986. Q 2 Barque 
 
108 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH Extract. 
 
 GUIANA. Barque " Samuel Boddington," 
 Dear Sir, Amoy, 24 Nov. 1862. 
 
 It is painful to state this ship is still lying here with 157 very indifferent coolies and 66 
 fine healthy boys on board, and the demurrage daily going on. There has been six ships 
 despatched since I have been lying in this port; on Saturday the 21st November, the 
 "Lady Amherst" and "Royal Saxon" completed their numbers. Messrs. Tait & Co. 
 must hold most strange instructions from Turner k Co. in Canton, or else Tait & Co. don't 
 do justice by them, all I can say is, had Turner & Co. empowered me to get the coolies, I 
 would have sailed a month since, with a full and complete number, according to the Act of 
 Parliament. I am sorry to say there appears at present no prospect whatever in getting 
 away. On the 18th they got one, next day not any. I am at a loss to understand the 
 connexion between Tait &. Co. and the people connected with the Havanna business. Syme 
 Mure have now on hand 400 ; they have just completed the " Lady Amherst" ; the coolies 
 must be misled in some way or they never would prefer going to a slave country to going to 
 a good English free settlement. #*#**** 
 
 I must inform you that Messrs. Tait & Co. are determined to ship small boys under 14 
 years of age and call them adults. **##«** 
 
 * * I must say that, from all I can learn, they wish to get us away with any- 
 
 thinf, but you may rely, and inform our friends in Demerara, that it is my determination to 
 have a good cargo of field labourers before I sail or move from this ; nothing goes on flourishing 
 here, but that cursed Havanna business, where half of them will be sold for slaves. It is high 
 time the British Government interfere with it. I must also inform you that this ship was 
 by right in turn before the " Blenheim," but the " Blenheim" was chartered to go to the 
 Havanna; so they thought proper to say the coohes collected was for the " Blenheim." My 
 ship was chartered in Canton and came into port before the " Blenheim" was chartered, or 
 even had half of her cargo delivered ; you may, if you think proper, inform Messrs. Turner and 
 and Co. how their friends act towards them here. I am quite tired of going to Messrs. Tait 
 & Co. on Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.'s business. ***** 
 
 I hope you will see to this. These Spanish agents collect any number of coolies at Messrs. 
 Syme Mure. I should say Messrs. Tait & Co. must have a great deal to do with this 8,000 
 coolies for the Havanna. By this conveyance 1 shall write Messrs. Turner & Co., Can- 
 ton. They are instructed to collect a cargo of coolies; we have on board the lame, blind, 
 dumb, itch, pox, in fact disgusting to the eye. Jt would seem to me that anything will 
 do for the British colony. I am happy to say that I have repeatedly made it my business 
 to go on board the Havanna ships, and have examined the coolies to see the sorts of 
 men sent, and can with safety say they all are superior to those we now have on board ; 
 nine-tenths of those that have been sent are emaciated and full of disease, in so much 
 they never can be made useful field labourers. The boys will make the best labourers 
 for our colonies ; they are free from disease, generally well-limbed, and will soon become 
 accustomed to our way, and won't wish to return to this wretched country again. Dr. Ely 
 will most likely forward to you a correspondence, which will show to you their greatest 
 possible wish is to send on board anything they may choose. I am sorry to trouble you with 
 so Ion"- an account ; but if Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. have coolies sent from China they 
 had better send up the dollars and a competent agent. If this ship had been for the 
 Havanna she would have been halfway there now. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Mr. White. (signed) John W, Hurst. 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 Having duly considered all I have written to you, I do think Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. 
 should be made acquainted with what I have stated to you. I have no time to write them ; 
 you will much oblige me by writing those gentlemen. I trust I may be in London in May 
 next, and will see those gentleman; you may please say I will call on them. My coolies 
 look much better in their new clothes. Adieu. 
 
 I arn, &c. 
 (signed) J. W. H. 
 
 Mr. Ely, the surgeon, and myself have examined the coolies on board the " Royal Saxon," 
 and we find the very worst coolies on board that ship is better than our very best men. 
 
 I have just heard how this is; Captain Charles Worth pays eight dollars to procure his 
 cargo, and I believe Tait & Co. only pays six ; this accounts for the miserable, starved, 
 diseased lot sent on board her. If you think fit you may send this letter to Messrs. Hyde, 
 Hodge & Co. of London. 
 
 (signed) J. W. H. 
 
 Yesterday the coolies were examined and paid. We mustered ao8 statute emigrants, and 
 46 boys under the age of 13 or 14, the ship measuring for 335 statute; therefore I am short 
 n my proper number " three;" but Amoy is in such an unssttled state now that we do not 
 see a prospect of getting another coolie if I waited. I sail this day for Demerara. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 (signed) J. W. Hurst, Master, 
 
 Ship "Samuel Boddington.' 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 109 
 
 Dear Sir, Amoy, 16 December 1852. 
 
 We have before us your letter of 14th instant, giving cover to a communication sent 
 you by Captain Hurst of the " Samuel Boddington," complaining of the description of people 
 sent on board his vessel as emigrants for Demarara. 
 
 The only one of the various statements put forth by him that we can admit to be correct 
 is that referring to part of tlie people intended for his vessel deserted on their removal from 
 our vessel to his. This was as much of a disappointment to us as it could possibly be to 
 him ; there was nothing in the shape of improper, restraint used towards them. 
 
 The people put on board the " Boddington " were of a class in no way inferior to other 
 emigrants leaving at that time and since; Captain Hurst's proposal regarding boys was that 
 two under age should go as an adult ; but such an arrangement should not be noted on his 
 charter party, that document providing full freight for every emigrant landed. The " Blen- 
 heim," of which mention is made, was chartered before the " Boddington " reached this 
 port, and her charter party executed, as can be shown you whenever you wish to see it ; 
 that Captain Hurst mention us in a very unbecoming manner, all through his letter is 
 saying what must have been evident to you. 
 
 We deem it necessary to say to you, injustice to ourselves, that no attention was bestowed 
 «pon any other vessel loading emigrants during the period the " Boddington " was in course 
 of loading. We enclose copy of the invoice of stores, with note of clothing for 308 adults 
 .and 44 youths, and copy of our letter of instructions handed the captain. 
 
 J. F. White, Esq., Amoy. 
 
 We are, &c. 
 (signed) Tait Sf Co. 
 
 — No. 8. — 
 (No. 27.) 
 Oopy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 24 March 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith for your information a copy of a letter from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of two further letters 
 :from Mr. White, reporting the progress he has made in the despatch of Chinese 
 emigrants to the West Indies. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 BRTTISTT 
 GUIANA. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governer 
 
 Barkly. 
 
 24 March 3 83?,. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 8. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, End. in No. 8. 
 
 Sir, 8 March 1863. 
 
 1. We beg to enclose, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, copies of two j^^ 
 betters addressed to the Secretary of this Board by Mr. White, the Emigration Agent in jfr-^^-cL^Jan 
 ■Chma. ---7. J ijj^pp-s? 
 
 2. It will be observed that the full complement of 1,000 labourers required by Trinidad ~~~^--'~-'*;.j 
 will probably be sent thither; that a large ship of 1,144 tons has been taken up for Deme- 
 
 rara besides those already despatched ; that there is some difficulty in procuring ships, but 
 none in procuring people, and that the emigrants recently procured are promising and con- 
 tented. 
 
 3. Mr. White's suggestion with regard to procuring females is one on which it is not 
 Tiecessary to pronounce at once, as the emigration season will be over long before any letter 
 can reach China ; and it would be very desirable to obtain a more precise explanation of the 
 plan before doing so ; of the importance of the object there is no doubt. 
 
 4. ft appears 'from a private letter from Mr. White that he considered his understanding 
 with the West India Committee to be, that he should go out to superintend only the com- 
 mencement of the emigration, and accordingly that he is about to return to England at the 
 expiration of the present season, i.e. after March. This being the case, we do not see that 
 
 -any decision can be taken now on his suggestion. Our present impression, however, is, 
 -that it would be desirable to aim at family rather than purely female emigration. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 1, to Enclosure in No. 8. 
 
 (No. 6.) 
 
 Si,- Canton, 8 January 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 25th October 1852, witli 
 
 a copy of the charter party of the ship " Martin Luther." Copy of the memorandum of 
 
 ao-reement between the Commissioners and Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., in reference to tiie 
 
 Trinidad emigration; and copy of the instructions to surgeons engaged in the African 
 
 ■ emigration. 
 
 g^Q. Q3 The 
 
no PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH '^^^ ^'®'' ps^ragraph refers to " a letter of the 23d instant, which conveyed certain instruc- 
 
 GUIANA *^°"^ *'^^*' ^^^ '^'^^" submitted and approved by the Secretary of State." This letter has 
 
 . ' not yet come to hand ; but as his Excellency the Governor has been kind enough to furnish 
 
 me with a copy of the " instructions " that were sent out to him, 1 am in possession of the 
 information they convey. 
 
 I have made arrangements for embarking emigrants on board of the " Martin tuther" at 
 Hong KoMg, and the authorities will thus have an opportunity of inspecting the vessel, and 
 of ascertaining in detail the system under which it is proposed to carry on emigration to the 
 West Indies. There will be no difficulty or delay in procuring a full complement for the 
 " Martin Luther." 
 
 The "Clarendon" left Whampoa on the 2d instant, with a full comiplement, 257 adults, 
 fine effective people. The people weie so eager to go by her, that they remained alongside 
 the vessel in boats for three or four days, rather than stay on shore, and at last upwards of 
 40 were rejected, being above the number the vessel could legally carry. Every man 
 received 10 dollars in money, and two suits of clothes. The people insisted upon having the 
 vessel fitted up in the same manner as the vessels which had previously conveyed eminrants 
 to California, and it seemed to give them perfect confidence when this was done to their 
 satisfaction. I found them cheerful and apparently content with everything, and I explained 
 J to them, through an interpreter, the probable length of the voyage, the work they would be 
 
 required to perform, the wages they would receive, and that they had full liberty to leave 
 the vessel if they wished to do so. I also had a few notices to the same effect stuck up 
 between decks, and a scale of the provisions ihey were entitled to receive as their daily 
 allowance. 1 do not forward by this mail the papers connected with the " Clarendon," as I 
 wish to show them to his Excellency Dr. Bowring, and to explain any point on which he 
 may wish for information. There is a good surgeon on board, who was procured in 
 Calcutta; the one who came out having been dismissed there for misconduct and intem- 
 perance. 
 
 Messrs. Turner & Co. are now in treaty for two vessels, one for Demerara, the other for 
 Trinidad, and I give them every assistance for carrying out the arrangements made by the 
 Commissioners with Messrs. Hyde, Hodge &. Co. It is better to do so, than by unnecessary 
 competition impede their operations. ^Before I close this, I hope to announce that one, if 
 not both vessels, have been secured. 
 
 I find it impossible to obtain interpreters either at Amoy or Namoa for the emigrants who 
 have embarked fjom there ; I have therefore written to Penang to his Excellency the 
 Acting Governor to request that he will be kind enough to give his assistance to procure 
 four interpreters from there, two for Trinidad and two for Demerara. I'hey can be sent on 
 either by some vessel that touches there or by the steamers. There will be some expense 
 attending this, but it cannot be obviated. A few interpreters may be obtained at Hong Kong 
 for the emigrants who embark from the Canton districts. 
 
 A few women might have been procured to go by the " Clarendon," but the captain 
 objected to take them, on the ground that they would give occasion to quarrels and disturb- 
 ances on the voyage, and the matter therefore was not pressed upon him. If the colonies 
 are desirous to obtain a proportion of women, I think it would be better to .keep this female 
 emigration separate and distinct from the male emigration, and to send some women by a 
 separate vesseL I am led to believe that they may be obtained from this district and else- 
 where by paying to them in advance one year's to one and a half year's wages; and from 
 what I have seen of Chinese characte^-, I.hnveno doubt that this amount would gladly be 
 refunded to the colony by such of the Chinese emigrants as had already obtained, by 
 superior industry, a better position than their fellow emigrants ; a few families might be 
 obtained on these terms. But as the species of emigration is new, and would require tact 
 and care in the management, it would be advisable not to attempt it with any vessel of larger 
 tonnage than would accommodate from 120 to ISO.persons ; and the emigration should, ta-ke 
 place from Hong Kong, one-half the number might be landed in Demerara and the other 
 half in Trinidad. Proportionate wages would have to be paid in advance for the children. 
 
 There is at present some difficulty in obtaining vessels for the emigration service; the 
 captains, alarmed at the disasters which occurred some time ago, are unwilling to embark 
 in it if any other engagement can be found. There is a considerable. demand for vessels 
 to Cahfornia, and the parties connected with the Cuban and Peruvian emigration are dis- 
 posed to take up any vessels that offer. This latter difficulty is not likely to last long, as 
 from the reluctance of English cajitains to take over a limited number of emigrants, Spanish 
 and Peruvian vessels are preferred, and in time this emigration will be carried on entirely by 
 vessels sailing under these flags. The " Sophia," an American vessel, purchased by the 
 Spanish Consul, Senor Jorge, sailed recently from Macao with 250 to 2&0 emigrants; her 
 tonnage is from 270 to 280, and her destination the Havanna. The rigid enforcement of the 
 English Passengers' Act, if adopted and carried out by the authorities at Hong Kong,, 
 would completely prevent English vessels from this source of profit; and the effect of. 
 this would be greatly to add to the wretchedness of the emigration, by restricting it entirely 
 to Spanish and Peruvian vessels, whose captains have little compunction in carrying as many 
 people as can possibly bestowed. 
 
 Although the emigration to California was discontinued for a time, and some hundreds 
 have returned from there, it is now being, resumed. One vessel left Hong Kong recently with 
 240 passengers, and another with 150, 
 
 'ITie rale of freight under present circumstances may be stated at 10 Z. to 137. for every 
 enjigrant landed in the West Indies; it is not likely ever to exceed 12l. 10 s., and occa- 
 sionally 
 
introducp:d into British guiana and trinidad. m 
 
 sionally will be obtained below 10 Z. If the emigration agent were authorised to make a 
 small advance on freight, say from 1 1, to 2 1, per man, on the number of emigrants the vessel 
 could carry, it would facilitate the chartering of vessels, and probably enable him to procure 
 them on somewhat lower terms. This amount is intended to cover the expense of the vessel 
 for fitments, water casks, and disbursements while in harbour. 
 
 I am afraid it will be too late to do anything this season in regard to the Jamaica emigra- 
 ion without interfering with that to Deuierara and Trinidad. The diflaculty will be in 
 regard to vessels^ and not in regard to people, of whom, from the different points now open 
 to emigration, any number may be obtained. Until this season I had no idea of the tenacity 
 and force with which the monsoon blows from one quarter, and it will always be desirable 
 when possible iiot to extend the departure of vessels beyond the end of March or middle of 
 April. A voyage of 40 to 60 days between this and Singapore is an affair of common 
 occurrence. If emigrants leave alter the 31st March, it will be necessary to furnish them 
 with warm clothing for use in the southern latitudes when rounding the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 S. Walcott, Esq., 
 
 Secretary Colonial Land and Emigration 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 I have, 
 (signed) 
 
 &c. 
 
 James T. White. 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 2, to Enclosure in No. 8. 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 11 January 1853. 
 
 Referring to my previous letter of the 8th instant, No. 6, I have now to state for your 
 information, that the " Lady Flora Hastings," 647 tons, has been chartered by Messrs. 
 Turner, per account of Hyde, Hodge & Co., and that the arrangements for a charter of the 
 " Lord Warriston," have been so far advanced that they will probably be completed in the 
 course of to-day. 
 
 The emigrants per " Lady Flora Hastings " will complete the number required for 
 Trinidad, and the " Lord Warriston" will be sent to Demerara. She is a fine vessel of 
 1,144 tons, upwards of eight feet between decks, and has been engaged in conveying 
 emigrants on previous occasions, and is in every respect well adapted for the service. 
 
 " The Lady Flora " is chartered at \Ql. 5s. for every adult landed in the West Indies. 
 The "Warriston" will probably be closed for on the same terms. Both will get away before 
 the 15 th of next month. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 S. Walcott, Esq., (signed) James T. White. 
 
 Secretary Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 
 P. S. — The freight does not include provisions, but only water, fuel, and fittings. 
 provisions are laid in by Messrs. Turner & Co. 
 
 The 
 
 — No. 9. — 
 
 (No. Z5-) 
 Copy of a despatch from His Grace the Duke of Hezvcastle to Governor Bar My. 
 
 gjj. Downing-street, 20 April 1858. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you for your information a copy of a letter from the Colonial 
 Land and emigration Commissioners, with a copy of a further report from Mr. 
 White, on Chinese emigration to the West Indies. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 9. 
 Duke of Newcajtie 
 to Governor 
 Barkly. 
 20 April 1853. 
 
 End. in No. 9. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 9. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 gjp 7 April 1853. 
 
 Wb beg; to forward, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, a copy of a letter 
 whicli we have received from the emigration agent in China with two of the enclosures, ^^ 
 
 being a letter addressed by him to the officiating governor of the Straits Settlements, and a <C:^a; 9- 
 notice issued for the information of the Chinese. ^""^^^^i^^s. 
 
 986. 
 
 Q 4 
 
 2. With 
 
112 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 2. With the other enclosures, which contain merely lists of provisions and correspondence 
 
 GUIANA, with reference to the quality of the emigrants sent off by the " Samuel Boddington," which 
 must be judged of by the authorities in British Guiana, it seems unnecessary to trouble the 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 3. It will be observed, that Mr. Wiiite is endeavouring to procure interpreters, and expects 
 that in time men will take their families with them. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Herman Merivaie, Esq., Frederic Rogers. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 9. 
 (No. 9.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 27 January 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt on the 16th instant of my " Instructions," 
 which, bearing date the 22d October, ought apparently to have come to hand by the previous 
 mail in December. 
 
 2. Under cover are several papers numbered from 1 to 10 : — 
 
 No. 1 is a list and scale of the provisions and stores, &c., on board of the "Clarendon." 
 I examined these, and found them all good, and they appear to me sufficient in quantity 
 for the voyage. 
 
 No. 2 is a list of the clothing on board of the ". Clarendon," for the use of the emi- 
 grants, 257 in number. 
 
 No. 3 is a certificate in reference to the " Clarendon." The casks which I examined 
 were all in good order, and the quantity of water in the certificate stated to be on 
 board I have every reason to believe to be perfectly correct. 
 
 No. 4 is copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Blundell, officiating Governor of the 
 fte*e4' Straits Settlements, to ask his assistance in procuring interpreters. This was forwarded 
 
 ""^^ ——"^^ through his Excellency, Dr. Bowring. 
 
 No. 5. Copy of a letter to me from Messrs. Turner & Co. 
 
 No. 6. Copy of a letter to Turner & Co., from Tait & Co., Amoy. Both of these 
 have reference to the "Samuel Boddington." I do not willingly trouble you with 
 further correspondence on this subject, but I forward these at the request of Messrs. 
 Turner & Co. They leave the matter as before. I believe Captain Hurst's statements 
 to be greatly exaggerated, but that, nevertheless, many of the emigrants put on board 
 were of an inferior description. The " Boddington" has been heard of from Anger- 
 head ; all well, 
 ei. -No- 7 is a notice which I have had circulated here and in the neighbourhood in 
 
 ^■^^^^^ reference to emigration. It appears to have had a very good effect, and the Chinese 
 
 say that the terms and conditions are perfectly satisfactory. The inquiries have been 
 numerous, and I have every reason to believe that there will be no difficulty in securing 
 a moderate supply of useful labourers. Some of them state that they will take their 
 families if the country be a good one, but that they must go there first to see it, and if 
 they like it they will return for their families. 
 
 No. 8 is a notice to be posted up on board of ship, and at the emigration dep6ts, and 
 embodies the rules and regulations to be observed on board. 
 
 No. 9 is the Chinese translation of No. 7. 
 
 No. 10 is the Chinese translation of No. 8. 
 
 I have also prepared instructions for the captains of vessels carrying emigrants, and a few" 
 short remarks for surgeons, which I will forward by next mail. 
 
 3. The " Lady Flora Hastings" is neaily ready, and will leave this in a day or two for 
 Namoa. Arrangements had been made to procure people there, previous to my fixing 
 upon Hong Kong, otherwise I would have had her placed here. I do not accompany her 
 to Namoa, as the "Martin Luther" is daily expected, and I am anxious about the success 
 of the first emigration from Hong Kong. She measures 674 tons, and will carry 320 
 emigrants, and will complete the number required for Trinidad. 
 
 Australia ---_.- 445 
 Clarendon -...-- 257 
 Lady Flora Hastings - _ - - 320 
 
 1,022 
 
 4. I regret to say that the charter of the " Lord Warriston " was broken oif at the last 
 moment, although the papers had been prepared, and only waited signature. She goes to 
 California, and takes 450 Chinese. Since then tlie agents of Messrs. Hyde have been in 
 treaty for the "Bangalore;" but this also has failed, the captain preferring a charter to 
 Australia. 
 
 6. So many disasters and misfortunes have occurred lately on board of the vessels bound, 
 to Cuba and Peru, that captains have become alarmed, and are very unwilling to engage in 
 
 the 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 113 
 
 the emigration service, if anything else can be obtained. In time, I trust, that this feeling BRITISH 
 will wear off (and the establishment of emigration from Hong Kong will contribute to this GUIANA, 
 end), but in the meanwhile it impedes emigration, and will probably prevent the number — — 
 
 intended for Demerara being shipped before the commencement of the south-west 
 monsoon. 
 
 As far as I am aware nothing untoward has happened to any of the vessels bound to 
 British Guiana or Trinidad. The " Lord Elgin" was obliged to put into Singapore, having 
 been two months in beating down there against the south-west monsoon, and the captain 
 thought it advisable to lay in more provisions. During my hurried visit to Singapore I 
 heard nothhig unfavourable in reference to the " Lord Elgin." 
 
 6. If an emigration agent be continued in China, I think it would be safer, and perhaps 
 also more economical, to authorise his purchasing and procuring the necessary provisions 
 and supplies for the voyage. From what I have seen in reference to Cuban and other 
 emigration, I am inclined to think that there will always be a tendency with consignees to 
 "do the thing" at the cheapest possible rate, without reference to other considera- 
 tions, and that they will rather incur an uncertain amount of risk than a certain outlay. 
 All necessary supplies may be obtained here at very moderate prices, except beef and 
 pork; and even these might be obtained at a moderate price by making early and judicious 
 arrangements. 
 
 This system would remove the motive that influences many captains of vessels, in limiting 
 the daily supplies to which the emigrants are entitled, with the view of economising their 
 cost during the voyage. 
 
 It would not be necessary or, perhaps, desirable to continue this for any length of time, 
 but only until experience had shown what quantity, quality, and description of stores and 
 necessaries were best suited to the voyage and to the habits and requirements of the Chinese 
 at sea. 
 
 7. At Amoy everything is perfectly quiet, and trade in its usual course. I believe that 
 Mr. Syme, of Syme, Muir & Co., has thrown up all connexion with emigration. There is a 
 large vessel there, the " Medway," taking emigrants for Sydney or Port Philip. 
 
 Whatever arrangements may be made here, no emigration will be on a perfectly satis- 
 factory footing until some return emigrants come from the West Indies to give their own 
 account of the country. Then only can it be expected that the Chinese should have suffi- 
 cient confidence to come forward, eagerly as emigrants, and muny would probably be willing 
 to come under enoao'enient to repay a portion of the cost of their introduction out of their 
 
 earnings in the colony. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 p.S, 28th. The " Lady Flora Hastings " takes an English surgeon, who has been 
 
 en<yac>-ed for the voyage to the West Indies for 200 /. sterling. 
 
 I will send, also, an interpreter, now conditionally engaged, under contract for two or 
 
 three years. 
 
 I have iust seen a Manilla Price Current of the 13th mstant, which states that the 
 " Martin Luther" had sailed for Sydney on the 8th of January, with a cargo of sugar, &c., &c. 
 There is not therefore, the slightest chance of her being here ; and it rests with the Commis' 
 sioners to enforce the penalty or not, as they deem it most advisable under the circumstances. 
 
 S. Walcott, Esq., (signed) J. T. W. 
 
 Secretary to Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 
 (No. 4.) 
 
 My dear Sir, „ H«"g Kong, 19 January 1853 
 
 When I had the pleasure of seeing you in Penang, at the latter end of 1851, and also for 
 a few minutes last September, you expressed some interest in the success of emigration 
 from China to the British West Indies, and kindly promised to render any assistance that 
 would conduce to put the emigration on a sound and healthy .basis, and I now take the 
 liberty of addressing you on the subject. . rp ■ • , j , n -r. 
 
 About 800 emio-rants have been sent to Demerara and 700 to Trmidad (all these are 
 from the Fokien province, with the exception of about 260 from Whampoa), and it is pro- 
 bable that a 1,000 or 1,500 more will be sent before the close of the season. 
 
 I am anxious to get interpreters for these people, as I find it difficult, if not impossible to 
 eet any here I have no doubt some of the lads at the school, which you were kind enough 
 to take me to visit, would answer very well, if they were disposed to go. I wrote to Mr. 
 Forbes Brown by the last mail, and am prepared to sanction any arrangement he may enter 
 
 into to procure their service. i ^ • x • ■ j r » ^f 
 
 The Chinese emigration is entirely a Government measure; that is, it is paid for out ot 
 colonial funds, and is sanctioned by the Home Government, and is m fact on the same 
 footine as the emigration from Calcutta to the Mauritius. 
 
 You will probably have seen in the papers an account of some disturbances at Amoy 
 connected with emigration from that port. These were occasioned by the want of system, 
 which admitted thefefore of the perpetration of abuses by the crimps and by excessive com- 
 petition among the merchants engaged in procurmg emigrants. Now everything is quiet 
 
 986. ^ 
 
114 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH ^"^ ^ believe likely to continue so, but for the present, emigration has been almost entirely 
 GUIANA, suspended, and has been transferred to Namoa. 
 
 One vessel has been sent from Whampoa with a set of fine and effective people, and I 
 
 intend to try one from Hong Kong. 
 
 The vessels with emigrants for Cuba have been unfortunate, and disasters of various 
 kinds have occurred among them; but as yet nothing has occurred to any of the vessels for 
 Demerara and Trinidad of which I am aware, except in the case of " Lord Elgin," and that 
 appears to have befen a matter of no consequence. 
 
 I forward this through his Excellency Dr. Bowring, who has kindly promised to address 
 you. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 His Excellency, E. A. Blundell, (signed) J T. White. 
 
 OfBg. Governor of the Straits Settlements. 
 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 Notice. 
 
 The English settlements in the West Indies are in want of labour for the cultivation of 
 sugar, cotton, cofifee, and other tropical productions, and for this reason are anxious to have 
 the services of healthy able-bodied Chinese coolies, aecustomed to field labour. 
 
 The climate of these countries is the same as at Singapore, and there is no cold weather 
 as in China. The work the coolies will have to do is the same as the work required for 
 growing sugar and riee in China, and with the same implements they have been used to. 
 
 The voyage is a long one, but everything will be done for their comfort and amusement. 
 On arrival at the English settlements their health and comfort will be cared for, even more 
 so than if they were living in their own country, and their national habits and customs will 
 hot be interfered with. 
 
 They will be able to send letters twice every month to their friends in China, and if they 
 have any money to send it will be forwarded for them (Government will enable them to do 
 so) two or three times during the year. 
 
 They will require to enter into contract here to serve in those settlements for the term of 
 five years ; but they will be at liberty to terminate the contract at the end of the first year 
 after their arrival, or at any subsequent time. They will then be entirely their own masters, 
 on payment, to the magistrate of the district where they choose to reside, of a small monthly 
 tax. Or they may terminate the contract as soon as, and whenever they please, on payment 
 of a sum proportionate to the cost of their passage, and the period of time they have served.. 
 Thus, if one half of the five years for which they had contracted have elapsed, they will have 
 to pay only one half of the cost of their introduction, and so on in proportion. 
 
 They will receive here, on signing the contract, two months' wages in advance (paid in 
 dollars) and two suits of cotton clothes (one of them wadded), two pair of stockings, two pair 
 of shoes, one bamboo hat, one felt cap, and one bed cover. The clothing is given to them, but 
 they will have to pay back the two months' wages advanced to them, at the rate of one dollar 
 a month deducted from their wages, in the new country. 
 
 Every coolie will receive in the English West Indies monthly wages of dollars a 
 
 month and two suits of clothes during the year, and if he is sick medicines from the doctor, 
 and he will receive the following allowances of food every week : 
 
 \0\ lbs. of rice or flour. 
 3 J lbs. of beef, pork, or salt fish. 
 1 lb. of sugar. 
 34 oz. of tea. 
 
 If any coolie, after being in the country for some time, finds that he can live better oh 
 two dollars a month, that sum will be given to him in place of the above allowances. 
 
 No coolie will be required to work on the Sunday, except in case of necessity, and then 
 he will be paid extra. If he takes two dollars a month to find his own food and clothes, a 
 piece of ground will be given to him to grow vegetables. 
 
 Every coolie who chooses to do so may take his wife and children with him, without having 
 to pay anything for their passage. A little money will be advanced to them here, and they 
 will be paid for any work they can do in the fields. 
 
 The governors of the English settlements secure the performance of all that has been 
 promised. 
 
 An interpreter has been engaged to remain in the country for three years, for the purpose 
 of enabling the coolies to explain their wants and wishes, and these will always be complied 
 with by the authorities, to the full extent of this engagement. The interpreters will accom- 
 pany the coolies in the first vessel. 
 
 Any further information, and copies of this notice, may be obtained on application at the 
 office of William Scott, Queen's-road, Hong Kong. 
 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 Hong Kong, 18 January 1863. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 115 
 
 — No 10— BRITISH 
 
 (No. 48.) G ULAN. A. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. No. 1 0. 
 
 gj. Duke of Newcastle 
 
 »5ir, Downing-street, 14 May 1853. to Governor 
 
 1. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 11th February Barkly. 
 
 last, No. 21,* transmitting two ordinances passed by yourself and the Court of H May 1853. 
 
 Policy, entitled respectively : — i^age 25. 
 
 " An ordinance for regulating the rights, duties, and relations of employers No. 2 of 1853. 
 
 and servants in the colony of British Guiana." See App. p. 171. 
 
 " An ordinance to repeal certain ordinances now in force for the regulation No. 3 of 1853. 
 
 and encouragement of immigration into this colony, and to make other pro- See App. p. 174. 
 visions in lieu thereof." 
 
 .2. The ordinance No. 2, of 1853, appears to me to effect some material im- 
 provements in the state of the law between masters and servants, as enacted by 
 No. 2, of 1848, especially in that part of it which regulates the liquidation of rent 
 by labour. The practice of confounding rent with wages cannot but be injurious, 
 under any regulations which can be devised ; but the provisions of the present 
 law are just, and I trust that they may mitigate the evils of the system. 
 
 3. I have, therefore, to convey to you Her Majesty's gracious confirmation and 
 allowance of this Ordinance, which you will cause to be notified in the usual 
 manner. 
 
 4. I wish that it were possible for me to regard with equal satisfaction the pro- 
 visions of Ordinance No. 3. This is an ordinance of great importance, not enacted 
 in concert with Her Majesty's Government, and containing provisions for which 
 Her Majesty's Government were wholly unprepared by any previous communica^ 
 tion. 
 
 5. The ordinance no doubt comprises many provisions of detail which are un- 
 objectionable, and which did not require any previous authorization by the Secretary 
 
 , of State or the Board of Control ; but it is altogether otherwise with those which 
 make highly important changes with regard to the nature of contracts with 
 immigrants and the terms on which return passages are to be given to coolies : 
 and the course of the previous proceedings on these subjects renders it matter of 
 more surprise that enactments inconsistent with the views heretofore entertained * 
 by Her Majesty's Government should have been adopted in a manner so much at 
 variance with the coiirse of repeated reference and ample discussion hitherto 
 pursued. 
 
 6. On reverting to the previous correspondence, I find that my predecessor. 
 Lord Grey, considered contracts for more than one year as likely to create discon- 
 tent and remove the legitimate motive to industry among the labourers, and thus 
 to injure the employers themselves. His Lordship, however, did not consider him- 
 self bound to press this objection in the case of immigrants introduced (like coolies 
 and Portuguese) at the expense of the colony, and in these cases he allowed the ' 
 legalization of contracts for three years, refusing, however, to allow liberated Africans 
 imported at the expense of the British Government to be indentured on their 
 arrival for more than one year. 
 
 7. Sir John Pakington was urged to extend the relaxation to liberated Africans, 
 on the ground of testimony adduced to show that the long contracts had not worked 
 ill ; this concession was made. 
 
 8. But to no class of immigrants, under whatever circumstances introduced, 
 could any legal compulsion be used to make them enter into contracts for more than 
 one year. 
 
 9. In the case of the Chinese, Lord Grey further sanctioned the making, in 
 China, of contracts for five years, but with the provision that the immigrants should 
 be at liberty to cancel the contract at the end of each year. In truth, therefore, 
 the contract was to be for five years as against the master, but for only one year as 
 aarainst the Chinese. 
 
 10. The Chinese now in course of introduction in the ships of Mr. Booker and 
 of Messrs. Hyde & Co., are I find introduced under five years' contracts, which 
 
 986. ' R 2 though 
 
ii6 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH though legally, of course subject to the powers of determination by the immigrants 
 
 G 1J I A N A. contain no reference to that power in the body of the agreement. But you have 
 
 reported that these contracts will be terminated in a few months, by mutual 
 
 consent, " as the Chinese are not likely to rest satisfied with earning six dollars" 
 
 under their contracts, " when by steady industry they can make twice as much ; 
 
 and the planters will be too happy to let them work on their own account for 
 
 whatever they can realise." 
 
 11. Such having been until now the state of the law and the views and j^ro- 
 ceedings of Her Majesty's Government as to the duration and nature of contracts, 
 I have now to consider the changes made in this respect by the present ordinance. 
 
 12. It legalises absolutely contracts for five years made with certain formalities in 
 China with Chinese emigrants, and it provides that coolie (sect. 31) and Chinese 
 (sect. 35) emigrants introduced on bounty, and also that all coolies who have com- 
 muted or may commute their right to a return passage (sect. 33), shall be inden- 
 tured for five years ; that liberated Africans above 15 years of age (sect. 40), shall 
 be indentured for three years, and that no bounty shall be paid on Portuguese 
 immigrants arriving after the 1st May (sect. 37), unless they also indenture them 
 selves for the same period. 
 
 Moreover it is provided (sect. 31) that if Her Majesty's Government should 
 consent that the time of the coolies' residence be extended to 8 or 10 years, the 
 indenture shall be extended to such further term as Her Majesty's Government 
 may authorise. But finally it is enacted by the 46th section, that any indentured 
 immigrant may determine his contract at the expiration of any year, after due 
 notice, and on repaying to the colony the amount of bounty paid on his introduc- 
 tion (amounting however in the case of Chinese to 100 dollars, in that of coolies, 
 to 10/. or 11/.), and to his employer all reasonable cost incurred on his behalf. 
 The rate of wages provided by the indenture is that paid on the same estate to unin- 
 dentured labourers, deducting nine dollars for medical attendance and lodging. 
 
 13. The conditions of the 46th section are so onerous and at the same time so 
 vague, that the power of determining the contract, subject to these conditions, can 
 hardly be regarded as practically available. 
 
 14. Now looking to the effect of these changes on different classes of immi- 
 grants, I cannot but consider that in the case of the Chinese, if your own repbrts 
 
 • are founded on just views, and if any credit is. to be given to other testimony, the 
 enactment of compulsory contracts for five years, would be either mischievous or 
 nugatory. Those who have written on the character of these immigrants have 
 represented them as ready to work hard if allowed the prospect of indefinitely 
 advancing themselves by their industry, but also as not easily induced to exert 
 themselves without that stimulus, jealous of anything which restricts their power 
 of acquisition, and if dissatisfied, formidably skilful in combining among themselves. 
 It is not easy to conceive a class of people with whom it would be less desirable 
 to substitute a stringent and definite engagement during a long period, for those 
 more indefinite hopes which are a legitimate stimulus to the industry of an intel- 
 ligent person. Your own observations seem to have led you to think that contracts 
 with the Chinese immigrants, made under the previous law, will be dissolved by 
 mutual consent in a few months, and this may be the probable fate of contracts 
 under such an ordinance as this, which would render it merely useless ; but it is 
 possible that cases might occur of injudicious and intemperate attempts on the part 
 of particular planters to avail themselves of the law, and in that case results might 
 take place which would injure not only those individuals, but the employers of 
 labour throughout the colony, 
 
 15. If these objections apply to engagements formed u^der the sanction of the 
 local Government, and on terms prescribed by that Government, they apply with 
 Still greater force to engagements made in China, while the emigrant is ignorant of 
 the wages .obtainable in British Guiana. And I would further observe, that the 
 5th section, which promises repayment of half the cost of importation to persons 
 importing immigrants under contract to themselves, from ports in respect of which 
 no bounty is payable, is calculated to stimulate an importation of Chinese indentured 
 for long periods, on terms for the fairness of which no security is taken, and which, 
 therefore, may issue in discontent and disputes. 
 
 16. I 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 117 
 
 16. I regret, therefore, that the arrangements deUberately made and sanctioned BRITISH 
 by Lord Grey for the regulation of contracts with Chinese immigrants should have GUIANA, 
 been thus hastily subverted. 
 
 17. The effect of the ordinance on the coolies involves considerations of a 
 still more serious nature than to those which I have adverted in regard to the 
 Chinese. A compulsory contract of five years' duration with one master, if it could 
 be enforced, would imply a state of things hardly compatible with personal freedom, 
 and even a voluntary contract for the same term should not be attempted until a 
 further experience of the three years' system should have led the way to it, but the 
 enforcement of such a provision without any warning on coolies who have com- 
 muted their right to a return passage for the bounty of 50 dollars, is wholly incon- 
 sistent with good faith. The terms of commutation might, perhaps, be reasonably 
 construed as placing the persons accepting them under the rules understood to be 
 applicable to the immigrants in course of introduction at the time. But an enact- 
 ment which on the pretext of such a commutation invests the Governor with the 
 power of summarily assigning a number of Her Majesty's subjects for a period of 
 five years, to masters towards whom they may feel the strongest aversion, is one 
 to which it is impossible that Her Majesty's Government should be advised to give 
 an assent. Nor has it been the purpose of the Legislature that the measure should 
 stop here, for it appears from section 31, that it is intended to pave the way for a 
 still larger extension of the contract to " such furtlier term as Her Majesty may 
 think fit to authorise but not exceeding 10 years in the whole." 
 
 18. I have now to advert to the changes effected by the ordinance, under the 
 second of the two heads into which I have divided them, viz. : the terms on which 
 return passages are to be given to coolies. The provisions of the law hitherto in 
 force, uhich were founded on suggestions made by Her Majesty's Government, and 
 assented to after much negotiation by the Court of Directors, were these : for five 
 years after their arrival in the colony, adult coolies (omitting for the sake of brevity 
 the case of children) were bound either to vvork under a written contract, with some 
 planter (from whom a duty of 2 or 4 dollars a year was levied by Government) or 
 to pay a monthly tax of 1 dollar 50 cents a month. On the completion of these 
 conditions, which were described as industrial residence, they were entitled to 
 free return passages. If they returned before that period they were bouud not only 
 to pay for their own passages, but to pay np the monthly tax for the time 
 wanting to complete their residence. Under the former law and under the 31st 
 section of the present ordinance, indentured coolies receive the same wages as other 
 labourers, subject, however, to a deduction of nine dollars a year for lodging and 
 medical attendance, which were not supphed to unindentured labourers. 
 
 19. As the present ordinance provides that coolies shall be under indenture 
 during the whole period for which they engage to remain in the colony, the monthly 
 tax becomes inapplicable, and is omitted. By sect. 30 (which in order to give 
 time for consideration in tbis country, is not to take effect till the 30th June), the 
 deduction from wages in favour of the employer is also abolished. But it is pro- 
 vided that no coolie shall be entitled to a return passage without paying to the 
 colony in annual instalments or otherwise, a sum amounting in the case of coolies 
 hereafter imported to 45 dollars, in the case of those already in the colony to the 
 same sum, less by nine dollars, for every year which they shall have already resided 
 in the colony. 
 
 ^Q. There is no injustice in requiring that the coolies should pay for their own 
 renirn passages in the manner in which that payment has been imposed upon 
 tbem by the" system originally suggested by Lord Grey, and which had the assent 
 of the Court of Directors ; that is, by a stamp duty on engagements indirectly falling 
 upVn the wages of labour, or by a monthly tax directly levied. But the scheme of 
 the present oi-dinance is by no means calculated to produce the same results. If 
 the coolie is left to pay for his return passage by instalments or not, as he pleases, 
 the result will often be that he will neglect the payment of the instalments, and 
 be unable from want of funds, at the expiration of his term of residence, to leave 
 the colony, even were he ever so desirous to do so. And it is always to be borne 
 in mind that the family whom the coolie has left behind is interested m his return 
 as well as himself, and that the Indian Government is justified in taking the state 
 of Indian communities into account, in reference to the facilities afforded for the 
 
 q86. R 3 «oo'ie» 
 
118 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH coolies return. Now the tax may be fairly made the means of reimbursing the 
 G U I A N A. colony, but not of preventing the coolies return. 
 
 21. If the provisions of the ordinance on this head were otherwise unobjec- 
 tionable, it would be impossible to overlook the fact that sect. 46 does not even 
 make provision for giving the coolie the benefit of the time during which he has 
 served under his original contract. It is enacted absolutely that he is to repay the 
 expense of his introduction, and makes no arrangement at all for his only making a 
 repayment proportionate to the time of his contract remaining unexpired. 
 
 22. Under both the heads to which I have adverted, the changes made are open 
 to very serious objections, and I am under the necessity of signifying to you Her 
 Majesty's disallowance of the Ordinance No. 3, of 1853, which you will cause to 
 be notified in the usual manner. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 — No. 11.— 
 
 No. 11. (No, 54.) 
 
 Duke of Newcastle q^^^ ^^ ^ DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Barkly. 
 to Governor ( -^ 
 
 Barkly. Sir, Downing-street, 26 May 1853. 
 
 • p" ^'^\ ^^ ^ HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th March last,* 
 
 * Page 38. 1^^ ^j^ reporting the ' arrival of the "Samuel Boddington" with Chinese 
 
 immigrants. 
 
 I referred this despatch for the report of the Colonial Land and Emigration Gom- 
 ^ -a \^55:-^ missioners. I transmit to you herewith a copy of their reply, and I have to express 
 y^t^^"""^^ nay concurrence iii their views of the several questions raised in your despatch. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 1 1 . 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Encl.inNo.il. 3;^.^ 14 May TsSS. 
 
 1. We beg to acknowledge your letter of the 6th instant, enclosing the copy of a despatch 
 from the Governor of British Guiana, reporting the arrival in that colony of the ship- 
 ■fJo. ^^'o t<i. " Samuel Boddington " with Chinese immigrants. 
 
 -sjlat'^J^J^^^'^ 2. This is a private ship despatched from Amoy, not under any engagement with this 
 ^^l""^^"^^ Board, or under any Government regulations, but with a view to obtain the colonial bounty 
 
 of 100 dollars, promised by a proclamation of the 21st of April 1852 to the importers of 
 Chinese immigrants. 
 
 3. Tile conditions under which the bounty is payable are declared by the ordinance 
 No. 22, of 1851 ; the immigrants must be agricultural labourers, and their families under 
 the age of 40 yeai's, and not incapacitated from labour by infirmity or disease. 
 
 4. The ship is said to have left Amoy on the 23d of November, with 352 emigrants on 
 board. The surgeon complains that a great number of them are disabled by diseases of 
 various kinds, and thkt they were shipped in a disgraceful state of destitution ; his remon- 
 strances, he says, were met by the answer, that he must take those selected for him or none, 
 and to this he felt himself obliged to submit. 
 
 5. The voyage he states to have been a turbulent, and it certainly was a disastrous one j 
 41 deaths are reported ; in the opinion of the surgeon these were principally cases of 
 opium eaters, whose systems were unable to bear the deprivation of their accustomed stimu- 
 lant; one, however, was found dead under circumstances which would lead to the inference 
 that he had been murdered. Eleven more persons are unaccounted for, and as several men 
 appear to have attempted suicide by leaping overboard when excited by their quarrels with 
 each other, these men are conjectured to have perished in this way ; if the statements in 
 the surgeon's journal are to be depended upon it would appear not less probable that thev 
 may have been killed ; the Governor doubts whether they were ever placed on board. But 
 we observe that on the 13th of February the emigrants were mustered, and the number 
 unaccounted for was then only six ; five therefore certainly disappeared during the five weeks 
 which occurred after that date, and it does not seem surprising that six should have disap- 
 peared from the same unascertained causes during the previous eight or nine weeks. During 
 part of the voyage serious apprehensions were entertained of a muiiny among the emigrants ; 
 but it i^ not clear that these were not imaginary, especially as the surgeon alleges that tiie 
 ship was considered when at St. Helena to have contrasted favourably with other cooly 
 ships in point of " order, regularity, and perfect cleanliness." Cases are mentioned of other 
 crimes which will afford matter for serious consideration when this immigration is renewed. 
 
 6. The 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 119 
 
 6. The ship arrived at Demerara on the 4th of March, after a voyage of which the length BRITISH 
 is differently stated at 96, 98, and 101 days, but which is described as " very rapid." And GUIANA. 
 
 two questions appear to have arisen respecting the payment of bounty: first (owing, we 
 
 presume, to ihe surgeon's complaints of bad selection), whether the immigrants were effective 
 
 agricultural labourers ; and secondly, whether any fine should be imposed on the master on 
 account of the unquestionable fact, that the numbers placed on board were largely in excess 
 of those allowed by the Passengers' Act. 
 
 7. The first question was settled by a report from two planters nominated to examine 
 the immigrants, which was to the effect that they were well adapted to agricultural purposes. 
 
 8. The second is referred for the decision of this Board under the following circumstances. 
 The Passengers' Act imposes a penalty on the masters of ships carrying more than the allowed 
 number of passengers " from any port or place within Her Majesty's possessions to any 
 port or place whatever," the amount of the fine being hot more than bl. nor less than -21. on 
 each passenger above the prescribed number; the " Samuel Boddington " is said to have 
 carried 40 adults more than she was entitled to carry, even under the tonnage check (leaving 
 out of sight the more stringent check of space). But the Governor observes, first, that it 
 •-was doubtful whether the Passengers' Act applies to a voyage from Amoy to British Guiana; 
 and secondly, that it would have been difficult to obtain evidence of the number placed on 
 board. He has, therefore, as a kind of compromise, accepted from the master a bond for 
 80/., being the minimum penalty on the assumed excess ; and he leaves this to be enforced 
 by this Board, if we shall think fit. 
 
 9. Mr. Barkly also reports that the surgeon of the ship, Mr. Ely, who is also a partner in 
 a commercial firm at Bombay, and who by his connexion with the opium trade has become 
 well acquainted with "the less frequented ports and villages on the Chinese coast," considers 
 that the Chinese women are not averse from emigrating " when the vigilance of the mandarins 
 can be avoided," and that 600 might be engaged from either of the five ports (including 
 Whampoa and Amoy) which he names. Mr. Ely offers on the part of his firm to accom- 
 plish satisfactorily, on suitable conditions, such an importation of Chinese females ; and he 
 transmits through Governor Barkly, an offer to furnish such shipping as this Board may 
 require for Chinese emigration during six years, with fitting provisions and other requisites 
 at the rate of 20^. per statute adult. 
 
 10. The practical question, therefore, which arise on the present papers, are whether the 
 owners of the "Samuel Boddington" shall be compelled to pay the sum specified in the 
 bond of the master, and vvhether either of the proposals of Mr. Ely shall be accepted. 
 
 1 1 . In regard to the fine, we have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that a voyage 
 from China to the West Indies does not fall, as it was certainly never intended to fall, within 
 the provisions of the Passengers' Act. The acknowledgement, therefore, in the bond that 
 a penalty has been incurred under that Act appears to us manifestly erroneous, and although 
 Mr. Ely's statement gives every reason to believe that the selection and shipping of emigrants 
 was extremely ill conducted by the firm who were charged with its management in China 
 (Messrs. Tait & Co.), yet as no English law has been broken, we do not think that Govern- 
 ment could properly enforce a bond entered into solely, on the mistaken supposition that 
 such a law had been broken, and a penalty incurred. 
 
 12. The only open question appears to us to have been one arising under the third section 
 of the Colonial Ordinance, No. 22 of 1851, to which we have before now called attention. 
 It may be argued that this section required as a conditionof receiving bounty that the importers 
 should have complied with all of those provisions of the Passengers' Act which are capable 
 of being applied to the particular immigration in which they were concerned. But the 
 colonial authorities appear to have assumed that the Ordinance was not capable of this con- 
 struction, and have accordingly paid the full bounly due on the immigrants introduced by 
 this ship. It appears to us that their decision is rights But even were it otherwise, it is not 
 one with which we could have interfered, or which we have any authority to reverse. 
 
 13. Although, therefore, the history of this ship affords the strongest argument for placing 
 this ipimiu-ration in future under strict Government superintendence, we do not think that it 
 would justify this Board in taking advantage of the bond given under an entire misappre- 
 hension of t&e law by the master of the ship. 
 
 14. With regard to the first of Dr. Ely's proposals, we would point out that this gentle- 
 man who " makes no secret" thathis firm is engaged in an illicit trade, appears lo contemplate 
 obtaining female emigrants from ports not legally open to English trade, and by eluding the 
 vigilance of the mandarins. We think it would not be possible for the Goverament to 
 accept such an offer of assistance. But it is evident that the question respectingithe mode 
 of encouraging a female immigration, will be most properly answered when Mr. White .^hall 
 
 have ariive^d in this country. , ^ , . . , , . u i . *i, * 
 
 15. With regard to Dr. Ely s tender of shippmg, we have only to observe iliat.the terms 
 proposed are such as to involve a .serious increase in the present cost of the emigration; 
 since for 20 Z he offers not to obtain and convey the emigrant, but merely to convey them 
 when selected from China to the West Indies. Morever, he proposes that this very high 
 rate of passage-money should be paid for six years, during which time, if the emigration 
 proceeds, there is every reason to hope that its expense may be materially reduced. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. (signed) • ^^J^^^'-^Zff'- 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 .586. 
 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 ~ ~~ "~ - No. 12. 
 
120 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH .^ _ 
 
 GUIANA. — No. 12.— 
 
 (No. 55.) 
 
 No. 12. 
 Duke of Newcastle CoPY of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Bar/c/y. 
 to Governor 
 
 ^6 M^" 8 ^^^' Downing-street, 26 May 1853. 
 
 2 ay 1853. J HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 10th* March last, 
 
 Page 37' No. 38, transmitting an extract from the minutes of the Combined Court, with 
 
 certain resolutions passed by the Court in reference to the continuance of immi- 
 gration into British Guiana. 
 •fPage 115. In my despatch of the 14th inst., No. 48,'(" I informed you of the disallowance of 
 
 the Immigration Ordinance No. 3, of 1853. As these resolutions, so far as regards 
 the financial part of the proposed arrangements, are founded on the assumption 
 that contracts for five years, as provided for in that ordinance, would have been 
 allowed, I need not advert to the arrangement, further than to express my entire 
 concurrence in your views as to the impolicy of looking to borrowed monies to 
 defray the expense of future immigration. 
 
 I have authorised the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to give 
 directions for the conveyance of 2,500 coolie emigrants, and 1,500 Chinese immi- 
 grants to British Guiana, during the next season. The authority for the Chinese 
 must, however, be considered as contingent on the decision that may be taken on 
 the question as to the continuance and proper management of emigration from 
 China, which will have to be considered by Her Majesty's Government immedi- 
 ately on the return of Mr. White to this country. 
 
 I have to request that you will inform the Combined Court, that Her Majesty's 
 Government in at once acceding to their wishes as to the number of immigrants, 
 have taken the step in full reliance that the Court will provide for whatever expen- 
 diture may be incurred in excess of the balance of the guaranteed loan remaining 
 unexpended. 
 
 You will further inform the Court that Her Majesty's Government do not 
 deem it expedient to communicate with the Dutch Government as to the emigra- 
 tion of Chinese from Java, nor can Her Majesty's Government hold out any 
 hope of a compliance with the resolution as regards emigration from the continent 
 of Africa. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 — No. 13. — 
 
 (No. 56.) 
 No. 1 3. 
 Duke of Newcastle CoPT of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of iS/ffwcrts/Ze to Governor jBflr%. 
 to Governor 
 
 ^6M^' 8 ^^'*' Downing-street, 26 May 1853. 
 
 * Page^nr ^' With reference to my despatch of the 14th* inst.. No. 48, informing you of the 
 
 '^' disallowance of the Immigration Ordinance No 3, of 1853, 1 have to acquaint you 
 
 that should any of the coolies who have accepted the commuted allowance for 
 remaining in the colony for a further period of five years, have been compelled to 
 enter into contracts for that period, it will be your duty to take immediate pro- 
 ceedings for cancelling them. 
 
 It may be doubtful whether the disallowance of the ordinance will enable you 
 to do this without the aid of the local Legislature ; on this point you will consult 
 your law officers, and should such prove to be the case, you will cause an oi-dinance 
 to be submitted to the Court of Policy for annulling these contracts, or at least for 
 limiting their duration to the period already allowed, of three years. 
 
 Ihave, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 121 
 
 — No 14 — BRITISH 
 
 (No. 57.) ■ G U IA N A. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor Bor>l/y. No. 1 4. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 ^ Sir, Downing-street, 30 May 1853. BaSr™°' 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter from the 30 May 1853. 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of communications from 
 Mr. White, on the subject of emigration from China. "^--^SJ^ is 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 'S3. 
 
 Enclosure in No, 14. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, 19 May 1853. End. in No. 14. 
 
 1. We beg to enclose tiie copy of a letter from Mr. White, the emigration agent at China, 
 dated the 23d of February last, also extracts from a private letter from that gentleman 
 dated the 10th of March last. 
 
 2. It will be seen that Mr. White has found himself unable to despatch any emigrants 
 under the rate of 100 dollars a heafl (the " Martin Luther" having failed to perform her 
 contract), and that he is endeavouring to set on foot a system of registration at Hong Kong 
 which will dispense with the agency of native cooly brokers. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Herman Merivale, Esq., Frederic Rogers. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 1, to Enclosure in No. 14. 
 (No. 10.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 23 February 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt by last mail of your letter of 23d 
 December, conveying instructions from Sir John Pakington, " to make arrangements for 
 sending out, if possible, 2,000 Chinese emigrants to Jamaica before the expiration of the 
 present emigration season." 
 
 I regret having to state in reply, that I see little prospect of being able to fulfil any portion 
 of these instructions during the present season, owing entirely to the want of vessels. Very 
 few have arrived within the last month, and these have been either under previous engage- 
 ments or have been chartered at rates exceeding the amount I feel authorized to give, so as 
 to bring the total cost of emigration within the limit of 100 dollars a man. But besides this, 
 the captains and crews of vessels are deterred from engaging in the emigration Service, in 
 consequence of the many disasters that have occurred recently on board of Chinese emigrant 
 ships, and the captains prefer, even at lower rates of freights, any other engagement that may 
 offer. The " Medina," now at Namoa, and intended for Cuba, and the " Nepaul," at 
 Amoy, intended for Peru, have both been detained for some time past, owing to the positive 
 refusal of the crews to go on the voyage with Chinese emigrants. Some little time will 
 have to elapse ere the feeling of insecurity which now prevails can be expected to give way 
 to confidence in the regulations of a well-organized emigration. 
 
 An arrangement may perhaps be made for the " Lord Hungerfbrd," 38 days from Singa- 
 pore, and now daily expected, and there are several American whalers in port, with oil for 
 the United States, which they are anxious to tranship. It is possible that an arrangement 
 may be made with the vessels that take this oil to land emigrants in Demerara, provided 
 they are suitable for the service. Vessels are detained in Australia from want of hands, and 
 I am informed that the few that have got away, induced by the report that freights were 
 higher in India, have gone there in preference to coming to China. 
 
 The " Lady Flora Hastings," three weeks from Hong Kong, had not arrived at Namoa 
 by the last advices. I would have gone up in her if 1 had not been in daily expectation of 
 the arrival of the " Martin Luthen" After her departure no opportunity occurred until 
 within the last few days (the communications along the coast are very irregular and uncer- 
 tain), and I did not avail myself of it, as I should probably arrive after she had sailed. The 
 emigrants were ready, and waiting for her, and she will suffer no delay unless anything 
 should occur in regard to the crew. 
 
 Many incidents that have occurred within the last few weeks tend to confirm my opinion 
 
 it Hono- Kona- is better adapted for carrying on emigration to the British West Indies 
 
 that Hong Kong is better adapted for carrym 
 an an " 
 986 
 
 than anv°other point on the south coast of China, and 1 have every reason to believe, from 
 "-•^ ^ i-^ the 
 
122 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH the information I have received, that good field labourers may be obtained in considerable 
 GUIANA, numbers from the mainland. 
 
 Besides this, from its central position, emigrants may be readily collected here from other 
 ports, and will be under the immediate supervision and iuspectioa of the local Government. 
 1 have also secured the co-operation of the missionaries, both Enghsh and American, and 
 have in hand a plan of registration which I think chimes in well with Chinese notions, and 
 will give a character of respectability to the emigration. 
 
 I enclose copy of contract drawn up in accordance with the Chinese forms, and which 
 they will understand better tlian the common English forms. It embraces some points as 
 to which it may be necessary to obtain the sanction of the colonial governments in the West 
 Indies, but which I have thouglit requisite under present circumstances, in order to draw a 
 distinction between the emigration to the British West Indies and all other emigration 
 favourable to the former. They are also consistent with the Chinese ideas of fair play, and 
 a certain amount of freedom of action necessary to a contract intended to be for five years' 
 duration. For the Chinese version I am indebted to Mr. Medhurst, interpreter to the 
 Superintendence of Trade. 
 
 It is my impression, from all that I have seen, that it will be better and safer at the 
 first outset of this emigration that the agent should be authorized to lay in the provi- 
 sions for the voyage, instead of leaving this important matter to other parties who may 
 have too strong an interest in reducing the cost, and the consumption, to a lower point than 
 is consistent with the welfiare of the emigration. With this view, and for the information 
 of the Commissioners, I annex an estimate of the victualling and clothing for the voyage ; 
 T^^^--^'^'^"''^ I'lO days appears to me a sufiScient allowance for the voyage during the north-east moon- 
 soon, and 30 days ought to be added if the vessel leaves after the 10th April, or rather the 
 3 1st March, in order to render the supply abundantly sufiicient. 
 
 Average cost per man of provisions for the voyage of 140 days - - - 
 
 Cost of clothing __..___-_-- 
 
 Add — For sundries, such as biscuit, fresh vegetables, musical instruments, 
 
 medical comforts and native medicines, and various small supplies, an 
 
 average cost of ---------- 
 
 Estimated cost of agency, secondary commissions, office, depot, feeding, &c. - 
 
 Total estimated cost in China - - - - 
 
 To this must be added the two months' advance of wages, say at four dollars - 
 (To be recovered out of wages in the colony.) 
 
 $■ 
 
 $. c. 
 12 51 
 
 4 33 
 
 1 50 
 
 18 35 
 6 25- 
 
 24 60 
 
 8 - 
 
 32 60 
 
 This sum of $ 32. 60. represents the amount which the agent should be authorized to 
 draw for, piovided the Commissioners sanction the arrangement, and will be less in pro- 
 portion to the amount which the Commissioners may disapprove. 
 
 There will be also some additional expense for interpreters and for surgeons, if it shall be 
 found necessary to engage surgeons here, either Europeans or Chinese. 
 
 In estimating the disbursements that may be required here on account of emigration, 
 I have placed them at high rates, so as to obviate the chances of failure at the onset as the 
 result of a mistaken economy ; but I am satisfied that many items may be gradually reduced 
 and improvements effected, as experience shall point out the best system of conducting this 
 emijiration. I am the more anxious about it at present, owing to the disasters that have 
 occurred to many of the vessels engaged in other emigration. 
 
 Under the system suggested ships would have to find only water, fuel, and the necessary 
 fittings, and, if chartered in England, to provide also a surgeon for the voyage. 
 
 It has been suggested to me that if the agents were authorized to make a small advance 
 on account of the freight, so as to cover the necessary disbursements of the vessel in port 
 on account of emigration, it would give facility to the chartering of vessels- From iZ. to2/., 
 according to the number of passengers the vessel could carry, would be sufficient for the 
 purpose. 
 
 I offer this merely as a suggestion, and am not as yet prepared to recommend it without 
 experience of its necessity. 
 
 I have had occasion to alter some parts of the instructions to captains taking charge of 
 eiuiurants, and must defer sending them until next mail. 
 
 As the supply of fuel ( 2 lbs. of firewood per day) was found to be inadequate, according 
 to the stateuieiit of the captain of the " Clarendon," it will be advisable in future charters 
 to increase the amount to 3 lbs. 
 
 I annex 
 
INTRODUCED I^^TO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 123 
 
 I annex extract from a letter which I have just received from Mr. Syme of the firm of 
 Syme, Muir & Co., Amoy. It would appear that some arrangements had been made in 
 England for emigration to Jamaica, independently of the order fiom Sir John Pakington, 
 conveyed to me in your last letter of the 23d December. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) James T. White. 
 
 P.S. — I am informed by the Dutch consul at Canton that the Government intend to try 
 the emigration of Chinese and Javanese from Java to Surinam. 
 
 Whatever arrangements the Commissioners may think proper to make in regard to the 
 penalty of the " Martin Luther,'' at least the expenses which have been incurred here in 
 anticipation of her arrival ought to be refunded ; ot these I will send a statement next mail. 
 
 The gross freight of the "Lord Warriston/' for which vessel Messrs. Turner & Co. wer 
 in treaty, for Demerara, is represented to me to be as follows : — 
 
 Say, 1,000 tons of cargo, at 20 dollars - 
 ,, 450 Chinese - - 20 „ 
 
 $■ 
 
 20,000 
 22,600 
 
 42,500 
 
 The Chinese finding their own provisions. 
 
 (signed) J. T. W. 
 S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary 
 Colonia, Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 Proposed Form of Contract for Chinese Emigrants to the West Indies. 
 
 I, A. B., a native of district in the province of the 
 
 Empire of China, hereby enter into agreement with J. K., acting on behalf of the Govern- 
 ment of the British colony of , on the following conditions : — 
 
 Tlie said A. B. agrees to embark on board the ship or vessel called , whereof 
 
 O. P. is master, and to proceed to . On arrival there he und'ertakes to obey 
 
 the orders of the Government Emigration Agent, and to enter into an agreement with such 
 employer as the said agent shall select, to do service with him for the term of five years 
 from the date of his arrival in the said colony as cultivator or agriculturist, or as labourer or 
 servant, during which term he A. B. is to tiJI the soil, clear ground, plough, manufac- 
 ture sui;ar, tend cattle, make drains, construct embankments, and all such like work, com- 
 pleting each day four and a half Chinese hours, or nine hours of steady continuous labour, 
 and dutifully serving and obeyiiig bis employer, neither stealthily working for his own 
 benefit or that of any other party, nor absenting himself without leave. During such term 
 of five years he agrees moreover to allow one dollar per month to be deducted from his 
 wages until the sum of dollars, received by him in advance, shall have been 
 
 paid oflF. 
 
 In consideration hereof, he A. B. distinctly understands that J. K. will find liim a passage 
 to , provide him with food and necessaries upon the voyage, after arrival find 
 
 him employment as above described through the Government Immigration Agent, at the 
 rate of four dollars per English month, furnish him annually with two. suits of clothes, viz. 
 two cotton jackets, two ditto trowsers, one bamboo hat, one felt hat, and one blanket, find 
 him in medicines and medical attendance if he fall sick, and furnish him with an amp!e 
 supply of food, viz.: — 10 lbs. rice; 3i lbs. beef, pork or salt fish; 1 lb. sugar; 3 oz. tea, 
 per week of seven days. Should he A. B. be unwilling to receive the above-mentioned 
 allowances of food, &c., an additional monthly payment of two dollars can be given him 
 instead, and with it a piece of land to cultivate for his own benefit. Provided always, that 
 he A. B. shall not be called upon to work upon Sundays unless in cases of necessity, when 
 he shall be entitled to receive extra pay, at the rate of 24 cents a day. Provided also, that 
 should he A. B., after arrival, repent the agreement, and be unwilling to carry it out, he 
 may do so on giving one month's notice of his intention, and on re-payment of such part of 
 the expense incurred in conveying him to the colony as shall be proportioned to the time of 
 service not rendered. 
 
 Agreement entered into by A. B. on the day of the month of the 
 
 year 185 . 
 
 986. S 2 (No. 2.) 
 
124 
 
 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 (No. 2.) 
 Victualling and Clothing Estimate for 200 Chinese Emigrants for a Passage of 140 days. 
 
 
 Men. 
 
 DaUy 
 
 Ration 
 
 per Man. 
 
 Total 
 Daily 
 Ration. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 Voyage. 
 
 Days. 
 
 Total lbs. 
 for the 
 Voyage. 
 
 Total Piculs. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $. c. 
 
 Rice- ... 
 
 200 
 
 IJlb. 
 
 300 
 
 140 
 
 42,000 
 
 315 - 
 
 At $. 2 
 
 630 - 
 
 Fish- 
 Beef 
 
 200 
 200 
 
 i „ 
 
 100 
 100 
 
 40 
 50 
 
 4,000 
 5,000 
 
 30 - 
 
 Barrels. 
 
 25 
 
 ,, 6 
 „ 25 
 
 « 
 
 180 - 
 625 - 
 
 Pork 
 
 Lard , - . 
 
 200 
 200 
 
 i oz. 
 
 100 
 
 6i 
 
 50 
 140 
 
 5,000 
 875 
 
 25 
 P. c. 
 
 6 67 
 
 „ 95 
 
 „ 9 per p. 
 
 625 - 
 57 13 
 
 Pickled vegetables ' - 
 
 Cigars ... 
 
 200 
 200 
 
 3 „ 
 
 Cigara. 
 10 
 
 37i 
 2,000 
 
 140 
 140 
 
 5,250 
 280,000 
 
 39 60 
 
 w Is » 
 20 cents per 1,000 
 
 69 25 
 56 - 
 
 Salt - 
 Tea - 
 Pepper 
 Vinegar - 
 
 Weekly Ration. 
 
 
 
 Lbs. 
 
 Weeis. 
 
 200 
 
 1 oz. 
 
 12J 
 
 20 
 
 200 
 
 3J„ 
 
 431- 
 
 20 
 
 200 
 
 1 ,, 
 
 m 
 
 20 
 
 
 Pint. 
 
 Pints. 
 
 
 200 
 
 i 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 Lbs. 
 250 (say) 
 
 875 
 
 250 (say) 
 
 Pints. 
 2,000, or 
 
 P. c. 
 2 - 
 
 6 56 
 
 2 - 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 250 
 
 200 men at ^. 12. 61. per head 
 Clothing. 
 
 At 25 cents per p. 
 
 - 60 
 
 „ f 20 „ 
 
 130 - 
 
 » '' » 
 
 14 - 
 
 „ 50 cents per gal. 
 
 125 - 
 
 head - - - $. 
 
 2,601 88 
 
 1 Bluejacket and trowsers 
 
 1 White do. do. 
 1 Warm jacket 
 
 1 Blanket . - - 
 
 1 Pair shoes - - - 
 
 1 Cap . . - - 
 1 Bamboo hat 
 
 - 90 
 
 - 90 
 
 - 90 
 1 26 
 
 - 15 
 
 - 12 
 
 - 12 
 
 ^.4 34 X 200 = 868 - 
 200 Men at $. 16. 85. per head . - - ^. 3,369 88 
 
 Add — For biscuits, fresh vegetables, musical instruments, medical comforts, native 
 medicines, and various small supplies, an average cost of ^. 1. 50. per man, 
 for 200 men, is --------... 300 - 
 
 $. 3,669 88 
 
 Giving an average cost of 1. 18. 35. per man for clothing and victualling on the 
 voyage. 
 
 The prices of the diiFerent articles are stated at about the average rate of cost so as to 
 ensure the best quality. 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 ExTHAcr of a Letter from T. D. Syme, dated Amoy, 20 Februaiy 1853. 
 
 " Emigration is stopped here for the present, not for want of men, for plenty are offering, 
 but for want of ships. 1 have been unfortunate in my English charters for Cuba j they were 
 all conditional, and the vessels have never come forward. I expect one for Jamaica in a 
 few days, and I hear of contracts for Brazil, but I fancy Captain Fishbourne's report will 
 frighten them." 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 125 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 2, to Enclosure in No. 14. (f U iVn A 
 
 Extracts of Letter from James T. White, Esq., to Sir Frederic Rogers, Bart.; dated 
 
 Hong Kong, 10 March 1853. 
 
 Since my last letter to the Commissioners of the 23d February, everything remains very 
 -much i» the same position. Shipping is still very scarce, and not to be" had on reasonable 
 
 r'^-"%ffi ^^^^ ^=° ^^^^^^ ""^^^ ^'-^''^* vessels loading for California, at Whampoa and here. 
 
 It IS difficult to find out exactly at what freights, as freights and passenger's fare are mixed 
 
 up together, but the " Jamestown," an American vessel now loading here, will gross not less 
 
 than 40,000 dollars. She is about 12,000* tons register and carries 2,200.* Instead of • So in copy 
 
 ballastthe captain takes 400 to 600 tons of granite slabs, at 17 dollars a ton, and the rest of his 
 
 freight will probably average not less than 20 dollars per ton. While such rates prevail you 
 
 will readily perceive that it is hardly possible to obtain vessels for the emigration service, at 
 
 such an amount for every emigrant landed as will bring the total cost within 100 dollars. 
 
 Add to this that the captains of vessels are frightened in consequence of the recent disasters on 
 
 board of coolie vessels, and prefer any other employment that oflPers. I enclose copy of a 
 
 letter from captain of « Thetis," (formerly engaged in taking coolies from Calcutta to the 
 
 West Indies, and recently in taking Chinese to the Sandwich Islands), which will show 
 
 you the feeling that prevails among them in reference to this emigration. While such 
 
 a feeling exists, I feel unwilling to push matters too eagerly forward. Nothing has yet 
 
 happened to any of our vessels at sea, but if anything untoward should happen, it would 
 
 confirm the prejudice and alarm against Chinese emigration, and perhaps rouse 
 
 pubHc feeling against it in England. Looking to the future success of emigration, I 
 
 believe it is better and more politic to bend to the present difficulties, and to start fresh 
 
 next season. # # # 
 
 " By next season all this will have passed away, and vessels must be arranged for at 
 home, to convey at least one half of the number of emigrants that may be required. I am 
 still of opinion that taking all things into consideration. Hong Kong will be found the 
 best port for establishing a system of emigration, and that in time emigrants will come here 
 from the country to seek for it, without the intervention of the crimps or any other disrepu- 
 table agencies. It is matter of regret to me that the ' Martin Luther ' did not come here. 
 In point of size she would have answered admirably for the first experiiiaent, for as long as 
 the emigration from this is untried and new, I am unwilling to risk the detention that might 
 arise at first with a vessel of large size. The ' Thetis,' of about 460 tons, would answer well, 
 but I am afraid that there is little chance of obtaining her. 
 
 " The registration scheme appears to work satisfactorily, but it has not been pressed lately, 
 as I was afraid it might lead to disappointment if the people registered should not find a 
 vessel ready to receive them within a reasonable time. 1 enclose the form of ticket that has 
 been given to the applicants. 
 
 "I shall remain here until the 11th April, after which it would hardly be prudent to 
 send vessels down against the south-west monsoon. I shall, however, probably make an 
 arrangement with Turner & Co., to enable them to send on the rest of the people for 
 Demerara, as arranged by the Land and Emigration Commissioners, to the number of 
 1,200. The total number dispatched by tiiem as yet, being only 635, say per ' Glentanner' 
 305, and per ' S. Boddington,' 330. * * * * 
 
 " The 'Lady Flora Hastings ' was to leave Namoa on the 4th ; all well. She was 23 days 
 in beating up. The * Lord Hungerford' is still out, although 63 days from Singapore. This 
 shows the force and continuance of the monsoons. 
 
 " In reference to the form of contract which I sent home by last mail, for the approval 
 of the Commissioners, I wish it to be understood that it is drawn up to meet the views of 
 the Chinese, and is perfectly satisfactory to them. I found it necessary to put in the clause 
 enabling them to retire from their contract, on paying the cost of their introduction to the 
 colony, in order to give them confidence, and to show them that they would be perfectly 
 free agents, whenever they could reimburse the cost of their introduction. Nothing is 
 stated°in regard to the ' monthly tax ' which they will have to pay, if they choose to 
 work on their own account instead of under contract, as I found that this was asso- 
 ciated in their minds with 'general taxation,' or being 'squeezed,' from which, with 
 the experience they have of the latter from their own authorities, they seem instinc- 
 tively to recoil. This point can easily be explained to them on their arrival in the 
 colony, and they will immediately take advantage of it, whenever they find out that it may 
 be a benefit for them to do so. 
 
 " In reference to this form of contract, I annex extract of a letter from Mr. Hunter of 
 Macao. This gentlemen was formerly a partner in the house of Russell & Co., speaks the 
 language fluently, and from his intimate knowledge of the Chinese character, I consider his 
 opinion valuable. The old 'Tremelga' ship to which his note refers, is barely sea- 
 v/orthv" 
 
 986. s 3 (^''- !•) 
 
BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 126 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 (Extract.) 
 
 "Whampoa, 5 March 1853. 
 " I AM just now in receipt of your favour of the 2d, and thank you for ihinking of the 
 'Thetis.' My experience of coolie carrying and the result to othet vessels of late, does 
 not encourage me to embark in it again, especially as the freight you offer is not more 
 than I can get with the quiet passengers' bales, bags and boxes, 
 
 " I am glad to hear from you that the eaiigration is conducted on satisfactory terms in 
 yo ur instance, for it would be a fine thing for shipping if carried on so to any extent, 
 and if we could see a probability of arriving at our destination with our heads on. 
 
 (signed) "John Cass." 
 
 (No. 2.) 
 
 'Thb bearer 
 
 of 
 
 provmce 
 
 , has been entered as an 
 
 applicant emigrant to the British Wes^t Indies, subject to surgical a^pproval, as No. 
 on the list , age , tail , hands 
 " Hong Kong, 
 
 "1853." 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 (Extract.) 
 
 "Macao, 9 March 1853. 
 " I DO not see that there will be the slightest difficulty in getting able-bodied Chinese in 
 any number, to go under such a contract as this is, where their interests are greatly 
 benefited and guarded. Here there are a great number of coolies anxious to go abroad, 
 almost anywhere, but there are no vessels to be had. Even the old 'Tremelga,' 1 am 
 told, is being fitted out to take a cargo to Cuba. 
 
 (signed) " W. C. Hunter:' 
 
 No. 15. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Lieut.-Governor 
 
 Walker. 
 
 (No. 73.) 
 Copy of 
 
 — No. 15. 
 
 a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to 
 Lieut.-Governor Walker. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 20 June 18.53. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to jou herewith, for your information, an extract from a letter from 
 the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with extract of one from Mr. 
 White, the emigration agent in China, reporting the circumstances under which 
 he had despatched the ship " Emigi-ant" with Chinese, for British Guiana. 
 
 I concur with the Commissioxiers that Mr. White in so doing, judged rightly. 
 
 I have, &e. 
 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 Enci. in No. 15. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 15. 
 
 ExTEACT of a Letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Herman 
 
 Merivale, Esq. ; dated 4 June 1853.^ 
 
 " It will be perceived that a fourth ship (the ' Emigrant') has been chartered for Demerara, 
 which we understand is capable of carrying 360 or'sTO persons; and that Mr. White has 
 taken on himself to promise to the shippers the full bounty of 100 dollars per adult, though 
 the ship was despatched after the 31st of March. We have no doubt that in so doing he 
 has judged rightly. 
 
 " It is of course impossible, in the present state of things, to make arrangements for despatch- 
 ing shiijping from this country to take in emigrants early in the season. This must form 
 matter for consideration on Mr. White's arrival." 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 127 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 15. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from James T. White, Esq., to Sir Frederic Rogers, Bart. 
 
 Canton, 26 March 1863. 
 " I AM duly in receipt of your favour of the 19th January. I came up to Canton a few days 
 ago to see Messrs. Turner & Co., and to make arrangements in reference to the ' Emigrant,' 
 a vessel taken up by them for Demerara. This vessel is 763 tons' measurement, well 
 appointed in all respects, and well adapted to carrying emigrants. She took out emigrants 
 to Australia; is 7 feet 6 between decks, has water-casks on board, and nearly all the 
 necessary fittings, and will be ready for sea in a few days. She cannot, however, be got 
 ready before the 31st March, at which date the full bounty of 100 dollars will cease, in 
 terins of the Governor's proclamation, but as it was impossible to procure any vessels at an 
 earlier date, and the emigrants may be considered as ready and only waiting the opportunity, 
 I have taken upon myself the responsibility of assuring Messrs. Turner & Co. that in this case 
 the full bounty would be payable, provided the Governor is satisfied that the spirit of the 
 Passengers' Act has been complied with, and the emigrants fairly and justly treated. This is 
 the last vessel that will leave this season. Indeed at present no other vessels can be obtained, 
 and even if any should arrive within the next few days, it would probably require six weeks' 
 time to unload cargo and get the necessary fittings, thus throwing the shipment of the 
 emigrants into the middle of May, too late in the season to be perfectly safe, under present 
 circumstances. A long voyage down the China sea, with land often in sight, is attended 
 with a certain amount of risk, and might give rise to mutiny, and the determination to get on 
 shore at all hazards. Whereas, if a vessel starts with flowing sheets, and carries the north-east 
 monsoon down with her, she is out of all that sort of danger in a few days. Should any- 
 thing untoward happen now to a vessel bound for Demerara or Trinidad, it would probably 
 damage the cause of emigration very materially, and I think it therefore more prudent to 
 stop further proceedings for the present (after the saihng of the ' Emigrant'), and leave the 
 further engagements for Demerara and Jamaica to be carried out next season. 
 
 " For next season early arrangements ought to be made, and emigration commenced in 
 September, so that vessels may leave with the first of the monsoon in October. Two-thirds 
 of the number of labourers required ought to be despatched from this before the 3l8t 
 December. The number now sent to Demerara and Trinidad will be sufficient to test the 
 question as to their suitableness for tropical labour in the West Indies, and if they are 
 found to answer, an unlimited supply may be depended on. .Let the people here once have 
 a feeling of confidence in this emigration, and in time it will flow into the West Indies 
 almost spontaneously. 
 
 " I propose to leave this by the steamer of the 11th of next month. I could be of little 
 service by remaining longer, and it is to be hoped that the emigration of next season will 
 open under more favourable circumstances than has been the case this season. 
 
 " I am afraid there would be difficulty in establishing regulations for British vessels taking 
 Chinese to Cuba, Peru or other foreign places. If made too rigid, they would throw the 
 carrying of emigrants entirely into the hands of Spanish or Peruvian shipowners. This 
 emigration is also carried on now almost entirely from Namoa and Cumsingmoon (opium 
 stations), and Macao, where there are no British consuls. 
 
 " If fresh charters are made in England, it would be well to alter the 2d clause, which 
 provides that the Governor, in the absence of the agent, shall signify some port between 
 Canton and Amoy to which the vessel shall repair. As all trade is forbidden by treaty, 
 except what takes place at the five ports this clause requires the Governor to do what 
 Avould be construed as a breach of international engagement. This had better be left to the 
 agent, or some person authorized by him to act in the matter in case of absence." 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 — No. 16.— 
 (No. 77.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Lieutenant- 
 
 (jiovernor Walker. 
 
 Sir, Downing- street, 29 June 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to jou herewith for your information a copy of a letter from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of two further letters 
 from Mr. White, the emigration agent in China. 
 
 I have to instruct you to give directions for providing a passage to Trinidad for 
 the Chinese interpreter, as suggested to the Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. i6. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Lieut.-Governor 
 
 Walker. 
 
 29 June 1853. 
 
 .9S6. 
 
 S4 
 
 Enclosure 
 
in 
 
 128 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 B R I T I S H Enclosure in No. 1 6. 
 
 GUIANA. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 
 Sir, 15 June 1853. 
 
 Encl. in No. i6. We have the honour to enclose herewith, for the information of the Duke of New- 
 
 castle, copies of two letters which we have received from Mr. White the emigration agent at 
 Hong Kong. 
 
 2. In the first of these letters, he reports the despatch of the " Lady Flora Hastings" with 
 emigrants to Trinidad, and encloses various papers connected with that vessel, of which we 
 think it unnecessary to trouble the Duke of Newcastle with copies. He likewise explains 
 the circumstances under which he had promised a bounty of 100 dollars each on the 
 Chinese, conveyed by the " Emigrant" to British Guiana, notwithstanding that the vessel 
 will not sail till after the 31st March; this subject was referred to in the private letter 
 which we transmitted to you on the 4th instant, and Mr. White's further explanation 
 confirms our opinion, that he exercised a sound judgment in the matter ; and considering 
 the value which the planters in British Guiana place on the services of the Chinese, we 
 cannot doubt that they will prefer to pay the higher price than not to obtain them at all. 
 Aaie^ We enclose copy of Mr. White's letter to Messrs. Turner on this subject. He likewise 
 ■Sio."]' ^^53, reports having engaged two intei-preters, the one for British Guiana and the other for 
 ^g'^iiarc ^,^-^et- Trinidad, the latter'of whom would have to be forwarded to Trinidad from British Guiana, 
 ^t-^ J. We apprehend that the necessary instructions for providing this man with a passage should 
 
 ^ev o^ 9,--^--^ be transmitted to the Acting Governor of British Guiana, and that the description of the 
 
 qualifications of these two men, and the contracts made with them, of which copies are 
 enclosed, should be communicated to the Governors of British Guiana and Trinidad res- 
 pectively. 
 loti^' ^' J-3.stly, Mr. White states the circumstances under which he had decided to place on 
 
 y^ 9 ^ board the " Emigrant" certain suits of clothing, which he had purchased in anticipation of 
 
 being able to procure conveyance for a larger number of emigrants, but which in conse- 
 quence of the impossibility of doing so remained on his hands at the end of the season. 
 Upon the wisdom of the course which he adopted in this matter, we feel unable to pro- 
 nounce any opinion, 'i'he balance of profit or loss by retaining or sending on the clothes,, 
 could be decided only by a person on the spot, and having an intimate acquaintance both 
 with the expense of storing such articles and the risk of their deterioration. We can only 
 suggest that this portion of Mr. White's letter should be communicated to the Acting Gover- 
 nor of British Guiana and to Lord Harris, in order that they may be aware of the supplies 
 which will thus be furnished to them for return coolies, &c. It is unfortunate that we should 
 have just contracted for 550 suits of clothing for Trinidad, under the instructions contained 
 in your letter of 29th April last; but it is not impossible that the Acting Governor of 
 British Guiana may think it advisable to retain the whole aupply in that colony. 
 
 4. Mr. White's second letter contains several suggestions for the future conduct of 
 Chinese emigration. We abstain from offering any opinion on these until we shall have 
 had an opportunity of conferring personally with Mr. White. After seeing him, it will be 
 our duty hereafter to submit to the Duke of Newcastle our views as to the manner in which 
 this emigration may be most advantageously carried on hereafter.- 
 
 We have, &c. 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. (signed) T, W. C. Murdoch. "' 
 
 &c. &c. &c, Alexander Wood 
 
 Sub-Enclosure No. 1, to Enclosure iu No. 16. 
 (No. 12.) 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, 9 April 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to enclose several papers connected with the " Lady Flora Hastings," 
 which vessel left Namoa for Trinidad on the 11th ultimo. I was prevented from going up 
 to Namoa previous to her starting, first by my detention in Hong Kong to await the arrival 
 of the " Martin Luther"; and afterwards by the want of any opportunity that would enable 
 me to reach Namoa in time before the date appointed for her leaving. 
 
 No. 1. Is a list of the clothing put on board for the use of the emigrants. 
 No. 2. List of the provisions. These were all laid in here, and I examined them and. 
 found them all perfectly good. 
 
 No. 3. Certificate of measurement as to the number of emigrants the vessel may 
 carry. 
 
 No. 4. Certificate of sea-worthiness. 
 
 No. 5. Letter from the surgeon of the vessel. 
 
 No. 6. Letter of Instructions from Tait & Co. to the captain. 
 
 2. From private and disinterested sources I am informed that the emigrants were all' fine 
 able-bodied men, that they were highly pleased with tho ship and the accommodation pro- 
 vided; and that they were very anxious to emigrate. The ship is well found in everything. 
 Thu captain is a quiet unpretending person, who seems eager to prove that the disasters 
 that have so often occurred have been occasioned by want of management, and not by ill 
 feelings on the part of the Chinese emigrants ; and the surgeon is sober, and, as far as I 
 can judge, well qualified for his duties, so that I hope this vessel, starting under favourable 
 auspices^ will reach her destination without the occurrence of any untoward events. There 
 
 are 
 
^^e. 
 
 INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 129 
 
 are two Chinese surgeons on board ; I had arranged that one should go, but as another one B R I T I S H^ 
 offered his services afterwards who had some sh'ght knowledge of English, and as no inter- GUIANA. 
 
 preters could be procured at JNamoa, and those I expected from Penang had not arrived, 
 
 Messrs, Tait & Co. engaged the second surgeon in the double capacity of interpreter and sur- 
 geon. I have since written to them sanctioning the arrangement. 
 
 3. Owing to the high rates of Ireight prevailing to California, and also partially to 
 Australia, and to the reluctance, and even in some cases the positive refusal of captains and 
 crews to engage in the emigration service, in consequence of the occurrence of so many dis- 
 asters, it has been found impossible to obtain vessels to complete the emigration to Demerara. 
 After several fruitless efforts Messrs. Turner & Co. succeeded at last in obtaining the 
 " Emigrant." This vessel could not be got ready before the 31st March, and therefore Messrs. 
 Turner & Co. or their principals, Hyde, Hodge & Co., would not be entitled to a higher 
 bounty than 80 dollars for every emigrant landed. And as it became a question whether 
 this vessel should be taken up or not, unless they got the full bounty, I decided to take 
 the responsibility of assuring them that in this case the full bounty would be paid. The 
 annexed copy of my letter to Messrs. Turner & Co. will explain the matter, and I trust 
 that under the circumstances the Commissioners will consider me justified in what I have ^^u. <, 
 
 done. """-^-^e^f, 
 
 4. The " Emigrant " took out emigrants to Australia, and is in every way well found and 
 well qualified for the service, and has on board a European surgeon. I enclose certificate 
 of sea-worthiness, and also certificate of measurement as to the number of passengers she 
 can legally carry. I went up to Canton last month to make the necessary arrangements, 
 in regard to this vessel, and was anxious that she should have taken her emigrants from 
 Hong Kong ; but as Messrs. Turner & Co. (being in daily expectation of procuring vessels) 
 had made previous arrangements for securing emigrants from Whampoa, and as the people 
 were only waiting for an opportunity I did not like to disappoint them, or neutralize engage- 
 ments partially contracted. Great care has been taken to procure only people from the 
 country villages ; and to secure this object respectable Chinese have been bound under a 
 penalty that the men are from country villages known to them. I question if emigration 
 from China will ever be carried on without the intervention of brokers, at least for some 
 time, and until the system is well established at one point, and generally known. The 
 employment of such agents is entirely consonant to Chinese ideas, and pervades every 
 transaction of hfe (even marriages are concluded and ariauged by this means). And they 
 are at present necessary in order to diffuse information throughout the villages, and bring 
 people to the port of embarkation, where they will have the opportunity of making 
 inquiries and satisfying themselves as to the advantages of emigration. 
 
 6. Two interpreters are engaged to go by the " Emigrant." The one, Ho A. Sing, for 
 Demerara ; the other, Ong Soon Seng, for Trinidad. The latter arrived too late for the 
 " Lady Flora Hastings," and will, therefore, have to be sent forward from Demerara. 
 Annexed are the terms of their engagement and contracts. The former writes and speaks 
 English, speaks the colloquial dialect of the Canton provinces, and is well versed in Chinese JVoj 
 
 writing. The latter writes and speaks English with ease and fluency, and speaks the ~"~"~~~-2.22^ii 
 
 colloquial dialect of the Fohkien province, but does not understand Chinese writing. 
 
 Ho A. Sing's terms may appear high, but I could not obtain his services for less, and I am 
 
 indebted to Dr. Legge, of the London Missionary Society, without whose assistance I could 
 
 not have obtained them at all. His knowledge of the Chinese writing v^ill be useful, as by 
 
 means of it he can communicate wiih the emigrants in Demerara from the Fohkien provinces, 
 
 an advantage not possessed by Ong Soon Seng in reference to other emigrants in Trinidad 
 
 than those from the Fohkien provinces. The Chinese written character being the same 
 
 throughout all the provinces of the empire, a knowledge of it enables persons to communicate, 
 
 whose spoken dialects would be perfectly unintelligible to each other. Dr. Legge gives a 
 
 very high character of Ho A. Sing, and Mr. Blundell, Governor of the Straits Settlements, 
 
 has also written to me a very favourable one of Ong Soon Seng. The latter appears to 
 
 me very shrewd and intelligent, and I have no doubt will do credit to his appointment. 
 
 Another interpieter whom I have engaged in Canton, through the intervention of one of the 
 
 American missionaries, has declined to go, and returned the advance he had received ; and 
 
 another still refuses to go under 100 dollars a month ; so that there is considerable difficulty 
 
 at present in obtaining the requisite number of interpreters, a difficulty that will continue 
 
 until emigration be fairly established, and it become worth the while for respectable Chinese 
 
 to send their sons out of the country, in the confidence that they will be well treated, and 
 
 benefit by the change. 
 
 6. When engaged in making aiTangements for the "Martin Luther," I requested Messrs. 
 Turner & Co. to procure the necessary clothing in Canton, where it can be got better and 
 cheaper than in Hong Kong. Five hundred sets would he necessary for the " Martin 
 Luther ;" and having at the time no doubt that another vessel would be obtained to follow 
 the " Martin Luther," I ordered 500 more sets of clothing, making in all 1,000. The 
 " Martin Luther" having failed to arrive, and it having been found impossible to procure 
 vessels for the emigration service, this clothing is still on hand. Messrs. Turner & Co. pur- 
 chased a large quantity at the same time, and having this stock still on hand, are unwilling 
 to increase it by taking over what was purchased by them on my account. I have been 
 much at a loss what to do with it, but considering that it cannot be required now until next 
 season, that rent and insurance will add considerably to the cost, and that it will probably 
 suffer by the Ion? storage, and be injured by the rats which swarm in Canton, I have 
 decided upon sending it by the " Emigrant," the one-half for Demerara, and the other half 
 986. T for 
 
130 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 p n T A ■M A ^^^ Trinidad. The portion for Trinidad will have to be transhipped unless the authorities 
 
 ir U i A f4 A. jjj Demerara decide upon keeping it for the use of the colony. None of the clothing would 
 
 "~~ have been ordered if I had not been in daily expectation of the " Martin Luther," and 
 
 I hope that under the circumstances the Commissioners will approve of the step I have 
 
 taken. 
 
 7. I shall leave this by the next steamer on the 11th instant. My remaining longer 
 could be productive of no good, for under present circumstances, while the press is teeming 
 w'th the v4isasters that have occurred to emigrant ships (and unfortunately the " Lord Elgin," 
 arrived at the Cape, has to be added to the list), it would be highly impruden,t and impolitic 
 to despatch any vessels against the south-west monsoon. I feel that I have stretched to the 
 last point my dfesire to promote emigration to the West Indies, in sanctioning the full 
 bounty to the " Emigrant," as an inducement to Messrs. Turner & Co., and I would not 
 have done this if the vessel had not been specially fitted and arranged for the emigration 
 service. 
 
 8. The experience of this season has fully confirmed my former views as to the disad- 
 vantage, if not danger, of leaving the emigration from China in [private hands, without suf- 
 ficient responsibility, and paid by bounty or by a commission on each emigrant shipped. 
 This system will lead to abuses, and bring discredit on the country. It must be conducted 
 by a paid officer, responsible to Government, and to a certain extent under the orders and 
 supervision of the local Government. The head-quarters of the emigration oflace should be 
 at Hong Kong, but the agent should have authority to procure emigrants at other places, 
 and to send vessels there, if necessary. There will be a good deal of expense in organizing 
 an office, and proper establishment, at the commencement, but everything must be done to 
 inspire confidence among the Chinese, so that they may come from the country to seek for 
 emigration of their own accord, and not at the instigation of brokers, who may probably 
 deceive them by means which our ignorance of the mainland^ and our very imperfect know- 
 ledge of their habits and language, render it impossible to discover until it be too late to 
 apply the necessary remedy. 
 
 Emigration should for the present be restricted to the period between the 1st of September 
 and 31st of March, giving the agent authority to extend this period under certain circum- 
 stances, and with' the sanction of the Governor. 
 
 In order to disabuse the public mind of the strong feeling that now prevails adverse to 
 all emigration, I have had the notices and instructions printed, and herewith transmit a 
 copy for the information of the Commissioners. Further experience will, no doubt, suggest 
 alterations and improvements ; meanwhile their tenor will show the anxiety of Government 
 that this new emigration should be openly and fairly conducted, and in a manner likely to 
 ^,e conducive to the general benefit of all parties interested in its welfare. 
 
 I have, See. 
 S. Walcott, Esq., (signed) James T. White. 
 
 Secretary Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 
 P.S. — I am afraid the Commissioners will think me troublesome in sending home so 
 many detailed papers as to the clothing and provisions of the emigrants, the sea-worthiness 
 and measurement of the ship, &c.; but my object has been to show generally the system 
 under which emigration should be carried on from here, and I should not consider it neces- 
 sary to forward such papers for the future. 
 
 During my stay in China my object has been not to obstruct pending arrangements, but 
 to facilitate them in every possible way, and I have endeavoured to lead matters towards a 
 permanent system by suggesting and recommending such points as I considered necessary ; 
 these suggestions have always been attended to. 
 
 It is matter of great regret to me that I have been able to effect so little, indeed, practi- 
 cally nothing ; still I feel that the mere fact of the presence of an emigration agent recog- 
 nised by Government has dene good by inducing more caution than might otherwise have 
 existed, and that the vessels despatched to the British West Indies since my arrival have 
 had as much care and attention bestowed upon them as was compatible under existing 
 circumstances with the reckless and unregulated emigration to Cuba, Peru, and elsewhere, 
 taking place at the same time from the same ports,, and by the same agents as the emigration 
 to the British West Indies. 
 
 11 April. 
 
 (No. 7.) 
 Dear Sir, Canton, 26 March 1863. 
 
 I AM in receipt of your favour of the 25th, mentioning "that it will be impossible to 
 despatch the 'Emigrant'" before 31st March, and that "from what Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & 
 Co. had written to you, you infer that an engagement entered into prior to the 31st March, 
 although the vessel may not sail before that date, will be sufficient to entitle them to 
 the bounty offered by the Government of Demerara for the importation of Chinese field 
 labourers." 
 
 The proclamation of the Governor of Demerara, bearing date 25th September 1852, states 
 specifically that vessels leaving China subsequent to the 31st March will not be entitled to 
 a higher bounty than 80 dollars for every adult field labourer landed in the colony; and 
 iherefbre iMessrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. cannot claim, on account of the " Emigrant," a higher 
 bounty ihan the sum named in the proclamation. 
 
 But 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 131 
 
 But as the charter was concluded previous to the 31st March, and as the emigrants may BRITISH 
 be considered ready to go on board, and are only waiting for the opportunity, and as it was GUIANA, 
 impossible to procure vessels at an earlier period, owing to the want of shipping, I am — — 
 
 willing to take upon myself the responsibility of assuring you that the full amount of bounty, 
 say 100 dollars, will be paid upon the labourers per " Emigrant," provided the Governor of 
 the colony is satisfied that the spirit of the English Passengers' Act has been fairlv acted 
 upon, and that the emigrants have been fairly and justly treated. 
 
 I remain, &c. 
 Messrs. Turner & Co. 
 
 P. S. — I understand that the " Emigrant " will leave not later than the 20th April. 
 
 (No. 10.) 
 
 Memorandum of Agreement between Ho A. Sing, Native ofCanton in China, now resid- 
 ing in Hong Kong, and James T. White, Agent for the Emigration of Chinese to the 
 British West Indies. 
 
 The said Ho A. Sing, having a knowledge of the Chinese, as spoken in the Knangtung 
 provinces, and of Chinese writing, and also a knowledge of the English language and 
 writing, engages to proceed to British Guiana, and to act as interpreter between the Chinese 
 emigrating to the West Indies and all persons in authority over them. He agrees that on 
 arrival in the West Indies he will place himself under the orders of the emigration agent, 
 and will perform all such duties of interpreter as may be required of him by the said ao^ent, 
 or by such other person as may be duly authorized by the Governor. 
 
 He further agrees to serve as interpreter for a period of three years, dating from his 
 arrival in the colony, and that during the continuance of said service he will at all times 
 truly and faithfully interpret and explain the wants, wishes, and testimony of the Chinese 
 emigrants ; and also interpret and make known to them the wishes, orders, and instructions 
 of their employers, or of the magistrates and persons in authority ; and that he will do so 
 either verbally or in writing in Chinese, or in English, as circumstances may require. 
 
 In consideration of the above engagement, and of the due, faithful, and ready perform- 
 ance of his duties, the said James T. White agrees to provide the said Ho A. Sing with a 
 cabin passage to his destination, and to pay him as half wages for the performance of the 
 duties of interpreter on board of ship at the rate of 20 dollars per month from the day of 
 embarkation to the day of arrival ; and further to pay him 40 dollars per month from the 
 date of his arrival in Deraerara, and the sum of 10 dollars per month additional (making 
 50 dollars per month) subsequent to the expiry of the first year, provided he shall conduct 
 himself and perform his duties to the satisfaction of the Governor of the colony. 
 
 Finally, the said J. T. White engages to provide the said Ho A. Sing with a free 
 passage back to China, if he should wish to leave British Guiana at the expiry of this 
 agreement. 
 
 (signed) James T. White, E. A. 
 Hong Kong, 5 April 1853. Ho A. Sing. 
 
 Signed this 5th day of April 1853, in the presence of 
 
 (signed) W. Scatt. 
 
 A. G. Romano. 
 
 The undersigned Ho A. Sing acknowledges to have received one hundred and twenty 
 dollars (120 dollars), being three months' advance on the terms of this contract. 
 
 (sigQied) Ho A. Sing. 
 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 Teems of an Agreement between Ong Soon Seng, a Chinese Native of Penang, and Forbes 
 Scott Browne, Esq., Merchant of Penang, on behalf of James T. White, Esq., Govern- 
 ment Agent for the Emigration of Chinese Coolies to Trinidad and Demerara in the 
 We»t Indies. 
 
 I, Ong Soon Seng, Chinese native of Penang, do hereby engage to act truly and faith- 
 fully as an interpreter between Chinese coolies emigrating from the Fokien district of China 
 to Trinidad or Demerara in the West Indies, and such persons as may be in authority over 
 them. 
 
 I further agree to proceed from Penang to China, and there place myself under the 
 orders of James T. White, Esq., for the purpose of proceeding to the West Indies, as 
 Chinese interpreter, in such vessel as the said James T. White, Esq., may appoint. 
 
 I further agree that, on my arrival in the West Indies, I will proceed to such place and 
 erform such duties of Chinese interpreter as may be imposed on me by the said James 
 
 White, Esq., or by such person as may be duly authorized to impose the same. 
 
 I further agree that I will continue to serve the said James T. White, Esq., or such per- 
 sons as may be legally empowered to direct me, as such Chinese interpreter, for a period of 
 five years, that is, till the 1st March 1858 ; and that during all the period of such service that 
 I will at all times truly and faithfully make known to my employers the wants and wishes of 
 
 986. T2 the 
 
 ? 
 
132 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 ?TT T A^w A *^^ Chinese cooly emigrants to the West Indies ; and that I will, with the same truth and 
 
 GUIANA. 
 
 fidelity, make known to the said Chinese coolies the desires and instructions of my and 
 their employers. 
 
 (signed) Ong Soon Seng. 
 Signed in our presence this 2d day of March 1863, 
 
 (signed) Rob. Minter, Jun. 
 A. M. D'Oliveiro. 
 
 I, Forbes Scott Brown, merchant of Penang, acting for and on behalf of James T. 
 White, Esq., Government Agent for the Emigration of Chinese coolies to Trinidad, and 
 Demerara in the West Indies, do hereby engage to pay to Ong Soon Seng, Chinese native 
 of Penang, the sum of 16 dollars per month, as monthly wages, fi'om tbe 1st of March 
 1853 during the period that he may be employed by the said James T. White, Esq., or by 
 persons legally empowered to employ him as interpreter between Chinese coolies in Trinidad 
 or Demerara, and their masters or employers, and to give him free lodgings and ordinary 
 rations, rice and salt fish, or rice and salt meat. 
 
 I do further agree to pay at Penang, to the order of the said Ong Soon Seng, during the 
 period above-mentioned, a portion of his monthly wages, not exceeding one-half thereof. 
 
 I do further agree to give the said Ong Soon Seng a deck passage to China per steamer, 
 and that during his voyage from China to the West Indies he, the said Ong Soon Seng, 
 while acting as interpreter shall be kept separate from the coolie emigrants, and shall have 
 a separate and distinct place in the ship for his accommodation. 
 
 And last, I do further agree to provide the said Ong Soon Seng with a free passage 
 back, either to Penang, Singapore, or China, should he wish to leave the West Indies at the 
 expiration of this agreement. 
 
 (signed) F. S. BrovmJ 
 Signed in our presence this 2d day of May 1853, 
 
 (signed) Hob. Minter, Jun. 
 A. M. D'Oliveiro. 
 
 Received from Mr. F. S. Brown, as agent of James T. White, forty-eight dollars (#48), 
 being three months' wages in advance, from 1st March, as per within agreement. 
 
 Penang, 2 March 1853, (signed) Ong Soon Seng. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 2, to Enclosure in No. 6. 
 (No. 14-) 
 
 Sir, Steamer "Erin," 16 April 1853. 
 
 In the hurry of addressing you previous to my leaving Hong Kong, I omitted two or three 
 points to which I wish to advert. 
 
 1. If emigration is to be carried on next season, early arrangements are indispensable so 
 as to allow the vessels to leave during the strength of the north-east monsoon. As a general 
 rule they ought not to start before the 1st of September, nor later than the 31st of March. 
 
 2. I recommend that for the present, and until the emigration is brought into system, the 
 agent be authorized to lay in the stores and provisions for the voyage. AH the articles may 
 be obtained at very reasonable and steady rates, except beef and pork; these fluctuate 
 greatly in price, owing to the irregular demand. 
 
 3. it would probably facilitate the chartering of vessels here if the agent were authorized 
 to advance a small sum on account of the freight, say to the extent of 2Z. per head for each 
 emigrant the ship could carry. This appears to have great weight with many captains, who 
 corae to this port, as it would obviate the necessity of their drawing upon the owners, or 
 placing their vessels in the hands of a ship agent. The advance ought not to be more than 
 sufficient to cover the disbursements in port; 
 
 4. Independent of the disinclination of captains of vessels to engage in this service, in 
 consequence of the accidents and disasters that had occurred. I found many unwilling to 
 undertake it, because they could not obtain insurance on their freight, I am not aware that 
 this can in any way be obviated, but it tends to increase the rate at which emigrants would 
 otherwise be conveyed. 
 
 5. Looking to these and other points, it has occurred to me that it might perhaps be. 
 advisable to hold out some gratuity to the captains, if the vessels and emigrants reached their 
 destination in good order and condition. With this view I have drafted a letter, which I 
 enclose for the information of the Commissioners, but I should not feel authorized to act on 
 it without their sanction. 
 
 6. There is no doubt in my mind that almost every point on the south coast of China 
 would afford a supply of able-bodied labourers. There is a large floating population of 
 young, strong and active men, who have barely the necessaries of life, and are often driven 
 to piracy for their subsistence. These men will all of them gladly emigrate; and while 
 the emigration is confined to these men no abuses will take place; but if it be pushed 
 beyond the point when this surplus labour is disposed of, then abuses commence, crimps are 
 
 brought 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 133 
 
 brought into play, and men and boys are inveigled from their home, under false pretences BRITISH 
 There is at every station a turning point of labour, within which emigration wDuld be safe GUIANA, 
 and beneficial, and beyond which it would be unsafe and lead to practices by the native 
 icrimps little, if at all, short of the traffic in slaves. It was tending towards this point when 
 the disturbances broke out at Amoy. There is little internal communication, and therefore 
 the neighbourliood of any particular district will probably become soon exhausted if any 
 sudden and unusual demand were made upon the labouring population. The area for 
 emigration must be increased in proportion to the demand. 
 
 7. The abundance or scarcity of provisions will at all times greatly influence the amount of 
 emigration and the facility of obtaining good agricultural labourers. 
 
 8. No emigration to the West Indies will be satisfactory, however well conducted, until 
 some Chinese return to tell their own tale, the Chinese will not seek for this emigration until 
 some of their own race return, and a few well satisfied return emigrants are the best adver- 
 tisement the colonies can have. To make this emigration safe and satisfactory, confidence 
 must be established, and I see no way so likely to promote this object as to encourage the 
 
 ' return of a few Chinese who have done well, and are satisfied with their position in the 
 colony. These men will soon engage in trade and ship ventures to the West Indies, as is 
 now done to California, and this point once gained emigration will flow in a natural stream 
 and be regulated by the wants of the colonies. 
 
 9. I enclose three returns relating to emigration from the Fobkein province to Cuba, 
 Sydney, and elsewhere. No. 1. is a statement of the number despatched to Cuba from 
 1847 to date; No. 2. is a statement of the emigration to Sydney; No. 3. to Honolulu and 
 Peru. 
 
 I have been trying to procure a similar return from Cumsingmoon and Macao, but with- 
 out success. Being looked upon as a Government agent they are chary of giving me 
 information. 
 
 10. Sir G. Bonham started so suddenly and unexpectedly for Shanghai, that I had not 
 the opportunity I sought for to consult with him on some points I wished to submit for 
 his decision. If anything should be required during my absence, there is no person more 
 competent than Mr. Hillier, the chief magistrate; but practical carrying out of emigration 
 would, I believe, be incompatible with its present duties. I have derived a good deal of 
 assistance from Mr. W. Scott, an old resident here, and well known to the Chinese. I 
 know of no one better quaUfied than he is to take charge of a limited emigration, if his 
 appointment were acceptable to Sir G. Bonham. 
 
 11. If the Government think that my services can be of use for the emigration of future 
 seasons, I shall be prepared to place myself at their disposal. Meanwhile as nothing can 
 be done, or ought to be done, before September, nothing is lost by my leaving China during 
 4he intervening period. I shall wait upon the Commissioners as soon as I arrive in London. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary (signed James T. White. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 p.S. More extended inquiry leads me to think that women may be induced to emigrate 
 
 from' the villages in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong. Many of the intending emigrants 
 who applied at the office to be registered, stated that they would send for their wives and 
 <:!iildren after they had been a short time in the colony; provided their passages were paid. I 
 have ascertained also that there is a female foundling institution at Macao, under charge 
 of some Catholic missionaries, from which a number of young girls might readily be 
 obtained, and that the Catholic missionaries would give their assistance to promote my views. 
 
 (signed) J. T. W. 
 
 Proposed Letter to accompany Instructions. 
 
 Sir, . , 
 
 I HAVE already furnished you with general instructions as to the management of the 
 Chinese emigrants entrusted to your care for conveyance to the British colony of 
 
 These instructions might have been extended to a much greater length, but would per- 
 haps fetter your judgment, if the details should be too rigidly adhered to, without sufficient 
 regard to pecuUar circumstances as they arise. 
 
 The health, comfort and welfare of the emigrants, during the voyage, depend almost entirely 
 upon you. I trust, therefore, that you will on every occasion use firmness, tempered withjudg- 
 ment and discretion in their management, (having always reference to the peculiar character 
 and habits of the Chinese) and that you will treat them with kindness and consideration. 
 
 The British Colonial Government in the West Indies are anxious that the emigration now- 
 set on foot from China should be successfully carried out, and with the view to promote this 
 •object and to insure attention to the emigrants on the voyage have authorized the payment 
 of certain gratuities to yourself and officers upon your arrival m the West Indies. 
 The conditions upon which the gratuities will be paid to yourself and officers are : 
 1 That the terms of the charter-party, so far as you are concerned, and also the instruc- 
 tions with which you have been furnished, have been fully and fairly complied with. 
 
 2, That the emigrants have landed in good health and condition, and have no well-founded 
 <;ause of complaint. 
 
 3. That no unusual mortality has taken place on board. 
 
 986. T 3 ^^^ 
 
BRITISH 
 GFI AN A. 
 
 134 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 The payment to your officers will depend upon your report of their conduct. 
 Your own gratuity will be at the rate of 20?. sterling for every 100 emigrants. 
 For the first officer, at the rate of 8 1, sterling. 
 
 For the second officer, at the rate of 4/. sterUng. A separate asrangement is made for the 
 surgeon, as stated in his instructions. 
 
 (No. 1.) 
 Emigration of Contract Labourers to Cuba from 1847 to date. 
 
 Date. 
 
 Colours. 
 
 Ships' Names. 
 
 Wiere from. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Mortality. 
 
 
 1847: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January - 
 
 Spanish - 
 
 Oquendo 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 230 
 
 12 
 
 
 March - 
 1862: 
 
 English - 
 
 Duke of Argyll - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 420 
 
 38 
 
 - - Ten washed over- 
 board in a gale. 
 
 August - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 British Sovereign - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 313 
 
 — 
 
 
 September 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Panama 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 349 
 
 — 
 
 
 October - 
 Ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Gertrude 
 Blenheim 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 350 
 463 
 
 ■ 1, 
 
 
 November 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Inchinnan - 
 
 Namoa - 
 
 355 
 
 — 
 
 
 December 
 Ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Lady Amherst 
 Sir T. Gresham - 
 
 Amoy - 
 Namoa - 
 
 275 
 347 
 
 — 
 
 
 1853: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January - 
 Ditto - 
 
 Spanish - 
 Enghsh - 
 
 Julian d'Unzueta - 
 Columbus - 
 
 - ditto - 
 Amoy - 
 
 350 
 300 
 
 — — 
 
 
 February - 
 Ditto - 
 
 Spanish - 
 - ditto - 
 
 Bella Gallega 
 San Andres - 
 
 Namoa - 
 - ditto - 
 
 390 
 383 
 
 = 
 
 
 (No. 2.) 
 Emigration of Contract Labourers to Sydney from 1848 to date. 
 
 Date. 
 
 Colours. 
 
 Ships' Names. 
 
 Where from. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Mortality. 
 
 
 1848: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 July 
 
 English - 
 
 Nimrod 
 
 Ampy - 
 
 120 
 
 none. 
 
 
 1849 - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Cadet - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 150 
 
 — 
 
 
 1850: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 March 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Gazelle 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 134 
 
 3 
 
 
 November 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Duke of Roxburgh 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 272 
 
 16 
 
 
 1851 : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 August - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 240 
 
 — 
 
 
 September 
 Ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Gainges 
 Arabia 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 224 
 196 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 
 October - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 General Palmer - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 335 
 
 70 
 
 - - Nearly all from 
 dvsentery in Bally 
 Straits. 
 
 November 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Statesman - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 180 
 
 none. 
 
 December 
 1852: 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Amazon 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 303 
 
 13 
 
 - - Three jumped 
 overboard because 
 they had no opium. 
 
 January - 
 Ditto - 
 
 November 
 Ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Eleanor Lancaster 
 Spartan 
 
 Eleanor Lancaster 
 Royal Saxon 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Namoa - 
 Amoy - 
 
 240 
 260 
 
 260 
 227 
 
 10 
 10 
 
 - - Nearly all from 
 dysentery in Sunda^ 
 Straits. 
 
 1853: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Spartan 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 354 
 
 "~^ 
 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 135 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA 
 
 Emigration of Contract Labourers to Honolulu, Peru, and Britkh Guiana. 
 
 1 . — _* — 
 
 
 Dates. 
 
 Colours. 
 
 Ships' Names. 
 
 ■Where from. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Mortality. 
 
 
 
 1851: 
 
 
 Honolulu. 
 
 
 
 
 
 November 
 
 English - 
 
 Thetis - 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 199 
 
 7 
 
 All from cholera. 
 
 
 1852: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 November 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 - ditto 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 101 
 
 none. 
 
 
 
 1852: 
 
 
 1 
 To Peru. 
 
 
 
 
 
 July 
 1863: 
 
 Peruvian 
 
 Empresa 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 404 
 
 70 
 
 - - Nearly all from 
 dysentery. 
 
 
 March - 
 
 English - 
 
 Nepaul 
 
 Namoa - 
 
 500 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 1852: 
 
 
 To I 
 
 iniTiSH Gui 
 
 iNA. 
 
 
 
 
 July 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Lord Elgin - 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 155 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 September 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Glentanner - 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 303 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 November 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Samuel Boddington 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 352 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 December 
 
 - ditto - 
 
 Australia 
 
 Namoa - 
 
 445 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 To Capta 
 Comm 
 
 in 
 anding 
 
 
 
 
 
 — No. 17.— 
 (No. 82.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Lieutenant 
 
 Governor Walker. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 18 July 1853. 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 29th ultimo. No. 71, I transmit to 
 you herewith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commis- 
 sioners, respecting the disposal of certain immigrants' clothing which Mr. White 
 had shipped from China, and I have to instruct you to retain the whole of this 
 clothing, as recommended by the Commissioners, instead of transferring a portion 
 to Trinidad, as they had orginally suggested in their letter of the 15th June. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 17. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Lieut.-Governor 
 Walker. 
 13 July 1853. 
 
 V«i. 
 
 ^3. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 17. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, 2 July 1853. 
 
 In our letter of the 15th ultimo, enclosing copies of letters which we had received from 
 Mr. White, the emigration agent at Hong Kong, we noticed that Mr. White had shipped 
 for Demerara, by the " Emigrant," 1,000 suits of clothing, which he had purchased for the 
 emigrants by the " Martin Luther " and another ship which he expected to be able to 
 despatch to British Guiana during the season. Mr. White proposed that half of this 
 clothing should be retained in Demerara, and half sent on to Trinidad ; possibly in hopes 
 that it might be available for return coolies or others for whom the Governor was bound to 
 provide. 
 
 2. But on further considering this question, it appears to us that as both the ships for 
 which this clothing was purchased were to be sent to British Guiana (the Trinidad emigra- 
 tion being fully provided for by the ships of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.), no part of the 
 loss incurred by the purchase could with any fairness be transferred to Trinidad ; and it is 
 also to be remembered, first, that some of this loss will be recovered by the colony of British 
 Guiana from the owners of the "Martin Luther," by whose default it, in part, occurred; 
 
 986. 
 
 T 4 
 
 whereas 
 
 End. in No. 17. 
 
136 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 BRITISH 
 GUIANA. 
 
 v/hereas no such resource will be open to Trinidad ; and next, that the arrival of this 
 quantity of clothing will be singularly inopportune in the latter colony, to which this Board 
 has been recently authorized to ship upwards of 500 suits of clothing, 
 
 3. We would suggest, therefore, that the Go%'ernor of British Guiana should be instructed 
 to retain the whole of the clothing despatched by Mr. White ; there being, in fact, no 
 ground on which any part of it could be properly transferred to Trinidad. 
 
 No. l8. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Ljeut.-Governcr 
 Walker. 
 i6 August 1853. 
 
 Herman Merlvale, Esq., 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
 (No. 96.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH 
 
 — No. 18.— 
 
 from bis Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Lieutenant 
 Governor Wal/cei'. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 16 August 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, copies of two letters from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, reporting that they had been un- 
 able to obtain shipping at a cost not exceeding 100 dollars, for the conveyance 
 of Chinese emigrants to Jamacia and British Guiana. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 End. i,in No. 18, 
 
 End. 2, in No. 18. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 18. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, 8 August 1853. 
 
 1. We have the honour to state, that on Wednesday last we received tenders for the con- 
 veyance of 1,800 Chinese emigrants to Jamaica and British Guiana, but have found our- 
 selves unable to engage any ships. A considerable number of tenders were sent in, but, 
 with the exception of two small ships, the lowest offer was at the rate of 18 I. 10 s., and the 
 rest ranged from that sum to 25 1. As, however, the cost of collection and embarkation 
 (exclusive of the salaries of the emigration agent, interpreters, cooks, and headmen) is 
 estimated by Mr. White at ^10. 59 c., which at the rates of exchange prevalent in Hong 
 Kong is somewhat more than 2/. 10 s., it is obvious that none of these tenders could have 
 been accepted without raising the total cost considerably above the limit of ^ 100, which" 
 has been laid down by the colonists of British Guiana. 
 
 2. We of course accepted the two cheapest tenders, which were at the exceptionally low 
 rates of 14 1, and 14 Z. 17 s. 6 d. ; but it subsequently appeared that one of the ships tendered 
 was not fit for the service, and that the calculations on which they had been tendered had 
 been based on a wrong form, which had been obtained from one of our officers. We did 
 not think that we could with propriety take advantage of an evident blunder, of which we- 
 had been so promptly informed, and we consequently consented to put an, end to the 
 engagement. 
 
 3. We advertised, however, immediately for fresh tenders, to be sent in on Tuesday next. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 18. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, 9 August 1853. 
 
 1. With reference to our letter of yesterday's date, we have to state that we this morning 
 received tenders for the conveyance of Chinese to the West Indies. 
 
 2. The lowest offer was of a small ship at the rate of 16 I. 19 s. per adult for Jamaica, or 
 17/. 9s. for British Guiana; the next was at 17 1. 17s.; the remainder were from 18/. 19s. Qd. 
 to 21 /. 17s. As the expenses of collection, clothing, and agency may be estimated at 
 little short of 4 /., it was evident that none of these tenders would have enabled us to- 
 despatch emigrants under the rate of 1 100, which is fixed by the Court of Policy at BritisL 
 Guiana. 
 
 3. We therefore thought it best not to accept any of these tenders. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. 
 &c. &c. &c. . 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 137 
 
 TRINIDAD. TRINIDAD. 
 
 Despatches from Governor Lord Harris. 
 
 — No. 1. — 
 (No. u6.) j^^ ^ 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the Governor Lord 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. Harris to the 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 Trinidad, 10 March 1853. lo March 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, (Received 4 April 1853.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report the arrival of the ship " Australia," with 432 
 Chinese immigrants on board. 
 
 I enclose the acting agent general of immigrants returns and report, and also 
 the health officer's report. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Harris. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 1. 
 
 Trinidad, Port of Spain, End. 1, in No. 1 . 
 
 Sir, 10 March 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that, the 
 ship " Australia," 1,170 tons burthen, anchored here on Friday the 4th instant, 78 days 
 from Namoa, with 434 Chinese immigrants on board, 11 of the number having died during 
 the passage. 
 
 These people were classified on the 6th instant, and distributed on the 7th and 8th, during 
 which two days more of the number died ; eight had been previously sent to hospital. 
 
 The distribution took place in the usual mode, they were allowed to arrange themselves 
 into groupes of from 17 to 34, according to their own inclination, whether arising from 
 relationship or previous intimacy. They left the ship in good humour and on friendly terms 
 with all on board. 
 
 The " Australia" brought no interpreter, but this serious inconvenience was remedied in a 
 great measure by the attention of Captain Brown of the " Benares," who sent up his carpen- 
 ter a China man, through whom the people were told the nature of the contracts into which 
 they had entered, and the work they were expected to undertake; they have been all 
 employed in agriculture, and the majority of them in that connected with cane cultivation. 
 
 They are good natured, but apparently rather stubborn. 
 
 Their muscular development is more prominent than that of any set of immigrants I 
 have yet seen, whether European or Asiatic, and their condition so high, that out of 424 
 assigned there were only two (convalescents) who appeared unfit to undertake at once labo- 
 rious work. 
 
 The indications, mental and physical, of the men, reflects, at the present period particularly, 
 high credit on the discipline, treatment of the captain surgeon and subordinates. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. James L. Wildman, (signed) Henry Mitchell, 
 
 Colonial Secretary, Actg. Agent General 
 
 &c., &c., &c. of Immigrants. 
 
 986. 
 
 XJ Enclosure 
 
138 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 End. 3, in No. i. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No 1. 
 
 Port of Spain, 10 March 1853. 
 Report on the Immigrants by the Ship " Australia", which arrived at the port of Spaia 
 
 from Namoa, on the 4th March 1853. 
 
 Name of the master _ _ - 
 Name of the surgeon - - - . 
 Date of departure - - - - 
 Number of days on the voyage 
 Registered tonnage - - - - 
 Superficies of passengers' deck - 
 Number of statute adults admissible - 
 Number of such adults actually on board 
 Number of crew _ _ . _ 
 Port at which vessel touched - 
 Date of touching - - - - 
 Days there - - - - - 
 If placed in quarantine, state the cause 
 
 - John Noble. 
 
 - Henry John Bland. 
 
 - December 16th, 1852. 
 
 - 78 days. 
 
 - 1,170 tons. 
 
 - 432. 
 
 - 31 men. 
 
 - None. 
 
 
 Births on 
 
 
 
 
 Emigrants Embarked. 
 
 the 
 Voy^e. 
 
 Deaths on the Voyage. 
 
 Emigrants Landed. 
 
 
 
 Children 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Children 
 
 
 Adults. 
 
 under 14* 
 
 
 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 under 14. 
 
 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F, 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 1 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 445 
 
 .. - 
 
 No 
 
 ae 
 
 445 
 
 No 
 
 ne 
 
 13 
 
 - - 
 
 No 
 
 ne 
 
 432 
 
 m ' w 
 
 No 
 
 ne 
 
 432 
 
 The Chinese labourers landed from ship " Australia" were, with exception of eight, sent to 
 hospital, and two convalescents ; a most powerful set of men and in high order. 
 
 For Henry Mitchell, 
 
 Acting Government Immigration-Agent, 
 
 (signed) James Wildron, 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 1, in No. 3. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 1. 
 
 Sir, " Port of Spain, 4 March 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report for his Excellency the Governor's information that I have 
 officially visited the immigrant ship "Australia," direct from Amoy in China, 78 daysJ 
 out. 
 
 This ship received on board 450 Chinese immigrants, of which number 10 have died 
 on the passage, and one committed suicide by drowning himself. The diseases which 
 proved the cause of mortality, were inflammation of the lungs, affections of the bowels and 
 heart, and in one case cerebral affection. 
 
 The vicissitudes of temperature are reported to have affected these people a good deal. 
 
 On inspection I find them almost all healthy and robust, apparently well adapted for 
 agricultural labour; six only are reported as requiring to go to hospital. 
 
 The 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 139 
 
 The accommodations of the ship are good, with the exception of deficient aeration between TRINIDAD, 
 
 decks. Additional ventilating tubes and side ports are wanting. Nevertheless, the com- 
 
 paratively small mortality among the immigrants, and their present satisfactory condition, I 
 consider to be creditable to the officers of the ship. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 The Hon. James L. Wildman, (signed) Thos. Anderson, -m-n., 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. Inspector of Health of Shipping. 
 
 ~- No. 2. — 
 (No. 30.) - 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the Governor Lord 
 
 Duke of Nemastle. SurofNewcastle. 
 
 Trinidad, 22 March 1853. " ^^'•'='' ^»53- 
 (Received, 23 April 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, 
 
 I HAVE the honour to forward for your approval an ordinance, entitled an • ^ 
 Ordinance * "for the better Government of Chinese immigrants introduced at p. ig'^Ppen^i 
 the public expense." ~~ — ^' *' 
 
 It was deemed advisable to pass this ordinance, inasmuch as the conditions 
 of the contracts which were entered into with the Chinese immigrants lately 
 arrived in this colony did not altogether agree with the terms specified in the 
 General Immigration Ordinance. 
 
 The principle adopted is very similar to that embodied in the above-mentioned 
 ordinance, there being only some few alterations in detail, which will facilitate the 
 working of the law, and which are fully in accordance with the contract made by 
 the Chinese to work under the directions of the agent general of immigrants for 
 five years. 
 
 I now wish to draw your Grace's attention to one or two circumstances respect- 
 ing the arrangements which have been entered into respecting these people. 
 
 1. I should notice the contract, of which I forward a copy, which you will see 
 is made for immigrants going to British Guiana, and which, though altered in one 
 place is left incorrect in another. 
 
 2. I would call your attention to a copy of a statement of Captain Noble, the 
 master of the vessel which conveyed these immigrants to this island. 
 
 By this it appears that they might be brought here for 12 I., or at most 13 /., 
 whereas the contract made with Messrs. Hyde & Hodge amounts to 100 
 dollars. 
 
 Now Messrs. Hyde & Hodge may be very respectable persons, and it may be 
 very obtuse in me not to see the advantage of making them so handsome a present, 
 but whether it be so or not, I would most seriously represent to your Grace, for the 
 sake of any measures you may yourself adopt in respect to this immigration, that 
 this colony is not in a position to throw away 7,000 I. or 8,000 /. (which would be 
 the case if the 1,000 Chinese expected, are brought on the same terms) for nothing, 
 or for a purpose which its own paid agent could do equally well. 
 
 For I should observe that this vessel was not sent out from England, but was 
 taken up in China. 
 
 Again, the system which, by Captain Noble's account, is carried on whilst ship- 
 ping the Chinamen, would appear to require very considerable improvement. 
 
 Advances, varying from 9 to 12 dollars per head, have been made by the agent 
 
 of Messrs. Hyde & Hodge, at Amoy, to each immigrant, which sums are to be re- 
 
 986. paid 
 
140 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 TRI NID AD, pai^ by a reduction from their wages ; but it appears very doubtful whether they 
 understand the nature of the advance, more especially as they were plundered of 
 the whole of it before leaving China. 
 
 This gives me considerable cause for anxiety, and may originate difficulties which 
 may be troublesome to overcome. 
 
 I am, moreover, placed in a very great difficulty, as no interpreters were brought 
 by the vessel, so that we are positively without any means of communication with 
 the Chinamen. 
 
 I cannot, but regret to have to call your attention to these points, which 
 show an utter want of organization in China, for the purposes of emigration 
 there, which I should have thought, after the experience gained in Indian emigra- 
 tion, might have been easily arranged. 
 
 The planters are highly pleased with the Chinamen, and universally consider 
 them far superior to any labourers they have ever received, and it will be most 
 unfortunate if any discontent should arise from circumstances over which we in this 
 colony had no control. 
 
 Captain Noble, in another statement made by him, says, " The different articles 
 of clothing, furnished in retail, such as caps, jackets, trowsers, &c., cost 20 to 25 
 cents ; and in wholesale for a large number the equipment of each person would not 
 amount to more than one dollar." 
 
 The food, consisting principally of coarse rice, is sold at a very moderate rate, and 
 for a large shipment, would not cost, including clothes, more than 1 I. sterling per 
 head. 
 
 Messrs. Tait received 2 ?. sterling head money, and paid the coolie brokers 
 one doUar a head. 
 
 These coolie brokers accompained the labourers to the ship, and when the 
 latter got their bounty, relieved them of it to such an extent, that I do not 
 believe that more than 5 per cent, of the immigrants retained a single dolkr. 
 
 The only article they appear to have received in return was from 50 to ] 00 
 oranges each. 
 
 The English Consul refused to sign the ship's papers because he had no 
 authority to do so from his own Gavemment ; the refusal was unconnected 
 with any immigration agency. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Harris. 
 
INTHODUCEU INTO BRITISH GUUNA AND TRINIDAD. 141 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 2. 
 
 (Nq. 18.) 
 
 I, Dee Ts^NG, native of the village of Set Tin, in the province of Fokien, in China, of the j-^^] , ;,^ jr^, ^ 
 ageof 19 years, have agreed to embark in the vessel " Australia," with the object of pro- " ' 
 
 ceeding to the colony of British Guiana, obliging myself from and after my arrival to dedi- 
 cate myself there to the orders of the Honourable the immigration agent of that colony, to 
 whatever class of labour I may be destined, whether in plantations or other estates, during 
 the customary hours of work in that colony, or even at other than plantation labour, as 
 may be most convenient to the Honourable the emigration agent, or whoever may become 
 the holder of this engagement; and to perform said work for four dollars of salary monthly, 
 maintenance of eight ounces of beef, 1 1 lbs. of other alimentary food daily, medical assistance 
 and medicines, two suits of clothes, one blanket, and one flannel shirt annually, it being 
 agreed that in case of sickness, should it exceed 15 days, my salary will be suspended until 
 I return to work, continuing in the meanwhile to receive medicines and medical attendance ; 
 or in place of all the foregoing, that I shall receive six dollars per month, and find myself 
 in all provisions and other necessaries, fulfilling these obligations for the space of five 
 years continuous, which are fixed for the term of this engagement, during which it shall 
 not be permitted me to leave the colony, nor deny my services to the persons to whom this 
 engagement may be transferred; at the end of that period I shall be at liberty to act as may 
 seem to me best. My passage and maintenance on board of said vessel shall be on account 
 of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., from whom I confess having received, by Messrs. Tait & 
 Co., the sum of 9| dollars in silver for my outfit for said voyage, and also two suits of new 
 clothes with which to land, amounting to two dollars, on condition that both sums, 11 J 
 dollars, I shall pay in Trinidad to the order of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. by one dollar 
 monthly, which shall be deducted from my salary by the Honourable the immigration agent, 
 or the persons to whom this engagement may be transferred, it being understood that on no 
 other-plea whatever shall anything be deducted from my wages ; and in faith of fulfilling 
 punctually this said obligation, I signed in Nanwa, this the 10th day of December 1852. 
 
 It is understood that the salary agreed shall commence to run from within 24 hours 
 after landing at Trinidad, unless both parties agree to cancel this agreement after arrival 
 there. 
 
 986. 
 
 X 
 
142 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 
 
 
 
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INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 143 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 2. 
 
 Owners of the ship " Australia," Messrs. Charles Moore & Co., No. 9, Rumford-place, 
 Liverpool, receive for each immigrant landed alive 10 Z. sterling, the ship finding water and 
 fuel only. 
 
 My opinion is, that those men can be brought to this island, including all expenses, for 
 12/. per head, as 1 should suppose that an average passage for such vessels as are now in 
 our employ, should not exceed, under any ordinary circumstances, 80 days from China. 
 
 The bounty received by each Chinaman previous to embarking, viz., ^. 9. 50 was inva- 
 riably taken from them by the coolie brokers who engaged them. This wholesale robbery 
 greatly enhances the probability of mutiny on board the vessels taking them. 
 
 Trinidad. (signed) John Nohle, Commander 
 
 Ship " Australia." 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 End. 2, in No. 2. 
 
 (No: 47.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the Duke of 
 Neivcastle. 
 
 Trinidad, 22 April 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, (Received 19 May 1663.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour herewith to forward to you a report, which I directed the 
 agent general of immigrants to compile for the purpose of forwarding, as it 
 appeared probable that you would be desirous of possessing early information^ of 
 the state and condition of the Chinese who have arrived in this colony. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (signed) Harris: 
 
 No. 3- 
 Governor Lord 
 Harris to the Duke 
 of Newcastle. 
 22 April 1853. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 3. 
 
 Immigration Office, 
 Sir, 14 April 1853. 
 
 I H AVE the honour to state, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that on 
 Tuesday the 12th instant, Mr. Aynsley, agent of the firm of Messrs. Miles &. Kington, called 
 at this office, and reported that the Chinese immigrants located on the Cavoni estates had 
 refused to receive theh" montlily pay ' of three round dollars, as per agreement signed at 
 Namoa ; they insisted on receiving four round dollars, and alleged that their countryrnen 
 on other estates had received the same sum. Taking the two interpreters, I accompanied 
 Mr. Aynsley to the estates in question. We called first at Barataria, and there ascertained 
 that the people had been paid four dollars each. On their agreements being explained, they 
 immediately went, to their rooms and brought back the dollar for the monthly repayment of 
 the advance at Namoa. They did so with complete goodwill. On the Cavoni estates, after 
 a similar explanation, four dollars were handed to each man, he retained three, and gave one 
 to me. Notwithstanding the interpreter telling them the sick people would be paid in their 
 own houses, they (the sick) came up either alone, or assisted by their friends, to the manager's 
 dwelHno- to be paid, an imprudence which may cost some of them their lives. On the 
 Curepe the people had been paid four dollars each ; they asserted that the money being 
 already spent, they could not repay at the moment, but would do so next pay day. 
 
 Yesterday I visited with the interpreters the two remaining estates in this district on 
 which Chinese were located; they had been already paid at the rate of three dollars per 
 month. A marked improvement had taken place in the amount of labour performed since 
 the first visit which I had the honour to report. 
 
 On the Orange Grove every man but two had fini&hed this task on Tuesday. 
 Sickness still continues to a considerable extent, and the labour of the new immigrant 
 cannot be rated on an average at less than Is. 3d. per task. They are fond of good living, 
 and many purchased poultry with their money. 
 
 The prevailing sickness is, I apprehend, not altogether due to the accident of their being 
 new-comers, as on inquiry 1 found that the average of serious attacks amonast the native 
 peasantry and coolies had been greater than for many previous months. I have not yet 
 been able to visit the Camden estate in Gonoa, to which a lot of Chinese were assigned, but 
 I have this day learned from the house of Messrs. Hume, Bernard & Co., the town agent, 
 that, with the exception of sickness to a considerable extent, they are doing well. 
 
 With regard to Cedros, the remaining locality, where two large lots have been assigned^ 
 I have much pleasure in annexing the following copy of the warden's report. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Henry Mitchell, 
 The Hon. James S. Wildman, Acting Agent-General of Immigrants. 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 1, in No. 3. 
 
 986. 
 
 Sir, 
 
144 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 TRINIDAD. Sir, St. Marie Estate, 11 April 1853. 
 
 Knowing your anxiety regarding the Chinese immigrants, I beg to state that they are 
 
 superior to any immigrants I have yet had under my charge ; they are more intelligent and 
 tractable than the African, and cleanlier, healthier, and stronger, than the coolie. 
 They are also giving Mr. Watson, at St. John's, satisfaction. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Henry Mitchell, Esq., (signed) Andrew Wyllie, 
 
 Actiiig Agent-General of Immigrants. Warden. 
 
 Sir, Craignish Estate, 16 April 1853. 
 
 I AM iu receipt of your note of the 15th instant, regarding a return of my Chinese immi- 
 grants. I received 23, numbered as follows : 50, 265, 43, 132, 255, 134, 242, 4, 237, 356, 
 269, 46, 132, 244, 153, 223, 122, 27, 28, 35, 446, 38, 397. These people are now all in 
 good health. Two days after they arrived on the estate I put them out to gang-work, to 
 weed young canes, at which they continued, under the superintendence of an overlooker, for 
 three weeks ; daring that time one was employed cooking for the others, and one was off 
 duty'forlO days frotn a cut on the sole of the foot, and another two days from having been 
 stung by a scorpion. At the end of the three weeks I tried them with task-work, but as 
 I was not so much satisfied with their work in that way, I again put them into gang-work. 
 As I have kept no exact account of the cost of the blankets, clothing, and provisions I have 
 giv^n them, I cannot inform of the cost of a task or day's work, but from a calculation 
 I have made I think their labour cost me about 60 cents per day. I am, however, decidedly 
 of opinion that they will shortly be very much reduced; and as to their general capacity, 
 I must say, that during upwards of 30 years' experience as a practica:l planter in this island, 
 I never saw people more wiUing to do their work than these men, and if they continue a,s 
 they are now doing, L have no doubt but they will be the best immigrant labourers we have 
 ever had in Trinidad. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Henry Mitchell, Esq., (signed) Colin Campbell. 
 
 Acting Agent-General of Immigrants. 
 
 Sir, Immigration Office, 20 April 1853. 
 
 I HAVE further the honour to report that since the precedinu; statement was written, I 
 visited the ,Camden estate, on which 26 Chinese are located ; as will be perceived by the 
 proprietor's return, their behaviour and work was of a sufficifutly promising nature. 
 
 In the Napaima's, where the prevalence of much sickness existed 10 days previously, I 
 have to report complete convalescence ; with few exceptions nearly all are at work ; this was 
 particularly the case at William's Ville and Garth. There was only one estate on which 
 there was an evident determination not to work, named the Friendship. A fight had taken 
 place on the previous day (Sunday), between the Creoles and Chinese, in which two of the 
 latter and one of the former were wounded on the head, with sticks. It was evidently a 
 drunken affray, but after a careful investigation of several hours before three justices, the 
 evidence was so little reliable, as to necessitate the leaving the matter to the judgment of 
 the stipendiary justice at his visit on the ensuing Friday. It appeared to me that there was 
 a misunderstanding between the superintendent and the new labourers, but as we could not 
 ascertain its nature, I advised Mr. Begg, the proprietor, before proceeding to extreme 
 measures, to shift the people and give them atrial on the William's Ville, one of his 
 other estates in the neighbourhood, where a set of Chineste were working well, as per 
 following report : — 
 
 Extract of Report on Chinese, from John Harris, Esq., William's Ville Estate. 
 
 Sir, 16 April 1853. 
 
 I am in receipt of your communication respecting the Chinese, and in reply, beg to state 
 that as inunigrants they are in a fair position, and stand in about the same ratio as the 
 coolies. 
 
 I have not the least doubt in my own mind that they will prove equally valuable; they 
 are at present more expensive, but with judicious management that will be soon got 
 over. On this property they have been sickly for some time, but now all are at work save 
 two, one of whom was hurt accidentally.^ 
 
 The deaths on this estate since 1845, have been four coohes in 1846 and in 1847; 
 there have been none since. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) John Harris. 
 
 It is to be remarked regarding this estate that the total number of emigrants received 
 since 1846 to date, has been 250; of these many who prqpose returning shortly to 
 Calcutta, have been six years on the estate, have been regularly industrious, and for the 
 most part are suflSiciently wealthy to retire to India with a competency. 
 
 Mr. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 145 
 
 Mr. Tloston, of Camden, Caraccas and Susannah estates, writes as follows :— TRINIDAD. 
 
 My dear Sir, — — 
 
 The following statement is the expense of one month's labour of the 25 Chinese immi- 
 grants allotted to me : — 
 
 Cash paid for one month's wages 
 50 lbs. of rice - _ _ 
 
 Fish and pork - _ _ 
 Medical attendance 
 One blanket - _ _ 
 
 Proportion of Government bounty 
 
 $. c. 
 
 4 - 
 2 - 
 
 - 60 
 
 - 33 
 52 
 80 
 
 8 26 
 
 I had for these $ 8. 22 c. an average of 22 days' work from each, which makes an 
 average for one day s labour 37^ c. With regard to their conduct, health, &c. I beg leave 
 to report, ' ,=" 
 
 That they are a set of very good, obedient and hard-working labourers. That during the 
 whole month there were only two of them sick; one is asthmatic and incurable; the other 
 was a case of sore throat, with fever, now recovered. 
 
 Not one has had even a chigoe. 
 
 That they appear to be well contented, and are as pleased with me as I am with them. 
 
 That the only difficulty 1 have is the want of an interpreter, and I am of opinion that aa 
 soon as I can make myself understood by them they will be as good, if not better, than 
 the coolies, and that 1 have a most sanguine hope of their being in a very short time the 
 best lot of labourers we have in Trinidad. I also take the liberty to state that during the 
 three years I have resided on this estate the average number of coolies I had in my employ- 
 ment was 48, sometimes more, sometimes less; and that during the said three years there 
 was not a single death among them. Creoles was 11. 
 
 That on the two upper estates, Susannah and Caracas, during the same period there 
 were no deaths ; the number of coolies on the two estates being 80 to 90. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. James S. Wildma», (signed) T. Rostant. 
 
 Acting Agent-General. 
 
 On the Orange Grove estate, where as has been already stated, they give satisfaction, 
 the total expense of 25 for the first month was 1. 185. 55 c. ; 7 $. 50 c. per head. 
 
 The following is a communication of an earlier date from Mr. James Taylor, of Broomage 
 
 estate : 
 
 Dear Sir, Broomage Estate, 26 March 1853. 
 
 I, duly received your much esteemed communication, regarding the then expected Chinese 
 immigrants, and before I had an opportunity of replying, I had the satisfaction of receiving 
 the allotment of these people sent to this estate. 
 
 To your observation, and to the remarks quoted in the Port of Spain Gazette, I gave it 
 full consideration, and you may rest assured that as far as in me lies I will cordially 
 co-operate in trying to render Chinese immigrants successful. I fully concur with you in 
 thinking that their introduction into this colony is likely to tend moie to its stable pros- 
 perity than anything that has hitherto occurred. 
 
 From the short experience I have had of these people I like them exceedingly, and I 
 have very little hesitation in predicting that in a short time they will be the most efficient 
 labourers we have. They appear to have the strength to do all kinds of work required of 
 them, and at present they exhibit a ready will to try anything they are told to do ; they 
 jump at the first call, and the merry noisy way in which they tumble out to their work 
 reminds me of the "scaling" of a school. It is a pity that there is no interpreter to visit 
 the estate occasionally, yet, I think, they will soon be able to make themselves understood ; 
 not being clogged with the trammels of caste they mix more freely than the coolies with the 
 Creoles, who say of them they are not so "cornful" as the coolies. I have tried them at 
 most kind of work and they gave me every satisfaction ; this week I gave them tasks, 70 feet 
 square to weed, they all finished, and some of them by noon. I have been expecting to 
 see you here for some time. I wished to make application to you for 25 more, either Chinese 
 or coolies, but I would much prefer the former. I have joined Mr. Lambie in the Buen 
 Intento estate, and wished them for that property ; if you can give me an allotment every 
 care shall be taken of them ; they will be solely under my own control, as I intend to manage 
 the estate myself for the wet season. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Henry Mitchell, Esq., * (signed) J. Taylor. 
 
 Acting Agent-general of Immigrants. 
 
 Should the remaining returns be sent in before the packet sails their substance will be 
 
 annexed to this report. The general conduct of the indented coolies gives satisfaction. 
 
 During the last three months no complaint worthy of notice has been made by either 
 
 : g86. Y 2 employer 
 
146 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 TRINIDAD., employer or labourer, and of the latter whose time has expired and are anxious for a retum 
 ■ passage few leave the estates mentioned in their certificates. 
 
 The coolies who arrived this year are. also working well, and the amounts due for premium 
 on each lot have been paid up, with the exception of one sent to Harmony Hall and a gang 
 of Chinamen to Macoya. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. J. S. Wildman, (signed) Hy. Mitchell, 
 
 Acting Agent-general. Acting Agent-general of Immigrants. 
 
 Sir, Broomage Estate, 20 April 1853. 
 
 In compliance with your request in your note of 15th instant, I here furnish you with 
 a reply to the queries regarding the Chinese immigrants allotted to this estate : 
 
 1. I received 23 coolies, all in good health but one, who has not yet worked, but is now 
 convalescent ; they were all afflicted with a sort of itch during the first month ; a little 
 medical treatment, assisted by their own habits of personal cleanlines.s, soon got rid of it.j 
 they are now all in good health and excellent spirits. 
 
 2. I kept no regular account of their work during the first month, but every one (save 
 the sick ones, and there was very little sickness amongst them) worked every working day ; 
 they did a good day's work; they took pains to do their work well, and they work with 
 such a cheerful willingness as cannot but give great satisfaction to employers generally. 
 
 3. One man (who came sick upon the estate) has not yet worked ; another was laid up for 
 more than the half of the month. 
 
 4. The money wages and allowances of food will amount to mdre than 30 cents per head 
 daily (day's work), and besides I furnished them each with a blanket, a tin pan, a pot, a hat, 
 knives, forks, and spoons, a hoe, cutlass, medical attendance, and a nurse ; also duty on 
 assignments, all this put together will make their labour very expensive for the first month ; 
 but if at the expiration of three months they are to be put on a footing with the other 
 labourers, not only will we be indemnified by having so effective a supply of continuous 
 labour, but the people themselves will be more industrious and comfortable ; as for two 
 tasks they will get double wages, and they will have their own gardens, pigs, poultry, &c. 
 
 There have been no deaths simongst the Chinese immigrants on this estate, and for 
 upwards of four years there has not been a death on this estate nmongst the coolies. 
 
 If the very objectionable condition of the Chinese agreements, that they aretq-r ceive 
 pay as well as be fed when Sick, were done away with, and if they were put on the same 
 footing as other new immigrants, I would greatly prefer them to any labourers we have. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) J. Taylor. 
 
 Macoya Return. 
 
 NiMETEEN Chinese, for the month ending 10th April, cost 199 dollars, or $. 10. 40. each. 
 The monthly rate on this estate is high, from the circumstances of one having died, and the 
 remainder having lost 163 days by sicknsss. 
 
 Their daily work averages" 15 cents. 
 
 Sir, Garth Estate, 19 April 1853. 
 
 I AM in receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, and in reply besi to inform you that 
 I leceived on the 10th March 24 Chinese labourers, of these two have died. The quantity 
 of days' work and tasks from the whole amount to 572, which, at a total expense of 163 
 dollars lor sick inclusive, gives an average of a little over 30 cents per day. I am of opi- 
 nion that the climate had nothing to do with their sickness on arrival here. Sea scunry 
 broke out on many, as well as sore legs. The two deaths were from dysentery and fever, 
 which, I may remark, were generally prevalent among the Creoles on the estate at the 
 same period ; 17 of the Chinese were seriously indisposed. As a lubouring class they are, 
 in my opinion, equal to any introduced into the colony. The principal difficulty was that 
 regarding the language. 
 
 In reply to your last quaery, as to how many coolies I have received on Garth estate, and 
 how many have died, I have to state as follows: on the 28th February 1846, 26 coolies; 
 on the 6th May 1846, 25 coolies; one of the last died within 10 days after arrival, of 
 dysentery; on the 19th June 1847, 27 Madras coolies, who all ran away as soon as the 
 coolie ordinance was disallowed at home— (Mciw. I never got back my 54 Z. sterling from 
 Government House); on the 13th March 1852, 15 coolies, who are all alive ; and on the 
 6th June 1852, 10 coolies, one of whom came in a dying state, and only survived 10 days. 
 
 I have had many coolies from other estates, but the deaths abovementioned are all thai 
 occurred here, namely, two coolies and two Chinese. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Henry Mitchell, Esq., (signed) Wm. Taylor. 
 
 Acting Agent-general of Immigrants. 
 
 22 April 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 147 
 
 22 April 1853.— -I have further received a verbal report from the manager of the Jordan TRINIDAD. 
 
 Hill Estate, on which one of the largest Chinese gangs is located. The people, though 
 
 somewhat expensive, are giving full satisfaction, being both intelligent and willing; they, 
 like nearly all the rest, have laid out most of their month's pay in poultry, pigs, and 
 clothing — tastes which will tend fully as much to the general welfare of the colony as to 
 their own comfort, and are likely to prove their best chance of escape from rum drinking, for 
 which they show a rather stronger predilection than might have been predicated from tea- 
 drinkers. 
 
 (signed) H. M. 
 
 — N0.4.— 
 (No. 59.) 
 
 Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the ^ ^^'^ 4- 
 
 i^ 1 jf -AT .1 tTOvernor Lord 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. Harris to the Duke 
 
 Trinidad, 7 May 1853. ^-^^^'^r^- 
 My Lord Duke, (Received 31 May 1853.) ? '"J" •'■^• 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report the arrival here of the ship " Clarendon," on the 
 -23(1 of last month with 251 Chinesemefi. 
 
 I enclose the reports of the health officer and of the agent general of immi- 
 grants. 
 
 I send also a copy of one of the agreements which had been entered into with 
 Ihese men. 
 
 There are two points in these agreements which I wish to bring to your Grace's 
 notice, as they both tend greatly to diminish the advantage of this immigration. 
 
 The first is, that these people are allowed to remain 13 days in the hos- 
 pital at a time, and not lose their pay, so that a man may secure the whole of his 
 month's wages by working only three days, and by remaining in hospital the rest 
 of the time. 
 
 The second is of greater importance, and the untoward consequences of the 
 arrangement are not to be got over. It is, that by the contract an engagement 
 is made to pay five dollars a month to these people. 
 
 By this Act I have been placed io a most awkward predicament, and was at one 
 time at a loss to know what I should do with the cargo, for the planters at first 
 declined to take them at a higher rate than those which had previously arrived, 
 who receive four dollars, and the Chinese stoutly refiised to take less than had been 
 agreed on. A number of the agents and proprietors of estates came forward with 
 great spirit and divided the cargo amongst them, whether they needed them or not, 
 and relieved me of the difficulty. 
 
 I do not know who may have been the actual author of this very careless 
 arrangement. So far as I can gather it appears to have been left to the dis- 
 cretion of some agent at two or three removes of Messrs. Hyde k Hodge, who 
 commissioned the captain of the vessel to make the bargain, and that the rate 
 might have been even higher, had he pleased to raise it. 
 
 He appears at all events to have been quite unconscious of one very necessary 
 element of the labour question, which is, that there should not only be a supply 
 but that the rate of payment should be such as will aiford a prospect of remu- 
 neration to the employer, and which will not upset the arrangements already 
 entered into with the rest of the population. 
 
 There is at present not only the probability that all the Chinamen who had 
 previously arrived will be dissatisfied unless they receive the same rate of wages, 
 but that discontent will be aroused amongst the rest of the population, Indians, 
 Africans and Creoles. 
 
 The difficulty is aggrava;ted in consequence of the non-arrival of vessels to 
 lake the coolies whose term of, five years has expired, so tha,t there exists a 
 larger number of immigrants than was expected at the time when the calcur 
 lations for the necessary supply for this year was made. 
 
 It is very disagreeable to me to feel it my duty so frequently to point out 
 defects in the manner in which the immigration to this colony is conducted, 
 and I am aware how easy it is for those inexperienced in the difficulties of 
 any particular case to find fault ; at the same time it is a cause of great dis- 
 appointment to me, after having been toiling at this business for six and a half 
 
 q86. Y 3 years, 
 
 * 
 
TRINIDAD. 
 
 148 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 years, and after having accomplished a successful result, for it was working admir- 
 ably, and as smoothly as a well-kept engine, with both proprietors and labourers 
 satisfied and contented, to see its stability risked by such careless treatment. 
 
 I am, however, not unprepared with a remedy, for I feel certain that the im- 
 migration to this island could be carried on without a difficulty by merely the two 
 present loan agents, and an agent in London, and one agent in India, and another 
 in China, 
 
 I may add, that the additional dollar granted to this batch of Chinamen, will be 
 an increase of expense to the planters of 13,000/,, supposing, which will probably 
 be the case, that the wages of the whole body will have to be raised ; a fact 
 which at once shows the necessity for caution in arrangements of this nature. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) , Harris. 
 
 End. 1, in No. 4. 
 
 Enclosure 1, in No. 4. 
 
 Port of Spain, 30 April 1853, 
 Report on the Immigrants by the Ship "Clarendon," which arrived at Trinidad from 
 
 Whampoa on the 23d April 1853. 
 
 Name of the Master - - . - - - - George Bilton. 
 
 Name of the Surgeon - - _ . _ Edward Patrel. 
 
 Date of Departure - - - - - -29 December 1853, 
 
 Number of Days on the Voyage - - - - 114. 
 
 Registered Tonnage - - - - - -550. 
 
 Superficies of Passengers' Deck - - - - — 
 
 Number of Statu:te Adults admissible - - - — 
 Number of such Adults actually on board - - 251. 
 Number of Crew __---- 20. 
 
 Port at which Vessel touched - - - - St. Helena. 
 
 Date of touching ------ 25 March 1853,. 
 
 Days there __-----2 days. 
 
 If placed in Quarantine, state the Cause - - — 
 
 Emigrants Embarked. 
 
 Births on 
 
 the 
 Voyage. 
 
 Deaths on the Voyage . 
 
 Emigrants XtBixAe^^ 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children 
 under 14. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Adults, 
 
 Children. 
 
 Adulti. 
 
 Children 
 under 14. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 254 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 254 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 3 
 
 - - 
 
 f - 
 
 - - 
 
 251 
 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 251 
 
 The above Immigrants were in excellent order except one consumptive and one acci- 
 dentally hurt a few days previous to landing. 
 
 (signed) Hi/. Mitchell, 
 Government Immigration Agent. 
 
 End. 2, in No, 4. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 4. 
 
 Sir, Port of Spain, 23 April 1851, 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency Lord Harris, that I 
 
 visited oflBcially this morning the immigrant ship " Clarendon," from Whampoa, in the 
 
 Canton river. 
 
 This ship took on board &t that place 254 Chinese immigrants, of which number 
 
 three died on the passage hither; one case from dysentery, and two of fever of complicated 
 
 type- 
 
 These immigrants present almost without exception a healthy and robust appearance, 
 only one of the whole number requiring to go to hospital ; this is a case of pulmonary 
 consumption in the first stage of the disease. 
 
 The 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 14^ 
 
 The ailments on the passage were trifling, mostly cutaneous affections, yielding to an 
 appropriate treatment. 
 
 The accommodations of the ship are unexceptionable. 
 
 It is proper to state, that in addition to the deaths among the immigrants, the first mate 
 of the ship died on the passage from dysentery. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Thos. Ande7'son,M.ii., 
 The Honourable James L. Wildman, Inspector of Health of Shipping. 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 TRIKII>AD. 
 
 Enclosure 3, in No. 4. 
 
 I, A. Gqung, native of the village of , in the province 
 
 ^f Q"^"t"i>g>^ in China, of the age of 28 years, have agreed to embark in the vessel 
 "Clarendon," with the object of proceeding to the colony of Trinidad, obhging myself from 
 and after my arrival to dedicate myself there to the orders of the Honourable the Immigra- 
 tion agent of that colony, to whatever class of labour I may be destined, whether in planta- 
 tions, or other estates, during the customary hours of work in that colony, or even at other 
 than plantation labour, as may be most convenient to the Honourable the Immigration 
 Agent, or whoever may become the holder of this engagement, and to perform said work 
 for five dollars of salary monthly, maintenance of eight ounces of beef, one and a half pounds 
 of other alimentary food daily, medical assistance and medicines, two suits of clothes, one 
 blanket and one flannel shirt annually, it being agreed that in case of sickness, should it 
 exceed 15 days, my salary will be suspended until I return to work, continuing in the 
 meanwhile to receive medicines and medical attendance; or, in place of all the foregoing, 
 that I shall receive seven dollars per month, and find myself in all provisions and other 
 necessaries, fulfilling these obligations for the space of five years continuous, which are 
 fixed for the term of this engagement, during which it shall not be permitted me to leave the 
 colony, nor deny my services to the persons to whom this engagement may be transferred ; at 
 the end of that period I shall be at liberty to act as may seem to me best. My passage and 
 maintenance on board of said vessel shall be on account of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., 
 from whom I confess having received by Messrs. Turner & Co. the sum of 10 dollars in 
 silver for my outfit for said voyage, and also two suits of new clothes with which to land, 
 amounting to , on condition that 
 
 said dollars I shall pay in to the order of Messrs. Hyde, 
 
 Hodge & Co., by one dollar monthly, which shall be deducted from my salary by the 
 Honourable the Immigration agent, or the persons to whom this engagement may be trans- 
 ferred, it being understood that on no other plea whatever shall anything be deducted from 
 my wages; and in faith of fulfilling punctually this said obligation I signed in Whampoa, 
 this the 28th day of December 1852. 
 
 It is understood that the salary agreed shall commence to run from within 24 hours 
 after landing at Trinidad, unless both parties agree to cancel this agreement after arrival 
 there. 
 
 End. 3, in No. 4- 
 
 — No. 5.— 
 (No. 84.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the 
 
 Duke of JVezvcastle. 
 
 Trinidad, 4 July 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, (Received 1 August 1853.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report to your Grace the arrival of the " Lady Flora 
 Hastings " with 306 CHinaAien. 
 
 Copies of the reports of the health officer and of the agent general of immi- 
 grants are enclosed. 
 
 I have again to complain to your Grace about this vessel having arrived here 
 without an interpreter. 
 
 The difficulties which have occurred in consequence of this unaccountable neglect 
 have been and are very great. 
 
 We have but one interpreter, procured unexpectedly from a coolie's ship, in 
 which he was engaged as carpenter, and he is now almost worn out from having 
 so constantly to run about the country from one police station to another. 
 
 The captain of " The Lady Flora Hastings " informs me that he could have 
 brought any number of interpreters, speaking English well, from Hong Kong. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Harris. 
 
 No. 5. 
 Governor Lord 
 Harris to the Duke 
 of Newcastle. 
 4 July 1853. 
 
 986. 
 
 Y4 
 
 Enclosure 
 
TRINIDAD. 
 
 End. i,in No. 5. 
 
 150 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Enclosure I, in No. 5. 
 
 Sir, Port of Spain, 28 June 1853. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency Lord Harris, that L 
 visited this day the immigrant ship " Lady Flora HastingSj" out i07 days from Amoy, 
 having touched at St. Helena, with Chinese coolies on board. This vessel received on 
 board 316 immigrants, all from 14 to 40 years of age, of wliich number nine have died on 
 the passage ; three from fever, two from dysentery, one from inflammation of the lungs, 
 one from scurvy, also two from sudden affections of the head ; cutaneous affections and 
 bowel complaints prevailed on the passage. 
 
 The doctor reports eight lequiring to go to hospital, none of them acute cases; there 
 are two Chinese doctors on board appointed to attend the sick, in addition to the ship 
 surgeon. 
 
 These immigrants are, without exception, strong and healthy, and are in the highest 
 spirits ; the captain states, that he found them tractable and well conducted ; the accommo- 
 dations on board for the immigrants are very good. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Thos. Anderson, m.d., 
 The Honourable Thomas F. Johnston, Inspector of Health of Shipping. 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 2, in No. 5. 
 
 Enclosure 2, in No. 5. 
 
 Port of Spaip, 8 July 1863. 
 Report on the Immigrants by the Ship " Lady Flora Hastings," which arrived at Trinidad" 
 
 from Namoa on the 28th June 1853. 
 
 Name of the Master W. Wild. 
 
 Name of the Surgeon --__-_ G.W.Nichols. 
 
 Date of Departure ------- ll March 1853. 
 
 Number of Days on the Voyage _ - _ - 108. 
 
 Registered Tonnage ------- 674. 
 
 Superficies of Passengers' Deck - - - - — 
 
 Number of Statute Adults admissible - - - — 
 
 Number of such Adults actually on board - - - 305. 
 
 Number of Crew ------- 22. 
 
 Port at which Vessels touched - - - - - St. Helena. 
 
 Date of touching ------- 31 May 1863. 
 
 Days there -------- One. 
 
 If placed in Quarantine, state the Cause - - - Nil. 
 
 
 BIrtbs on 
 
 
 
 
 Emigrants. Embarked. 
 
 the 
 
 Deaths on the Vojrage. 
 
 Emigrants Landed. 
 
 
 
 Voyage. 
 
 
 
 
 
 CWldren 
 
 
 
 
 
 Children 
 
 
 Children 
 
 
 Adults. 
 
 under 14. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 under 14. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 under 14. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 314 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 314 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 9 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 - - 
 
 305 
 
 - - 
 
 305 
 
 - - 
 
 306 
 
 These immigrants were all landed in excellent condition, except 12 sent to hospital, chiefly- 
 cases of scurvy, complicated with rheumatic pains. 
 
 (signed) Hy. Mitchell, 
 ' Agent-general of Immigrants. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 151 
 
 (No. 87.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH 
 
 —^ No, 6. — 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 from Governor Lord Harris to his Grace the 
 Duke of Neivcastle. 
 
 Trinidad, 7 July 1853. 
 My Lord Duke, (Received 1 August 1853.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to forward to your Grace a copy of a resolution passed at the 
 last meeting of the Legislative Council of this colony, which is to the effect that 
 300 Chinese should be imported next year, in addition to the 1,000 coolies. 
 
 The intention of this resolution is to show that there is no desire on the part of 
 this colony to relinquish the Chinese immigration, but that if the funds for immi- 
 gration purposes allow of it, it is thought desirable that the connexion now 
 established should be continued. 
 
 i was requested also to mention to your Grace, that it would be very desirable 
 if half of the number at least could be women. I find from the captain of the 
 " Lady Flora Hastings," who appears very well acquainted with the service, that 
 there would be no difficulty whatever in procuring women, but that to succeed in 
 doing so, it would be necessary to accede to the custom of the coilntry by giving 
 a bonus in money for them. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Harris. 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 Governor Lord 
 Harris to the Duke 
 of Newcastle. 
 7 July 1853. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 6. 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Legislative Council, dated Friday, 1st July 1853. 
 
 Resolved,—" That in addition to the 1,000 coolies to be introduced from India in the year 
 1854, it is expedient also to introduce 300 free labourers from China, such number to include 
 150 females, if procurable." 
 
 End. in No. 6. 
 
 Despatches from the Secretary of State. 
 
 — No. 1.— 
 (No. 15.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 31 January 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, copies of two letters from the 
 Foreign Department forwarding copies of despatches and other documents received 
 from Dr. Bowring, relating to the emigration of Chinese labourers. 
 
 I also enclose a copy of a letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Com- 
 missioners, to whom these papers have been referred. 
 
 JL I13iVGj OtC» 
 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 1. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor Lord 
 Harris. 
 31 January 1853. 
 
 ^ee ,, I0K2 
 1^ 
 
 "t^Ls^^^ 
 
 986. 
 
 — No. 2.— 
 
TRINIDAD. 
 
 No. 2. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor Lord 
 Harris. 
 20 February 1853. 
 
 See V:--"^ 
 
 152 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECiENTLY 
 
 — N0.2.— 
 (No. 23.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Nezvcmtle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing- street, 20 February 1853. 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 31st ultimo, I transmit to you a copy of 
 a letter from the Foreign Department, enclosing copy of a farther one from Dr, 
 Bowring, in reference to the emigration of the Chinese, together with a copy of a 
 report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners on the subject. 
 
 You will examine into and report on the allegations contained in the last para- 
 graph of Dr. Bovwing's letter, as suggested by the CommiBsioners. 
 
 I have, &C. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governor Lord 
 
 Harris. 
 
 22 March 1853. 
 
 febf 
 
 \o3- 
 
 — No, 3. — 
 
 (No. 31.) 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 22 March 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith an extract from a letter from the Colonial Land 
 and Emigration Commissioners, transmitting copies of two letters received from 
 Mr. White, the agent for conducting Chinese emigration, reporting the progress 
 that has been made in despatching emigrants to the West Indies. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 4. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor Lord 
 Harris. 
 24 March 1853. 
 
 
 — No. 4.— 
 (No. 32.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 24 March 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of two further letters 
 from Mr. White, reporting the progress he has made in the despatch of Chinese 
 emigrants to the West Indies. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governor Lord 
 
 Harris. 
 
 20 April 1S53. 
 
 ' Seev:- 
 
 — No. 5. — 
 (No. 41 .) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 20 April 1853. 
 
 " I TRANSMIT to you, foT your information, a copy of a tetter from fee Colonial 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copy of a further retport from Mr. 
 White, on Chinese emigration to the West Indies. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 (signed Newcastle. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 ^53 
 
 — No. 6.— 
 (No. 50.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing- street, 30 May 1853. 
 
 1 TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of communications 
 from Mr. White, on the subject of emigration from China. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 TRINIDAD. 
 
 No. 6. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Governor Lord 
 Harris. 
 30 May 1853. 
 
 — No. 7. — 
 (No. 74.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 29 June 1853. 
 
 1 TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, with copies of two further letters ^5 J,,,,^ 
 from Mr. White, the emigration agent, in China. 
 
 I have instructed the Lieutenant-Governor of British Guiana to provide a 
 passage to Trinidad for the Chinese interpreter, as suggested by the Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No- 7. 
 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governor Lord 
 
 Harris. 
 
 29 June 1853. 
 
 P-128 
 
 — No. 8.— 
 (No. 80.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 13 July 1853. 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 29tb June last. No. 74, I transmit to 
 you herewith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commis- 
 sioners, and I have to acquaint you that in compliance with their recommenda- 
 tion I have instructed the Lieutenant-Governor of British Guiana to -retain the 
 whole of the immigrants' clothing which had been shipped by Mr. White from China, 
 instead of transferring a portion to Trinidad, as originally suggested in their letter 
 of the 15th June. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No, 8. 
 Duke of Newcastle 
 to Guvernor Lord 
 Harris. 
 13 July 1853. 
 
 *' M 
 
 'y 18. 
 
 — No. 9. — 
 (No. 89.) 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Lord Harris. 
 
 My Lord, Downing-street, 16 August 1853. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information, copies of two letters from the 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, reporting that they had been un- 
 able to obtain shipping at a cost not exceeding 100 dollars for the conveyance of 
 Chinese emigrants to Jamaica and British Guiana. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Newcastle. 
 
 No, 9. 
 
 Dukeof Nfiwcastle 
 
 to Governor Lord 
 
 Harris. 
 
 16 August 1853. 
 
 '%.?. 
 
 ~ P- '36. 
 
 986. 
 
 Z 2 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 154 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLT 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Appendix, No. 1. 
 
 British Guiana. — No. 20. — 1851. 
 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 Referred to at p. 27. An ORDINANCE to Provide General Regulations for Immigrants introduced and to be 
 
 introduced into the Colony of British Guiana. 
 
 Ordinance enacted by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in- 
 Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice- Admiral and Ordinary of the same, 
 &c., &c., &c., by and virith the advice and consent of the Honourable the Court of Policy 
 of said Colony. 
 
 To all to whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting ; be it known : — 
 
 Whereas it is necessary to provide 'general regulations for immigrants introduced and to 
 be introduced into the colony of British Guiana : 
 
 1. Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor of British Guiana, with the 
 advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, that the Governor may, from time to time, 
 nominate and appoint some fit and proper person, resident in this colony, to be Agent 
 general of Immigration, who shall be paid annually such salary, not exceeding the sum of 
 2,400 dollars, as the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Court of Policy, shall 
 determine. 
 
 2. And be it enacted, that the said Agent-general shall give to Her Majesty, her heirs, 
 and successors,' good and sufficient security, to be approved of by the Governoi', to the 
 amount of 2,400 dollars, for the due and faithful discharge of the duties of his oflice, and 
 especially for the due application of, and for the rendering true accounts of the due applica- 
 tion of all monies which shall be received by him, or by his order or to his use, in such his 
 capacity of Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 3. And be it enacted, that the Governor, with the advice and consent as aforesaid, 
 may nominate and appoint from time to time one or more sub-agents, residing within the 
 colony, who shall be under the direction and control of the said Agent-general ; and the 
 Governor may allow to each sub-agent remuneration not exceeding the sum of 480 dollars 
 per annum. 
 
 Statement of advan- 4. And be it enacted, that the said Agent-general shall cause to be prepared, once in 
 tages to labourers in every quarter, and oftener, if the Governor shall think fit so to direct, a statement of the 
 
 advantages generally afforded by employers to labourers in this colony, and shall deliver 
 
 the same to the Governor. 
 
 Preamble. 
 
 Governor to appoint 
 Agent-e;eneral of 
 Immigration. 
 
 Agent-general to 
 give secvu:ity. 
 
 Governor to appoint 
 sub-agents. 
 
 tliis colony. 
 
 Kemuneration to 
 agents abroad, how 
 paid. 
 
 Duties of collecting 
 agents. 
 
 What espenses 
 collecting agents 
 may incur. 
 
 5. And be it enacted, that the Governor may, from time to time, pay a proportion of the 
 salary or remuneration granted by Her Majesty to each of such persons as are or may be 
 appointed at places from which emigration may be sanctioned, to superintend the emigration 
 of labourers to any of Her Majesty's colonies in the West Indies and to British Guiana; 
 every such salary or remuneration to be borne by the respective colonies in the proportions 
 in which emigrants may be sent to them respectively. 
 
 6. And be it enacted, that every agent employed to collect immigrants shall use all just 
 and lawful means to procure persons who are agricultural labourers willing to emigrate to 
 this colony, with their wives and children, if any, and shall explain to every such emigrant 
 the real advantages likely to be derived by him from a removal to this colony, and such 
 agent shall also ascertain that every such emigrant is an agricultural labourer in good health, 
 and not incapacitated for agricultural labour by old age, infirmity, or disease. 
 
 7. And be it enacted, that every moderate and necessary expense incurred at any port or 
 place where any such agent is appointed for the collection of emigrants, in conveying 
 emigrants to the port of embarkation, in maintaining them there for a period not exceeding 
 15 days, and in providing them with a supply of clothing as may be requisite for their 
 voyage to this colony, shall be defrayed by such agent, who shall transmit to the Governor 
 of this colony an account thereof duly vouched, showing the particulars of such expenditure, 
 countersigned by the Governor of such place, or by such officer as he may appoint, if the 
 same be a British possession, or by Her Majesty's consul at any foreign port or place, such 
 Governor, officer, or consul, as the case may be, certifying thereby, so far as he knows, that 
 such expenditure has been solely incurred for the purposes aforesaid, or for any of such 
 purposes, and is just andreasonable ; and the Governor of this colony, upon such certificate, 
 
 or 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 155 
 
 •or upon such other evidence as he may deem requisite, shall issue his warrant to the 
 Colonial Receiver-general to pay the amount of such account. 
 
 8 And be it enacted, that upon a vessel with emigrants sailing from any port or place 
 from which emigration is permitted, the agent appointed for any such port or place shall see 
 that all the directions herein contained, and all the provisions of the Act of Parliament, 
 passed in^the session holden in the 12th & 13th years of Her Majesty's reign, chapter 33, 
 mtituled "An Act for regulating the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels," -and known 
 as the " Passengers' Act, 1849," so far as the same may be applicable, have been complied 
 with, and shall grant a certificate thereof in the form annexed marked (A.) under his hand to 
 the master of such vessel, and such agent, before such vessel is cleared out, shall make out 
 a list in writing in the form annexed marked (B.) or such other form as may be most con- 
 venient, together with a duplicate of the same, specifying as accurately as may be, the name, 
 sex, and age of each of the emigrants on board such vessel at her departure, and shall retain 
 such list and shall deliver to the master of the said vessel the duplicate of such list signed 
 by such agent; and the said master shall, on the arrival of such vessel in this colony, and 
 previous to the disembarkation of any emigrant, give notice of the arrival of such vessel, 
 and deliver the said duplicate of such list to the Agent-general of Immigration to this 
 colony. 
 
 9. And be it enacted, that upon the arrival in the c6lony of any vessel having immigrants 
 on board, the Agent-general, accompanied by the health officer of this port, shall forthwith 
 proceed on board of such vessel, and with the assistance of such officer, shall ascertuin, by 
 personal inspection of the vessel and immigrants, whether the provisions of this Ordinance, 
 and also the provisions of the " Passengers' Act, 1849" as far as they may be applicable, 
 have been complied with or not ; and such Agent- general, with such assistance as aforesaid, 
 shall personally muster such immigrants and compare the number and names of such immi- 
 grants with the duplicate list furnished to the master by the agent at the port of embarkation, 
 and shall certify upon such duplicate list the name of the vessel, the total number of immi- 
 grants then living and on board of such vessel, together with the state or condition of each 
 immigrant, his fitness for agricultural labour, and at whose cost and charges the same is 
 imported ; and in case any immigrant shall have died during the passage, or the number or 
 names of the immigrants shall differ from the number and names of the immigrants stated 
 in such duplicate list, the Agent-general shall note such death or difference upon such 
 duplicate list, and thereupon, with the approbation of the Governor, shall grant a licence for 
 the disembarkation and landing of the in^migrants from such vessel : Provided always, that 
 immigrants imported from the Island of Madeira, from any of the Islands of the Azores, 
 Cape de Verd Islands, Canary Islands, and other places of similar distance, may be so 
 imported at the rate of one immigrant for each ton of the measurement of the vessel in 
 which they are imported and no more. 
 
 10. And be it enacted, that such health officer for his assistance and services as aforesaid, 
 shall be allowed the sum of 10 cents of a dollar for every immigrant on board of any such 
 vessel. 
 
 11. And be it enacted, that if any immigrants shall not, on their arrival, be immediately 
 provided with employment, it shall be the duty of the Agent-general to provide such immi- 
 grants with wholesome and sufficient food, and with convenient lodging on shore, until the 
 means of earning their own subsistence can be procured for them; and the Agent-general 
 shall deliver to the Governor an account, supported by all necessary vouchers, of the 
 expenditure incurred by him in procuring such food and lodging, and if such account bs 
 approved of by the Governor, the same shall be paid by the Colonial Receiver-general. 
 
 12. And be it enacted, that the Agent-general of Immigration shall keep separate 
 registers of all immigrants introduced into this colony, that is to say, firstly, a register of 
 immigrants from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies ; secondly, a register 
 of indented Africans ; thirdly, a register of Portuguese immigrants ; fourthly, a register of 
 Chinese immigrants ; and fifthly, a register of all other immigrants not coming under the 
 .denomination of any of the immigrants mentioned in any of the aforesaid classes, and shall 
 in each of such registers insert the name of each immigrant thereto belonging, and shall 
 number each of the immigrants of each class by a particular number, commencing with the 
 number 1, and proceeding in regular order with the other numbers, so that no two immi- 
 grants of the same class shall bear the same number, and shall insert in each of such 
 registers, under different heads, the number, name, age, and sex of eveiy immigrant belonging 
 to such class, the time when, the place from which, the name of the party, if any, at whose 
 
 ■ cost and charges such immigrant is imported, and the vessel in which such immigrant shall 
 have arrived, together with the cost of the passage of such immigrant, and also whether 
 such immigrant is or is not entitled to a return passage. 
 
 13. And be it enacted, that any employer who may be desirous of locating immigrants 
 under the provisions of this Ordinance on his plantation, shall make application to the 
 Agent-general, fully setting forth in writing the situation of such plantation, the name of the 
 proprietor thereof, the number and description of the immigrants required, the nature of the 
 labour to be performed, and all other particulars ; and such application shall not be received 
 unless accompanied with a certificate of the special justice of the peace for the district where 
 the immigrants are to be located, that comfortable and sufficient accommodation, and 
 medical attendance according to law, have been provided for such immigrants, and the 
 
 986. Z 3 Agent-general 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Certificate and list 
 to be furnished by 
 agents abroad. 
 
 Duties of Agent- 
 general on arrival of 
 ships with immi- 
 grants. 
 
 Fees of health 
 officer. 
 
 Maintenance of im- 
 migrants till em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Agent-general to 
 keep separate regis- 
 ters of immigrants. 
 
 Mode of applying for 
 immigrants. 
 
156 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 List of applications 
 to be published. 
 
 Allotment and con- 
 tract of immigrants. 
 
 Immigrants not 
 under contract to 
 labour to pay 
 monthly sums. 
 
 Immigrants may 
 enter into a second 
 contract for a term 
 not exceeding the 
 original legal return. 
 
 Renewed contracts. 
 
 Agent- general shall make and keep in his office a true and faithful register of all such appli- 
 cations and certificates. 
 
 14. And be it enacted, that all such applications shall be numbered in the order in which 
 they sliall be respective^ received (such numbering, however, not to give any right of pre- 
 ference to any person or plantation over any other person or plantation), and shall remain 
 good and valid, in so far as the number of immigrants applied for shall not be allotted, for a 
 period of two years, unless withdrawn by the applicant or rendered invalid by the death, 
 insolvency, or absence, unrepresented, of the owner of the plantation, and the Immigration 
 Agent-general shall publish, on or before the 1st day of January and 1st day of July, respec- 
 tively, of each year, in the official " Gazette," and one other newspaper of the colony, a list 
 in the form annexed marked (C), or in such other form as maybe approved by the Governor, 
 in which list shall be set forth the number of the application, the name of the applicant, the 
 number of immigrants applied for, the number allotted, the date of each allotment, and the 
 location of each immigrant. 
 
 16. And be it enacted, that on the arrival in this colony of any immigrants (immigrants 
 from the Island of Madeira, or any of the Islandsof the Azores, Cape de Verd :lslands, 
 Canary Islands, and other places of similar distance excepted), not already under a written 
 contract with some individual, the Agent-general of Immigration shall proceed to allot 
 them on such plantations as they may prefer, or if they do not desire to exercise any pre- 
 ference, shall allot them in such numbers and proportions as circumstances will admit of, 
 to those plantations for which applications for immigrants shall have been previously made, 
 and submitted to the Governor, and been by him approved ; and that after such allotments, 
 each applicant, to whom immigrants shall have been allotted as aforesaid, before he shall 
 become entitled to the services of such immigrants, shall enter into a contract with each 
 immigrant in the form annexed marked (D.), or in such other form as may be approved by 
 the Governor, for a period not less than 12 calendar months, and not exceeding three years, 
 except in cases in which some other form or some other period of service is specially pro- 
 vided, and shall pay to the Agent-general of Immigration a duty of two dollars upon each 
 of said contracts, and if the term ot service expressed in such contract shall be for more 
 years than one, shall further pay to the Colonial Receiver-general, or Assistant Colonial 
 Receiver-general, at the commencement of each subsequent year of such term of service, a 
 sum of four dollars for each immigrant in service on his plantation under such written con- 
 tract to labour, on the 30th day of June or 31st day of December, immediately preceding; 
 and in the event of any such annual duty being unpaid for one month after the commence- 
 ment of the year for which it is payable, the operation of the contract between. the employer 
 and immigrant shall be suspended and in abeyance, in as far as the employer is concerned, 
 until such annual duty be paid, except that the payment of such duty by such employer 
 shall be enforced in manner und form hereinafter provided. 
 
 16. And be it enacted, that every immigrant (immigrants from the Island of Madeira, or 
 any of the Islands of the Azores, Cape de Verd Islands, Canary Islands, and other places 
 of similar distances excepted), introduced into this colony at the public expense, after the 
 taking effect of this ordinance, who being permitted by law to enter into a contract with 
 any employer for three years or five years, shall not, during the said three years or five 
 years, be in the service of sonie employer or other, under a written contraft to labour on a 
 plantation, for every month of said three yciirs or'five years, during which he shall not be 
 under such contract, if he shall be an immignmt with v?hom it was pei'mitted by law -for 
 an employer to have oriainally entered into a contractfor three years, shall pay in advance 
 a monthly sum of one dollar, and if he shall be an immigrant with whom it was permitted 
 by law for an employer to have originally entered into a ^contract lor five years, shall pay 
 in advance a monthly sum of one dollar und 50 cents; and all such sums shall be desig- 
 nated tliroughout this and every ordinance passed and to be passed relative to immigrants 
 as " monthly sums." 
 
 17. And be it enacte'd, that every immigrant remaining in the colony for' the period for 
 which, on arriving in the colony, he was permitted by law to enter into a contract under 
 and by viiti)^ of this or any other ordinance relating to immigrants, may, at the expiration 
 of such period, enter into a written contract be.*bre'the Agent-generail of Immigration or a 
 special justice of the peace, to serve any person as a labourer for any term not exeeeidTng 
 the first term for which he was permitted by law to enter into 'a written contract. 
 
 18. And be it enacted, that upon every renewed contract entered into on the expiration 
 of a prior contract with the same employer by any immigrant with whom, on his arriving in 
 the colony, a first contract was entered into for a lerm less than three years or fivic yearig,/a 
 duty of lour dollars, if such renewed contract shall be forgone year only, shall be paid by 
 the employer to the; Agent-general of Immigration, or special justice before whom such 
 renewed contract shall be signed at the time of such renewed contract, and a duty of four 
 dollars per annum for the second and each subsequent year, if such renewed contract shall 
 be for more than one year, shailbe paid by the employer to the Colonial Receiver-general, 
 or Assistant Colonial Receiver-general, at the commencement of such second and subse- 
 quent years respectively; and upon every contracit entered into with any other employer by 
 any immigrant during such three years or fi\e, if such contract be for one year only, there 
 s'hall be paid to the Agent-general of Immigration or special justice by the employer, at the 
 time of entering into such last mentioned contract, a sum of six dollars ; and if such con- 
 
 •tract 
 
iNTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 i'^ 
 
 b/ 
 
 tract shall be for more than one year, then, a sum, of six dollars for each year of the term of Appendix. 
 
 service specified in such contract shall be paid to the Colonial Receiver-general, or Assistant 
 
 Colonial. Receiver-general, at the commencement of such second and subsequent years res- 
 pectively; and the special justice before whom any contract shall be signed or entered into 
 shall. forthwith certify to the Agent-general, of Immigration the class, number, and name of 
 the immiorant, the name of die employer, and the name of the plantation on which the 
 immigrant shall be engaged to labour, and shall grant a copy of such certificate under his 
 hand to the immigrant entering into such contract: and of all contracts mentioned in this 
 section' the special justice of the peace before whom they shall be entered into, shall 
 make a return in the form annexed marked' (li.) : Provided always, that no duty shall be 
 paid' opon any contract entered into with any immigrant, after the expiration of the lonoest 
 term for which, on his arrival in the colony, he was permitted by law to have contracted lo 
 serve any employer. 
 
 19. And be it enacted, that every employer of immigrants under a written contract to Returns of im mi- 
 labour, or the manager or other person in charge of such immigrants, shall, on or before the grants to be made 
 10th day of January and lOih day of July in each and every year, make out and deliver to annually by special 
 the special justice of the peace of the district in wiiich such immigrants shall be located, a J^^ ^'^^' 
 
 return in writing, to be proved on the oath of the person making s^uch return, to be taken 
 before such special justice^ of the number of immigrants in' his service under writfieu 
 contract on the last day of the preceding month, which, return shall be made in the manner 
 and form specified in the schedule heretoi annexed, marked (F.), and sliali be described as the 
 return of the person to whom such immigrania shall have been under a written contract, and' 
 shall contain a specification of the total number of immigrants so under written contracts, 
 and of the time when, and of the numbers and names by which the same shall have entered 
 into such contracts, respectively, and alijo all deductions from the original number of immi- 
 grants under written contracts as aforesaid, which shall have taken place within the last 
 preceding six months by death or desertion, and also the births of any child or children of 
 any femules among such immigrants, specifying the age and sex of such child or children ; 
 which return shall by such special justice be transmitted to the Agent-general of Immigra- 
 tion; and any person who shall negliect to deliver to the special justice of the peace as Penalty for neglect, 
 aforesaid', within the time specified^ any such return as aforesaid, shall pay a sum of not less 
 than 10 d<»llars, and not exceeding 23 dollars, and a like sum for each and every month 
 during which such neglect shall continue; and a return of all fines under this section shall 
 be made by the special justice to the Agent-general of Immigration, who shall authorise any 
 collector of monthly sums to recover the same. 
 
 20. And. be it enacted,, that there shall be kept by the special justice of the peace of Special justices t» 
 each district a book, in which sliall be enregistered, in such manner as the Governor may, i^^i^f^*s"'° 
 from time lo time, direct, the class, name, and number of each immigrant who may have 
 
 been or may be introduced intxs this colony since the 4th day of March 1848, and who may 
 be resident'within such district; and every such special justice shall, on or before the 
 10th day of each month, certify to the Agent-general of Immigration the classes, names, 
 numbers, and locations of immigrants resident within his district, who, liable to pay montlily 
 sums, have not paid the same. 
 
 21. And be it enacted, tliat the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Court of Collection of 
 Policy, may appoint, from time to time, such a number of fit and proper persons, giving montlily sums, 
 such sufficient securitv as may be deemed necessary,, for the purpose of collecting and 
 recovering, under the direction and control of the special justice of the district, and subject 
 
 to such reLiulations as may be by him established with the approval of the Governor and 
 Court of Pohcy, the monthly sums payable by immigrants; and the Governor, with the 
 advice und consent aforesaid, may allow to each of such persons remuneration not exceed- 
 ing the rate of 48'0 dollars per annum. 
 
 2-> And be it enacted, that eaeh special justice shall, within the first seven days of each Collection of 
 monVh, issue his warrant according to the form (G.) in the .schedule annexed, for the: monthly sums, 
 recovery of all monthly sums payaljle under this ordmance, and which at the time of the 
 issuing of =uch warrant may remain unpaid, specityLig in such warrant or in some schedule 
 to be attached theretoythe classes, names,, and numbers of tiie immigrants hable to pay the 
 same- and it shall be lawfiil for any constable having ihe execution of such warrant to 
 apprehend any such immigrants in any part of the colony, and for that purpose at any time 
 of the dav to enter into any house or place, or upon any laiid in the colony where any such 
 immigrant may be or mav reasonably be suspected to be, and if any such immigrant shall 
 not immediutelv produce-a receipt for the amount of such monthly sums, or a sufhcient cer- 
 tificate of exemption from the same, or shall not forthwith pay such monthly sums together 
 with the further sum of 26 cents of a dollar for each monthly sum in arrear, unless some 
 other sum be specially named in some other ordinance as applicable to any particular 
 immis^rant or class of "imm grants, such immigrant shall be forth w.t.i committed to gaol, 
 there U> be imprisoned and kepi to hard labour for the term of 14 days, for every monthly 
 sum due by him, unless such monthly sums and penalty be sooner paid, and the gao.er or 
 other person, under whose charge such immigrant shal have been so imprisoned, snail 
 2 ant L cer iftcate accordlno- to the form (H.), in the schedule anne.Ked, or such other form 
 K may be approved of by the Governor, of the fact of such monthly sums having- been 
 satisfied by suoh imprisomnent. 
 
 '^S And be it enacted, that the Agent-general of Immigration, on or before the 10th day Agentr^om-v^ of 
 of -Janifa;' and tKe lOth'day of July"in every year, shall make out a list of all employers ^-J^^jf--^ 
 
 9.S6. ^ 4 
 
Appendix. 158 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 employers to pay 
 annual duties. 
 
 Special justices to 
 correct such lists. 
 
 Receiver-general to 
 recover annual 
 duties. 
 
 No registered immi- 
 grant to leave the 
 colony without 
 passport. 
 
 Penalty on persons 
 employing immi- 
 gi-ants under con- 
 tract with others. 
 
 Penalty on immi- 
 grants absent from 
 work without 
 excuse. 
 
 Immigrant under 
 contract absenting 
 himself to forfeit 
 
 Immigrant guilty of 
 misconduct to be 
 punished. 
 
 liable for the payment of annual duties during the six months ending respectively on the 
 30th June and the 31st December next ensuing, specifying the several periods at vrhich 
 such duties will become payable, the amount of such duties, the numbers, names, ^nd des- 
 criptions of the immigrants in respect to whose contracts they are claimed, and the name of 
 the plantation on which they are located ; and the Agent-general of Immigration shall forth- 
 with transmit a copy of that part of such list which relates to each judicial district to the 
 special justice thereof. 
 
 24. And be it enacted, that every special justice, on the receipt of such copy as aforesaid, 
 shall compare the dates of such contracts, the amount of duties, numbers, and names of im- 
 migrants stated therein, with the particulars stated in the returns mentioned in section 19 of 
 this ordinance, and if there shall be no discrepancy between ti)e two, shall certify the list to 
 be correct, and shall forthwith return the same to the Agent-general of Immigration; but if 
 any discrepancy shall be found to exist, it shall be the duty of such special justice, within 
 10 days after the receipt of such list, to inquire into the origin of such discrepancy to ascer- 
 tain, by personal inspection, if necessary, the number of immigrants on any planiation, and. 
 to correct such list if he shall deem it right to do so, previous to returning it certified to the 
 Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 25. And be it enacted, that the Agent-general of Immigration, on the receipt of such cer- 
 tified lists as aforesaid, after taking due notice in his registers of any corrections by reason 
 of death or otherwise, shall transmit the same within five days to the Receiver-general or 
 Assistant Receiver-general, who shall recover payment of all annual duties when due. 
 
 26. And be it enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any immigrant whose name shall 
 appear in any of such registers as aforesaid, or who shall be subject to the payment of 
 monthly sums in lieu of serving some particular employer, to depart ti-om the colony during 
 the time he is under indenture, written agreement, written contract, or any legal obligation 
 to pay such monthly sums, without a licence in writing signed by the Agent-general of 
 Immigration ; and every master or other person in charge of any vessel who shall receive or 
 harbour on board of such vessel, with the intention of carrying out of this colony any such 
 immigrant, who shall not have obtained such licence, shall on conviction thereof forfeit and 
 pay a sum of not less than 250 dollars, and not exceeding 500 dollars, for each and every 
 such emigrant whom he shall have so received or harboured with such intention as afore- 
 said ; and every such penalty shall and may be sued for, prosecuted and recovered, for and 
 on the behalf of Her Majesty in the Supreme Court of Civil Justice by the Attorney-generalj, 
 or in the Court of Vice- Admiralty by Her Majesty's Advocate, and in the event of such 
 master or other person being in command of any such vessel of 100 tons burthen and 
 upwards, such penalty and costs shall and may be recovered from the master of such vessel 
 and from the owner of such vessel, and from the surety of the master of such vessel, or any 
 of them, and in the event of any such vessel being under 100 tons burthen, every such 
 penalty and costs shall and may be recovered from the master of such last mentioned vessel, 
 and from the owner of such last-mentioned vessel, or from either of them, or by levying 
 upon and sale of such last mentioned vessel. 
 
 27. And be it enacted, that every person who shall harbour, conceal, or employ any 
 immigrant, being at the time under a written contract to labour for any other employer,, 
 or who shall remove or entice away, or shall solicit or entice any such immigrant to remove 
 from the employment or service of his or her employer, shall, for every such offence, on 
 conviction thereof before a special justice of the peace, forfeit and pay the sum of 23 
 dollars, and shall further pay to the employer to whom such immigrant shall be under 
 such written contract to labour the snm oi' one dollar for each day during which such immi- 
 grant shall have been so harboured or employed, and if the employer or person in charge 
 of any such immigrant shall prove upon oath before any special justice of the peace, a 
 reasonable cause to suspect that such immigrant is harboured, concealed, or employed on 
 the premises of any person, such special justice of the peace may grant a warrant to search 
 for such immigrant and bring him or her, and the person by whom such immigrant may be 
 harboured, concealed, or employed, before him, to be dealt with as aforesaid : Provided 
 always, that in every case in which any dispute or difference shall arise as to whether any 
 person who shall have harboured, concealed, or employed any immigrant, being at the time 
 under a written contract to labour, or who shall have removed or enticed away, or shall 
 have solicited or enticed any such immigrant to remove from the employment or service of 
 his or her employer, had knowledge of any such immigrant being at the time under such 
 contract, the proof of the absence or want of knowledge of eveiy such person shall be on 
 such person, and the proof of the knowledge of such person shall not be on the party 
 aggrieved, complaining or informing. 
 
 28. And be it enacted, that any immigrant (coolies excepted) under contract to labour,, 
 who shall, without reasonable cause, absent himself from the service of his employer, shall, 
 on conviction before a special justice of the peace, be liable to a forfeiture of two days' wages, 
 for each and every day he shall be 'so absent; the said penalty to be deducted from any 
 wages due to such immigrant, and in the event of no wages being due, then such immigrant 
 shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, at the rate of two days' imprisonment for 
 every day he shall have so absented himself, such imprisonment not at any one time to exceed 
 30 days. 
 
 29. And be it enacted, that any immigrant aforesaid, who shall be guilty of any miscon-- 
 duct, or shall practise any fraud or deception in the performance of any work which he is 
 
 bound 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 159 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 bound to perform, or shall by negligence or other improper conduct lose, throw away, or 
 dam.age the property of his employer, or shall endanger such property by the careless use 
 of fire, or shall wilfully maim, wound, or cruelly ill-use any live stock or cattle belonging 
 to his employer, or entrusted to his care, oi- by negligence shall suffer to be maimed, 
 wounded, or cruelly ill-used any such cattle or live stock, shall, on conviction before a 
 special justice of the peace, suffer such punishment by fine or imprisonment until the same 
 be paid, or imprisonment in any lawful place of confinement, with or without hard labour, 
 for the whole or any part of such imprisonment, such fine not to exceed 24 dollars, and any 
 such imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, as to such convicting special justice shall seem fit. 
 
 30. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the employer of any immigrant under a 
 written contract to labour, the servant of such employer, or any member of the police force, 
 or constable, to apprehend, witliout warrant, such immigrant, who, on any day on which 
 he shall be bound to labour, shall be found at a distance of more than two miles from the 
 estate on which he shall be engaged to labour, without a ticket of leave signed by such 
 employer or his servant, and to cause such immigrant to be taken back to such estate. 
 
 31. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Agent-general of Immigration to 
 enter into and upon any plantation where any immigrant may be employed, and to inspect 
 the state and condition of such immigrant, and inquire into any complaint which the 
 employer may have against any such immigrant, or any immigrant may have against his 
 employer. 
 
 32. And be it enacted, that every person who shall obstruct the Agent -general of Immi- penalty for opposing 
 gration in entering upon any plantation where any immigrant shall be employed, or shall Agent-general in the 
 be by the Agent-general of Immigration reasonably supposed to be employed, or shall performance of his 
 wilfully do any act whereby the Agent-general of Immigration may be prevented or ob- ^'^^Y- 
 
 structed in inquiring into the state and condition of any immigrant, shall, on conviction 
 thereof before any two or more justices of the peace, forfeit and pay such sum, not exceeding 
 48 dollars for every such offence, as to the convicting justices shall seem fit. 
 
 33. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any special justice, upon complaint Special iusticc may 
 and proof by any employer or' immigrant labourer that such immigrant has been guilty of discharge employer 
 any wilful omission or neglect of duty, or that such employer has been guilty of ill-usai;e or immigrant from 
 of such immigrant, or has not paid him his wages as agreed upon, to discharge such contract, 
 immigrant or such employer from his written contract, if sanctioned by the Governor. 
 
 Immigi'ants under 
 contract may be ap- 
 preliended if more 
 than two miles from 
 home. 
 
 Agent-genei'al may 
 enter on estates, and 
 inquire into com- 
 plaints. 
 
 34. And be it enacted, that if any employer of such immigrant as aforesaid shall ill-use 
 any immigrant under a contract to labour, or shall not deliver to such immigrant any 
 articles stipulated for, and which by the contract of service are to be furnished by the em- 
 ployer to such immigrant, or if the articles so furnished shall not be of stipulated quantity 
 or qualityj every such employer being convicted of any such offence shall forfeit and pay 
 a sum not exceeding 48 dollars, as to the special justice and another justice of the peace 
 shall seem fit, such penalty to be recovered in manner and form laid down under Ordinance 
 No. 30, 1850. 
 
 35. And be it enacted, that all salaries of officers granted, and all expenses incurred in 
 virtue of this ordinance, shall be paid out of such fiinds as are raised, or may be raised 
 for the purposes of immigration ; that all monies payable by any person in virtue of any 
 
 . of the provisions of this ordinance, and which shall not be declared to be payable to any 
 particular officer or person, shall be payable to the Agent-general of immigration, to the 
 Colonial Receiver-general or Assistant Colonial Receiver-general, or to the special justice, 
 awardino- the payment of any such money ; that all sums received by the Agent-general of 
 Immigration, or any special justice, or any other person, and not payable over to any par- 
 ticular person, shall be paid over to the Colonial Receiver- izeneral or Assistant Colonial 
 Receiver-general ; that all monies received by the Colonial Receiver-general or Assistant 
 Colonial Receiver-general under this ordinance and every other ordinance relative to 
 immigrants, not otherwise appropriated, shall be applied to immigration purposes ; and 
 that the Colonial Receiver-general shall render annually to the Governor and Court of 
 Policy, combined with the financial representatives of the inhabitants of the colony, a state- 
 ment of all such payments and receipts. 
 
 36. And be it enacted, that in addition to the reports hereinbefore directed to be made, 
 the Aoent-general of Immigration shall make and deliver to the Governor and Court of 
 Policy, at the end of each quarter, or oftener if required by the Governor so to do, a return 
 in the form specified in Schedule (!.), hereto annexed, of the number of immigrants who have 
 arrived within that quarter, of the sums respectively paid for their introduction, and of the 
 number of those who have obtained passages back, and have embarked durin^' that period, 
 and a full and true statement of the whole amount of bounties for which he has granted cer- 
 tificates, and of all monies received and expended by him in pursuance of this ordinance. 
 
 37. And be it enacted, that the Colonial Receiver-General, shall enforce by parate or 
 summary execution, the payment of all sums of money payable to him under and by virtue 
 of this ordinance. 
 
 38 And be it enacted, that upon the taking effect of this ordinance. Ordinance No. 3, of 
 the vear 1848, intituled " An Ordinance to Regulate and Encourage Immigration, except 
 so far as said ordinance may repeal the whole or any part of any other ordinance, and 
 
 p86 A A except 
 
 Ill-usage of unini- 
 grant punished. 
 
 Monies received 
 imder this ordi- 
 nance, how applied. 
 
 Agent-general to 
 make quarterly re- 
 ports to Governor. 
 
 Recovery of money 
 by Receiver-general. 
 
 Ordinance No. 3 of 
 the year 1848 par- 
 tially repealed. 
 
i6o PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Jurisdiction of jus- 
 tices of the peace. 
 
 What complaints 
 justices of the peace 
 must entertain. 
 
 Immigrants men- 
 tioned in Ordinance 
 No. 23 of 1850 
 governed by this 
 ordinance. 
 
 Interpretation 
 clause. 
 
 When ordinance to 
 take effect. 
 
 except as to fines, penalties, forfeitures, offences, and other matters incurred, made, com- 
 mitted, or done under and by virtue of said last-mentioned ordinance, shall be repealed, 
 and that all fines, penalties, forfeitures, offences, or other matters incurred, made, com- 
 mitted, or done, under and by virtue of said Ordinance No. 3, of the year 1848, shall 
 be dealt with, recovered, or punished, as if this ordinance had not been passed, and 
 that all contracts entered into, under and by virtue of said last mentioned ordinance, 
 for the term of three years, except contracts entered into, under and by virtue of said 
 last-mentioned ordinance, by or with liberated Africans, shall remain in the same force 
 and effect as if this ordinance had not been passed. 
 
 39. And be it enacted, that every justice of the peace authorised to act, under this or 
 any other ordinance now or hereafter in force relating to immigrants, shall have full power 
 and authority to issue any summons or warrant for any offence under this or any other such 
 ordinance against any person, whether such person sball reside or shall be within or 
 without the judicial jurisdiction of any such justice, and every such summons and warrant 
 so issued, shall have full force and effect throughout the colony of British Guiana. 
 
 40. And be it enacted, that every such justice of the peace shall be bound to entertain 
 any and every complaint against any and every person for every offence against this or 
 any other such ordinance as aforesaid : Provided always, that the immigrant from whose 
 conduct or of and concerning whom any such offence shall have arisen, shall have resided 
 at any time within the local jurisdiction of any such justice of the peace. 
 
 41. And be it enacted, that every immigrant mentioned in Ordinance No. 23, of the 
 year 1850, in all matters not specially provided for by that ordinance, shall be subject to 
 and governed by the provisions of this ordinance. 
 
 42. And be it enacted, that throughout this ordinance the words and expressions herein- 
 after mentioned, shall have and bear the following meanings, that is to say, the words 
 " Her Majesty," shall mean Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors; the word "Governor" 
 shall mean every person who, for the time being, shall be in the lawful administration of 
 the Government of this colony; the terms "Agent-general of Immigration" and Agent- 
 general" shall not only mean the Agent-general of Immigration, but also any sub-agent 
 appointed by the Governor to act in any particular case, or on any particular occasion', in 
 the place and stead of the Agent-general of Immigration ; the word " immigrant" shall 
 include all immigrants already introduced, or who may be hereafter introduced into this 
 colony at the expense of the British Treasury, or at the expense of this colony, or for whose 
 introduction, although the same may be under private contract, the colony may hereafter 
 pay bounty ; the word " contract" and the words " written contract" shall mean also any 
 indenture or agreement written or printed, or partly written or partly printed ; the word 
 "plantation" shall include any sugar, cocoa, coffee, plantain, rice, or cotton estate, or any 
 woodcutting establishment, or cattle farm ; the word " employer " shall include the owner, 
 manager, or other person having the direction of, and the chief authority of or upon any 
 such estate or plantation, or of or upon any cattle farm, or of or upon any woodcutting 
 establishment, on which any immigrant shall be employed ; that the words " indenture," 
 " contract," and "agreement," respectively, shall mean any instrument in writing or print, 
 or partly in writing and partly in print, evidencing an undertaking or promise of service ; 
 every word importing the singular number only shall extend and be applied to several 
 persons or things, as well as to one person or thing ; every word importing the plural 
 number shall extend and be applied to one person, matter, or thing, as well as to several 
 persons, matters, or things; every word importing the masculine gender only shall extend 
 and be applied to a female as well as to a male, unless in any of the cases aforesaid it be 
 otherwise specially provided, or there be something in the subject or context repugnant to 
 such construction. 
 
 43. And be it enacted, that this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after 
 the 1st day of February 1852, and that upon the taking effect of this ordinance, Ordinance 
 No. 20, of the year 1850, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed, save and except in so 
 far as said Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1850, isay repeal any other ordinance wholly or 
 in part, and except as to existing contracts, and all fines and penalties incurred under 
 said Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1850, and the right of proceeding for and recovering 
 the same. 
 
 And that no ignorance may be pretended of this our ordinance, these presents shall be 
 printed and published in the customary -manner. 
 
 Thus done and enacted at our adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public Build- 
 ings, Geprgetown, Demerary, this 14th day of October 1851, and published on the 
 21st day of February 1852. 
 
 Henry Barhly. 
 (By command) 
 
 J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 161 
 
 (A.) 
 
 FoHM of Clearing Certificate. 
 Clearing Certificate of the Emigration Agent at 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Station at 
 
 Name of Ship. 
 
 Name of Master. 
 
 Tons per 
 .Register. 
 
 Aggrefeate 
 Number 
 of Superficial 
 Feet in tlie 
 several Com- 
 partments set 
 apart for 
 
 Total 
 
 Number of 
 
 Statute Adults. 
 
 exclusive of 
 Master, Crew; 
 
 and Cabin 
 Passengers the 
 
 Ship can 
 legally carry. 
 
 SaiUng 
 from. 
 
 Intending 
 
 to 
 touch at. 
 
 Bound to. 
 
 I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the foregoing appear to be the burthen and 
 dimensions of the above named vessel, and that, having regard as well to space as to tonnage, 
 the greatest number of passengers she can carry by the Passengers' Act, 1849, is ; 
 
 and I further certify, that to the best of my knowledge and belief she is in all respects sea- 
 worthy, and that the provisions, water, and stores actually laden on board have been duly 
 surveyed, and are sufficient in quantity as well for the number of passengers now about to 
 proceed in her, as for the crew, and that the same are of proper quality, and in good 
 and sweet condition; and lastly, that all the directions contained in the Immigration 
 Ordinance of British Guiana, and also in the Passengers' Act 1849, so far as such Act applies 
 to said vessel, for securing the health and safety of the passengers, have been duly complied 
 with. 
 
 Dated at 
 
 this day of 
 
 Emigration Agent for 
 
 1850. 
 
 at 
 
 (B.) 
 Nominal List of Passengers Embarked on Board of 
 
 Port 
 of 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Passengers. 
 
 Occupation 
 
 or Calling 
 
 of 
 
 Passengers. 
 
 Age 
 of Pas- 
 sengers. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children between 
 6 and 14 Years. 
 
 Children under 
 Six Years. 
 
 Port at which 
 Passengers are to be 
 
 Embarkation 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total 
 
 Landed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Total No. of 
 Souls equal 
 to Statute 
 Adults. 
 
 
 
 
 I the undersigned, do hereby certify that the above is a correct list of all the passengers 
 who embarked at . Dated at this day of 186 . 
 
 A. B., Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 986. 
 
 A A 2 
 
 (C.) 
 
i62 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 (C.) 
 List of Applications and Allotments. 
 
 No. of 
 AppU- 
 cation. 
 
 Name 
 of 
 Applicant. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Immigrants 
 
 allotted. 
 
 From what 
 
 Port 
 or Place. 
 
 Name 
 
 of 
 Vessel. 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children between 
 6 and 14 Years. 
 
 Children under 
 Six Years. 
 
 To what 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 allotted. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dated at 
 
 this 
 
 day of 1851. 
 
 A. B., Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 (D.) 
 
 (Eritish Gaiana.) 
 
 and 
 
 day of 
 
 of 
 
 in the year of our Lord 
 
 Be it remembered, that on this 
 of 
 
 appeared before me , Agent-general of Immigration of the 
 
 colony of British Guiana, and in my presence signed their names or marks (as the case may 
 be) to the following contract of service : — 
 
 The said 
 said 
 
 agrees to render to the said 
 of a 
 
 the day of 
 
 in the year 
 the said 
 plantation 
 the said 
 
 agrees to hire the services of the 
 , and the said 
 
 services in the capacity 
 
 for the term of years, commencing on 
 
 and terminating on the day of 
 
 . And it is further agreed between the said parties, that 
 
 shall be employed by the said on 
 
 . And it is further agreed, that 
 shall pay to the said as such labourer 
 
 aforesaid, the same rate of wages as is paid to the labourers not under indenture or agree- 
 ment working on said estate, according to the quantity of work performed, and that such 
 wtiges shall be paid on the last day of , after deductina; at the rate of three 
 
 dollars per annum for medical attendance, and at the rate of six dollars per annum for 
 lodging. 
 
 CD. 
 
 The preceding contract was signed by the above-named parties, in my presence, on the 
 day and year above-written, voluntarily, the same being, as far as I am able to judge, fully 
 understood By them respectively. 
 
 E. F., Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 163 
 
 (E.) 
 Return of New Contracts and Renewed Contracts. 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Class. 
 
 Number. 
 
 !Name. 
 
 Sex. 
 
 Name 
 of 
 
 Date 
 of 
 
 Term 
 of 
 
 Amonnt 
 of 
 
 Whether 
 Contract be 
 
 
 
 
 
 Employer. 
 
 Contract. 
 
 Service. 
 
 Duty Paid. 
 
 new or renewed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (F.) 
 
 Half- Yearly Retuun of the Number of Immigrants who have been located on Plantation 
 
 Parish of , in the Colony of British Guiana. 
 
 , in the 
 
 
 1* 
 
 I/! 
 
 i 
 
 < 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Other Emigrants. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Deaths since last Return. 
 
 3 
 
 Immigrants Remaining. 
 
 
 •3 
 
 < 
 
 d 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ■a 
 
 
 ChUdren. 
 
 Births. 
 
 -a 
 
 Children. 
 
 1 
 
 f 
 
 1| 
 ^=1 
 
 i 
 
 Child 
 
 ren. 
 
 1 
 
 tsa 
 
 a 
 
 Between Six 
 aud Fourteen 
 Years of Age. 
 
 
 Between Four- 
 teen and Six 
 Years of Age. 
 
 Mi 
 
 < 
 
 Between Four- 
 teen and Six 
 Years of Age. 
 
 
 . rf 
 
 % 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 P. 
 
 M. F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 P- 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Age. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 1 
 
 M.'F. 
 
 1 
 
 =2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 Toi 
 
 rAL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Appeared before me, A. B., who being duly sworn, maketh oath and saith that the above 
 is a true and correct return of the immigrants on plantation , 
 
 on the day of 185 , as required by the 17th section of 
 
 •Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851. 
 
 Sworn before me at 
 
 this 
 
 day of 
 
 185 
 
 A.B. 
 
 To 
 
 (G.) 
 
 I DO hereby require you to demand and receive from the immigrants, whose classes, 
 names, and numbers are mentioned in the schedule hereto annexed, the amount of the 
 monthly sums payable by them respectively for the month of in the present 
 
 year, together with a penalty for each of the monthly sums due by each of such immigrants ; 
 and in default of payment, you are to take each of such immigrants in default and convey him 
 safely to the common gaol at , in the colony of British Guiana, and there 
 
 deliver liim to the keeper thereof, together with a copy of this precept, and a copy of so 
 much of the schedule annexed as relates to him ; and I do hereby command you, the said 
 keeper of said gaol, to receive each of said immigrants into your custody in the said gaol, and 
 him there safely keep, with hard labour, for the term of fourteen days, lor every sum 
 of one dollar and 50 cents of such monthly sums, unless such monthly sums and penalties due 
 by him be sooner paid. 
 
 G. D.f Stipendiary Justice. 
 
 986. 
 
 A A 3 
 
 (H.) 
 
i64 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. ^jj_) 
 
 I DO hereby certify, that the immigrant (here insert the class, number, and name, and par- 
 ticulars serving to identify the immigrant) has satisfied the monthly sum or sums due and 
 and payable by him for the month of 185 , by imprisonment with hard 
 
 labour. 
 
 A. B., Gaoler. 
 
 (I.) 
 Immigration Agent's Quarterly Return. 
 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Emigrant 
 
 Vessels 
 
 Arrived. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Deaths on 
 
 Board or in 
 
 Quarantine. 
 
 Number of 
 
 Births 
 
 on Board 
 
 or in 
 
 Quarantine. 
 
 Gross Number of Emigrants Arrived. 
 
 Number of 
 
 Immigrants 
 
 
 Months 
 
 commencing 
 
 the 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children between 
 6 and 14 Years. 
 
 Children under 
 Six Years. 
 
 returned to 
 their Native Countries. 
 
 Cost to the 
 
 Colony of 
 
 Immigrant* 
 
 Quaitcr. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 At the 
 
 Cost of the 
 
 Colony. 
 
 Paying 
 their own 
 Passage. 
 
 so returned. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dated at 
 
 this 
 
 day of 
 
 185 
 
 A. B., Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 Appendix, No. 2. 
 
 British Gttiana. — No. 21. — 1851. 
 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 An ordinance further to Regulate and Encourage the Immigration of Coolies. 
 
 RefeiTed to at p. 27. Ordinance enacted by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander- 
 in-Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the 
 same, &c.. Sec, &c., by and with the advice and congent of the Honourable the Court of 
 Policy of said Colony. 
 
 To all to whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting, be it known: — 
 
 Whereas Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to conduct the emigration of 
 labourers from Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies into this colony in vessels 
 employed, hired, licensed, or permitted by Her Majesty's Government; and it is necessary 
 to make provision for the due payment of the expense incurred and to be incurred on any 
 such account by Her Majesty's Government. And whereas it is also necessary to make 
 regulations for all such labourers : 
 
 1. Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor of British Guiana with the 
 advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, that all expenditure incurred by Her 
 Majesty's Government in the hiring, employing, and licensing of any vessel for bringing or 
 sending immigrants into this colony from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East 
 
 Indies, 
 
 Preamble. 
 
 All expenditure for 
 importing immi- 
 grants from the East 
 Indies, and sending 
 them hack, to be 
 borne by the colony. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 165 
 
 Indies, in providing for the matnlenance and clothing of such immigrants during their Appendix. 
 
 passage or otherwise, in placing on board any vessel a surgeon, and such other just ex- 
 
 penditure as shall be caused by and necessarily incidental to sending back any such immi- 
 grants at the expiration of their industrial residence to the place from which they shall have 
 been brought or sent into this colony, shall be paid by the colony. 
 
 2. And be it enacted, that on the arrival in this colony of any vessel with any immigrants Immigrants, on ar- 
 from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies, each applicant to whom any of rival, to be allotted, 
 such immigrants shall be allotted, before he shall become entitled to the services of any of and to enter into 
 such immigrants, shall enter into a contract in writing with each of such immigrants so *^°""'*'^ ®' 
 allotted in the presence of, and attested by the Agent-general of Immigration, which said 
 
 <}ontract shall be in the form marked (A.), or in such other form as may be approved of by 
 he Governor. 
 
 3. And be it enacted, that the term of "new coolie immigrant" in this ordinance shall Terms "new coolie 
 apply to all Indian labourers who shall have emiyrated from any of Her Majesty's posses- ™inigya'nt>.^'^d old 
 sions in the East Indies into this colony since the 4th day of March 1848, and for whose defined. ° 
 introduction passage-money and other expenses have been paid by the colony, and to all 
 
 others who may hereafter emigrate from any part of the said possessions into this colony 
 under similar circumstances; and that the term of "old coolie immigrant" shall apply to 
 all such Indian labourers who have immigrated into the colony previously to the above 
 date, or to such new coolie immigrants who shall complete an industrial residence of five 
 years. 
 
 4. And be it enacted, that every coolie immigrant who hath arrived in this colony prior vriiat coolies entitled 
 to the 4th day of March 1848, upon completing a residence of five years, and every new to back passages. 
 coolie immigrant, upon completing an industrial residence of five years, shall be entitled to 
 
 a free passage back to India. 
 
 5. And bfe it enacted, that an industrial residence shall consist of a residence of five years Industrial residence, 
 in the colony, under' a written contract with some planter to labour for hire on a plantation, 
 
 or of a payment in lieu thereof of the monthly sum hereinafter mentioned, during the part 
 of the above period of five years in which the immigrant is not under such a contract. 
 
 6. And be it enacted, that the period of industrial residence for each immigrant shall How to compute 
 reckon from the first day after which he did or hereafter may leave the vessel bringing him industrial residence. 
 to the colony, or the depot of immigrants ; but no proof of industrial residence previous to 
 
 the 4th day of March 1848, shall be required. 
 
 7. And be it enacted, that all coolie immigrants, before leaving the colony, shall obtain a Coolie immigrant to 
 passport from the Agent-general of Immigration, and that every new coolie immigrant, not oWain passport to. 
 having completed an industrial residence before receiving such passport, shall pay at the 
 
 rate of 1 dollar and .00 cents for each calendar month wanting to make up the term of his 
 industrial residence. 
 
 8. And be it enacted, that where any coolie immigrant shall be desirous to commute his Commutation of 
 right to a free passage for the value in land to the amount of the cost of such passage, and '^^'^ passage, 
 the Governor shall see fit to grant to such immigrant out of the Crown lands of the colony 
 
 a piece or parcel of land equal in value, at the upset price of Crown lands, to the amount 
 of the cost of such return passage, such immigrant shall have the same in lieu of his right 
 to a free passage. 
 
 9 And be it enacted, that every new coolie immigrant not employed under a written Monthly sums pay- 
 contract to labour for hire as aforesaid, and not exempted as hereinafter provided, shall, for able by 'coolies not 
 each calendar month pay a sum of 1 dollar and 50 cents if he be 16 years of age or above, under contracts. 
 
 or of 75 cents if he be 14 years of age and under 16 years; which sums respectively shall 
 be payable in advance on the first day of each month. 
 
 10 And be it enacted, that no monthly sum shall be payable by or in respect of any Exemptions from 
 coolie immigrant so long as he shall be under the age of 14 years; but no part of such monthly sums, 
 immigrant's residence in the colony, up to the time of his attainmg the age of 14 years, shall 
 
 he taken as forming part of his industrial residence. 
 
 11 And be it enacted, that every person employing a new coolie iinmigrant under such Persons employing 
 
 loXyrSe^e^ftrSr: to the special justice o? the district in which such new coolie g^- - deelare^^ 
 immigrant is employed, the name and number of such new coohe immigrant ; and every ^^ ;,i j„,ti,e. 
 nerson taking into his employ a new coohe immigrant after the taking effect of this ordi- 
 nance within five days after receiving such last-mentioned immigrant into his service, sha 
 decla4 to the special justice of the district in which such last-ment.oned immigrant sha 
 be employed, the number and name of such last-ment.oned immigrant, on pain m default 
 of r/of su;h declarations, of paying a sum not less than 10 dollars, and not exceeding 
 03 dollars and a return of all fines under this section shall be made by the specia justice 
 ' to the Agent-general of Immigration, who shall authorise any collector of monthly sums 
 to recover the same. 
 
 15 And be it enacted, that every new coolie immigrant who at any time after the taking New coolie immi- 
 .ffect of this ordLance ^hall remafn eight days without being engaged to labour for hire, S^^-t^-f.^ 
 
 986. 
 
 A A 4 
 
Appendix. 166 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 spedail iustue. shall immediately on the expiration of said eigfht days declare his number and name to the 
 
 special justice of the district in which he resides, and shall pay the monthly sum from tlie 
 commencement of the said period of eight days, unless he can satisfy the Agent-general of 
 Immigration or special justice that he is exempted, or has not been able to procure an 
 engagement. 
 
 13. And be it enacted, that every person who shall employ any new coolie immigrant, 
 except under a written contract to labour, shall, by so doing, make himself responsible for 
 the payment of the amount of all monthly sums which may be then due by, or for which 
 such new coolie immigrant, during the continuance of such employment, may become 
 liable. 
 
 14. And be it enacted, that every person allowing any new coolie immigrant not in his 
 employ to reside on his premises, shall give notice of such residence to the special justice of 
 the district within 48 hours after the commencement of such residcDce, on pain, in default 
 thereof, of paying a sum not less than 10 dollars, and not exceeding 23 dollars, and shall 
 further be responsible for any amount of monthly sums which may be due by such new 
 coolie immigrant previous to or during his residence on the said premises. 
 
 15. And be it enacted, that every new coolie immigrant who shall be in default of paying 
 his monthly sum, and for the payment of which the warrant of a special justice shall be 
 required to be issued, as directed by Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851, shall pay a further 
 sum of 12 cents of a dollar for each monthly sum in arrear; and if such monthly sum and 
 further sum be not paid, such new coolie immigrant shall be forthwith committed to gaol^ 
 there to be imprisoned, and kept to bard labour, for the term and in manner and form 
 directed by said Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851. 
 
 New coolie immi- 16. And be it enacted, that every new coolie immigrant on the payment of his monthly 
 
 grant paying his sums shall be entitled to a receipt signed by the officer to whom the same has been paid, 
 monthly sum entitled -which receipt shall be prima facie evidence of such new coolie immigrant having discharged 
 a receipt. j^|j (.jaims upon him to the end of the period mentioned in such receipt. 
 
 Person employing a 
 new coolie immi- 
 grant without writ- 
 ten contract liable to 
 payment of monthly 
 sums. 
 
 Persons allowing 
 new coolie immi- 
 grant to reside upon 
 his premises without 
 giving notice, liable 
 to penalties. 
 
 Special justice may 
 issue his warrant for 
 monthly sums. 
 
 What coolie immi- 
 grants shall be 
 exempt from 
 monthly sums, and 
 entitled to tickets 
 of exemption. 
 
 Penalty for not 
 applying in time 
 for ticket. 
 
 17. And be it enacted, that every coolie immigrant on the completion of his industrial 
 residence, and every old coolie immigrant, shall be exempt from payment of the monthly 
 sums hereinbefore established ; and every old coolie immigrant who is not already pro- 
 vided with a ticket as hereinafter described, shall, within a month after the taking effect of 
 this ordinance, and every new coolie immigrant on becoming entitled to any such ticket, 
 shall, within one month after the completion of his industrial residence, appear either before 
 the Agent-general of Immigration or the special justice of the district in which he resides, 
 and shall satisfy such officer that he is entitled to such ticket, and upon such proof being 
 given, the Agent-general of Immigration shall furnish such immigrant with a ticket, in the 
 Form (B.) hereunto annexed, containing his number, name, such particulars as will serve ta 
 identify him, and a declaration that such immigrant is not liable to the payment of monthly 
 sums ; and for this purpose every special justice shall register the number, name, particulars, 
 and declaration contained in such ticket, and after delivering to such immigrant a temporary 
 certificate bearing the number, name, particulars, and declaration in such ticket, shall 
 transmit a copy of the original registry weekly to the Agent-general of Immigration, whO' 
 shall prepare, sign, and send to the stipendiary justice a permanent ticket, to be delivered 
 to such immigrant in exchange for the temporary certificate. 
 
 18. And be it enacted, that any old immigrant failing to apply for his ticket within the 
 term hereinbefore prescribed, may at a later period obtain it, but from the Agent-general of 
 Immigration only, upon paying to that officer the sum of 50 cents of a dollar. 
 
 Governor may ex- 19- And be it enacted, that the Governor, upon the certificate of the Agent-general of 
 
 empt from monthly Immigration or of a special justice, may exempt, for a certain time or entirely, from the 
 sums and grant a obligation of industrial residence, or from the payment of the montiily sums, any coolie im- 
 back passage. migrant incapacitated from labour by infirmity, accident, or other cause, and may further 
 
 grant to any such coolie immigrant a free passage back to India. 
 
 New coolie immi- 20. And be it enacted, that all new coolie immigrants who on their arrival cannot find 
 
 grant whilst in employment, shall not be liable to the payment of any sums while they remain in the depot 
 
 depdt not liable for ^-aiting for employment, but their admission and stay therein shall be under such regula- 
 
 monthly sums. ^j^^^ ^^ ^jjj pj-gygi^t abuse as far as possible. 
 
 Circumstances under 21. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any member of the police force or con^ 
 which coolie immi- stable to stop any coohe immigrant whom he shall find on any public street, highway, or 
 grants may be appre- place, and also for the owner or occupier, or any servant of the owner or occupier, of any 
 land or house, to stop any coolie immigrant found upon or about such house or land, and if 
 such coohe immigrant, when required, shall fail to produce his contract to labour, or a 
 certificate of industrial residence, or a certificate that he is under a contract to labour, or a 
 certificate of exemption, or the receipt for the last monthly sum payable by such coolie immi- 
 grant, to take such coolie immigrant forthwith before a justice of the peace, who shall 
 inquire into the case, and unless such coolie immigrant shall make it appear that he is not 
 liable to the payment of monthly sums, or that he is not indebted in respect of the same, or 
 that he has already undergone imprisonment for non-payment of, the same, or shall make 
 immediate payment of the amount due by him in respect of such monthly sums, such 
 
 justice 
 
 Bended. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Coolie immigrant 
 found out of nis dis- 
 trict may be appre- 
 hended. 
 
 Onus of proof to be 
 on immigrant in 
 certain cases. 
 
 INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 167 
 
 justice shall make order for the immediate commitment of such coolie immigrant to gaol, 
 there to be kept to hard labour for the term of one day for every 12 cents or sixpence of 
 such monthly sums in arrear. 
 
 22. And be it enacted, that any coolie immigrant found in a district where he has no 
 residence, or in any house or premises without the consent of the proprietor or occupier 
 thereof, on failing to prove that he is an old coolie immigrant, or under an agreement to 
 labour for hire, or to produce a receipt for his last monthly sums, may be apprehended 
 without a warrant, and brought without delay before the special justice of the peace of the 
 district, by whom he shall be committed to gaol, there to be imprisoned and kept to hard 
 labour for any period not exceeding the term of 14 days ; and that every coolie immigrant 
 under indenture found wandering off the estate on which he is indentured shall be appre- 
 hended and carried back to such estate or lodged in gaol, of which the keeper of such gaol 
 shall give notice to the employer of such coolie. 
 
 23. And be it enacted, that where any question shall arise whether any coolie immigrant 
 is a new coolie immigrant or an old coolie immigrani, or whether any new coolie immigrant 
 is under a contract to labour or not, the burthen of proof shall be on such coolie immigrant, 
 and every coolie immigrant shall be presumed to be a new coolie immigrant, and liable to 
 the payment of monthly sums, unless such coolie immigrant shall produce his contract to 
 labour, or a certificate of his being under a contract to labour, or a certificate of industrial 
 residence, or a certificate of exemption. 
 
 24. And be it enacted, that every new coolie immigrant, being under a written contract 
 to labour, who shall, without any lawful excuse, absent himself from his work, shall forfeit 
 his claim to all wages for the time during which he shall so absent himself, and shall also 
 forfeit and pay to his employer the sum of four cents of a dollar for every day during which 
 he shall be so absent, and if he shall be absent for more than six days in any one month, 
 the same, if proved to the satisfaction of the special justice, shall be made known by the 
 employer to the Agent-general of Immigration, and the lime during which such immigrant 
 shall have been so absent shall not be allowed as part of his industrial residence. 
 
 25. And be it enacted, that any person duly authorised by the Governor to collect the Collectors of 
 monthly sums payable as aforesaid, may at any time of the day enter any premises in monthly sums may 
 any part of the colony wherein any coolie immigrant is employed or resides, and may 
 ascertain whether the notice hereinbefore required has been duly given, and whether such 
 coolie immigrant be exempt from the payment of the monthly sums, or whether the 
 
 monthly sums for the payment of which he is liable have been paid, and in case of such 
 person not being satisfied with regard to such payment, an information duly made by him 
 shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be prima facie evidence of any employer or 
 person having failed to give the notice hereinbefore required, or of the coolie immigrant 
 having neglected to pay his monthly sums. 
 
 26. And be it enacted, that any new coolie immigrant pretending to be an old cooHe False pretences to 
 immigrant, and endeavouring thereby to evade the conditions required by this ordinance, be punished, 
 and any coolie immigrant using the ticket, receipt for monthly sums, or certificate of any 
 
 other coolie immigrant, and any coolie immigrant lending any of the same, shall be liable 
 to a penalty of three dollars, or 12 s. 6(1. lawful money of Great Britain and Ireland. 
 
 Coolie immigi-ant 
 under contract ab- 
 senting himself to 
 forfeit wages. 
 
 enter any premises 
 in the day time. 
 
 27. And be it enacted, that any immigrant or other person falsifying or altering a coolie 
 immigrant's ticket, receipt, or certificate, and any immigrant issuing a falsified or altered 
 coolie immigrant's ticket, receipt, or certificate, shall be liable to imprisonment with hard 
 labour for a period not exceeding one month, without prejudice to a prosecution for forgery, 
 if cause exist,- in which latter case the special justice may commit the offender to prison, 
 in order that the Attoiney-general, to whom he shall forthwith report the circumstance of 
 the case, may enter proceedings against the offender for such forgery. 
 
 28. And be it enacted, that any coolie immigrant having lost his ticket, receipt, or certi- 
 ficate, and proving such loss to the satisfaction of the special justice of his district, may 
 obtain a duplicate thereof, upon the payment of the sum of 60 cents to the oflBcer granting 
 such duplicate, and if the loss be not proved to the satisfaction of the said special justice, 
 the charcre for a duplicate ticket, receipt, or certificate shall be the sum of three dollars. 
 
 29. And be it enacted, that all penalties for ihe recovery of which no provision has been 
 made in this ordinance, shall be recoverable before a special justice, by the Agent-general 
 of Iramio-ration, or other person thereto authorised by the tjovernor, who shall, on or before 
 the 10th°day of each month, remit to the Colonial Receiver-general, or Assistant Colonial 
 Receiver-general, all such penalties recovered by him during the preceding month. 
 
 30 And be it enacted, that the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Court of 
 Policy, may make and pass, by resolution, any regulations consistent with the provisions for 
 its execution and enforcement. 
 
 31 And be it enacted, that every immigrant mentioned in this ordinance, in all matters 
 not otherwise specially provided for by this ordinance, shall be subject to and governed 
 Jby the provisions of Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851. 
 
 986. B B 32. And 
 
 Falsifying any in- 
 strument punish- 
 able. 
 
 Loss of tickets, how 
 remedied. 
 
 Recovery of penal- 
 ties. 
 
 Governor and Court of 
 Policy may njake regu- 
 lations. 
 
 Immigrants in this ordi- 
 nance to be subject to 
 Ordinance No. 20 of 
 tbe year 1851. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Interpretation 
 clause. 
 
 Wlien ordinance to 
 take effect. 
 
 i68 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 32- And be it enacted, that in the construction of this ordinance, the words " Her 
 Majesty" shall mean Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors ; the word "Governor" shall 
 mean every person who, for the time being, shall be in the lawful administration of the 
 Government of this colony; the terms "Agent-general of Immigration" and "Agent- 
 general" shall not only mean the Agent-genera! of Immigration, but also any sub-agent 
 appointed by the Governor to act in any particular case or on any particular occasion in 
 the place and stead of the Agent-general of Immigration; the word " planter" shall mean 
 the owner or proprietor, or lessee, or tenant of a sugar, coffee, cotton, cocoa, plantain, or 
 rice plantation,or of a cattle farm, or of a woodcutting establishment ; the word "plantation" 
 shall mean any of such plantations, or a woodcutting establishment ; that the words " inden- 
 ture," " contract," and " agreement," respectively, shall mean any instrument in writing or 
 print, or partly in writing and partly in print, evidencing an understanding or promise of 
 service; words importing the singular number only shall include the plural number : words 
 importing the plural number only shall include the singular number ; and words importing 
 the masculine gender only sLall include females, unless there be something in the subject 
 or the context repugnant to such construction. 
 
 33. And be it enacted, that this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and 
 after the 1st day of February 1862, and that upon the taking effect of this ordinance, 
 Ordinance No. 21, of the year 18.50, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed, save and 
 except in so far as said Ordinance No. 21, of the year 1850, may repeal any other ordinance 
 wholly or in part, and except as to existing contracts, and all fines and penalties incurred 
 and the right of prosecuting for and recovering the same. 
 
 And that no ignorance may be pretended of this our oi'dinance, these presents shall be 
 printed and published in the customary manner. 
 
 Thus done and enacted at our adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public Buildings, 
 Georgetown, Demerara, this 14th day of October 1851, and published on the 21st day 
 of February 1852. 
 
 Henry Barkly. 
 (By command) 
 
 J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 (British Guiana.) 
 
 (A.) 
 
 This Indenture, made the day of in the year of our Lord One 
 
 thousand Eight hundred and , between A. B., a new coolie immigrant labourer. 
 
 No. , of the one part, and C. D., of , in the colony of British Guiana, of the 
 
 other part, — Witnesseth, that in virtue of the ordinance in such case made and provided, 
 and in consideration of the covenants, promises, and agreements on the part and behalf of 
 the said C. D. hereinafter contained, he the said A. B. has placed and bound, and by these 
 presents doth place and bind himself, the said A. B., to and with the said C. D., for the 
 term of years, to be computed from the day of the date of these 
 
 presents ; and doth hereby, to and with the said C. D., covenant, promise, and declare, 
 that he the said A. B., as a labourer, shall and will, during all and every part of the said 
 term of years, truly and faithfully serve the said C. D., on plantation 
 
 , according to the rules, regulations, and laws now or hereafter to be in force of 
 and concerning coolie immigrant labourers in this colony ; and the said C. D. doth hereby 
 covenant, promise, and agree to and with the said A. B., that he, the said C, D., shail and 
 will during the said term of years, or the continuance of these presents, find and 
 
 provide the said A. B. with suitable and sufficient lodging and medical attendance, according 
 to the laws in such case made and provided, and according to all other laws and ordinances 
 which may hereafter be made, touching or concerning coolie immigrant labourers in this 
 colony ; and also shall and will allow and pay to the said , as 
 
 such libonrer aforesaid, the same rate of wages as is paid to the labourers not under a 
 written agreement, working on said plantation, according to the quantity of work performed, 
 and will pay such wages on the , after deducting at tlie rate 
 
 of three dollars per annum for medical attendance, and at the rate of six dollars per annum 
 for lodging. 
 
 J.B. 
 CD. 
 
 The precedino agreement was signed by the above-named parties in my presence on the 
 day and year above written, voluntarily, the same being, as far as I am able to judge, fully 
 understood by them respectively. 
 
 , Agent-General of Immigration. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 169 
 
 (B.) 
 
 I CERTIFY that the cooh'e immigrant(here insert the number, name, and particulars serving 
 to identify the immiorant) is exempt from the payment of monthly sums (here state ground 
 or cause of exemption, as " being an old coolie," or as "beins exempted by his Excellency 
 the Governor," or as "having completed his industrial residences," or any other lavi'ful 
 cause, stating such cause). 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 Appendix, No. 3. 
 
 Preamble. 
 
 Governor to name 
 ports of emigration. 
 
 BllITISH Gt3IA2NA.— iNo. 22. 1851. 
 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 Henry Barkh ^"^ ORDINANCE for the encouragement of the introduction into this RefeiTed to at 
 ■=' ^' Colony of Labomers in general. Page 8. 
 
 Ordinance enacted by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander- 
 in-Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the 
 same, ifec, &c., &c., by and with the advice and consent of the Honourable the Court of 
 Policy of said Colony. • 
 
 To all to whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting; be it known : — 
 
 Whekeas it is expedient that provision should be made for the encouragement, under 
 certain limitations, of the introduction into this colony of labourers on bounties to be paid 
 by the colony : — 
 
 1. Be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency the Governor of the colony of British 
 Guiana, with the advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, that the Governor, with 
 the advice and consent of the Court of Policy, may, from time to time, by proclamation, 
 name the ports or places from which emigration on bounty is permitted to this colony. 
 
 2. And be it enacted, that the Governor, with such advice and consent as aforesaid, may 
 fix such rate of bounty as to him shall seem just for indemnifying the person at whose 
 charoe any immigrant maybe introduced into this colony for the expense of his maintenance 
 and passaire from the port of embarkation to this colony, and the Governor shall, in his 
 proclamation to be issued for that purpose, declare the number of weeks deemed necessary 
 for the voyage of any ship or vessel from such respective ports or places to this colony : 
 provided always, that no rate of bounty shall be fixed, and that no bounty shall be allowed, 
 for the importation of any immigrant otber tban those competent and wiihng to engage in 
 agricultural occupations, or for any immigrant above the ajje of 40 years, or who shall be 
 incapacitated tor agricultural labour by infirmity or disease : provided always, that any 
 member of a family of immigrants above the age of 40 years arriving here, may be ad- 
 mitted, and bounty paid for the same. 
 
 3. And be it enacted, that if the agent-general of immia;ration, with the assistance of the 
 health officer of the port in which any such immigrants shall arrive, on personal inspection 
 of the vessel and immigrants, shall be satisfied that the provisions of Ordinance No. 20, of 
 the year 1851, aiad also the provisions of the " Passengers' Act, 1849," in so far as such Act 
 may apply, have been fullv complied with, he shall transmit to the Governor a certificate in 
 the form annexed, (A.), noting at the same time the date of the arrival in this colony of such 
 inmiiorants, and the place from which, and the vessel in which such immigrants shall have 
 airive(3 and the sum of money pay/able in respect of such immigrants; and thereupon the 
 Governor sliall issue his warrant to the Colonial Receiver-general to pay bounties, under the 
 provisions of this ordinance, in respect of the introduction of immigrants from any of such 
 several places as shall have been named by the Governor, as heieinbefore directed. 
 
 4. And be it enacted, that, unless by permission of Her Majesty's Government, pre- 
 viously had and obtained, no contract entered into by any employer with any immigrant 
 from any part of India, or from any part of the African continent, or from the island of 
 Mada«ascar, or from any other island adjacent to the coast of the African continent, and 
 inhabited by the negro race, shall be valid, unless the same shall have been made within this 
 colony. 
 
 5 And be it enacted that all contracts made and entered into cut of this colony with any 
 Chinese immigrant for 'the performance of any labour or service in agriculture within this 
 colony for a period not exceeding the term of Eve years, to be computed from the day of the 
 landino- of such inmvigrant in the colony, shall be valid and in foice for the period therein 
 «iient»oned .: provided always, that no such contract shall be valid or in force unless the 
 same shall be reduced to writing and be signed with the name, or in case of illiterate persons 
 witli the mark, of each of the contracting parties, in the presence of a notary public or British 
 consul nor unless such notary public or British consul shall subscribe the written contract 
 in attestation of the fact that it was entered into by the parties voluntarily, and with a clear 
 understanding of its meaning and effect, 
 
 B B 2 
 
 Governor to fix rate 
 of bounty. 
 
 Payment of bounties. 
 
 What contracts shall 
 not be valid unless 
 entered into within 
 the colony. 
 
 Contracts made out 
 of the colony to be 
 binding. 
 
 986. 
 
 6. And 
 
Determinatiou of 
 contracts of service 
 made in the colony. 
 
 Appendix. *7o PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Determination of 6. And be it enacted, that if any immigrant who may be introduced into this colony under 
 
 contracts of service, a private contract for a term of not less than three years, and for whose introduction a 
 portion of bounty may be demanded as hereinafter mentioned, shall be desirous of deter- 
 mining his contract of service on the expiration of the first or other current year, to be com- 
 puted from the day of his landing in the colony, and shall give one calendar month's notice 
 of his intention so to do, to his employer or the manager of the plantation on which he 
 shall be employed, it shall be lawful for the agent-general of immigration, or the special 
 justice of the district, on the application of such immigrant, and on proof being made of 
 such notice having been given, to make order in writing for determining such contract from 
 and after the day of the expiration of the then current year to be computed as aforesaid, 
 and every such justice making any such order shall transmit a copy of the same to the 
 agent-general of immigration. 
 
 Expense of introduc- 7. And be it enacted, that for every immigrant who shall so determine his contract of 
 tion of immigrants service as aforesaid, there shall be paid from the immigration fund, on the warrant of the 
 from the funds of the Grovernor, to the employer or other person at whose expense such immigrant shall have 
 colony in certain been introduced, for each unexpired year of the term mentioned in the contract, if the immi- 
 cases. grant shall have been introduced under contract for three years, a sum equal to one-third 
 
 of the bounty mentioned in the Governor's proclamation as payable for the introduction of 
 an immigrant from the place from which the immigrant determining his three years' con- 
 tract shall have been introduced, and for each unexpired year of the term mentioned in the 
 contract if the immigrant shall have been introduced under contract for five years, a sum 
 equal to one-fifth of the bounty mentioned in the Governor's proclamation as payable for 
 the introduction of an immigrant from the place from which the immigrant determining his 
 five years' contract shall have been introduced. 
 
 8. And be it enacted, that if any immigrant who may be indentured in this colony shall 
 be desirous of determining his contract of service on the expiration of the first or other 
 current year, to be computed from the day of his being so indentured in the colony, and 
 shall give one calendar month's notice of his intention so to do, to his employer or the 
 manager of the plantation on which he shall be employed, it shall be lawful for the Agent- 
 general of Immigration, or the special justice of the district, on the application of such 
 immigrant, and on proof being made of such notice having been given, and of payment of 
 the bounty money advanced for its introduction into the colony, and of contract money, 
 hospital, and other reasonable expenses incurred on his behalf by his employer, to make 
 order in writing for determining such contract from and after the day of the expiration of 
 the year to be computed as aforesaid, and every such justice making any such order shall 
 transmit a copy of the same to the Agent-general of Immigration. 
 
 9. And be it enacted, that every immigrant mentioned in this ordinance, in all matters 
 not otherwise specially provided for by this ordinance, shall be subject to and governed by 
 the provisions of Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851. 
 
 10. And be it enacted, that within the meaning and for the purposes of this ordinance, 
 the words " Her Majesty," shall mean H'er Majesty, her heii's, and successors ; the word 
 "Governor," shall mean every person who, for the time being, shall be in the lawful admi- 
 nistration of the government of tliis colony; the terms " Agent-general of Immigration," 
 and " agent-general," shall not only mean the Agent-general of Immigration, but also any 
 sub-agent appointed by the Governor to act in any particular case, or on any particular 
 occasion, in the place and stead of the Agent-general of Immigration ; that the words 
 indenture, contract, and agreement, respectively, shall mean any instrument in writing or 
 print, or partly in writing and partly in print, evidencing and undertaking or promise of 
 service ; that every word importing the singular number only shall extend and be applied 
 to several persons, matters, or things, as well as to one person, matter, or thing ; every word 
 importing the plural number,- shall extend and be applied to one person, matter, or thing, as 
 well as to several persons, matters, or things ; every word importing the masculine gender 
 only shall extend and be applied to a female as well as to a male, unless in any of the cases 
 aforesaid it be otherwise specially provided, or there be something in the subject or context 
 repugnant to such construction. 
 
 11. And be it enacted, that this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and 
 after the 1st day of February 1852, and that upon the taking effect of this ordinance. 
 Ordinance No. 23 of the year 1850, shall be and the same is hereby repealed, save and 
 except in so far as Ordinance No. 23 of the year 1850 may repeal any other ordinance 
 wholly or in part, and except as to existing contracts, and all fines and penalties incurred, 
 and the right of proceeding and recovering the same. 
 
 And that no ignorance may be pretended of this our ordinance, these presents shall be 
 printed and published in the customary manner. 
 
 This done and enacted at our adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public 
 Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, this 14th day of October 1851, and published on 
 the 
 
 By command, Henry Barkly. 
 
 J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 Immigrants in this 
 ordinance to be sub- 
 ject to Ordinance 
 No. 20, of the year 
 1851. 
 
 Interpretation 
 clause. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 171 
 
 (A). Appendix. 
 
 Immigration Agent's Certificate of Arrival. 
 
 I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the ship ( master)' 
 
 arrived at this port from on the , bringing immigrants 
 
 above 14 years of age, between the ages of 14 and 6 years, and 
 
 under 6 years of age; tli at I, assisted by the health officer of the .port, have personally 
 inspected the said vessel and immigrants, and find that the provisions of the Passengers' 
 f Ti^-^*?'^'^ I^'" "® such Act applies to said vessel, and also of the immigration ordinances 
 ot British Guiana, have been cluly complied with ; and finally, that the amount payable in 
 respect of such immigrants is dollars. 
 
 Dated at this day of 185 . 
 
 A. B., Agent-general of Immigration. 
 J. Gardiner Austin, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 Appendix, No. 4. 
 
 British Guiana. — No. 2. — 1853. 
 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 Henrv Barklv ^^ ORDINANCE for regulating the Rights, Duties, and Relations of Referred to af p. 25. 
 " "' Employers and Servants in the Colony of British Guiana. 11^- 
 
 Ordinance enacted by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esquire, Governor and Commander- 
 in-Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the 
 same, &c., &c., &c., by and with the advice and consent of the Honom-able the Court of 
 Policy of said Colony. 
 
 To all whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting ; be it known : — 
 
 Whereas it is expedient that the hirings of servants in husbandry, of sailors and boatmen Preamble. 
 employed on board colonial vessels and boats, of menial servants, and of artificers, handi- 
 craftsmen, and labourers, whether immigrants or otherwise, should be properly regulated ; 
 and that provision should be made for tlie more easy recovery of the wages of such persons 
 as aforesaid, and for the more ready determination of all disputes connected with their 
 hirings : Be it, therefore, enacted by his Excellency the Governor of British Guiana, with 
 the advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, as follows : — 
 
 Sec. 1. That from and after the taking effect of this ordinance. Ordinance No. 2, of the Repeal of foi-mer 
 year 1848, intituled, " An Ordinance for regulating the Rights, Duties, and Relations of laws. 
 Employers and Servants in the Colony of British Guiana," and all laws formerly in force 
 respecting the hiring of servants in husbandry, of sailors and boatmen employed on board 
 colonial vessels and boats, of menial servants, and of artificers, handicraftsmen, and other 
 labourers in the colony, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed, except only in so far as 
 the same may have repealed any former law, or such parts of the said ordinance as relate 
 to contracts made in certain places out of the limits of the said colony : Provided that Proviso, 
 nothing herein contained shall' repeal or affect the Act No. 9, of the year 1827, intituled, 
 " An Act to regulate Porters and others plying for hire in Georgetown," and which Act, 
 No. 9, of the year 1827, shall remain in full force as if this ordinance had not been passed. 
 
 2. That if any person described in the preamble to this ordinance shall contract with Penalty on servants 
 any employer to serve him for a time certain, or in any other manner whatsoever, and shall for breach of con- 
 not enter into or commence his service according to such contract, such contract being either ^^^^' 
 in writing, and signed by the contracting parties, or verbal, and made in the presence of two 
 credible witnesses ; or having entered into such service in pursuance of or under any contract, 
 whether the same shall be in writing, or not in writing, shall absent himself from his service, 
 or shall refuse to fulfil the same before the term of his contract shall have been completed, 
 whether such contract shall be for a time certain, or work certain, or under the provisions 
 hereinafter in that behalf contained, unless for some reasonable cause as hereinafter pro- 
 vided or shall practise or be guilty of any fraud or deception in the performance of any 
 work which he is bound to perform, such offender, on conviction thereof, shall be punished 
 by fine or imprisonment, such fine not to exceed 24 dollars, and such imprisonment not to 
 exceed 30 days. 
 
 3 That if any such person as aforesaid shall, by negligence or other improper conduct. Penalty on servants 
 losei throw away, endanger, or damage the property of his employer, or shall endanger such fordamaging pro- 
 property by a careless or improper use of fire, or shall wilfully maim, wound, or cruelly ^ y-' "• 
 ill-use any cattle or other live stock belonging to his employer, or entrusted to his care, or 
 by neo'lio-ence shall suffer or occasion to be maimed, wounded, or cruelly ill-used any such 
 cattle or^live stock, every such offender, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine or 
 imprisonment, such fine not to exceed 24 dollars, and such imprisonment not to exceed 
 -30 days. „, 
 
 986. B B 3 4- That 
 
Appendix, 
 
 172 i^APfiRS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Pen;il!y on pi?rsons 4. That if any person as aforesaid shall be guilty of any other wilful misconduct or ill- 
 for otIuM- wilful mis- behaviour in such service, such person on conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay any sum 
 ' not exceedinu; 10 dollars. 
 
 couduci. 
 
 Wages of servants 
 may be abated. 
 
 Penalty for ill-usage 
 of servant by em- 
 ployer. 
 
 Contracts for service 
 to be deemed 
 monthly contracts. 
 
 Penalty on employel: 
 •wrongfully termi- 
 nating any contract 
 for .service for time 
 imcertain. 
 
 Penalty on employer 
 vi-rongiully termi- 
 nating any contract 
 for a time certain. 
 
 Penalty on labourer 
 for delaying to com- 
 jjlete a, job where 
 work has been com- 
 menced. 
 
 Employer may dis- 
 charge seiTant for 
 misconduct. 
 
 Ill-usage of servant 
 a good answer to 
 complaint by em- 
 ployer. 
 
 Justices may dis- 
 charge employer or 
 servant from his 
 contra; t. 
 
 Governor may dis- 
 chai-ge immigrants 
 
 5. That the justice by and before whom any coHq)laint shall be heard and determinBd, 
 may, in addition to uny of'such fines or imprisonment hereinbefore directed, abate the whole 
 or any pi-irt of the wages due to such person as aforesaid, and direct the same to be retained 
 by and to the use of the employer of any such person ; and in the event of any person 
 beitit; sentenced to imprisonment, no wages shall accrue to him during such imprisonment. 
 
 6. That if any employer shall ill-use any person, or shall not deliveir to aiijT' person any 
 articles stipulated for, and which by the coMract of service are to be furrnished by the 
 employer to the servant, or if the articles so furnished shall not be of tlie stipulated quantity 
 or quality, every such employer being convicted of any such offence shall forfeit and pay 
 such sum not exceeding 60 dollars, including the reasonable costs of such servant, as to the 
 convicting justices shall seem fit. 
 
 7. That in the absence of any express agreement between the parties thereto to the con- 
 trary, the entering of any person into the service or emptey of any one, shall be deemed 
 and taken to be a contract for one month certain from the time of entering on such service,, 
 such month to be deemed a lunar month in the case of agricultural labourers, and a calendar 
 month in all other cases, and every such contract shall be terminated by mutual consent of 
 the parties, or by either party, at the expiration of the first or any subsequent month on 
 giving 14 days' previous notice to the other party in writing, or in the presence of a credible 
 witness, or for any good and sufficient oa'use as hereinafter provided, 
 
 8. That if any empl'oyer «hall terminate any contract entered into with any servant for 
 service for a time uncertain, except with the consent of «uch servant, or by solving 14 days' 
 notice as aforesaid, or for some good and sufficient cause as aforesaid, such employer shall 
 forfeit and pay to the use of the servant a sura equal to one month's wages, according to 
 the rate of wages which may have been fixed by and between the parties ; or if tlie rate of 
 wages shall not have been so fixed, then such sum as the justice or justices may consider 
 fair and reasonable, as and for a month's wages, regard being had to the class of the servant, 
 and the nature of the duties contracted to be performed, in addition to the wages due to the 
 servant at the time of the termination of such contract. 
 
 9. That if any employer having engaged any servant for service for any period of time 
 ceriain, or for the performance ot iany pariicular work, sihall put away, disiniss„ er <^lischarge 
 such servant before the completion of his contract, such employer, unless he shall be able 
 ■to prove reasonable and sufficient cause for putting away such servant, shall fodfeit to the 
 Use of such servant .such sum not exceeding 24 dollars, as the justices shall "consideir a 
 reasonable compensation ibr the wrong and inj«.i;y done to such servant. 
 
 10. That whenever any labourer or servant, ©r other person having entered into a icontract 
 in writing or otherwise, for the performance <of any job or work, for the performance of 
 which Jio specified time shall be agreed upon, and haaring commenced the same, shall sus- 
 .peiid his labour on the same, or shall by his example or ipersuasion, advise, or otherwise 
 niduce any person working with him to suspend his labour on the same,(every such labourer, 
 servant, or other person shall for €V6ry such offence, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay 
 to the employer a sum not exceeding 50 dollars, and shall moreover forfeit and Jose to such 
 empleyer every sum of money wiiich wo'uld otherwise have been .«kie and payable .for such 
 part or portion of ihejobxjr work which shall have been done and performed. 
 
 11. That it shall be lawful for any employer to discharge aiiy servant who shi/11 be guilty 
 of any misconduct or wilful omission, or neglect of duty, without "notice, and without pay- 
 .ment of any wages beyond the WHiges due at the period of such dischaige^ and to .any 
 complaint made in respect of such discharge, such misconduct or wailful omission or neglect 
 of duty proved shall be a sufficient -answer^ but such employer shall not be jprecluded by 
 the fact of such 'discharge from proceeding against any such person as aforesaid for any 
 offence under the provisions of this ordinance commitlfed during the service of such person. 
 
 12. That on any complaint ma'de by any employer against any servant for refusing or 
 ivilfully neglecting to •perform his contract, such seiTant shall be at liberty to show }ry 
 evidence, in answer to such complaint, that he terminated his service or contract in conse- 
 quence of ill-usage by his employer, or for some other good and sufficient cause to 'be judged 
 of by the justice or justices. 
 
 13. That upon any complaint made by a:ny employer or servant, the justice or justices 
 by whom such complaint shall be heard, may dischaige such, employer or.servawt from his- 
 contract or service, in addition to any other order made on such complaint, and shall, in 
 caj^e of such discharge, award to sucli servant the wbole or such proportion of the wages 
 appearing due to sUih servant as the justice or justices shall think reasonable, or shall 
 authorise the employfer to retain tlfe vvhole or any specified portion of such wages, and shall 
 give to such employer or servant, as the case may require, a certificate of such discharge 
 and of such award, without any fee or consideration. 
 
 14. That if it shall be made to aprpeaT to the 'Governor, that any employer of any inden- 
 tured immigiant, or other person acting under his authority, shall have been convicted of 
 
 'gross- 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 173 , ,. 
 
 gross or repeated ill-usage or ilUreatment of any such imaii.araat, the Governor may direct from sorvkTon se- 
 ttle mtaigrant so ill-used or ill-treated, and also if he shall "so think fit, every other immi- count of ill-usMg. hy 
 giant indentured to such employei- to be released and diseharg-ed from all further service to employer. 
 such employer, a i>d thereupon such immigrant or immigrants shall be vi^holly discharged 
 Irom all further service to such employer; and the. Governor shall direct the Agent-oeneral 
 01 Immigration to indent immigrants so discharged to such other employer as^o him may 
 seem ht ^ provided always, that the term of service for which every such immigrant shall 
 be mdentured by any such new indenture shall not, together with the time of "his or her 
 past semee, exceed the period of service for which such "immigrant was originally bound. 
 
 ^5- /^»t whenever the use and occupation of any house, cottage, tenement, or room. Employer allowed to 
 snail torm an ingredient in any contract of service with any labourer other than an immi- charge and recover 
 grant labourer under contract, or shall be stipulated for, or deemed a part of the consideration ^■®"* ^° '^^'■*'*'" '='''^''' 
 for any work or labour to be performed on any plantation by any such labourer, it shall be fr"" lal^'"^^'«-«- 
 lawful tor the employer to demand from, and, if need be, to enforce, under the authority of 
 any justice of the peace, by deduction of wages due or otherwise, paymem by every such 
 labourer or servant for each day that such labourer or servant, without reasonable cause, 
 shall hayp absented himself from the service of his employer, and shall have kept possession 
 ot said house, cottage, tenement, or room, such sum as shall have been stipulated as the 
 value, not exceeding 16 cents per diem. 
 
 16. That after such application to such justice of the peace as aforesaid, the occupancy Labourer retaining- 
 ofc any person or persons hereinbefore mentioned shall cease and determine upon three possession of tene- 
 clear days notice to quit being given by the proprietor or proprietors of such tenement or ment after three 
 premises, or by any person by him or" them duly authorized thereto; and in the event of days' notice to quit 
 any person or persons over-holding possession of the said tenement or premises after ex- Set^^"" ™*^ 
 piratiou of such notice, it shall be lawful for any justice, and he is hereby authori2sed and 
 
 required, upon complaint made, and proof thereof given, to issue his warra'nt diiectihg any 
 police officer or constable of the district in which such tenement or premises may be situate, 
 to enter and take possession of the same, and to eject any person therefrom : provided 
 always, that in the event of any person or persons proceeding to recover possession of such 
 tenements or premises as aforesaid, otherwise than in the mode and manner pointed out by 
 this ordinance, they shall be subject and Tiable, upon complaint made, to the payment of 
 a fine not exceeding 24 dollars. 
 
 17. That whenever any employer shall giant to any servant the use and occupation of When servants mfi- 
 any piece of land for the growth of provisions, such permission to be valid shall be in tied to growing crops 
 writing, and unless such permission in writing shall contain a stipulation that the employer on provision grounds, 
 shall be at liberty to determine the grant at any time, and to resume possession of the land 
 
 without the servant being entitled to the growing crops, every servant to whom there shall 
 be granted the use and occupation of any land in the manner and for the purpose aforesaid, 
 shall, at any hour between six o'clock of the morning, and four o'clock of the afternoon of 
 every day, within three months after his quitting or ceasing to be in such service, have the 
 right of entering upon and reaping the growing crops on said land. 
 
 18. That every person who shall harbour, conceal, or employ any immigrant, being at Penalty on persons 
 the time under a written contract to labour for any other employer, or who shall remove or harbouring, conceal- 
 entice away, or shall solicit or entice any such immigrant to remove from the employment ing,_ employina-. or 
 or service of his or her employer, shall, for every such offence, on conviction thereof before enticing away iimni- 
 a justice of the peace, forfeit and pay the sum of 23 dollars, and shall further pay to the ^'™ ^* 
 employer to whom such immigrant shall be under such written contract to labour, the sum 
 
 of one dollar for each day during which such immigrant shall have been so harboured or 
 employed, and if the employer or person in charge of any such immigrant shall prove upon 
 oath before any justice of the peace, a reasonable cause to suspect that, such immigrant is 
 harboured, concealed, or employed on the premises of any person, such justice of the peace 
 may grant a warrant lo search for such immigrant, and bring him or her, and the person 
 by whom such immigrant may be harboured, concealed, or ensployed, before him, to be 
 dealt with as aforesaid: Provided always, that in every case in which any dispute or dif- Proviso, 
 ference shall urise as to whether any person who shall have harboured, concealed, or em- 
 ployed any immigrant, being'at the time under a written contract to labour, or who shall 
 have removed or enticed away, or shall have solicited or enticed any such immigrant to 
 remove from the employment or service of his or her employer, had knowledge of any such QJ^^ prdbandi on 
 immigrant being at the time under such contract, the proof of the absence or want of know- party com plaintd 
 ledge of every such person shall be on such person, and the proof of the knowledge of such against, 
 person shall not he en the party aggrieved, complaining, or informing. 
 
 19. That all complaints, differences, and disputes which shall arise between employer and Complaints, liowf!> 
 sei-vant, touching a.M concerning any matter or thing, shall and may be heard and deter- te heard anddotcr- 
 mined in manner and form provided by Ordinance No. 30, of the year 1850. mmed. 
 
 20. That within the meaning and for the purposes of this ordinance, all masters, mis- Construction clause. 
 tresses, foremen, attornies, agents, managers, and other persons engaged in the hiring, em- 
 ploying, or superintending the labour or service of any servant within the meaning of this 
 
 ordiuance, shall be, and be deemed, " employers ;'" and that within the nieaning and for the 
 purposes of this ordinance, any money or other thing paid or contracted to be paid 
 delivered, or given as a recompense, reward, or remuneration for any labour or other service 
 done or to be'done, whether within a certain lime or to a certain amount, or for a time or an 
 (j86. J3 B 4 amount 
 
174 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. amount uncertain, shall be deemed and taken to be the " wages" of any servant aforesaid; 
 
 and that within the meaning and for the purposes aforesaid, any agreement, understanding,. 
 
 or arrangement whatever on the subject of wages, whether written or oral, whether direct or 
 indirect, to which any employer and any servant or other persons are parties, or are assent- 
 ing, or by which they are mutually bo^md to each other, shall be, and be deemed to be a 
 " contriict," and every contract shall mean an indenture; and that within the meaning, and 
 for the purposes aforesaid, every labourer, whether immigrant or otherwise, or mechanic 
 employed upon any sugar, coffee, or other plantation, shall be, and be deemed to be a 
 " servant in husbandry ;" and that within the meaning and for the purposes aforesaid, all 
 servants in husbandry, mechanics, artificers, handicraftsmen, labourers, persons employed in 
 droghers, vessels, or boats, or otherwise, and all household or other domestic servants, . 
 laundresses, or other servants, shall be deemed to be comprised within the term " servant ;" 
 that the word " defendant" shall also mean " offender," and the word " offender" shall also 
 mean "defendant;" that the word "immigrant" shall mean any and every person intro- 
 duced into the colony, either wholly or in part, at the public expense, or at that of any 
 employer; that the word " indenture" shall mean any contract in writing, and the word 
 " unindentured" shall mean " not bound by any contract in writing ;" and that wherever in 
 this ordinance any term importing the singular number occurs the plural number shall be 
 deemed included, or where any term shall be used which signifies the male gender, the 
 female gender shall be considered and taken to be included; and that where one matter or 
 subject may be treated of, two or more matters or subjects shall be considered and included 
 and intended, provided it shall be necessary to put such a construction in order to render 
 the sense clear, or to give full and complete effect to any of the provisions of this ordinance, 
 unless it be otherwise especially provided for, or there be something in the subject or con- 
 text repugnant to such construction. 
 
 Ordinance, when to 21. That this ordinance shall come into operation and take effect on the day of the pub- 
 take eifect. lication thereof. 
 
 Thus done and enacted at our Adjourned Assembly, held at the Guiana Public 
 Buildings, Georgetown, Demerary, this 20th day of January, 1853, and published 
 on the 22d following. 
 
 Henry Barkly. 
 By command of the Court, 
 
 William Walker, Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) W. Walker, Secretary. 
 
 Appendix, No. 5, 
 
 No. 3. — British Guiana. — 1853. 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 Refened to at p. 25. An ORDINANCE* to repeal certain Ordinances now in force for the Regu- 
 
 115. Henry Barkly. lation and Encouia_gement of Immigration into this Colony, and to make 
 
 other Provisions in lieu thereof. 
 
 Ordinance enacted by his Excellency Henry Barkly, Esq., Governor and Commander- 
 in-Chief in and over the Colony oi British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary of the 
 same, &c. &c. &c., by and with the advice and consent of the Honourable the Court 
 of Policy of said Colony. 
 
 To all to whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting; be it known : — 
 
 rreamble. Whereas it is necessary to amend the ordinances now force for the regulation and 
 
 encouragement of immigration into British Guiana, and for providing general regulations- 
 for immigrants introduced into the said colony, and for that purpose to consolidate the same 
 into one ordinance ; Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor of British 
 Guiana, with the advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, as follows : — 
 
 Governor to appoint 1. That the Governor may from time to time, in the event of a vacancy in the office of 
 Immigration Agent- Immigration Agent-general, nominate and appoint some fit and proper person, resident in 
 general. this colony, to fill such vacancy, who shall be paid annually such salary, not exceeding the 
 
 sum of 2,400 dollars, as the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Court of Policy, 
 shall determine. 
 Governor to appoint 2. That the Governor, with the advice and consent as aforesaid, may nominate and ap- 
 siih-agent, one for point from time to time sub -immigration agents residing within the colony, who shall be 
 ftrNcwTmsterdam^ under the direction and control of the said Immigration Agent-general; and the Governor 
 may allow to the sub-immigration agent acting in Georgetown remuneration not exceeding 
 the sum of 960 dollars per annum ; and to the sub-immigration agent acting in New 
 Amsterdam remuneration not exceeding the sum of 480 dollars per annum. 
 
 3. That 
 
 • See Despatch from Duke of Newcastle, No. 48, 14 May 1863, conveying Her Majesty's disallowance of 
 this ordinance, page 115 of this Paper. 
 
of 
 
 ■e 
 
 s 
 
 INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 175 App,„di,, 
 
 3. That the Governor with the advice and consent as aforesaid, may from time to time Governor i,y Prod.ma. 
 by proclamation name the ports or places from vi^hich emisration on bounty is permitted to *r '" ""'""'= P"'*' °' 
 
 tniS COJony. ^ r placeB from which emi- 
 
 gration on bounty will 
 
 ho^;t?o\* the Governor, with the advice and consent as aforesaid, may fix such rate of 'T"'tr' . . , 
 bounty as to him shall seem just for indemnifying the person at whose charge any immi- S bvt^^^n 
 IZfZlnt'T^r^ ^^''^ '^'' colony for tlL expense of his maintenance^nd passage SoM (Srt c 
 irom tne poit ot embarkation to this colony, and the Governor shall in his proclamation to Policy, and the 
 oe issued tor that purpose declare the number of weeks deemed necessary for the vovaae of Governor to declai\ 
 any ship or vessel from such respective ports or places to this colony : provided always, *'J™H'' "^ ''?'' 
 that no rate of bounty shall be fixld, and that no bounty shall be allowed^or the imporS SZItyZA- 
 lion or any immigrant who may be incompetent or unwilling to engage in agricultural lowed to ither than 
 t ii"k °^ ^"^ immigrant above the age of 40 years, unless in either case such immigrant agncultuial labour- 
 shall be one of a family of immigrants arriving in the same vessel. ^'^' <"' ^'"' '^y ™"": 
 ^ , o c grant over the age of 
 
 5. That any person who shall introduce at his own expense such immigrants under ^*^' ''^SJ^ ™ ^^'^ 
 written contract with him for service upon his own plantation, shall be entitled to receive «'«<' "^ *^™'1'«^- 
 from the immigration funds one-half of the rate of bounty which may be offered by any ^o^^f y"" I"""!- , 
 proclamation of the Governor then in force for the introduction of immigrants from the StVco™ 
 same port or place on the general account of the colony ; or in the event of no such bounty 
 
 bemg then offered, he shall be in like manner entitled to receive one-half of the amount of 
 passage-money paid for each such immigrant, such amount to be ascertained by production 
 ot the charter-party of the vessel bringing such immigrants: and such importation being 
 from such ports or places as are recognized, and under such regulations and conditions as 
 are provided in this ordinance, so far as the same may apply. 
 
 6. That the Governor may from time to time pay a proportion of the salary or remunera- Remuneration to 
 tion granted by Her Majesty to each of such persons as are or mav be appointed at places agents abroad; how 
 from which emigration may be sanctioned to superintend the emiaration of labourers to any P^'o^Wed. 
 
 of Her Majesty' colonies in the West Indies and to British Guiana ; every such salary or 
 remuneration to be borne by the respective colonies in the proportions in which emigrants 
 may be sent to them respectively. 
 
 7. That every agent employed to collect emigrants shall use all just and lawful means to Immigrants must be 
 pi-ocure persons who are agricultural labourers willing to emi<>:rate to this colony with their agricultuial labour- 
 wives and children, if any, and shall explain to every "such emigrant the real advantages likly health '" 
 
 to be derived by him from a removal to this colony, and such agent shall also ascertain that 
 every such emigrant is an agricultural labourer in good health, and not incapacitated for 
 agricultural labour by old age^ infirmity, or disease. 
 
 8. That every moderate and necessary expense incurred at any port or place where any such ^hat expenses col- 
 agent is appointed tor the collection of emigrants, in conveying emigrants to the port of em- lecting agents may 
 barkation, m maintaining them there for a period notjexceeding lodays, and in providing them incur, and how paid, 
 with such supply of clothing as may be requisite for their voyage to this colony, shall be 
 
 defrayed by such agent, who shall transmit to the Governor of this colony an account thereof, 
 duly vouched, showing the particulars of such expenditure, countersigned by the Governor of 
 such place, or by such officer as he may appoint, if the same be a British possession, or by 
 Her Majesty's consul at any foreign port or place, such Governor, officer, or consul (as the 
 case may be), certifying thereby, so far as he knows, that such expenditure has been solely 
 incurred for the purposes aforesaid, or for any of such purposes, and is just and reasonable; 
 and the Governor of this colony, upon such certificate or upon such other evidence as he 
 may deem requisite, shall issue his warrant to the Colonial Receiver-general to pay the 
 amount of such account. 
 
 9. That upon a vessel with emigrants sailing from any port or place from which emi^ra- Agent to see that the 
 tion is permitted j the agent appointed for any such port or place shall see that all the direc- provisions of the 
 tions herein contained, and all the provisions of the Act of Parliament passed in the session Passengers Act have 
 holden in the 16th and 16th years of Her Majesty's reign, chap. 44, intituled, "An Act a^d"shdl makelilt 
 to amend and consolidate the laws relating to the carriage of Passengers by Sea," and in duplicate^ specify- 
 knovvn as the " Passengers' Act, 1852," so far as the same may be applicable, have been ing the name, &c., 
 complied with, and shall grant a certificate thereof in the form annexed, marked (A.), ^ the immigrants, 
 under his hand to the master of such vessel ; and such agent, before such vessel is cleared guch duplica'te^list 
 out, shall make out a list in writing in the form annexed, marked (B.), or such other form to the Immio^ration 
 as may be more convenient, together with a duplicate of the same, specifying as accurately Agent-general. 
 as may be the name, sex, and age of each of the emigrants on board such vessel at her 
 departure, and shall retain such list, and shall dehver to the master of the said vessel the 
 duplicate of such list signed by such agent ; and the said master shall on the arrival of 
 such vessel, and previous to the disembarkation of any emigrant, give notice of the arrival 
 of such vessel, and deliver the said duplicate of such list to the Immigration Agent-general 
 of this colony. 
 
 10. That aJl expenditure incurred by Her Majesty's Government or by Commissioners Expenses how to be 
 appointed by Her Majesty's Governmenl at the request of the Governor and Court of Policy, paid, 
 the hiring, employing, and licensing of any vessel for bringing or sending inimigrants into 
 this colony from the East Indies or from China, in providing for the maintenance and 
 clothing of such immigrants during their passage or otherwise, in employing on board any 
 such vessel a surgeon, and such other just expenditure as shall be caused by and be neces- 
 
 986. C C sarily 
 
176 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 ApiiCntli 
 
 Permission of 
 Goveiriment neces- 
 sary to make certain 
 contracts valid. 
 
 Contracts with 
 Chinese to be valid 
 for any period not 
 exceeding five years. 
 
 Duties of Agent- 
 general on arrival of 
 ships vsitli immi- 
 gi-ants. 
 
 Immigration Agent- 
 general to inspect 
 Tessel and immi- 
 grants, and see that 
 the Passengers' Act 
 has been complied 
 with, and give certi- 
 ficate. 
 
 One immigrant for 
 ^aoli ton of measure- 
 ment of vessel. 
 
 Conveying immi- 
 grants from AiadeirBj 
 &c. 
 
 Duties of health 
 efficer. 
 
 sarily incidental to sur-h immigration to this colony, and all just expenditure caused by and 
 necessarily incidental to sending back any immigrants from the East Indies at the expira- 
 tion of their stipulated term of residence fo the place from whence they shall have been 
 brought or sent into this colony, shall be paid by the colony, 
 
 11. That unless by permission of Her Majesty's Government, previously had and obtained, 
 no contract entered into by any employer with any immigrant from any part of India, or 
 from any part of the African continent, or from the Island of Mandagascar, or from any 
 island adjacent to the coast of the African continent, and inhabited by the negro race, shall 
 be valid, unless the same shall have been made within this colony. 
 
 12. That all contracts made and entered into out of this colony with any Chinese immi- 
 grant for the performance of any labour or service in agriculture within this colony for any 
 period noi exceeding the term of five years, to be computed from the day of the landing of 
 such immigrant in the colony, shall be valid and in force for the period therein mentioned : 
 Provided ahvays, that no such contract shall be valid or in force unless the same shall be 
 reduced to writing, and shall be signed with the name, or in case of illiterate persons, with 
 the mark of each of the contracting parties, in the presence of a notary public, British 
 consul, or other officer approved by Her Majesty's' Government, nor unless such notary, 
 British consul, or other officer approved by Her Majesty's Government shall subscribe the 
 written contract in attestation of the fact that it was entered into by the parties voluntarily, 
 and with a clear understanding of its meaning and effect. 
 
 13. That upon the arrival in the colony of any vessel having immigrants on board, the 
 Immigration Agent-general, accompanied by the health officer of the port, shall forthwith 
 proceed on board of such vessel, and, with the assistance of such officer, shall ascertain, by 
 personal inspection of the vessel and immigrants, whether the provisions of the colonial 
 laws, and also the provisions of the " Passengers' Act, 1852," as far as they may be appli- 
 cable, have been complied with or not ; and such Immigration Agent-general, with such 
 assistance as aforesaid, shall personally muster such immigrants, and compare the number 
 and names of such immigrants with the duplicate list furnished to the master by the agent 
 at the port of embarkation, and shall certify upon such duplicate list the name of the vessel, 
 the total number of immigrants then living and on board of such vessel, together with the 
 state or condition of each immigrant, his fitness for agricultural labour, and at whose cost 
 and char-ies he is imported ; and in case any immigrant shall have died during the passage, 
 or the number or names of the immigrants shall differ from the number and names of the 
 immigrants stated in such duplicate list, the Immigration Agent-general shall note such 
 death or difference upon such duplicate list, and thereupon, with the approbation of the 
 Governor, shall grant a licence for the disembarkation and landing of the' immigrants from 
 guch vessel. 
 
 14. That if the Immigration Agent-general, with the assistance of the health officer of 
 the port, on personal inspection of the vessel and immigrants, shall be satisfied that the 
 provisions of the colonial laws, and also the provisions of the " Passengers' Act, 1852," in 
 so far as they may apply, have been fully complied with, he shall transmit to the Governor 
 a certificate in the form annexed, marked (C), stating in the same the date of the arrival 
 in this colony of such immigrants, and the place from whence, and the vessel in which such 
 immigrants shall have arrived, and the sum of money payable in respect of such immigrants, 
 and thereupon the Governor shall issue his warrant to the Receiver-general to pay the 
 same : provided always, that no bounty or passage money shall be paid, except for such 
 immigrants as are, upon their arrival, certified by the health officer to be in good health and 
 fit for service ; and that with respect to those who may be ineffective at the time of their 
 arrival, payment of bounty or passage money shall be suspended, and shall be paid only 
 upon such as may be, within a reasonable period, certified by the health officer or the sur- 
 geon of the colonial hospital to which they may have been sent, to have become capable of 
 performing labour. 
 
 15. That immigrants imported from the Island of Madeira, from any of the islands of the 
 Azores, Cape de Verd Islands, Canary Islands, and other places of similar distance, may be 
 so imported at the rate of one immigrant for each ton of the measurement of the vessel in 
 which they are imported and no more, any provision in any law or ordinance to the contrary 
 contained notwithstanding. 
 
 16. That upon the departure of any vessel from this colony having Indian immigrants on 
 board returning to the port from whence they came, the Immigration Agent-general, accom- 
 panied by the health officer, shall proceed on board of such vessel, and with the assistance 
 of such health officer, shall ascertain, by personal inspection of the vessel and immigrants, 
 whether the vessel is fit and suitable in all respects for the purpose, and whether all the 
 arranoements made for the passage and treatment of the immigrants are in due conformity 
 with law, and especially with the provisions of an Act passed by the Right honourable the 
 Governor-General of India and Council, intituled " An Act for regulating the Emigration 
 of the iN'ative Inhabitants of the Territories under the Government of the East India Com- 
 pany, to Jamaica, British Guiana, and Trinidad ;" and such Immigration Agent-general, with 
 such assistance as aforesaid, shall personally muster such immigrants and shall certify upon 
 the list to be by liim furnished to the master of such vessel, the total number of immigrants 
 embarked, together with the state and condition of such immigrants, and that they havi 
 provided themselves with clothing suitable for the voyage. 
 
 ^ ■ . ; 17. That 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Fees ofhcaltli officer. 
 
 Immigration Agent- 
 general to provide 
 food for immigrants 
 until they are lo- 
 cated. 
 
 Imitiigration Agent- 
 general to keep 
 separate registers of 
 immigrants. 
 
 INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 177 
 
 17. That such health officer, for his assistance and services as aforesaid, shall be allowed 
 the sum of 10 cents of a dollar for every immigrant on board of any such vessel arriving, 
 and the same sum for every immigrant departing at the expense of the colony. 
 
 18. That if any immigrants, shall not, on their arrival, be immediately provided with 
 employment, it shall be the duty of the Immigration Aa;ent-geiieral to provide such immi- 
 grants with wholesome and sufficient food, and with convenient lodging on shore, until the 
 means of earnmg their own subsistence can be procured for them; and the Immigration 
 Agent-general shall deliver to the Governor an account, supported by all necessary vouchers, 
 of the expenditure incurred by him in procuring' such food and lodging, and if such account 
 be approved of by the Governor, the same shall be paid by the Receiver-general. 
 
 19. That the Immigration Agent-general shall continue to keep as heretofore separate 
 registers of all immigrants introduced into this colony, that is to say, firstly, a register of 
 iniEdigrants from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies; secondly, a register 
 of indentured Africans ; thirdly, a register of Portuguese immigrants ; fourthly, a register 
 of Chinese immigrants; aud, fifthly, a register of all other immigrants not coming under 
 the denomination of any of the immigrants mentioned in any of the aforesaid classes, and 
 shall in each of such registers insert the name of ench inimiorant thereto belonging, and 
 shall number each of the immigrants of each class by a particular number, proceeding in 
 regular order with the other numbers, so thut no two immigrants of the same class shall 
 bear the same number, and shall insert in each of such registers, under different heads, 
 the number, name, age, and sex of every immigrant belonging to such class, the time when, 
 the place from whence, and the name of the party, if any, at whose cost and charijes such 
 immigrant is imported, and the name of the vessel in which such immigrant shall have 
 arrived, together with the cost of the passage of such immigrant, and also whether such 
 immigrant will or will not be entitled to a return passage. 
 
 20. That it shall not be lawful for any immigrant who shall have been introduced into the Immigrant not to 
 colony at the public expense, to depart from the colony without a licence in writing signed 1^?* colony -withouS 
 by the Immigration Agent-general ; and every master or other person in charge of any *^'^™'=^- 
 
 vessel who shall receive or harbour on board of such vessel, with the intention of carrying 
 out of this colony, any such immigrant, who shall not have obtained such hcence, shall, on 
 conviction thereof, forfeit and pay a sum of 100 dollars, for each and every such immigrant 
 ■whom he shall have so received or harboured with such intention as aforesaid; and every 
 such penalty shall and may be sued for, prosecuted, and recovered for and on the behalf 
 of Her Majesty by the Attorney-General, or in the Court of Vice-Admiralty, by Her 
 Majesty's Advocate, from such master, or other person being in command of any such 
 vessel, or from the owner of such vessel, or from the surety of the master of such vessel, or 
 from any or either of them. 
 
 21. That the Comptroller of Customs and Navigation Laws shall be,, and he is hereby 
 authorized and required to withhold from the master or person in command of any such 
 vessel a clearance for the same until such master or other person in command of such vessel 
 as aforesaid shall produce to him a certificate from the Immigration Agent-general 
 that the immigrants on board of such vessel have obtained from him, the said Immigration 
 Agent-general, the licence in writing mentioned in and required by section 20 of this 
 ordinance. 
 
 22. That no employer who has already made application to the Immigration Agent- 
 general in the mode and manner required by law previously to the passing of this ordinance 
 for the purpose of obtaining allotments of immigrants, shall be required to make any other 
 or renewed application until the expiration of the period hereinafter-mentioned in respect of 
 such application, Unless he shall have in the meantime received the full number of immi- 
 grants applied for as aforesaid : provided that in all other cases an employer who may be 
 desirous of locating immigrants on his plantation, under the provisions of this ordinance, 
 shall make application to the Immigration Agent-general, fully setting forth in writing, the 
 situation of such plantation, the name of the proprietor thereof, the number and description 
 of the immigrants required, the nature of the labour to be performed, and all other par- 
 ticulars; and such application shall not be received unless accompanied with a certificate 
 of the special justice of the peace for the district where such immigrants are to be located, 
 that comfortable and sufficient accommodation and medical attendance according to law, 
 have been provided for such immigrants; and the Immigration Agent-general shall make 
 and keep in his office a true and faithful register of all such applications and certificates, 
 numberino- them in the order in which they shall be resjDectively received (such numbering, 
 however, not to give any right of preference to any person or plantation over any other 
 person or plantation"), and shall as soon as possible after the first day of January in each 
 and every year pubhsh in the "Official Gazette," and in some one other newspaper of the 
 colony, a list of all such applications then remaining in force, and every such application 
 shall remain good and valid for a period of two years from the date of its being sent in, 
 unless the number of immigrnnts applied for shall be earlier allotted, or unless such appli- 
 cation be withdrawn by the applicant or be rendered invalid by the death, insolvency or 
 absence, unrepresented, of the proprietor of the plantation. 
 
 23. That the Immigration Agent-general shall, as soon as possible, after the 1st day of 
 January in each and every year, publish in the " Official Gazette," and in some one other 
 newspaper of the colony, a list in the form annexed marked (D.), or in such other form as 
 
 986, C C 2 may 
 
 Comptroller of Cus- 
 toms may withhold 
 clearance of vesseL 
 
 Application fdr im- 
 migrants. 
 
 luMnlgi-alaun.'.^gent- 
 generai to pubjisll 
 lists. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Location of Immi- 
 grants. Contract 
 duty. 
 
 Annual duties un- 
 paid for three 
 months to he re- 
 covered hy the Re- 
 ceiver-general. 
 
 Returns of immi- 
 grants located to he 
 sent to special jus- 
 tice. 
 
 I'i tr.vns to he made 
 by Immigration 
 A"-eiit-2oneral. 
 
 Duties of PT)ecial 
 justice with refer- 
 tiice to returns. 
 
 178 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 may be approved of by the Governor, of all vessels which have arrived in the colony with 
 immigrants during the year preceding, the number of immigrants so arriving, and the 
 distribution of such immigrants. 
 
 24. That on the arrival in this colony of any immigrants not already under a written con- 
 tract with some individual, the Immigration Agent-general shall, with the approval of the 
 Governor, proceed to locate them on such plantations as they may prefer, or if they do not 
 desire to exercise any preference, shall locate them in such numbers and proportions as 
 circumstances will admit of on those plantations for which applications for immigrants shall 
 have been previously made ; and that each employer before he shall become entitled to the 
 services of such immigrants, shall enter into a contract with each immigrnnt, or with the 
 Immigration Agent-general on his behalf, as the nature of the case may require, for a period 
 of not less than 12 calendar months, which said coniract shall be in triplicate, and shall be 
 prepared by the sub-immigration agent in Georgetown, or in New Amsterdam, as the case 
 may be ; and for preparing which such sub-immigration agent shall be entitled to the sum of 
 24 cents, and no more, for each such contract in triplicate as aforesaid, to be paid by the 
 person to whom the immigrants are to be allotted, and such person shall, upon the execu- 
 tion of such contracts, pay to the Receiver-general a duty of two dollars upon each of said 
 contracts, and if the term of service expressed in such contract shall be for more years 
 than one, shall further pay (o the Receiver-General, at the commencement of e ach subse- 
 quent year of such term of service a sum of four dollars for each immigrant in service on 
 his plantation under such written contract to labour on the 30th day of June or the 31st 
 day of December immediately preceding, or such other sum or sums for the first and each 
 subsequent year respectively, as shall be directed by the combined court at its financial 
 session for the present year ; and that the Receiver-general may be fully informed of the 
 amount of contract duties payable, the Immigration Agent-general shall, whenever he allots 
 immigrants, transmit forthwith to the Receiver-general a list of the estates to which such 
 immigrants have been allotted, stating the number of immigrants allotted to each, the period 
 for which contracts have been entered into, and the amount of contract duties becoming 
 payable in respect thereof respectively : provided always, that in the case of children, for 
 whose introduction only half the bounty payable for adults has been paid by the colony, 
 only one-half the amount of contract duty payable for adults shall be demanded from the 
 employer of such children. 
 
 25. That all annual duties remaining due and unpaid for the space of three months after 
 the commencement of the year for which such duties are payable, shall be charged with an 
 addition of 10 per cent., which shall be recovered by the Receiver-general in the mode and 
 manner hereinafter provided. 
 
 26. That every employer of emigrants under a written contract to labour, or the manager 
 or other person in charge of the plantation on which such immigrants were located, shall, on 
 or before the 10th day of January and 10th day of July, in each and every year, make out 
 and deliver to the special justice of the peace of the district, a return, in writing, of the 
 number of immigrants who were in his service under written contract, on the last day of 
 the preceding month, which return shall be made out in the manner and form specified 
 in the schedule hereto annexed, marked (E.), and shall be described as the return of the 
 person with whom such immigrant shall have been under a written contract, and shall 
 contain a specification of the total number of immigrants so under written contracts, and of 
 the time when, and of the numbers and names by which they shall have entered into such 
 contract respectively, and also of all deductions from the original number of immigrants 
 under written contracts as aforesaid, which shall have taken place within the last pre- 
 ceding six months by death or desertion; and also of the births of any children among 
 such immigrants, specifying the ages and sexes of such children ; and 'also a declaration 
 that the contents of such return are in all respects true and correct; which return shall 
 by such special justice be transmitted to the Immigration Agent-general ; and any person 
 who shall neglect to deliver to the special justice of the peace as aforesaid, within 14 days 
 after the time specified, any such return as aforesaid, shall pay a sum of 10 dollars, and a 
 like sum for each and every subsequent month during which such neglect shall continue, 
 such sum to be recovered by the special justice in mode and manner provided by Ordinance 
 30, of the year 1850 : provided always, that no person shall be compellable to appear before 
 any special justice of the peace to declare to the truth of such return, but that any person 
 making or signing any such return or declaration, knowing the same to be false, shall be 
 liable to be punished as by law provided in the case of wilful and corrupt perjury. 
 
 27. That the Immigration Agent-general, on or before the 10th day of January and the 
 10th day of July in every year, shall make out a list of ail employers liable for the payment 
 of annual duties during the six months ending respectively on the 30th June and 31st 
 December next ensuing, specifying the several periods at which such duties will become 
 payable, the amount of such duties, the numbers, names, and descriptions of the immigrants 
 in respect to whose contracts they are claimed, and the name of the plantation on which 
 they are located ; and the Immigration Agent-general shall forthwith transmit a copy of that 
 part of such list which relates to each judicial district to the special justice thereof. 
 
 28. That every special justice, on the receipt of such copy as aforesaid, shall compare the 
 dates of such contracts, and the amount of duties, numbers, names, and descriptions of the 
 immigrants stated thereiii, with the particulars stated in the returns mentioned in section 26 
 
 of 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA. AND TRINIDAD. 179 
 
 ■of this ordinance, and if there shall be no discrepancy between the two, shall certify the list Appendix. 
 
 to be correct, and shall forthwith return the same to the Immigration Agent-general ; but if 
 
 any discrepancy shall be found to exist, it shall be the duty of such special justice, within 
 10 days after the receipt of such 'ist, to inquire into the origin of such discrepancy; to 
 ascertain, by personal inspection, if necessary, the number of immigrants on any plantation, 
 and to correct such list if he? sliall deem it right to do so, previous to returning it certified to 
 the Immigration Agent-general. 
 
 29. Tiiat the Immigration Agent-general, on the receipt of such certified list as aforesaid, Immigration Agent- 
 after taking due notice in his registers of any corrections made therein as aforesaid, shall General to forward 
 transmit the same within five days to the Recoiver-general, who shall recover the amounts Recdver-neneva!. 
 due fioni the parties upon whose plantations imn\igrants have been located : provided, that ° 
 
 in the event of any such party neglecting or refusing to send in such returns as aforesaid, 
 'it shall be lawful for the Receiver-general to proceed, as hereinafter provided, for the recovery 
 of the contract duties payable by such party, subject to the right of such party to establish 
 by sufficient proof any deduction which he may claim to have made from the o)iginal num- 
 ber allotted, and tiiat he shall be only compellable to pay for the balance remaining upon 
 his plantation as hei-einbef'ore provided. 
 
 30. That from and after the taking effect of this section, every immigrant from any of Provision for return 
 Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies, introduced at the expense of the colony, shall Passage, 
 
 be exempt from liability to any deduction from the current rate of wages as payable to other 
 laiiourers located arid working upon the same estate, in respect of medical attendance or 
 lodgings, and shall, inoreover, be entitled, upon payment to the Receiver-general, at the 
 expiration of each subsequent year of his term of service under indenture, of the sum of nine 
 'dollais, which the employer is now authorized by law to deduct for such medical attendance 
 and lodging from all indentured labourers, or upon payment of an amount equal in the 
 aggregate thereto, to be provided with a passage back to the port from whence he came, free 
 of all charge whatsoever, and of al! necessity of establishing, by other means, proof of indus- 
 trial residence; but no such immigrant shall be entitled to claim such back passage unless he 
 produce to the Immigration Agent-general the receipt of the Receiver-general for the amount 
 payable by him in consideration of such back passage as hereinbefore provided ; provided 
 always, that every child, under the age of six years, at the date of arrival in the colony, or 
 born in the colonj"-, shall receive a free passage back with its parent or parents at the 
 •expense of the colony, on thes. expiration of their term of service, and that every child for 
 whose introduction only half the bounty payable for adults has been paid by the colony 
 shall be so provided with a passage upon payment of half the amount above mentioned : and 
 provided further, that the Governor, upon the certificate of the Immigration Agent-general or 
 ■of a special justice, may exempt, either wholly or in part, from such payments, any Indian 
 immigrant incapacitated from labour by infirmity, accident, or other cause, and may, not- 
 withstanding, grant to such immigrant a free passage back to India, and cause him to be 
 provided with a proper supply of clothing for the voyage. 
 
 31. That every immigrant from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies, shall, Indenture of irami- 
 «pon arrival, be indentured by the Immigration Agent-general in the form annexed, marked grants. 
 
 (F.), except as hereinbefore excepted, for a period of five years, or such other further term as 
 Her Majesty's Government may see fit to authorize, but not exceeding 10 years in the 
 whole ; and in the event of such further term being so authorized, it shall be lawful for the 
 Governor, by proclamation under his hand and seal, to declare and make known, that from 
 and after some certam time to be therein specified, such further or extended term shall be 
 the legal term of indenture of such immigrants, and shall be in all respects comprehended 
 under the provisions of this ordinance as if it had been the original term of five years herein 
 ■specified. 
 
 32. That in the event of the period or term of service under indenture of such immigrant Payment by immi- 
 being extended as aforesaid, the sum-to be annually paid by him, in consideration of his grant for return pas- 
 being entitled to a back passasre as hereinbefore provided, shall ha proportioned to the entire ^^°^- 
 
 sum so as that in no case shall he be called upon to pay more than the sum of 45 
 dollars. 
 
 33 That every immio-rant from any of Her Majesty's possessions in the East Indies, who Immigrant accepting: 
 has accepted or shal I accept the bonus offered by the Court of Policy for postponing his right f^^u^s to be re-mden- 
 to a free back passage on the completion of his original term of service, shall be dealt with and ""^ * 
 considered in all respects as an immigrant newly imported, and shall, if not already under 
 
 indenture be indentured for five years, or for such shorter period as he shall have covenanted 
 to remain' upon the conditions hereinbefore recited, and the party to whom he shall be so 
 indentured, or by whom he may be employed, shall pay the contract duties prescribed m 
 section 24 of this ordinance. 
 
 34 That every estate on which such immigrants, whether indentured or not indentured. Plantation to Imve 
 ^re located shall be provided with a proper hospital and hospital furniture, medicine, and hospital and medical 
 nurses and shall have a regularly licensed medical practitioner to attend the sick, and in attendance. 
 default thereof the proprietor of such estate shall be liable to a penalty of 25 dollars, and 
 
 a like sum for each and every 14 d lys durino- which such default shall contmue, such penalty 
 to be recovered in the mode and manner provided by Ordinance 30, of the year 1850. 
 
 986, ^^3 ^^' "^^^^ 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Chinese to be in- 
 dontuved. 
 
 Guarantee to be in- 
 dorsed upon Chines 
 indentures. 
 
 Contracts of services 
 foi- inimiarantsfrom 
 
 Mcideii-a, &c. 
 
 African immigrant 
 to be indentured on 
 arrival if not already 
 under contract. 
 
 Classiiication of 
 liberated Africans. 
 
 Indenture of 
 liberated Africans. 
 
 Liberated Africans 
 to have one afternoon 
 of ii week for religious 
 instruction. 
 
 '\l'agcs of imlentured 
 libersitcd Africans 
 under ISyears of nge, 
 how to be dealt with. 
 
 Ticket of non-inlen- 
 ture. 
 
 180 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 35. That every Chinese immigrant, not already under written contract with some indivi- 
 dual, shall, upon arrival in this colony, enter into a written contract, or shall be indentured 
 by the Immigration Agent-general in the form annexed, marked (F.), for a period of five years 
 from the date of his arrival. 
 
 S6. That in respect of all Chinese immigrants arriving in this colony, for whose introduc- 
 tion the full rate of bounty may be claimed, and who shall have entered into a contract pre- 
 viously to their embarkation, engaging to repay advances made to them by monthly deduc- 
 tions from their wages, it shall be lawful for the Governor to require any person to whom 
 such immigrants shall be allotted to sign the following guarantee, to be endorsed upon 
 such contract as aforesaid, namely : — 
 
 "This indenture having been assigned to me as proprietoj- or attorney of the pror 
 prietor of plantation , I engage to deduct the sum of dollars,, 
 
 in monthly instalments of from such amount of wages as A. B. may earn 
 
 in my service, and to pay the amount monthly to the Immigration Agent-general, to be 
 by him paid over to the agent of , and in the event of the death of A. B.,. 
 
 or of his inability to earn wages, I hereby engage to establish the same to the satisfac- 
 tion of the stipendiary magistrate." 
 
 And a copy of such guarantee, together with a descriptive list of the immigrants in 
 respect to whom it has been given, shall be signed by the employer of such immigrants, 
 and delivered to the agent of the importers : provided al^vays, that no such guarantee shall 
 be construed to bind the party signmg it to deduct more than 12 dollars in the whole from 
 the wages of any such immigrant, nor to make any deduction at all unless such immigrant 
 shall continue in his service, and earn wages to a greater amount than one dollar per 
 month. 
 
 37. That every immigrant from the island of Madeira, from any of the islands of the 
 Azores, Cape de Verd, or Canary Islands, shall, upon arrival in this colony, enter into a 
 written contract, in the form annexed, marked (F.), for a period of three years from the date 
 of his arrival, and that no bounty shall be paid upon the introducT;ion of any such immi- 
 grant who shall not be so indentured as aforesaid : provided always, that this clause shall 
 not operate nor take effect in the case of any such immigrant from the island of Madeira,, 
 from any of the islands of the Azores, Cape de Verd, or Canary Islands, who shall arrive 
 in this colony at any time previously to the first day of May next ensuing. 
 
 38. That evey immigrant from any part of the African continent from which immigration 
 shall have been, or may be hereafter, permitted by Her Majesty's Government, not already 
 under written contract with some individual, shall, upon arrival in this colony, enter into a 
 written contract, or shall be indentured by the Immigration Agent-general in the form annexed,, 
 marked (F.), for a period of three years from the date of his arrival. 
 
 39. That all liberated Africans who may be hereafter sent to British Guiana at the ex- 
 pense of Her Majesty's Treasury, shall be divided into two classes, the first class of whom 
 shall comprise all those who, upon the inspection of the Immigration Agent-general, and the 
 health officer, shall be considered to be above the age of 1-5 years; and the second class of 
 whom shall comprise all those who, upon such inspection as aforesaid, shall be considered, 
 to be under the age of 15 years. 
 
 40. That all liberated Africans of the first class, shall be indentured for three years, in the 
 form annexed, marked (F.), and that all liberated Africans of the second class shall be 
 indentured until they have attained the age of 18 years, in the form marked (G.), or in such 
 other form as may be approved by the Governor. 
 
 41. Thai all liberated Africans of the second class shall be allowed one afternoon in each 
 week, to be appointed by the Governor, for the purpose of receiving education and religious 
 instruction suited to their capacity, and that any manager or other person in charge of a 
 plantation, preventing the attendance of any such African, at any school situated within two 
 miles of such plantation, on such afternoon as aforeSaid, or obstructing the minister of the 
 parish, or any minister of the Christian religion, or any licensed schoolmaster, duly authorized 
 thereto by the Governor, in visiting and instructing any such African, or neglecting or 
 refusing to provide a fit and proper place, if required so to do, by the inspector of schools,, 
 for the communication of such instruction, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding 
 five dollars for each such offence, to be recovered upon the complaint of the inspector 
 of schools, or any person acting under his authority : provided always, that any such 
 African who shall absent himself from viJork on such afternoon as aforesaid, and shall 
 neglect or refuse to attend school or to receive instruction therein, shall be liable to the same 
 penalties as would be incurred by any labourer under indenture for a breach of contract. 
 
 42. That any balance of wages due by any employer to an indentured liberated African, 
 under the age of 16 years, sball be paid monthly to the special justice of the district, if such 
 justice shall see fit so to direct, and such justice shall transmit every such sum to the 
 Receiver-general, making a return of the same to the Immigration Agent-general ; and the 
 Receiver-general shall then deposit the same into the Colonial Savings' Bank, there to remain 
 at interest until the African to whom it belongs shall attain the age of 15 years, when the 
 same shall) be paid out to him by the Receiver-general. 
 
 43. That upon a certificate from a special justice, the Immigration Agent-general shall be 
 bound to grant a ticket of non-indenture to every immigrant who shall have duly completed 
 
 tlie. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 181 
 
 the term for which he was allowed to be indentured upon his arrival in the colony, or for Appendix. 
 
 which he covenanted to remain, on receiving a bonus, aS mentioned in section 33,' or who 
 
 shall prove 10 the satisfaction of the Immicrration Agent-general that he is not liable 
 to any service under indenture; such ticket, if a^pplied for within three months of the taking 
 effect of this ordinance, or of the completion of his term of service, to be issued, free of all 
 charge, but if obtained at a later period, then to be issued upon payment of 50 cents of a 
 dollar. 
 
 44. That it shall be lawful for any member of the police force to stop any immigrant Circumstances under 
 whom he shall find in any public street, lane, or place wiihin the city of Georo-etown, or the "^^^'^^ immigrant 
 town of New Amsterdam, on any day on which such immigrant shall be bound to "^^y be apprehended, 
 labour, and if such immij^rant shall not at once produce such ticket as aforesaid, to inquire 
 
 whether such immigrant is or is not under indenture, and if the former, whether he have a 
 written permission of absence, signed by his employer; and if tlie answers received to such 
 questions shall not appear satisfactory, then to convey such immigrant before the special 
 justice of the. district, who shall either cause him to be detained until further inquiry can be 
 made or commit him to gaol as a vagrant, for any period not exceeding 14 days. 
 
 45. That it shall be lawful for the employer of any immigrant under a written contract to Apprehension of im- 
 labour, for the servant of such employer, or for any member of the police force, or constable, migi'ant under con- 
 to apprehend, without warrant, such immigrant, who, on any day on which he shall be *^'*''*- 
 
 bound to labour, shall be found at a distance of more than two miles from the estate on 
 which he shall be engaged to labour, without a ticket-of leave signed by such employer or 
 his servant, and to cause such immigrant to be taken back to such estate. 
 
 46. That if any immigrant for whose introduction bounty shall have been paid, who How contract with 
 may be indentured for longer than one year, shall be desirous of determining his contract of immigrants may be 
 service on the expiration of the first or other current year, to be computed from the day of his P"^* "■^ ^^^ to. 
 arrival in the colony, and shall give one calendar month's notice of his intention so to do, to 
 
 his employer or the manager of the plantation on which he shall be employed, it shall be 
 lawful for the immigration Agent-general, or the special justice of the peace of the district 
 on the application of such immigrant, and on proof being made of such notice having been 
 given, and of payment to the Receiver-genera! of the bounty money advanced for his intro- 
 duction into the colony, and of contract duties, and hospital, and other reasonable expenses 
 incurred on his behalf by his employer, to make order in writing for determining such con- 
 tract from and after the day of the expiration of the year to be computed as aforesaid, and 
 every such justice making any such order shall transmit a copy of the same to the Immigra- 
 tion Agent- general. 
 
 47. That it shall be lawful for the Immigration Agent-general to enter into and upon any Immigration Agent- 
 plantation where any immigrant may be employed, and to inspect the state and condition of g^i^sral to inspect 
 such immigrant, and inquire into any complaint which the employer may have against any '^^™ ^" 
 
 such immigrant, or any such immigrant may have against his employer. 
 
 48. That every person who shall obstruct the Immigration Agent-general in entering upon Penaltyfor obstruct- 
 any plantation where any immigrant shall be employed, or shall be by the Immigration ing Immigration 
 Agent-aeneral reasonably supposed to be employed, or who shall wilfully do any act whereby -Agent -general. 
 
 the Immigration Agent-general may be prevented or obstructed in inquiring into the state 
 and condition of any immigrant, shall, on conviction thereof before any two or more justices 
 of the peace, forfeit and pay such sum not exceeding 48 dollars for every such offence, as to 
 the convictingjustices shall seem fit. 
 
 49. That all salaries of officers granted, and all expenses incurred in virtue of this Salaries and expenses 
 ordinance, shall be paid out of such funds as are raised for the purposes of immigration ; how paid. 
 
 that all moneys payable by any person in virtue of any of the provisions of this ordinance, 
 and which shall not be declared to be payable to any particular officer or person, shall be 
 payable to the Receiver-general or to the special justice awarding the payment of any such 
 money; that all sums received by the special justice, or any other person, and not payable 
 over to any particular person, shall be paid over to the Receiver-general ; that all moneys 
 received by the Receiver-general under this ordinance, and every other ordinance relaiive 
 to immhrrants, not otherwise appropriated, shall be applied to immigration purposes ; and 
 that the Receiver-o-eneral shall render annually to the Governor and Court of Policy, com- 
 bined with the financial representatives of the inhabitants of the colony, a statement of all 
 receipts and payments for immigration purposes, 
 
 50. That the Receiver-general shall enforce by parate or summary execution the payment Eecovery of money 
 of all sums of money payable to him under and by the virtue of this ordinance. by Recoivei-generai. 
 
 51. That in all matters not otherwise specially provided for in this Ordinance, every Provision for ornls- 
 immiorant shall be subject to and governed by the provisions of Ordinance No. 2 of the year sions from ihis ordi- 
 1853,'^intltuled "An Ordinance for regulating the Rights, Duties, and Relations of Employers "™cc. 
 
 and Servants in the Colony of British Guiana." 
 
 62 That throuo-hout this ordinance the words and expressions hereinafter mentioned Interpretation 
 shallhave and bear the following meanings, that is to say, the words " Her Majesty" shall clause. 
 mean her Majesty, her heirs and successors; the word " Governor" shall mean any person 
 who for the time being, shall be in the lawful administration of the Government of this 
 colony • the word " Receiver-general" shall also mean Assistant Receiver-general ; the term 
 gg' CC4 "Immigration 
 
Appendix. 
 
 Operation 30tli sec- 
 tion of this ordinance 
 
 Repealing clause. 
 
 182 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 " Immigration Agent-general" shall not only mean the Immigration Agent-general, but alsa 
 any sub-agent appointed by the Governor to act in any particular case,, or on any particular 
 occasion in the place and stead of the Immigration Agent-general ; the word " immigrant" 
 shall include ail immigrants already introduced, or who may hereafter be introduced in this 
 colony at the expense of the British Treasury, or at the expense of this colony, or for whose 
 introduction, although the same may be mider private contract, the colony may hereafter 
 pay bounty ; the word " writing" shall also mean printing ; the word " servant" shall mean, 
 any person employed and duly authorized by the proprietor of any plantatation to which 
 immigrants shall be allotted ; the word " contract," and the words "written contract" shall 
 mean also any indenture or agreement written or printed, or partly written and partly 
 printed ; the word " estate" shall also mean plantation ; the word " plantation" shall include 
 any sugar, cocoa, coffee, plantain, rice, or cotton estate, or any woodcutting establishment., 
 or any cattle farm ; the word " employer " shall include the proprietor, or manager, or other 
 person having the direction of or the chief authority upon any such estate or plantation, or of 
 or upon any cattle farm, or of or upon any woodcutting establishment, on which any immi- 
 grant shall be employed; every word importing the singular number only shall extend and- 
 be applied to several persons or things, as well as to one person or thing ; every word 
 importing the plural number shall extend and be applied to one person, matter, or thing, as 
 well as to several persons, matters, or things; every word importing the masculine gender 
 only shall extend and be applied to a female as well as to a male, unless in any of the cases- 
 aforesaid it be otherwise specially provided, or there be something in the subject or context 
 j.epugnant to such construction. 
 
 53. That the 30th section of this ordinance shall not come into force nor take effect until 
 the 30th day of June next ensuing, but that all the other sections of this ordinance shall 
 come into force and take effect on the publication thereof. 
 
 54. That when and so soon as this ordinance shall come into operation, as hereinbefore- 
 provided. Ordinance No. Si, of the year 1850, intituled " An Ordinance to provide for the 
 subsistence, moral and rehgious instruction, and well-being of liberated Africans sent to 
 ]5ritish Guiana ;" Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851, intituled " An Ordinance to provide 
 general regulations for Immigrants introduced, and to be introduced into the Colony of British, 
 Guiana ;" Ordinance No. 21, of the year 1851, intituled •• An Ordinance further to regulate 
 and encourage the Immigration of Coolies;" and Ordinance No. 22, of the year 1851,. 
 intituled "An Ordinance for encouragement of the introduction into the Colony ofLabourers 
 in general," — shall be, and the same are hereby repealed, save and except as to existing con- 
 tracts and liabilities for payment of contract duty, and all fines and penalties incurred, and, 
 the right of proceeding for and recovering the same : provided always, that in the event of 
 tliis ordinance not being confirmed by Hei- Majesty, the ordinances hereinbefore recited 
 shall be and remain in as full force and effect as if this ordinance had not been passed. 
 
 And that no ignorance may be pretended of this our ordinance, these presents shall be- 
 prinfed and published in the customary manner. 
 
 Thus done and Enacted at our Ordinary Assembly, held at the Guiana Public Build- 
 ings, Georgetown, Demerary, this 31st day of January, 1853, and Published on the 
 2d February following. 
 
 Henry Barkly. 
 By Command of the Court, 
 
 William Walker, Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) W. Walker, Secretary. 
 
 (A.)— Sect. 9. 
 Form of Clearing Certificate. 
 Clearing Certificate of the Emigration Agent at 
 
 Na.me of Ship. 
 
 Name of Master. 
 
 Tons per 
 Register. 
 
 -Aggregate 
 Number 
 of Superficial 
 Feet in the 
 several com- 
 partments set 
 
 apart for 
 Passengers. 
 
 Total 
 
 Number of 
 
 Statute Adults 
 
 exclusive of 
 
 Master, Crew, 
 
 and Cabin 
 
 Passengers the 
 
 Ship can 
 
 legally carry. 
 
 Sailing 
 from. 
 
 Intending 
 
 to 
 touch at. 
 
 Bound to. 
 
 I, the 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 183 
 
 I. the uudersigned do hereby certify that the foregoing appear to be the burthen and 
 dimensions of the above-named vessel, and that, having regard as well to space as to ton- 
 nage the greatest number of passengers she can carry by the Passengers' Act, 1852, is and 
 I further certify, that to the best of my knowledge and belief she is in all respects seaworthy, 
 and that the provisions, water, and stores actually laden on board have been duly surveyed 
 W .Tf'"f)?' ''" '^"f.*;'^ "u ^'" ^"^' '^'^ '^"'"'^^^ of passengers now about toVroceed in 
 
 tion' and Slv't^^ril .l^'V^^^'f ^''' °^P'°P^^ ^'^^'^'y' ^^^ '" g°«d -"^ ^w^et condi- 
 tion , and lastly, that all the directions contained i,. the Immigration Ordinance of British 
 Gmana, and also m the Passengers' Act, 1852, so far as such let apphes to said vessel, for 
 securing the health and safety of the passengers, have been duly complied with. • 
 Dated at this 
 
 day of 
 
 Emigration Agent for 
 
 185 
 
 at 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 (B.)— Sect. 9. 
 Nominal List of Passengers Embarked on Board of 
 
 Port 
 of 
 
 Numbers 
 
 of 
 
 Passengers. 
 
 Occupation 
 
 or 
 
 calling. 
 
 Age, 
 
 Adults. 
 
 Children between 
 6 and 14 Years. 
 
 Children under 
 Six years. 
 
 Port at which 
 Passengers are to be 
 
 Embarkation 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Landed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total No. of 
 Souls equal 
 to Statute 
 Adults. 
 
 
 
 
 I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the above is a correct list of all the Passengers 
 who embarked at dated at this day of ' 185 
 
 A. B., Emigration Agent for 
 
 at 
 
 (C.)— Sect. 14. 
 
 Immigration Agent-General's Certificate of Arrival. 
 
 I, THE undersigned, do hereby certify that the ship 
 ( , master), arrived at this port from 
 
 on the of , bringing 
 
 14 years of age, between the ages of 14 and six years, and 
 
 years of age ; that I, assisted by the health oflBicer of the port, have personally inspected the 
 
 said vessel and immigrants, and find that the provisions of the Passengers' Act, 1852, and 
 
 also of the colonial laws,, so far as they apply to such vessel, have been duly comphed with ; 
 
 and finally, that the amount payable in respect of such emigrants is 
 
 dollars. 
 
 immigrants above 
 under six 
 
 Dated at 
 
 day of 
 
 ,186 
 
 A. B., Immigration Agent-General,. 
 
 986. 
 
 Dd 
 
 (D.)— Sect. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 184 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 (D.)— Sect. 23. 
 Annual List of Arrivals and Allotments of Inamigrants. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 Arrival. 
 
 Name 
 Vessel. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 
 Itomigrants. 
 
 Port 
 or Place. 
 
 Adults, 
 
 Children between 
 
 Sis and 
 Fourteen Years. 
 
 Childreii under 
 Six Years. 
 
 1 
 
 Number 
 of 
 Immigrants 
 allotted, 
 lincluding 
 Cliildren. 
 
 To what 
 
 Plantation 
 
 allotted. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 Total. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dated at 
 
 , this 
 
 day of ,185 
 
 A. B., Immigration Agent-General. 
 
 N. B. — If any discrepancy exisits between the number arrived and those allotted, explain 
 it in the column for remarks. 
 
 (E.)— Sect. 26. 
 
 Half-Yearly Return of the Number of Immigrants under Contract, located on Plan- 
 tation , in the Parish of , in the 
 Colony of British Guiana. 
 
 
 Name 
 
 of 
 
 Ship. 
 
 Oate 
 
 of 
 
 Contract 
 
 or 
 Indenture. 
 
 Remaining from 
 last Return. 
 
 
 
 
 Deaths since last 
 Return. 
 
 Number 
 
 Immigrants remaining. 
 
 Whence 
 Emigrating. 
 
 Adults 
 liable to 
 Whole 
 Duty. 
 
 Children 
 
 liable 
 
 to 
 
 Half Duty. 
 
 Births. 
 
 Adults 
 
 liable to 
 
 Whole 
 
 Duty. 
 
 Children 
 
 liable 
 
 to 
 
 Half Duty. 
 
 Total. 
 
 deserted 
 since last 
 Return. 
 
 Adults 
 
 liable to 
 
 Whole 
 
 Duty. 
 
 Children 
 
 liable 
 
 to 
 
 HalfDutv. 
 
 Total 
 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. iTotai. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 M. 
 
 F. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 ! 
 
 * 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 tal - - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1, A. B., of , do solemnly and sincerely declare that the above 
 
 is a true and correct return of the immigrants on plantation 
 
 on the day of , 185 , as required by the 26th section 
 
 of Ordinance No. 3, of the year 1853. 
 
 A.B. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 185 
 
 (F.)— Sects. 31, 35, 37, 38, 40. Appendix. 
 
 (British Guiana.) 
 
 Be it remembered, that on this day of in the year of 
 
 u r Lord , of , and 
 
 of , appeared before 
 
 "^6. .... > Immigration Agent-general of the colony 
 
 of British Guiana, and in my presence signed their names or marks (as the case may be) to 
 the following contract of service : — 
 
 The said agrees to hire the services of the 
 
 said , and the said 
 
 agrees to render to the said services in the capacity 
 
 of a , for the term of years, commencing on 
 
 the day of , in the year , and terminating on 
 
 the day of , in the year . And it is 
 
 further agreed between the said parties, that the said 
 
 shall be employed by the said on plan- 
 
 tation . And it is further agreed that 
 
 the said shall pay to the said 
 
 as such labourer aforesaid, the same rate of wages as is paid to the labourers not under 
 indenture or agreement working on said estate, according to the quantity of work performed, 
 and that such wages shall be paid on the last day of , subject to deductions 
 
 at the rate of three dollars per annum for medical attendance, and at the rate of six dollars 
 per annum for lodging. 
 
 A.B. 
 CD. 
 
 The preceding contract was signed by the above-named parties in my presence on the day 
 and year above written,- voluntarily, the same being, as far as I am able to judge, fully 
 understood by them respectively. 
 
 (signed) E. F., 
 Immigration Agent-General. 
 
 (G.) — Sect. 40. 
 (British Guiana.) 
 
 This Indenture, made the day of , in the year 
 
 of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and , between A. B., Immigration Agent- 
 
 general in the colony of British Guiana, for and on behalf of C. D., a liberated (male or 
 female) African) of the age of years, and numbered , recently 
 
 sent to this colony under the authority of Her Majesty's Government, for the purpose of 
 being located and established herein, of the one part, and E. F., of 
 
 in this colony, of the other part, — Witnesseth, that in virtue of the ordinance in such case 
 made and provided, and in consideration of the covenants, promises, and agreements on 
 the part and behalf of the said E. F., hereinafter contained, he, the said A. B., as such 
 Immigration Agent-general, has indented, placed, and bound, and by these presents doth 
 indent, place, and bind the said C. D. (the African indented) to and with E. F., of 
 to serve for the term of years, to be computed from the day of the date of these 
 
 presents; and doth hereby, for and on behalf of the said C. D., to and with the said E. F., 
 covenant, promise, and agree that he the said C. D. shall and will, during all and every 
 part of the said term of years, truly and faithfully serve the said E. F., as a 
 
 labourer on plantation ; and the said E. F. doth hereby 
 
 covenant, promise, and agree to and with the said A. B., for and on belialf of the said C. D., 
 that he, the said E. F., shall and will, until the said C. D. shall have attained the age of 
 16 years, find and provide the said C. D. with suitable and sufficient diet, clothing, tools, 
 or implements of work, lodging, and medical attendance, in a like and equal manner with 
 the rest of the Africans under the age of 15 years, indented in this colony; and according 
 to the laws in such case made and provided, and according to all other ordinances and laws 
 which may hereafter be made touching or concerning Africans under the age of 15 years, 
 indented in this colony, and that he the said E. F., for and on account of the said C. D., 
 until the said C D., shall attain the said age of 15, shall and will keep, or cause to be kept, 
 a regular account, in which the said C. D. shall be debited with the costs and charges of 
 such diet, clothing, tools, or implements of work, at the same prices, paid for the same by 
 the said E. F., with a sum for medical attendance and hospital diet, at the rate of three 
 dollars per annum, and with a sum at the rate of six dollars per annum for lodging, and shall 
 and will credit the said C. D. for all work by him or her done and performed, at the same 
 rate of wages paid or payable to any other labourer on said plantation for the like work; 
 and moreover that he the said E. F. shall and will, until the said C. D. shall attain the age 
 of 15 years, at the beginning of each month, exhibit to the special justice of the district in 
 which said 'plantation is situate, such account, and pay to said special justice whatever 
 balAnce or sum may be then due on said account to the said C. D., and shall also allow to 
 the said C. D. during the continuance of these presents, for education and religious instruc- 
 tion such one afternoon in every week as shall be appointed or assigned by the governor of 
 
 986. » ° 2 the 
 
i86 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY 
 
 Appendix. the colony for the time being ; and also shall and will, after the said C. D, shall have at- 
 
 tained the age of 1 5 years, and until he shall have attained the age of 1 8 years, allow and 
 pay to the said C. D. weekly, and every week for all work which the said C. D. shall do 
 and perform, the same rate of wages paid or payable to any other labourer for the like work, 
 after deducting the original costs of any tools or implements found and provided by the said 
 E. F. for the said C. D., a sum for medical attendance and hospital diet at the rate of three 
 dollars per annum, and a sum for lodging at the rate of six dollars per annum. 
 
 In witness whereof, he the said A. B., the Immigration Agent-general, for and on 
 behalf of the said C. D., and 
 
 hereunto set their hands the day and year first above written. 
 
 Appendix, No. 6. 
 
 Preamble. 
 
 Allotment and con- 
 tract of immigrants. 
 
 Immigrants not ivn« 
 der contracts to 
 laboin-, to pay 
 monlhiy sums. 
 
 British Guiana. — No. 13. — 1858. 
 (Court of Policy.) 
 
 Ak ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 20, of the Year 1851, intituled 
 W. Walker. " An Ordinance to provide General Regulations for Immigrants introduced 
 and to be introduced into the Colony of British Guiana." 
 
 Ordinance, enacted by his Excellency William Walker, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and 
 Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana, Vice-Admiral and Ordi- 
 nary of the same, &c., &c., &c., by and with the advice and consent of the Honourable 
 the Court of Policy of said Colony. 
 
 To all to whom these presents do, may, or shall come, greeting; be it known: — 
 
 Whereas it is necessary to amend Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851, intituled "An 
 Ordinance to provide General Regulations for Immigrants introduced and to be introduced 
 into the Colony of British Guiana," by repealing certain of its provisions and enacting 
 others in lieu thereof: Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Lieutenant-governor 
 of British Guiana, by and with the advice and consent of the Court of Policy thereof, as 
 follows : — 
 
 1. That section 15 of the said Ordinance No. 20, of the year 18S1, shall be and the same 
 is hereby repealed, and instead of section 15 in the said ordinance the following shall be 
 section 15, that is to say : — " 15. That on the arrival in this colony of any immigrants not 
 already under a written contract with some individual, and for the expenses of whose impor- 
 tation the colony shall be liable under and by virtue of any proclamation or otherwise, the 
 Agent-general of Immigration shall proceed to allot them on such plantations as they may 
 prefer, or if they do not desire to exercise any preference, shall allot them in such numbers 
 and proportions as circumstances will admit of, to those plantations for which applications 
 for immigrants shall have been previously made, and submitted to the Governor and beea 
 by him approved ; and that after such allotments, each applicant, to whom immigrants shall 
 have been allotted as aforesaid, before he shall become entitled to the services of such 
 immigrants shall enter into a contract with each immigrant in the form annexed, marked (D.), 
 or in such other form as may be approved by the Governor, for a period not less than 12 
 calendar months, and not exceeding three years, except in cases in which some other form 
 or some other period of service is specially provided, and shall pay to the Agent-general of 
 Immigration a duty of two dollars upon each of said contracts, and if the term of service 
 expressed in such contract shall be for more years than one, shall further pay to the Colonial 
 Receiver-general, or Assistant Colonial Receiver-general, at the commencement of each 
 subsequent year of such term of service, a sum of four dollars for each immigrant in service 
 on his plantation under such written contract to labour, on the 30th day of June, or 31st 
 day of December, immediately preceding; and in the event of any such annual duty being 
 unpaid for one month after the commencement of the year for which it is payable, the 
 operation of the contract between the employer and immigrant shall be suspended and in 
 abeyance, in as far as the employer is concerned, until such annual duty be paid, except 
 that the payment of such duty by such employer shall be enforced in manner and form 
 hereinafter provided." 
 
 2. That section 16 of the said Ordinance No. 20, of the year 1851, shall be, and the same 
 is hereby repealed, and instead of the said section 16, in the said ordinance, the following 
 shall bf the section 16, that is to say:—" 16. That every immigrant introduced into this 
 colony, at the public expense, after the taking effect of this ordinance, who being permitted 
 by law to enter mto a contract with any employer for three years or five years, shall not, 
 dnrino' the said three years or five years, be m the service of some employer or other, under a 
 written contract to labour on a plantation, f»r every month of saiu three years or five y<3ars, 
 during which lie shall not be under such contract, if he shall be an immigrant with whom 
 it was permitted by law for an employer to have originally entered into a contract for three 
 
 years. 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 187 
 
 years, shall pay in advance a monthly sum of one dollar, and if he shall be anlimraiorant .^«pendi^ 
 
 ^ith whom It was permitted by law for an employer to have originally entered into a con- -^^-P^'^- 
 
 tract for five years shall pay m advance a monthly sum of one dollar and fifty cents: and 
 all such sums shall be designated throuahout this and every ordinance passed and to be 
 passed relative to immigrants as ' monthly sums.' " 
 
 the'pu?h?a£ thtiS" '''' '°"' "'° °P"^'^°" ^"' *^^^ ^^^'^^ ^"^ '^'^ f-- ^'- '^'^ «f ^-^en ordinance to 
 '^ ■ take effect. 
 
 And that no ignorance may be pretended of this our ordinance, these presents shall be 
 printed and pubhshed m the customary manner. 
 
 • o Vl^^ ^°Jl^ ^^^ Enacted at our Adjourned Assembly, held at tlie Guiana Public 
 liuildings Georgetown, Demerara, this 23d day of June, 1853, and published on 
 the 25th following. ^ 
 
 „ _, , William Walker. 
 
 By Command, 
 
 W. B. Wolseley, Acting Secretary. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (signed) W. B. Wolseley, 
 
 Acting Secretary. 
 
 Appendix, No. 7. 
 
 Hi 
 
 arris. 
 
 Trinidad. — No. 3.-22 March 1853. 
 
 AnC)RDINANCE enacted by the Governor of the Island of Tnnicfarf, by and Referred to at 
 with the advice and consent of the Council of Government thereof, for the page 139. 
 better Government of Chinese Immigrants introduced at the public Expense. 
 
 Whereas certain Chinese labourers have been introduced into this colony at the public Chinese immigrant* 
 expense, and whereas it is expedient to make provision for the government of the same, to be registered, 
 and of all other Chinese labourers who may hereafter be introduced into this colony at the 
 public expense ; Be it enacted, by his Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and 
 consent of the Council of Government, that the Agent-general of Immigrants shall insert the 
 names of all Chinese immigrants already introduced, or who may be hereafter introduced 
 into this colony at the public expense, in the General Register of Immigrants, under a sepa- 
 rate head, and shall niimber each of such immigrants by a particular number, commencing 
 with the number one, and proceeding by regular numerical progression, and shall distin- 
 guish therein, under different heads, the number, name, age and sex of every such immi- 
 grant, and the time when, and the place from which, and the vessel in which such immigrant 
 shall have arrived ; and also the amount of the monies, if any, which may have been advanced 
 to such immigrant previous to his embarkation, and which are to be repaid by such immigrant 
 out of his wages, in this colony. 
 
 2. And be it enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any Chinese immigrant already 
 introduced, or who may be hereafter introduced into this colony at the public expense, to 
 depart from this colony without a hcence in writing, signed by tlie Agent-general of Immi- 
 grants, and every master or other person in charge of any vessel, who shall knowingly 
 receive or harbour on board of such vessel, or agree to receive on board of such vessel, with 
 the intention of carrying out of this colony any such Chinese immigrant whose name shall 
 appear in such register, and who shall not have obtained such licence shall, on conviction 
 thereof before a justice of the peace, forfeit and pay to Her Majesty the sum of 20 /. sterling 
 for each and eveiy such Chinese immigrant whom he shall have so received or harboured, or 
 agreed to receive with such intention as aforesaid. 
 
 3. And be it enacted, that no licence to leave this colony shall be delivered by the Agent- 
 general of Immigrants to any such Chinese immigrant, until he shall have completed a 
 residence of five years within this colony, unless the Governor shall make order in writing 
 under his hand, for the return of any such Chinese immigrant to the place whence, he may 
 have come before the expiration of the said term of five years. 
 
 4. And be it enacted, that every such Chinese immigrant who shall complete a residence 
 of five years within this colony, on making the same to appear to the satisfaction of the 
 Agent-general of Immigrants, >hall be entitled to a certificate of residence under the hand of 
 the Agent-generai of Immigrants, wliich certificate shall be delivered, free of charge, to such 
 immigrant. 
 
 5. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Agent-general of Immigrants to assign 
 the services of any such Chinese immigrant already introduced, or who may herea'ter be 
 introduced into this colony at the public expense, to sut-h person and in respect of such 
 plaritation as to the Governor may seem fit, for the space of five years, to be computed from 
 
 986. " D D 3 • the 
 
 Chinese immigrant 
 not to leave tlie 
 colony without a 
 licence. 
 
 Penalty. 
 
 No licence to he 
 granted to Chinese 
 immigrant except on 
 completing a resi- 
 dence of five j-ears. 
 
 Certificate of resi- 
 dence. 
 
 Assignment of ser- 
 vices. 
 
a 88 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY: 
 
 Duty on assignment 
 of services. 
 
 Governor may de- 
 termine assignment 
 and transfer tlie 
 
 Appendix. the day of the arrival of such Chinese immigrant in this colony, and every such assignment 
 
 ■ of services shall be according to the form (A.) in the schedule to this ordinance, and shall be 
 
 signed by the Agent-general of Immigrants. 
 
 6. And be it enacted, that upon every such assignment there shall be payable to Her 
 Majesty for every such Chinese immigrant whose services may be so assigned, the sum 
 of 2 1, for the first year, for which such services shall be assigned, which sum shall be 
 paid to the Agent-general of Immigrants, at the time of the execution of such assign- 
 ment, and the annual sum of 1 /. for every subsequent year of such seivices, which 
 annual sum shall be paid yearly in advance to the Agent-general of Immigrants by the 
 person in possession of the plantation in respect of which such services shall have been 
 so assigned. 
 
 7. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Governor in any case where 
 he shall see fit, to determine such assignment, and to transfer the services of such 
 Chinese immigrant to some other person, and in some respect of some other plantation 
 for the residue yet unexpired, and to come of the said term of five years, and such 
 transfer shall be in writing, signed by the Agent-general of Immigrants, and the person 
 to whom such services shall be so transferred, shall be bound to pay to Her Majesty 
 a proportionate part of the sum of 2 1, for the proportion of the current year, which 
 sum shall be paid to the Agent-general of Immigrants at the time of the execution of 
 such transfer, and the annual sum of 1 I. for every subsequent year of such ser- 
 vices, which annual sum shall be paid yearly in advance to the Agent-general of 
 Immigrants, and the person in' favour of whom the prior assignment so determined shall 
 have been made, shall forfeit all monies which he shall have paid in respect of such 
 assignment. 
 
 Agent-general of Im- 8. And be it enacted, that if after the expiration of the first or other current year after 
 his arrival in this colony any such Chinese immigrant shall be desirous of having his ser- 
 vices transferred to some other plantation than that in respect of which his services shall 
 have been assigned, it shall be lawful for the Agent-general of Immigrants to make order in 
 writing for determining^ the original assignment of the services of such immigrant, and to 
 transfer the services of such immigrant for the residue of the said term of five years to such 
 person and in respect of such plantation as such Chinese immigrant may select ; which 
 transfer may be according to the form (B.) in the schedule to this ordinance, and shall be 
 signed by the Agent-general of Immigrants, and in every such case there shall be payable 
 to Her Majesty by the person to whom such services may be so transferred the sum of 3l. 
 for the first year for which such services shall be so transferred, which sum shall be paid to 
 the Agent-general of Immigrants at the time of the execution of such transfer, and the 
 annual sum of iZ. for every subsequent year of such services, which sum shall be paid yearly 
 in advance to the Agent-general of Immigrants by the person in possession of the plantation 
 to which such services shall have been so transferred. 
 
 Cliinese immigrant 9- And be it enacted, that every Chinese immigrant whose services may be so assigned or 
 to continue his ser- transferred shall be bound to continue to work on the plantation in respect of which his 
 vices on any estate services shall have been so assigned or transferred, notwithstanding that the person to whom 
 to wMdi he may be j^jg services may have been assigned or transferred shall die, or the plantation in respect 
 of which such services shall have been assigned shall be sold or demised, and in every such 
 case the right to the services of such Chinese immigrant during the residae of the said term 
 of five years shall vest in the person or persons to whom such plantation shall be devised or 
 descend or be sold or demised. 
 
 migrants at request 
 of Chinese immi- 
 grant may transfer 
 aisignment of ser- 
 vices. 
 
 assigned or ti'ans- 
 ferred 
 
 AEowances and 
 wages. 
 
 Deduction of allow- 
 ances. 
 
 10. And be it enacted, that every person in possession of the plantation in respect of 
 which the services of any such Chinese immigrant may be so assigned or transferred shall 
 be bound to provide proper and sufficient medical care, and proper and sufE:cient medicine 
 and attendance, for such Chinese immigrant during the continuance of his services, and 
 shall be bound t6 supply to every such Chinese immigrant during the first three months after 
 his arrival in the colony such clothing and daily food as are specified in the schedule to this 
 ordinance annexed ; and at the end of the said term of three months,, every such Chinese 
 immigrant shall, in the absence of an express agreement to the contrary, be entitled, in lieu 
 of such clothing and food, to wages at the rate of six dollars for every calendar month; 
 provided always, that no deduction shall be made from such wages by reason of the sick- 
 ness and inabihty to work of any such Chinese immigrant, unless such sickness and 
 inability to work shall continue more than 15 days at any one time, in which case the 
 right to such money wages shall cease during the further continuance of such sickness and 
 inability. 
 
 11. And be it enacted, that the manager or other person in charge of the plantation in 
 respect of which the services of any such Chinese immigrant shall be so assigned or trans- 
 ferred, shall be bound to deduct, by monthly instalments of one dollar each, from the wages 
 of such Chinese immigrant, the amount mentioned in such assignment as advanced to such 
 Chinese immigrant previous to his emburkation, and shall pay over the amount so deducted 
 to the Agent-general of Immigrants, and the monies so paid over shall be paid by the Agent- 
 general of Immigrants to the colonial treasurer for the benefit of the person by whom such 
 amount shall have been advanced. 
 
 12. And, 
 
INTRODUCED INTO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 189 Appendix. 
 
 12. And be it enacted, that all duties by this ordinance made payable to Her Majesty Duties on assign- 
 in respect of the services of any Chinese immigrant, whose services may be assigned or mcnt or transfer to 
 transferred under this ordinance, shall be a first charge on the plantation in respect of which ''fantation. ^^ "^ 
 uch services shall be so assigned or trans-ferred. 
 
 13. And be it enaiCted, that every such Chinese immigrant whose services shall be so Hours of labour, 
 assigned or transferred, in the absence of an express agreement to the contrary between such 
 
 Chinese and the person entitled to his services under such assignment or transfer, shall be 
 bound to work upon or in the service of the plantation in respect of which his services shall 
 be due, for nine hours of each day, Sundays, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and New Year's 
 Day, only excepted. 
 
 14. And be it enacted, that if any such Chinese immigrant shall be desirous of deter- Chinese immigrant 
 mining the assignment of his services on the expiration of the first or other current year may_ determine his 
 after his arrival in this colony, it shall be lawful for the Agent-general of Immigrants, on ^^'"^^'^^^ °^ ''^^ ^ 
 the application of such Chinese immigrant, to make order in writing for the determination 
 
 of such assignment of services at the expiration of the then current year, on the payment 
 of a sum equal to 50 s. sterling for every year which may remain unexpired and to come of 
 the said term of five years, and thereupon the Agent-general of Immigrants shall grant a 
 certificate of discharge to such Chinese immigrant, which certificate shall be according to 
 the form (C.) in the schedule to this ordinance. 
 
 15. And be it enacted, that if any person shall harbour or receive into his employment Penaltjr on persons 
 
 any Chinese immig-rant to whose services any other person may be entitled under any employing any Chi- 
 ^- . , c f • . 1 ■ T 1 • r 1 nese immierants un- 
 
 assignment or transfer or services then unexpired and in force, every such person on con- ^^^ assiwiment. 
 
 viction before a justice of the peace, on the complaint of the Agent-general of Immigrants, ' 
 
 or of the person entitled to such services, or of the manager or other person in charge of 
 
 the plantation in respect of which such services shall be due, and which complaint may be 
 
 laid at any time within 12 calendar months next after any day on which such Chinese may 
 
 be so employed, shall forfeit and pay to Her Majesty the sum of 10 1, sterling, and to the 
 
 person entitled to such services under such assignment the sum of 8 s. for each day during 
 
 which such Chinese immigrant shall be so harboured or employed. 
 
 16. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Agent-general of Immigrants, or any Agent-general of Im- 
 police constable, to stop any Chinese immigrant, wherever he may find him ; and also for migrants or poUce 
 the owner or occupier, or "the servant of the owner or occupier, of any land or house, to cWnese immiS^t^ 
 stop any such Chinese immigrant found upon or about such land or house; and if such -s^herever he may 
 Chinese immigrant, being so required, shall fail to produce his certificate of residence, or find him, and demand 
 a certificate of his discharge, or a written ticket-of-leave, signed by the manager or person certificate of resid- 
 in charge of the plantation in respect of which his services may be due, to take such ence or ot discharge. 
 Chinese immigrant forthwith before some neighbouring justice of the peace ; and such 
 
 justice shall f )rthwith inquire into the case, and, unless such Chinese imrnigrant shall make 
 
 it appear to the satisfaction of such justice that he has completed such residence, or obtained 
 
 such discharge, or that he is absent from the plantation in respect of which his services 
 
 shall be due with the leave of the manager or other person in charge of such plantation, 
 
 then and in such case such justice shall make order for the immediate committal of such Penalty. 
 
 Chinese imrai-'tant to imprisonment with hard labour labour in the Royal Gaol for the term 
 
 of 14 days. 
 
 17 And be it enacted, that every Chinese immigrant, whose services shall be so assigned Penalty on Chinese 
 or transferred, who, during the continuance of such assignment or transfer, shall, without ^^'C^tuhont 
 lawful excuse, absent himself from his work, shall forfeit his claim to all wages and allow- ^^Zs^ 
 ances for the time during which he shall so absent himself, and, on conviction thereof before 
 any justice of the peace, shall for every such offence be imprisoned in the Royal Gaol, with 
 hard labour, for such term not exceeding 14 days, to be computed from the day of such 
 Chinese immigrant being committed to such gaol as to the convictmg justice snail seem fit. 
 
 18. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any person entitled to the services of ^ppreh^of^ 
 anv Chinese immigrant, by virtue of an assignment or transfer of such services under this S^^^^^^^'^^^ ^"^^ 
 ordinance or any servant of such person, or for any constable, to apprehend without warrant 
 
 such Chinese immigrant being found at a distance of more than two miles from the planta- 
 tion in resoect of whicli his services shall be due without a written ticket-of-leave, signed 
 by the manager or person in charge .of such plantation, and to cause such Chinese immigrant 
 to be taken back to such plantation. 
 
 19. And be it enacted, that any Chinese immigrant who shall wisely and rraudulently f-J^- Chines. 
 Tiretend that he has completed a residence of five years withm this co ony, oi who shall j^ to have completed 
 Suv use as his own any certificate of residence or discharge which shall have been "esidence of'five 
 Granted to any other Chinese immigrant, or who shall lend his certificate of residence or of years or using as his 
 I scha ge t^Jn; other Chinese imn^igrant, and any Chinese --'g'-f "^ ^ PSret: rTd^t'^SSarS 
 shall wilfully counterfeit or alter any such certificate, shall, on conviction thereof before any ^^^^^^^^^^^chmL 
 iusticrof the peace, be imprisoned, with hard labour, for such teim not exceeding three .^^j^^,^,, 
 calendar months as to the convicting justice shall seem fit. 
 
 986. ° « 4 ^«- ^^' 
 
Appendix. ^ 90 
 
 PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. 
 
 Monies to be paid 20. And be it enacted, that the Agent- general of Immigrants shall pay over to the colonial 
 over to the colonial treasurer all monies which may be received by such i\ gent-general under this ordinance,. 
 
 and all such monies shall be carried by the colonial treasurer to the account called the 
 
 Imaiigration Fund. 
 
 Proof of the hand- 21. And be it enacted, that proof of the handwriting of the Agent-general of Immigrants 
 ■writing of Agent-ge- to any assignment or transfer of the services of any Chinese immigrant, or to any certificate 
 neral ofjmmigraiits ^j. other document mentioned in this ordinance, shall be suflScient evidence of the execution 
 
 of the same, and of the facts mentioned in such assignment, transfer, certificate, or other 
 
 document. 
 
 to he sufficient evi- 
 dence. 
 
 Onus probandi. 22. And be it enacted, that where any question shall arise whether any Chinese immigrant 
 
 has completed a residence of five years within this colony, the burthen of proof shall lie on 
 the Chinese immigrant or other person alleging that such Chinese immigrant has completed 
 such residence. 
 
 Passed in Council this 22d day of March, in the year of our Lord 1863. 
 
 Richard D. Cady, 
 
 Clerk of Council. 
 
 Schedule (A.) 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that I, , Agent-general of Immigrants, . 
 
 by order of His Excellency the Governor, do assign the services of , a 
 
 Chinese immigrant who arrived in this colony on the day of , in the- 
 
 ship , to , in respect of the plantation , in the ward 
 
 of , for the space of five years, to be computed from the day of 
 
 The amount advanced to the said previous to his embarkation, and to he 
 
 deducted from his wages is 
 
 (signed) A. B., Agent-General of Immigrants. 
 
 (B.) 
 
 These are to certify that I, , Agent-general of Immigrants, at the request of 
 
 the Chinese immigrant , who arrived in this colony on the day of , 
 
 in the ship , and whose services were assigned to , in respect of 
 
 plantation , in the ward of , for the space of five years, do transfer 
 
 the services of the said to of in respect of the planta- 
 
 tion for years, to be computed from the day of 
 
 (signed) A. B., Agent-General of Immigrants. . 
 
 (C.) 
 
 I CERTIFY that the Chinese immigrant [insert name and number of immigrant] who arrived^ 
 in this colony on the day of , in the ship , has paid to me 
 
 the sum of , in consideration whereof I hereby order that the said be 
 
 discharged from further service from the day of next. 
 
 (signed) A. B., Agent-General of Immigrants. 
 
 Scale of Allowances and Wages for each Chinese Immigrant. 
 
 Money Wages, — Four dollars for each calendar month. 
 
 Food. — Eight ounces of beef or other meat, and one pound and a half of other alimentary 
 food per diem. 
 
 Clothing. — One blanket and one flannel shirt. 
 
(:^,^^:uC,(^,^r^J^..^ii s^r't^ ^ 
 
 EMIGRATION. 
 
 EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 
 
 RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, 
 dated 16 July 1858 ■,—for, 
 
 A " COPY of all Letters addressed by Members of the West India Committee 
 to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of Emigration 
 from China to the Colonies of British Guiana and Trinidad, and of any 
 Documents connected therewith ; also, of any Replies either from the 
 Colonial Secretary or the Emigration Commissioners." 
 
 / 
 
 Colonial Office, I CAEN AE VON, 
 
 30 July 1858. J 
 
 (Mr. Ewing.) 
 
 Ordered, hy The House of Commons, to he Printed, 
 
 August 1858. 
 
 '-2 .. ^' 
 
 
 525- 
 
[ 1 1 
 
 Copy of all Letters addressed by Members of the West India Committee to 
 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of Emigration from 
 China to the Colonies of :^ritish Guiana and Trinidad, and of any Docu- 
 ments connected therewith ; also, of any Replies either from the Colonial 
 Secretary or the Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 — No. 1. — 
 
 Copy of LETTER from P. E. JTodehouse, Esq., to the Right Honourable p. e. Wo'dehouse, 
 
 Lord Stanley, M.P. esq., to Right Hon. 
 
 Lord Stanley, m.p. 
 My Lord, 15, Queen-street, May Fair, 8 March 1858. 8 March 1858. 
 
 Looking to the present aspect of affairs in China, and to the extreme want 
 of labour now experienced in British Guiana, I hope that I may be permitted, 
 before returning to the West Indies, to submit to your Lordship a proposal by 
 means of which, if you should be pleased to accede to it, I believe that con- 
 siderable relief might in an unobjectionable manner be immediately afforded to 
 the planting interest; and in order to set the purport and object of my 
 proposal clearly before your Lordship, T will in the first place briefly explain 
 the present state of the colonial law bearing upon the question. 
 
 The Ordinance by which the introduction and management of the immi- 
 grants of various races is mainly governed is No. 7 of the year 1854.* The' 5th * Vide Papers pre- 
 section of that Ordinance provides for the payment of bounty to persons intro- sented to Parlia- 
 ducing immigrants at their own expense, under licence from the Governor. ™g^"^' -"^"g* 
 The 14th section requires that contracts made with Chinese out of the Colony 
 shall be executed before a consul, notary, or other officer duly authorised by 
 Her Majesty's Government ; and the 62d section enacts, that an "immigrant" 
 shall mean a person introduced at the expense of the Colony, " or for whose 
 introduction, although the same may be under private contract, the Colony may 
 hereafter pay bounty." No bounty is at present permitted to be paid, and 
 consequently no immigrant introduced by a private party at his ovl'n expense 
 could, as the law stands, be recognised as such for the purposes of the Ordi- 
 nance ; that is to say, the importer could not get him bound under indenture 
 to any estate or otherwise brought under the control of that law. 
 
 I will not now trouble your Lordship with a detail of the obstacles which 
 have mainly impeded Chinese immigration; they are explained in a letter 
 addressed to Mr. Labouchere on the 22d January last,i" in whicli a proposal was | vide House of 
 made that British Guiana should be permitted to send an agent to China with Commons Paper, 
 a view to overcoming them, a proposal which was recently acceded to by the ^g"- 3'» 'jaf' i- "^ 
 Secretary of State. My fear is that he cannot arrive in China in time to affect ^^' ^' 
 the operations in the next season for the shipment of emigrants, and therefore 
 I venture to suggest an arrangement to be acted upon immediately for the 
 season, and to be suspended if, upon further inquiry, it should be found 
 objectionable. 
 
 I believe that there exists no power in the Secretary of State to prohibit the 
 removal from China to the West Indies of Chinese, provided that the require- 
 ments of the Imperial Passengers' Act be strictly compUed with, and conse- 
 quently that the only impediment to such a transaction is to be found in the 
 62d section of the British Guiana Ordinance above quoted, which renders it 
 impossible for the person incurring the expense of their removal, to ensure the 
 benefit of their services on their arrival.. I would therefore earnestly recom- 
 mend that your Lordship's permission should be given for the modification by 
 the Colonial Legislature of the present construction of the term " immigrant" 
 to such an extent as to render it applicable to Chinese introduced by private 
 narties in strict conformity with the Passengers' Act ; and if your Lordship 
 ^ ^ A 2 should 
 
PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 should think it desirable, the amendment might be made to remain in force for 
 a limited period ; or, if you should wish it, it might be restricted to a limited 
 number of immigrants, and thus the absolute right of re-considering the 
 arrangement would be fully vested in Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 I am aware that there is now in this country a Parsee gentleman connected 
 with a wealthy firm in China, who would in such case immediately make 
 arrangements for shipping Chinese to Demerara ; and that there are several 
 gentlemen in London, Liverpool, and Glasgow who would hail your permission 
 as a great boon ; and I sincerely hope that on the face of the unlimited supply 
 of labour which the French and the Spaniards are now obtaining from Africa, 
 India, and China, your Lordship will feel warranted in sanctioning this experi- 
 mental measure for the relief of one of our largest sugar-growing Colonies. 
 
 I have, 
 (signed) 
 
 &c. 
 P. E. Wodehouse. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 TI. Merivale, esq., 
 
 to the Emigration 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 9 March 1858. 
 
 
 — No. 2. — 
 
 Copy of LETTER from H. Merivale, Esq., to the Emigration Commissioners, 
 
 Gentlemen, Downing-street, 9 March 1858. 
 
 In reference to your report of 2d February, I am directed by the Secretary 
 of State to transmit to you for any suggestions and observations which you 
 may have to offer, the enclosed letter from Governor Wodehouse, on the subject 
 of introducing Chinese immigrants into British Guiana. 
 
 I am to request that an early answer may be furnished on the questions raised 
 in Mr. Wodehouse's letter. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 No. 3. 
 The Emigration 
 Commissioners to 
 H. Merivale, esq. 
 13 March 1858, 
 
 — No. 3. — 
 
 Copy of LETTER from the Emigration Commissioners to H. Merivale, Esq. 
 
 Sir, Emigration Office, 13 March 1858. 
 
 We have to acknowledge your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing and desiring 
 us to furnish an early report upon a letter addressed to Lord Stanley by Mr. 
 Wodehouse respecting Chinese emigration. 
 
 2. It appears that there is in this country a Parsee gentleman who, if certain 
 legal difficulties were removed, would be enabled, by his connexion with a 
 wealthy firm in China, to commence next season an emigration of Chinese, 
 under contract to serve on the estates of the persons paying for their passages. 
 Governor Wodehouse suggests a mode of removing these difficulties, expressing 
 his apprehension that if this opportunity is allowed to pass by, the next season 
 (which may be said, we believe, to last from about September to March inclu- 
 sive) will be lost to the Colony. 
 
 3. There can be no doubt that if, by the proposed means, two or three ship 
 loads of Chinese can be introduced, with a requisite proportion cJf women (and 
 we are disposed to think that a very small proportion need be insisted on in the 
 first instance, say one in eight), a very great benefit would be conferred on 
 British Guiana and the West Indies generally ; and we should be extremely 
 sorry that any merely legal obstacle should be allowed to frustrate such an 
 attempt. 
 
 4. On the obstacles which at present exist, we have to offer the following 
 observations, 
 
 5. All emigration from China in British ships must be carried on in confor- 
 mity, not with the Imperial Passengers' Act (as Mr. Wodehouse supposes), but 
 
 with 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 3 
 
 with the Chinese Passenger Act, 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104; of which tiie leading 
 provision is that every ship hefore leaving China on any voyage of more than 
 seven days duration shall receive from an emigration officer I certificate that 
 the ship is properly found and not over crowded; that the contracts of the 
 emigrants are reasonable ; that no fraud appears to have been practised in 
 collecting thejn ; and that there are on board a surgeon and (unless specially 
 dispensed with) an interpreter. \ f j 
 
 6. If a ship arrived in British Guiana witli emigrants from China, and without, 
 me above certificate, she would be subject to forfeiture, and it would be the 
 duty ot the custom-house officer to seize her. 
 
 7. There is an emigration officer appointed at Hong Kong, and possibly, if a 
 recommendation contained in our report of the 18th of December 1856 was 
 adopted, at Amoy, but not, we believe, at any other place ; nor, of course, 
 could any such officer be appointed, except at the five ports which are open to 
 trade under our treaties with the Chinese. Under anv circumstances, therefore, 
 eveiy ship must either take in her emigrants at one 'of these ports, or, having 
 taken in emigrants at some place within seven days' vo3'age of such a port, must 
 call there to obtain the emigration officer's certificate, and we apprehend the 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would peremptorily object to the shipment 
 of emigrants with the direct or indirect authority of Government, except at one 
 of the open ports. 
 
 8. It is for the gentlemen concerned in the proposed undertaking to consider 
 how far these circumstances would impede their operations. All that the 
 Government could do to help them would be (as far as we see) to appoint an 
 emigration officer (probably the Consul) at any one or more of the five ports at 
 which it may be desired to ship emigrants. 
 
 9. The difficulty arising out of the law of British Guiana is that, wh:le the 
 14th section of the Ordinance legalises contracts with Chinese immigrants, if 
 made before a " notary public, British Consul, or other officer appointed by the 
 Government," the interpretation clause restricts the meaning of the word 
 "immigrant" to persons for whom the Colony pays freight or bounty. It, 
 therefore, excludes from the benefit of the 14th clau.^e persons introduced in 
 the manner now contemplated ; especially since the hth section of the Ordinance 
 (which promises what may fairly be called a bounty on Chinese) has been 
 
 repealed by an Ordinance very recently passed (No. 2, of 1858, sec. 15).* * yide House of 
 
 Commons Paper, 
 
 10. We would draw particular attention to the repeal of this clause, as the No, 31, of 1859, 
 
 plans of Mr. Wodehouse's friends may have been formed on the supposition that Pan I., p, 506. 
 it is in force, and would secure to them the payment of 60 dollars on every 
 Chinese immigrant introduced. 
 
 1 1 . Mr. Wodehouse proposes that the Legislature of British Guiana should 
 be authorised to pass a law enacting that Chinese introduced by private parties 
 should be considered as " immigrants " within the meaning of the Ordinance, 
 No. 7} of 1854. He adds, however, the proposal that this enactment should 
 be only authorised for a limited time, or in respect to a limited number of 
 emigrants. 
 
 12. There are, however, some objections to this summary mode of proceeding. 
 In the first place, it is to be observed, that the effect of such an enactment would 
 be not only to authorise a purely male immigration, which has always been 
 considered in the highest degree objectional)le, but wholly to relieve the 
 emigration from all Government control, except what is secured by the Chinese 
 Passenger Act, which Act of course would not apply to any emigration of 
 Chinese which might take place from Australia. 
 
 1 3. Next, we would observe, that nothing is more apt to produce unexpected 
 technical difficulties than the alteration without due sanction of an interpreta- 
 tion clause. In the present case, for instance, the effect of the 21st clause of 
 the Ordinance on the proposed emigration would be doubtful or inconvenient. 
 And, lastly, it is worth while pointing out, en the present occasion, that the 
 existing law recpecting the duration of contracts with Chinese emigrants are 
 confused and misleading, suggesting the idea that such contracts may be made 
 for five years (section 14), while really they can only bind the immigrant to 
 
 525. A 3 serve 
 
4 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 serve a given individual for three years, and leave him at liberty to transfer his 
 services to another employer after that period (sections 16-19). 
 
 14. We think, therefore, that if the existing law is to be modified, it would 
 be best to provide separately and specifically for the proposed immigration by 
 enabling the Governor to license certain persons to introduce a given number 
 of Chinese immigrants under contract to serve for five years on the estates of 
 their importers, with the same right to abandon service or change their 
 employer at the expiration of three or four years, which is possessed by the 
 Indian immigrants, subject, however, to the condition of paying themselves, or 
 procuring an employer who should pay for them, for each year which is thus 
 redeemed, a sum equal to one-fourth of the estimated cost of their introduction; 
 of course any bounty which the importer might have received from Government 
 should be deducted from that cost. 
 
 15. The contracts should be invalid unless attested, if made in China by the 
 emigration officer, if made out of China by some officer or person indicated by 
 Her Majesty's Government for the purpose, and should be in an approved form, 
 securing to the immigrant, inter alia, medical attendance, and the current wages 
 of the colony. 
 
 16. They should be submitted to the immigration agent on the immigrants 
 arrival ; should be registered and countersigned, and, if not according to law, 
 cancelled by him, and should be of no effect as against the immigrant till so 
 registered and countersigned. 
 
 17. The licence should prescribe certain conditions, and particularly that a 
 certain number of women should be placed on board ; and the licencee should 
 enter into a bond obliging him to the due performance of these conditions, atid 
 to carry on the emigration according to law. 
 
 18. If Mr. Wodehouse were to consider that an Ordinance framed on these 
 principles would effect its purpose, it might, perhaps, be possible to settle its 
 details with him before he leaves the country. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) T. JV. C. Murdoch. 
 
 Frederic Rogers. 
 
 — No. 4. — 
 No. 4. (^°-^5) 
 
 Stfnle^^MP^to*^ Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Honourable Lord Stanley, m. p. to 
 
 Goverm.r^'wode- Governor Wodehouse. 
 
 ^°Ta ril i8 8 ^^^' Downing-street, 1 April 1858. 
 
 P 5 • With reference to the communication which took place with you immedi- 
 
 ately before your departure, I have duly considered the wish which you brought 
 under my notice of some gentlemen connected with Guiana, to try for them- 
 selves the practicability of procuring suitable Chinese immigrants, to be intro- 
 duced into the Colony at their own expense. 
 
 There is, nothing, it appears, in the present state of the law to prevent any 
 private persons from procuring Chinese i;nmigrants> and conveying them to the 
 Colony at their own cost, provided that they duly fulfil the requirements of the 
 " i8 & 19 Vict. ^^^ "^f Parliament, styled the Chinese Passengers Act,* by which ample security 
 c. 104. is provided for the safety, health, and comfort of the emigrants during their 
 
 voyage. But of course no persons would wish to go to this expense unless the 
 labourers are under valid engagements to work for them for a certain period 
 after arrival, nor, as is generally believed, will Chinamen themselves emigrate 
 unless employment is secured to them by some such engagements. Now the 
 difficulty which arises is, that whilst the body of law regulating in Guiana the 
 mutual rights and obligations of employers and immigrants, is comprised in the 
 Ordinance No. 7 of 1854, the 62d or Interpretation Clause of that Ordinance 
 restricts the term ''immigrants" to persons introduced at the public expense. 
 The immigration of Chinese into the West Indies is already authorised both by 
 Imperial and Colonial law ; the enactments by which that immigration is regu- 
 lated, so far as the voyage is concerned, will remain unchanged ; no alteration 
 
 is 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. t 
 
 :> 
 
 is sought in the nature of the contracts which have already been allowed in the 
 West India Colonies ; all which the promoters of the scheme ask is, that they 
 may not, by importing labourers at their own expense, be excluded from the 
 operation of those rules which have so long and so repeatedly been sanctioned 
 as fit to govern the relations between immigrants and their employers. 
 
 I think that I cannot err in assenting to so reasonable a refjuest. Where 
 there is no well-founded objection on the ground of security to the immigrant, 
 I am glad to be abl6 to offer to the producers in the West Indies every fair 
 opportunity of endeavouring for themselves to supply the general want of 
 labour. 
 
 I do not attach to the concession now offered any positive stipulation as to 
 the number of females to be included among the proposed immigrants, because 
 the measure is an experiment which could not be tried if the persons who are 
 to enter into expensive contracts for the engagement of shipping were subjected 
 to a restriction which, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, might 
 operate as a complete prohibition of their undertaking, and thus cause them to 
 forfeit their whole outlay. I have taken this course in the firm belief tliat the 
 importers themselves, whose success in this particular will be conducive both to 
 their own advantage and to the general interest of the colony, will spare no 
 endeavour to obtain a suitable proportion of females. Considering, however, 
 that no immigration could be allowed to become permanent without this 
 essential condition, and, moreover, that by next year a report on the general 
 question of a supply of labour from China may be expected from Mr. /Austin, 
 who is to be employed on the spot in investigating that subject, I propose to 
 restrict the duration of the measure to one year. 
 
 It appeared to be the opinion both of yourself and of the Emigration Com- 
 missioners, in examining the question, that, if this project were tried, it would 
 be desirable to bring into one Ordinance all the legal enactments affecting 
 Chinese immigrants. The Emigration Commissioners have, accordingly, pre- 
 pared the enclosed draft of an Ordinance to accomplish that purpose. I send ^^^jj^y 
 it to you, because if the Legislature should think proper to adopt the plan, and ^~~~---~-H£!^ 
 to give it the sanction of their authority, I have thought that it might not be' 
 unacceptable to them to see, in the most definite shape, the proposals which it is 
 wished to submit to them, and to which you will have authority to assent on 
 the part of the Government. 
 
 I have, &,c. 
 (signed) Stanley. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 4. End. in No. 4. 
 
 Dbaft of an Ordinance for the Encouragement of Immigration into British Guiana from 
 
 China. 
 
 Whereas it is expedient to malce provision for the introduction into this Colony of 
 Chinese labourers, at the expense wholly or in part of private parties, be it enacted, &c., 
 as follows : 
 
 1. The 14th section of the Ordinance No. 7, of 1854, is hereby repealed. 
 
 2. Upon the arrival in the colony of any ship having Chinese labourers on board, the 
 Immigration Agent-General shall, with the health officer of the port, forthwith proceed on 
 board of such vessel, and with the assistance of such officer shall ascertain, by personal 
 inspection of the vessel and of the passengers therein, and of the emigration papers fur- 
 nished to the master of the said vessel, in pursuance of the " Chinese Passengers' Act of 
 1855 " whether the provisions of the said Act have been complied with or not, and shall 
 report to the Governor of the Colony respecting the state of such vessel and the treatment 
 of the passengers therein, and whether there appear to be any grounds for proceeding against 
 the said vessel or the master thereof under the provisions of the said Act, and respectmg 
 all other such matters as the Governor may direct. 
 
 3. All written contracts for the performance of any labour or service of agriculture in this 
 Colony which shall be made with any Chinese labourer, male or female, who shall have left 
 China or Hong Kong for this Colony between the passing of this Ordinance and the 1st day 
 of April next ensuing, shall be binding on the parties thereto for the period named therein 
 not exceeding the period of five years, to be computed from the day of the landing of such 
 labourer in British Guiana; provided, that every such contract shall be signed with the 
 names or marks of the contracting parties, or of persons lawfully acting o a their behalt, and 
 shall be attested by the emigration officer at the port of embarkation, who shall declare that 
 
 525. - ^ *'^ 
 
6 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 the labourer, party to such contract, signed the same voluntarily and with a due under- 
 standing of its effect : provided also, that every such contract shall conform to the following 
 conditions: namely, 
 
 4. (I.) Every such contract shall secure to the labourer making the same the right to 
 receive, in lieu of any fixi;d wages specified therein, the rate of wages which may from time 
 to time be paid to unindentured labourers working on the estate on which he shall be 
 employed. 
 
 (II. ) Every such contract shall bind the employer to furnish to the labourer, free of charge, 
 suitable lodging, and when sick, suitable and suflScient medicines, medical attendance, and 
 hospital accommodation. 
 
 (III.) Every such contract may be terminated by the labourer party thereto at the expira- 
 tion of the third year thereof, on payment to the Immigration Agent-General of 50 dollars, 
 or at the expiration of the fourth year thereof on payment of 25 dollars. 
 
 (IV.) Every such contract may bind the labourer to repay to his employer, at such rate, 
 not exceeding 1 dollar a month, as may be determined by the Governor and Court of Policy, 
 such specified sum, not exceeding 12 dollars, as may have been advanced to him before 
 leaving China. 
 
 5. Every such contract shall on the arrival of the labourer be submitted to the Immigra- 
 tion Agent-General, who shall and may make such alterations therein foi: the benefit of the 
 labourer as he shall judge necessary to make the same conformable to the above conditions, 
 and shall thereupon record and countersign the same ; and no such contract or altered con- 
 tract shall be binding on any labourer till so countersigned. 
 
 6. Such contracts may be made in the form contained in the annexed Schedule, and at 
 their expiration may be renewed for a period not exceeding three years. 
 
 7. Every such contract or renewed contract shall be deemed to be an indenture, and 
 during the currency of the same every Chinese labourer shall be deemed to be an immigrant 
 within the meaning of the following sections of the Ordinance No. 7, of 1854, namely, 
 the 10th and 11th sections ; from the 22d to the 33d, inclusive; from the 35th to the 42d 
 sections, inclusive ; the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 49th, and 50th sections ; from the 57th to 
 the 61st sections inclusive. 
 
 8. If it shall be established before any two Justices of the Peace, on complaint preferred 
 by any Chinese labourer, that such labourer is not provided by his employer with suflScient 
 work to enable him to earn a just amount of wages under the terms of any such contract as 
 aforesaid, such Justices shall declare his contract to be cancelled ; and thereupon it shall be 
 lawful for the Governor to cause such labourer to be indentured to some other employer, 
 on the terms as near as may be of the said contract, for a period not exceeding the unexpired 
 period of his term of service. 
 
 9. All sums received by the Immigration Agent-General from any Chinese labourer in 
 virtue of the 3d article of the 4th section of this Ordinance, shall be paid over by him to 
 the person who may have defrayed the expense of introducing such labourer, subject never- 
 theless to a rateable deduction in case the Government shall have paid any part of the 
 expense. 
 
 10. The words "Governor," "Immigration Agent- General," " written contract," "planta- 
 tion," and " employer," where used in this Ordinance, or in the annexed Schedule, shall 
 bear the meanings assigned to them in the 62d section of the Ordinance No. 7, of 1854. 
 
 Schedule. Section 6. 
 
 It is agreed between A. B., Chinese labourer, and C. D., acting on behalf of E. F., 
 proprietor of the plantatIon[s1 X. [and Z.], in the colony of British Guiana, that A. B. 
 shall serve the said E. F., on [one of] the said plantation [s], in the growing or manufac- 
 turing of articles the produce of such plantation, for the term of five years from the day on 
 which A. B. shall land in British Guiana ; provided always, that it shall be lawful for A. B, 
 to terminate the said agreement at the expiration of three years, on payment of the sum of 
 50 dollars, or at the end of four years, /On payment of the sum of 25 dollars : and it is 
 further agreed that E. F. shall pay to A. B. the same rate of wages as is paid to the 
 labourers not under contract or indenture working at the same plantation, not being less 
 than at the rate of a day (which wages shall be paid on the last day of every 
 
 week), and that E. F. shall supply A. B., free of cost, with suitable lodging, and with such 
 inedicines and medical attendance and hospital accommodation as A. B. may need when 
 sick. And it is further agreed, that if the said plantation shall come into the possession of 
 any other person than the said E. F., A. B, shall be bound to serve such other person, if 
 required to do so, on the same plantation and on the above terms. 
 
 And it is further agreed that E. F. may deduct from the wages of A. B,, at the rate of 
 1 dollar a month, the total sum of [not more than 12] , dollars, which A. B. acknow- 
 
 ledges himself to have received in advance before leaving China. 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA' AND TRINIDAD. 7 
 
 — No. 5. — 
 (No. 13.) 
 
 Copt of DESPATCH from the Right Honourable Lord Stanley, m.p. to ^'^^^ Hon. Lord 
 
 Governor Keate. ^nhy, m p. to 
 
 Governor Keate. 
 
 ^^^' Downing-street, 1 April 1858. ' "^P"' ^^^S. 
 
 1 A^ ..'S. 
 
 In consequence of an application from some proprietors connected with the 
 uoiony ot iJritish Guiana, I was led to consider the subject of affording them, 
 as a. temporary measure, some facilities to try the -experiment of procuring 
 immigrants from China for themselves and at their own expense, and I came to j 7-- is 
 the conclusion which you will find embodied in the accompanying copy of a ^^^^^i^.g 
 IJespatch to Governor Wodehouse*. I do not know whether any gentlemen Co^'^^^SS 
 interested m Trinidad may be desirous to try a similar experiment, but I need ^o. J'""* P.- °^ 
 not say that there can be no objection to apply the same principle to one ^^nx'^^i 
 Colony as to the other, and I therefore enclose for your use, in case you should ' 
 
 think It desirable to propose such a measure, the sketch of an Ordinance, to 
 ^? , 5?" ^^y understand that you are fully authorised to assent on the part 
 of the Government. 
 
 of 
 
 8a ' 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Stanley. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 5. 
 Deapt Oedinance. 
 
 Wheeeas it is expedient to make provision for the introduction into this Colony of 
 Chinese labotirers at the expense of private parties, be it enacted, &c., as follows : — 
 
 1. Upon the arrival in the Colony of any ship having Chinese labourers on board, the 
 Agent- General of Immigrants shall, with the health officer of the port, forthwith proceed on 
 board of such vessel, and with the assistance of such officer shall ascertain, by personal in- 
 spection, of the vessel and of the passengers therein, and of the emigration papers furnished 
 to the master of the said vessel, in pursuance of the " Chinese Passengers' Act of 1855," 
 whether the provisions of the said Act have been complied with or not, and shall report to 
 the Governor of the Colony respecting the state of such vessel and the treatment of the 
 passengers therein, and whether there appear to be any grounds for proceeding against the 
 said vessel, or the master thereof, under the provisions of the said Act, and respecting all 
 other such matters as the Governor may direct. 
 
 2. All written contracts for the performance of any labour or service of agriculture in 
 this Colony which shall be made with any Chinese labourer, male or female, who shall have 
 left China or Hong Kong for this Colony between the passing of this Ordinance and the first 
 day of April next ensuing, shall be binding on the parties thereto for the period named 
 therein, not exceeding the period of five years, to be computed from the day of the landing of 
 such labourer in Trinidad ; provided that the same contracts shall be signed with the names 
 or marks of the contracting parties, or of persons lawfully acting on their behalf, and shall 
 be attested by the Emigration officer at the port of embarkation, who shall declare that the 
 said labourer signed the same contract voluntarily, and with a due understanding of its 
 effect; provided also, that every such contract shall conform to the following conditions, 
 namely : 
 
 (I.) Every such contract shall, secure to the labourer making the same the right to 
 receive, in lieu of any fixed wa^es specified therein, the rate of wages which may from 
 time to time be paid to.unindentured labourers working on the estate on which he shall be 
 employed. 
 
 (XL) Every such contract shall bindtheemployertofurnishtothelabourer, free of charge, 
 suitable lodging ; and when sick, suitable and sufficient medicine, medical attendance, and 
 hospital accommodation. 
 
 (III.) Every such contract shall be terminable by the labourer party thereto, at the expira- 
 tion of the third year thereof, on payment to the Immigration Agent-General of 50 dollars, or 
 at the expiration of the fourth year thereof, on payment of 25 dollars. 
 
 (IV.) Every such contract may bind the labourer to repay to his employer, at such rate, not 
 exceeding one dollar a month, as may be determined by the Governor, any specified sum, 
 not exceeding 12 dollars, as may have been advanced to him before leaving China. 
 
 3. Every such contract shall, on the arrival of the labourers, be submitted to the Immi- 
 gration Agent-General, who shall and may make such alterations therein for the benefit of 
 the labourer as he shall judge necessary to make the same conformable to the above condi- 
 tions, and shall thereupon record and countersign the sanie ; and no such contract or altered 
 contract shall be binding on any labourer till so countersigned. 
 
 Enpl, in No. 5. 
 
 525. 
 
 B 4. Such 
 
8 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 4. Such contracts may be made in the form contained in the annexed schedule, and at the 
 expiration thereof may be renewed for a period not exceeding three years. 
 
 5. Every such contract or renewed contract shall be deemed to be an indenture, and 
 during the currency of the same every Chinese labourer shall be deemed to be an immi- 
 grant ; and service under such indenture or renewed indenture, or the redemption of such 
 service under the second clause of this Ordinance, shall be deemed to be industrial residence 
 within the meaning of the following sections of the Ordinance, No. 24 of 1854, intituled, 
 " An Ordinance to Amend and Consolidate the Laws with regard to Immigration ;" namely, 
 sections 7, 8. 10, II, 12, 13, 14, 15. 23, 24, 25. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 
 40. 45, 46, 47. 
 
 6. If it shall be established before any two Justices of the Peace, on complaint preferred 
 by any Chinese labourer, that such labourer is not provided by his employer with sufficient 
 work to enable him to earn a just amount of wages, under the terms of such contract as 
 aforesaid, such justices shall declare his contract to be cancelled ; and thereupon it shall be 
 lawful for the Grovernor to cause any labourer whose contract shall have been cancelled, 
 under the provisions of this or the above-recited Ordinance, to be indentured to some other 
 employer, on the terms as near as may be of the said contract, for a period not exceeding 
 the unexpired period of his term of service. 
 
 7. All sums received by the Immigration Agent from any Chinese labourer, in virtue of the 
 third article of the second section of this Ordinance^ shall be paid over by him to the person 
 who may have defrayed the expense of introducing such labourer. 
 
 8. In this Ordinance the word " Governor" shall include the officer administering 
 the Government for the time being, and the phrase " Agent-General of Immigrants,"^ 
 and " employer," shall have the meanings assigned to them In the said Ordinance, No. 24 
 of 1854. 
 
 Schedule. (Section .) 
 
 It is agreed between A. B., Chinese labourer, and CD., acting on behalf of E. F., pro- 
 prietor of the plantatIon[s] X. [and Z.], In the colony of Trinidad, that A. B. shall serve 
 the said E. F. on [one of] the said plaptation[s] in the growing or manufacturing articles 
 the produce of such plantation, for the term of five years from the day on which A. B. shall 
 land in Trinidad : provided always, that It shall be lawful for A. B, to terminate the said 
 agreement at the expiration of three years, on payment of the sum of 50 dollars, or at the 
 end of four years, on payment of the sum of 25 dollars ; and It Is further agreed that E. F. 
 shall pay to A. B. the same rate of wages as is paid to the labourers not under contract or 
 indenture working on the same plantation, not being less than at the rate of a day 
 
 (which wages shall be paid on the last day of every week), and shall supply A. B., free of 
 cost, with suitable lodging, and with such medicines and medical attendance, and hospital 
 accommodation as A. B. may need when sick. And it Is further agreed, that if the said 
 plantation shall come into the possession of any other person than the said E. F., A. B. 
 shall be bound to serve such other person, if required to do so, on the same plantation and 
 on the above terms. 
 
 And it Is further agreed that E. F. may deduct from the wages .of A. B., at the rate of 
 one dollar a month, the total sum of [not more than 12] dollars, which A. B. acknow- 
 
 ledges himself to have received in advance before leaving China. 
 
 _ No. 6. •— 
 
 H. Merivale,*esQ., CoPY of a LETTER from H. Merivale, Esq., to Stephen Cave, Esq. 
 
 to S. Cave, esq. r.. t^ ■ ■ a •-, ,^,^ 
 
 3 April 1858. Sir, Uowning-street, 3 April 1858. 
 
 With reference to the subject on which a deputation lately had an interview 
 
 with Lord Stanley, and on which, as you are aware, some communications took 
 
 place with Governor Wodehouse on the eve of his departure, I am directed by 
 
 his Lordship to acquaint you, for the information of the West India Committee, 
 
 that his Lordship has resolved to assent, on the part of the Government, to a 
 
 temporary measure, if the Legislature of Guiana should think proper to adopt 
 
 it, for facilitating the proceedings of gentlemen connected with that Colony who 
 
 wish to try the experiment of introducing immigrants from China at their own 
 
 ^°\ 18^:^ expense. As the best means of putting you fully in possession of Lord Stanley's 
 
 "^J^^-""^^ views, I am desired by his Lordship to transmit to you the enclosed copy of the 
 
 jt yide ^°Ya?®^' Despatch which he has addressed on this subject; to the Governor, accompanied 
 
 Co*'^"^^ iS59' , by the sketch of a law in which, if it should be adopted by the Legislature, the 
 
 THo.3^' age i'V* Governor will be at full liberty immediately to concur. 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 9 
 
 This step has been taken for Guiana, because the application emanated from 
 ■proprietors connected with that colony ; but, adverting to a question which was 
 asked by the deputation which saw Lord Stanley, I am directed to state that 
 there can be no objection to apply the same principle to Trinidad, if any gentle- 
 men connected with that Colony should wish to act uppn it, and that the Go- 
 Tcrnor will receive the necessary authority for assenting to a similar law for 
 this purpose. 
 
 1 am, &c. 
 (signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 * Vide House of 
 Commons Paper, 
 No. 31 of 1859, 
 
 — No. 7. — 
 
 No. 7. 
 Copy of a LETTER from H. Merivale, Esq., to E. Hammond, Esq. H, Merivale, esq. 
 
 to E. Hammond, 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 12 April 1858. ^'5; ^p^^ ^g^g. 
 
 I AM directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of Malmes- 
 bury, that Lord Stanley has authorised the requisite steps to be taken for 
 enabling proprietors connected with British Guiana and Trinidad to endeavour 
 to procure Chinese immigrants for themselves, provided that they duly comply 
 with the requirements of the Act of Parliament styled- the Chinese Passengers' 
 Act, and that the contracts of the immigrants be in strict conformity with the 
 terms of such contracts as have already.long been sanctioned in the West Indies 
 for immigrant labpurers introduced at the public expense. The enclosed copy 
 of a Despatch to the Governor of Guiana* will explain more particularly the 
 nature of the measure, and the reasons for which it has been adopted. - 
 
 I am at the same time desired to point out that by the fourth clause of the 
 Act of Parhament no Chinese passenger ship can clear out until she shall have ^^ '' ^' ^^'^' 
 received certain documents from some person duly authorised to act as an 
 emigration officer. Hitherto, so far as this Department is informed, no 
 emigration officer has been appointed in China except at Hong Kong itself^ 
 and the consequence is that every British ship carrying Chinese passengers is 
 compelled to put iftto that place in order to obtain a clearance. As some of 
 the gentlemen interested in the subject have pointed out certain practical disad- 
 vantages which arise from being thus confined to a single port of departure, and 
 as there appears no necessity for maintaining further restrictions than are re- 
 quired by law and by existing treaties with China, I am directed by Lord Stanley 
 to request that you will convey to the Earl of Malmesbury his recommendation 
 that the consuls at the five ports appointed for their residence by the treaty of 
 1843 with China, should be formally named by Lord Malmesbury Emigration 
 officers, in order to confer upon them the character necessary to enable them 
 to furnish the requisite papers to British ships sailing with Chinese passengers, 
 and further that the Consuls may be instructed to give those papers to all 
 British ships duly conforming to the requirements of the Chinese Passengers' 
 
 1 am, &c. 
 
 (signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 — No. 8. — 
 Copy of a LETTER from H. Merivale, Esq., to the Emigration Commissioners. 
 
 Gentlemen, « Downing-street, 12 April 1858. 
 
 I AM directed by Lord Stanley to transmit to you, for your information, the 
 enclosed copies of two Despatches, one addressed to the Governor of British 
 Guiana* and the other to the Governor of Trinidad*, explaiwng the considera- 
 tions which have led Lord Stanley to sanction the necessary measures to enable 
 •Droprietors connected with those Colonies to endeavour to pro'cure Chinese 
 
 A^ B 2 immigrants. 
 
 No. 8. 
 H. Merivale, esq,, 
 to the Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 12 April 1858. 
 
 * Vide House of 
 Commons Paper, 
 No. 31 of 1859, ' 
 Part I., pp. 147 and 
 390- 
 
■page 9- 
 
 10 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 immigrants. I am also desired to enclose a copy of a letter to the Foreign 
 Office, recommending that the Consuls at the five ports opened by treaty be 
 named emigration officers, so as to qualify them to clear emigrant ships from 
 those ports, in conformity with the terms of the Act of Parliament styled the 
 Chinese Passengers Act. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 No. 9. 
 
 F. Hammond, esq., 
 to H. Merivale, 
 esq. 
 17 April 1858. 
 
 — No. 9. — 
 Copy of a LETTER from E. Hammond, Esq., to H. Merivale, Esq. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, 17 April 1858. 
 
 I HAVE laid before the Earl of Malmesbury your letter of the 12th instant, 
 stating that Lord Stanley had authorised the requisite steps to be taken for 
 enabhng proprietors connected with British Guiana and Trinidad to endeavour 
 to procure Chinese immigrants for themselves, provided that they duly comply 
 with the requirements of the Chinese Passenger Act of 1855, and recommending 
 that, with the view of carrying out this intention, Her Majesty's Consuls at the 
 five ports should be appointed agents for emigration. 
 
 I am to request that you will inform Lord Stanley, in reply, that the Colonial 
 Office was informed, on the 31st of December 1856, with reference to cor- 
 respondence which had passed between the two Departments upon the subject 
 of the Chinese Passenger Act, that Sir John Bowring would be instructed to 
 appoint Her Majesty's Consul at Amoy an agent for einigration ; and I am to 
 add, that Lord Malmesbury will now instruct Sir John Bowring to appoint 
 Her Majesty's Consular officers at the other ports in China, agents for emigration 
 as recommended by Lord Stanley. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (signed) JE. Hammond. 
 
 ' No. 10. 
 
 Earl of Carnarvon 
 to S. Cave, esq. 
 21 June 185B. 
 
 
 — No. 10. — 
 
 Copy of a LETTER from the Earl of Carnarvon to Stephen Cave, Esq. 
 
 Sir, Downing-street, 21 June 1858. 
 
 I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. B. Lytton to transmit to you, for the 
 information of the West India Committee, a copy of a letter from the Foreign 
 Department, with copies of two Despatches from Mr. Crawford, Her Majesty's 
 Consul at Havana, having reference to the causes of mortaUty amongst Chinese 
 emigrants in their passage from China to Cuba. 
 
 Sir E. B. Lytton would suggest that it would be desirable that a copy of these 
 papers should be forwarded by the West India Committee tO the private agent 
 who has been appointed for effecting an emigration of Chinese to the West 
 Indies. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Carnarvon. 
 
 End. in No. 10. Enclosure in No. 10. 
 
 Sir, Foreign Office, 5 June 1858. 
 
 With reference to your letter of the 25tli of February last, I am directed by the Earl 
 of Malmesbury to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Secretary of State for 
 the Colonial Department, a copy of a Despatch from Mr. Crawford, Her Majesty's Consul 
 General at Havanah, forwarding all the information that he has been able to obtain relative 
 to the mortality on board the Chinese emigrant ship " Gulnare" on her passage from Hong 
 Kong to Havana. 
 
 I likewise transmit to you a copy of a further Despatch from Mr. Crawford, enclosing a 
 medical report upon the causes of mortality amongst Chinese emigrants on their passage 
 from China to Cuba, and containing remarks respecting rations and provisions. 
 
 Herman Merivale, Esq., 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (signed) IVm. Seymour Fitz Gerald. 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. ii 
 
 (No. 26.) 
 
 Sub-Enclosure in No. 10. 
 
 My Lord, Havana, 30 April 1858. 
 
 In acknowledging to your Lordship the receipt of Mr. Fitzgerald's Despatch, No. 8, 
 dated the 19th ultimo, instructing me with reference to the Despatch No. 7, of same date, 
 to report specially whether I took any, and if so, what steps upon the arrival here of the 
 " Gulnare," to inquire into the cause of the great mortality on board that ship previous to 
 her disembarking her passengers, 
 
 I have the honour of stating to your Lordship, that in the case of the " Gulnare," as well 
 as in every case of British vessels arriving here with emigrants, and previous to my 
 receiving the instruction for that purpose which was conveyed in your Lordship's last ' 
 Despatch, I have endeavoured to investigate the causes of mutiny or mortality which have 
 occurred on board; and with respect to the " Gulnare," it resulted that of 326 Chinese with 
 which that vessel sailed from Hong Kong, 58 died on the passage, and 268 were landed 
 here ; of the deaths, three were suicides by jumping overboard, and 55 were taken off by 
 dysentery, and the other diseases which 'have followed amongst a set of ill-conditioned 
 passengers, which all the Chinese emigrants are described to be; and in addition to all this 
 the " Gulnare" had a long passage of 139 days. 
 
 "With the greatest respect, 
 
 To the Right Hon. the Earl of Malmesbury, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Jos. T. Crawford, C. G. 
 
 (No. 30.) 
 
 My Lord, Havana, 2 May 1858. 
 
 I HAVE pai^ great attention for some time past to the mortality which has occurred on 
 board of Chinese emigrant ships; and having met with some very well instructed and intelli- 
 gent professional men amongst the surgeons who have been engaged, and who have arrived 
 here in charge of the crews and passengers, I have availed myself of the politeness of Dr. 
 SomerviUe, who was surgeon of the American ship "Kitty Simpson," and that of Dr. Gwynne, 
 of the British ship " Edwin Fox," and Dr. Pellew, of the British ship " Tasmania;' and 
 I have the honour of enclosing herewith to your Lordship a copy of Dr. Somerville's 
 report of 430 Chinese who embarked on board the " Kitty Simpson." Ninety-two died 
 on the voyage from Swatao to this port, and the report states^that not more than 50 of the' 
 whole number, when received on board, were in a sound or healthy condition. 
 
 Drs. Gwynne and Pellew have added their concurrence in the report of Dr. Somer- 
 viUe. Their experience of the diseases and condition of these emigrants was precisely 
 similar ; and they have added an observation as to a certain class of Chinese known as 
 " Tartar-men," whose condition is the worst of all. 
 
 The provisions laid in for these emigrants, excepting the rice, consist chiefly of salt fish 
 and salted vegetables, both the fish and vegetables being most excessively salted ; but not- 
 withstanding which, both these articles of provision very soon became putrid, and by no 
 means wholesome, so that scurvy very soon makes its appearance on board these ships. 
 Moreover, it was the opinion of these medical men, that in the state the Chinese are when 
 received on board, having previously been fed scantily, as most of them lead a life of 
 privations and of precarious subsistence, the passing from almost starvation to a full and 
 unlimited allowance of food very frequently produces dysentery from indigestion, and the 
 patients have no physical stamina to resist the attack. From what is shown in the report, and 
 from the pains I have taken to investigate this important subject, I think that I can safely 
 state to your Lordship, for the information of the Emigration Commissioners, that the 
 mortality upon the voyage from China on board emigrant ships would be in a great 
 measure prevented were the passengers subjected to a medical and surgical survey, and 
 those only who are in a sound and wholesome condition permitted to embark. The state 
 of the salted fish and vegetables also should be looked into, and the allowance of provisions 
 restricted until the medical man in charge allows the issue of full rations to the passengers. 
 The opium smokers to have an allowance of tobacco as a substitute for the more deleterious 
 
 narcotic. _ , „ 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 
 To the Earl of Malmesbury, (signed) Jos. T. Crawford, C. G. 
 
 &c. &o. &c. 
 
 ," Edwin Fox," 309 ; 
 Deaths, 40. 
 
 " Tasmania," 367 ; 
 Deaths, 108. 
 
 525- 
 
 B3 
 
12 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 Report on the State of Disease on board the Ship "Kitty Simpson," during 
 her recent Voyage from Swatao to Havana. 
 
 The number of deaths that have occurred among the coolies on board this ship during 
 the voyage just concluded amounts to 92. This very considerable mortality is attributable 
 to the vast amount of disease on board, and the broken-down, debilitated condition of the 
 patients, which rendered them not only prone to disease, but unfitted them for contending 
 with it when attacked. Of the number of coolies, perhaps 50 were in good health, and 
 possessed of a moderate share of constitutional vigour. The remainder were feeble, sickly, 
 emaciated wretches, whom hardship, disease, and hunger had reduced to the lowest ebb of 
 vitality. From the legs and arms of many of them almost all trace of muscular substance 
 had disappeared, and the bones seemed covered only by the dusky shrivelled skin that hung 
 abont them in loose folds, while their sallow complexions, sunken eyes, short coughs, &c. 
 afforded ample evidence of the irreparable mischief their constitutions had sustained. ' The 
 greater part of them were either covered over with spots, caused by recent skin disease, or 
 were actually suffering from it. Several of them were rendered unsightly objects by itch, 
 which covered them with blotches from head to foot. In others, local inflammation had 
 taken place, followed by abscess and extensive foul-looking ulcers. In the eyes of many of 
 theni very palpable traces of ophthalmic disease were visible, and in some vision was con- 
 siderably impaired. 
 
 Among men so circumstanced it is no wonder that disease was rife, or that it was in 
 many instances fatal. Accordingly, for a considerable time the number of cases averaged 
 50 a day ; and with the exception of the first and last weeks of the voyage, they never fell 
 below 30, while the deaths averaged nearly one a day. I might be asked, Why take on 
 board a set of men whose physical condition offered so slender a chance of their seeing the 
 end of the voyage ?/ The answer is, that they were the only coolies to be had at the time 
 that were not actually suffering from disease ; and it was hoped that more airy and com- 
 fortable accommodation, a. plentiful diet,' &c., would have the effect of restoring a great 
 portion of .them to their former health and vigour ; and this hope has been partially realised, 
 although not to the extent at first entertained. 
 
 Kearly all the forms of disease that were prevalent among the coolies may be traced to 
 three sources, viz., intestinal worms," opium, and tubercles. In European practice, the 
 worm (asearis lumhricoides) by which the coolies were afflicted is not considered a formidable 
 animal ; but here the case was different, on account of their size and number. In one 
 subject which I opened after death, the small intestines of the stomach were crammed so 
 full of these parasites, that when a slit was made in any part of the intestine, they gushed 
 out as if pressure had been exerted upon them. The ordinary symptoms to which they 
 gave rise were those of irritable fever and nausea. This was more particularly the case, 
 when the animals had accumulated in the stomach. When under these circumstances 
 vomiting could be induced, so as to empty the stomach of its living contents, the febrile 
 symptoms subsided, and the j)atient was restored to his ordinary health, at least for a time. 
 But unfortunately their ejection could not always be accomplished : when such was the 
 case, symptoms of a more favourable character would be developed, sucli as congestion of 
 the brain, pericarditis, diarrhoea, dysentry, enteritis. The cerebral affection generally 
 yielded to local blood-letting and antiphlogistics. The pericarditis ran a rapid course, and 
 was always fatal. The existence of this disease in conjunction with worms was fully 
 established in one case, by post-mortem examination. Diarrhoea and dysentry were a very 
 common result of the presence of worms in the intestines. The discharge was at first 
 of a mucous character, gradually becoming more liquid, and latterly assuming a dark 
 grumous appearance. In two cases in which worms had occasionally been ejected both 
 by vomiting and stool, entiritis set in with fatal effect. The majority of the cases 
 of disease occurring in the feeble and emaciated were associated with habit of opium 
 smoking. Patients of this class were characterised by the apathy and unconcern they 
 exhibit about their comfort and welfare. They seldom uttered any complaint, but would 
 slink into some hole or corner, no matter how uncomfortable and dirty, provided it 
 secured them from observation. In such situations their condition would sometimes escape 
 detection until they were spectre-like and moribund. AmMig this class death would 
 sometimes occur suddenly and unexpectedly, without any pre\dous apparent illness, and 
 unaccompanied by the faintest indication of pain. They were also prone to diarrhoea 
 and dysentery cf an extremely obstinate and persistent character. The attack commenced 
 with diarrhoea, which eventually passed into dysentery. The diarrhoea stage was entirely 
 painless, nor was there much pain attendant upon the dysentery, except when ulceration or 
 sloughing of the rectum supervened, which was the case in two or three instances. Probably 
 two-thirds of the coolies on board had at some period of their lives been addicted to the use 
 of opium. The injury inflicted upon their constitutions by this vice varied according to 
 circumstances. Some had acquired the habit, but had not indulged it long enough to expe- 
 rience its pernicious effects. Others had not only become slaves to it, but had ruined their 
 health by its indulgence. It evidently lay at the root of alP their, ailments, aggravating 
 them or thwarting the treatment employed for their relief. Abruptly to deprive the 
 inveterate opium smoker of his customary dose was to subject him to diarrhoea, or some other 
 of the maladies of which this ruinous habit is the parent. Consequently it became absolutely 
 necessary to break him off by degrees. In many instances this was satisfactorily accom- 
 plished by the administration of gradually diminishing quantities of opium at gradually 
 extending intervals of time. A few cases of tubercular disease occurred. Consumption in 
 
 the 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 13 
 
 the coolies does not appear to be characterised by any peculiarity of symptom, except that 
 the disease makes rapid progress, and is attended with very little pain. Diarrhcea was a 
 frequent concomitant, as was also worms, but the latter can be viewed only as an accidental 
 complication. 
 
 With respect to the arrangements on board the ship, it may be said that nothing was left 
 undone that could in any way contribute to the health and comfort of the coolie. The 
 accommodation between decks was ample, well ventilated, and kept scrupulously clean. 
 'The provisions were of good quality and abundant in quantity, and every indulgence that 
 was harmless and consistent with order and discipline was permitted. The only drawback 
 experienced was the want of an hospital. In all ships carrying a multitude of passengers, 
 where the occurrence of disease is probable, an hospital is a great desideratum, as thereby a 
 more regular and efficient attendance upon the sick is not only insured, but it affords 
 the means of preserving the healthy from the noxious and contaminating influences 
 inseparable from sickness. 
 
 (signed) Thomas H. Somerville, 
 
 18 March 1858. Surgeon, &c., on board the American Ship 
 
 " Kitty Simpson." 
 
 Sir, Havana, 30 April 1858. 
 
 I HAVE read over Dr. Som^rville's report with regard to his experience of the diseases of 
 the Chinese colonists under his charge wn board the American ship "Kitty Simpson," 
 Captain Brown, on the voyage from China to this port, and I have conversed with him 
 upon that subject since our arrival here. 
 
 And I concur with him in that report, as being generally a faithful relation of the 
 diseases that afflicted the Chinese colonists who were under my charge on board the 
 British ship the " Edwin Fox," Captain Ferguson, recently arrived from China in this 
 harbour. 
 
 But I should wish to remark that, iE-conditioned as all the Chinese were who came on 
 board the " Edwin Fox," there were amongst them a great number who were known as 
 " Tartar-men ;" people who came from the interior, a distance of some hundreds of miles 
 above Canton ; and those were found to be so feeble in constitution and so predisposed to 
 morbid diseases such as Dr. Somerville describes, that they were hardly ou board till they 
 fell sick, and almost aU of them died ; the utmost attention and the most judicious treat- 
 ment which was applied for their relief being found insufficient to arrest the rapid progress 
 of their attacks of dysentery, ophthalmia, and, worst of all, sloughing ulcers, which no treat- 
 ment could reach. 
 
 I am, &c 
 (signed) Thomas^ Gwynne, M. E. c. s., London, 
 
 'Lately Surgeon " Edwin Fox." 
 Joseph T. Crawford, Esq. 
 Her Majesty's Consul General in Cuba, Havana. 
 
 I entirely concur in the foregoing statement and opinions of Drs. Somerville and, 
 
 Gwynne. 
 
 (signed) E. B. Pellew, M. R. c. s., England, 
 Havana, 30 AprH 1858. Late Surgeon of the " Tasmania." 
 
 Upwards of 60. 
 
 — No. II. 
 
 Copy of a LETTER from Stephen Cave, Esq., to the Earl of Carnarvon. 
 
 West India Committee Rooms, Walbrook, House, 
 My Lord, ' 23 June 1858. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of 
 yesterday, accompanying the copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with 
 copies of 'Despatches from Mr. Crawford, which shall, in accordance with the 
 suggestion of the Secretary of State, he transmitted by the next mail to the 
 agent for the West Indies, now on his way to China. 
 
 I take this opportunity of asking your Lordship's permission to wait upon 
 you some day in the latter part of next week for the purpose of communicating 
 the private instructions* given to our agent, and of showing to your Lordship 
 that no pains have been spared by the parties I have the honour to represent page U. 
 to make emigration from China to the British West Indies present the most 
 striking contrast to that carried on to Cuba. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (signed) Stephen Cawe, Chairman. 
 
 No. 11. 
 S. Gave, esq., to 
 the Earl of Car- 
 narvon. 
 
 33 June 1858. 
 
 * Viie Appendix, 
 
 5^5- 
 
 B4 
 
14 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 A. Macgregor, 
 esq., to Thomas 
 Gerard, esq. 
 3 June 1 858. 
 
 INSTEUCTIONS from the West India Committee to their Agent in China ; 
 
 dated 3 June 1858. 
 
 West India Committee Rooms, Walbrook House, 37 Walbrook, 
 Sir, _ 3 June 1858. 
 
 In accordance with the agreement by which you have undertaken to act as our agent in 
 China, we request you will proceed forthwith to that country to accomplish the objects of 
 your appointment. 
 
 You are aware that the gentlemen who are associated for the purpose of promoting 
 emigration from China to British Guiana, and whom we represent as a committee, have 
 been compelled to invite labourers from the remote countries of the East, owing to the 
 general abandonment of regular estates work by the native pieasantry of these colonies, 
 and the consequent impossibility of sustaining the full cultivation of their estates without 
 the introduction of foreign labourers. 
 
 The expense of their passage under the regulations necessarily imposed by Parliament 
 being very considerable, no emigrants should be allowed to embark who are not able- 
 bodied agricultural laboiu-ers, and special care must be taken to exclude all who are 
 addicted to opium ; and although an immediate supply of labourers is urgently wanted, 
 we look beyond this to a gradual permanent colonisation. With this view the members 
 of the association are, without exception, anxious to receive an equal number of both 
 sexes. 
 
 This may not at first be practicable, indeed we have been discouraged by persons 
 acquainted with China, from expecting that you will be able to engage even a much 
 smaller proportion of women. Nevertheless, we trust you will use every exertion to 
 secure as many as possible. 
 
 We apprehend the Chinese people, seemg British ships cleared by our Consuls with 
 emigrants bound to Cuba, will, hardly understand the great difference betweefn their desti- 
 nation and the comfortable settlements which are secured to them in our Colonies ; and 
 you will, doubtless, encounter obstacles raised by the natural prejudices of our own function- 
 aries, as well as the designs of those interested in the Coolie Slave Trade to Cuba ; but 
 we trust you will succeed in showing that we are in fact the only parties who are willing 
 to pay for the passage of Chinese families to a country where their freedom will be 
 assured, and their labour justly requited. 
 
 The iniquities which have been practised in the conveyance of Chinese to slave countries 
 have caused Her Majesty's Government to express ari anxiety, which, we have always 
 felt, that every means may be employed to impart to our operations a distinct and superior 
 character, and to preclude the remotest possibility of any abuse. 
 
 It has been suggested to us that it would be advisable that you should call at Singa- 
 pore. If you find that you can obtain any suitable labourers there you will make the 
 requisite arrangements for them, in the same manner as you would do for sending emigrants 
 from China; but we consider that the latter country will be the scene of your chief 
 operations. 
 
 You are fully authorised to engage such shipping as you require, as well as to effect 
 the charter-parties for the due engagement of the same, and we must most seriously 
 impress upon your mind the necessity of inquiring into the character of captains and 
 officers, and to prefer those who may be well acquainted with the Chinese people. 
 
 We presume you will be able to purchase provisions and clothing, as required by the 
 Schedule of the Act, on the best terms in India, Australia, or Singapore, or wherever you 
 may chance to charter the vessels, or these may have provisions and other stores to. a certain 
 extent on board, which it may be for our interest that you should take over ; but we 
 are prepared, if necessary, to send out to you the requisite supplies from this country, 
 and we request you therefore to give us the earliest information on this subject. We 
 need hardly remind you that every package (of provisions especially) should be opened, 
 and the contents carefully examined. The water should be of the best quality, and put 
 into new or burnt out casks, for the most serious evils are occasioned from the drinking of 
 impure water. , , 
 
 You will consign the people for either British Guiana or Trinidad to his Excellency the 
 Governor, and direct the captains of the vessels to account for, and to hand over to the same 
 functionary or to his order, all the extra stores given into their charge. 
 
 We shall open immediately the)requisite credit with Messrs. Dent & Co., of Hong Kong, 
 of which you wiE be apprised by the first mail via, Marseilles. 
 
 We hand to you herewith a statement of the wages earned by Indian coolies and others, 
 in various descriptions of work upon estates in British Guiana, from which you will observe 
 
 that 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 15 
 
 that if the labourer is industrious and competent, he is able to earn from six dollars to 
 12 dollars a month, or equal to an average of nine dollars each, in addition to which he has 
 a house, if married or with a family, or he is provided with a lodging if single. They all 
 find themselves in food and clothing, but they have the privilege of a small plot of land for 
 garden-ground, besides medical attendance, medicines, and maintenance in hospital on the 
 estate, m case of sickness ; there is also a school and church on many estates, or in the 
 neighbourhood, which they can attend. 
 
 From this statement you will be able to form an opinion of the terms upon which the 
 labourers will be treated; but as it appears that the Chinaman expects a guaranteed rate of 
 wages, we consider you will be warranted in guaranteeing to them, and contracting with 
 them, for a minimum rate of five dollars a month for an able-bodied man, and proportionate 
 rates for women and children. These are minimum rates ; and you wUl, of course, explain 
 to the emigrants that it will be in their power to earn considerably more. 
 
 We understand that it is customary in China to make an advance of wages to the 
 emigrants, which you are authorised to do, to the extent of two months' wages ; and we 
 request you to insert in the contracts, that we are at hberty to deduct the advance out of 
 their future earnings. 
 
 The details of the outfit of the emigrants, requisite for the voyage to the West Indies, 
 as to clothing, provisions, and other necessaries, are enumerated in the Schedule to the 
 Act ; but anything extra which in your judgment you consider it advisable to supply, you 
 are at liberty to do. 
 
 In conapHaiice with your suggestion, we have made a shipment of beef, pork, medicines, 
 and surgical instruments, by the " ScarofeU," for Hong Kong. We now enclose invoice and 
 bill of lading for the same. 
 
 ^ We have no objection to a small proportion, equal to 10 per cent, of each, of boys and 
 girls respectively, to men and women ; boys to be under 15, and girls under 13. 
 
 You are at liberty to proceed to any part of China, wherever you consider that suitable 
 emigrants may be procured ; and you are not restricted to one locality ; but owing to the 
 reports which have lately reached us, of some irregularities at Swatow, we would inculcate 
 increased caution in any dealings you may have there. 
 
 You will bear in mind that the Government have declined, for the present, to allow a 
 vessel to be cleared out at any other than the five ports at which we have Consuls, or to 
 send a Consular agent elsewhere for the purpose, so that you will have to use your best 
 discretion. 
 
 We hand to you herewith, copies of your agreement with the association, and of their 
 arrangement among themselves; also two copies of the Chinese Passengers Act, 18 & 19 
 Vict., c. 104 ; and in reference to the sections 2 and 3 of this Act, we have been informed 
 by Lord Stanley, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Earl of Malmesbury, the 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has appointed th^ several consuls at the five treaty 
 ports, to act as agents for emigration to the British Colonies. 
 
 We have likewise the pleasure to hand you a despatch addressed by the Earl of Malmes- 
 bury to Sir John' Bowring, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, which Lord Stanley 
 transmitted to us, with the information that the Earl of Malmesbury therein desires Sir 
 John Bowring to give you, as our agent, letters of introduction to Her Majesty's Consuls 
 at the China ports from which emigration to British Guiana and Trinidad is to be 
 permitted. 
 
 In order to furnish you with copies of documents, we hand you the Colonial Land and 
 Emigration Commissioners' Reports for the years 1853 and 1855. At page 162 of the 
 Appendix to the first you wiU find a form of contract suggested by the Commissioners, and 
 at page 171 of the Appendix to the second you will find a copy of the British Guiana 
 Immigration Ordinance, No. 7, 1854, being the existing law. To apprise you of the 
 amendments now being made, we give you copy of a letter from Lord Stanley to Mr. Cave, 
 the Chairman of this Committee, together with copies of the despatch addressed to the 
 Governors of Guiana and Trinidad, and of the Draft Ordinance therein mentioned. 
 
 Herewith you will receive letters of introduction from Messrs. Scholfield, Bolton, & Co., 
 of Liverpool, to Messrs. Syme & Co., and from W. Buchanan, esq., m. p. for Glasgow, to 
 Messrs. Hamilton, Gray, & Co., of Singapore. 
 
 We beg, in conclusion, to remind you how desirable and even necessary it is, in order to 
 prevent misunderstanding, that, in employing agents to collect intending emigrants, or to 
 procure ships, or indeed to render any kind of service for which a charge is to be made, 
 you should invariably pass written memoranda, and define beforehand the remuneration 
 you are to pay. In chartering ships you will, of course, endeavour to obtain very ample 
 time for loading, and reduce the forfeiture, in case of unexpected disappointment, as much 
 
 as possible. -, . ^ i i li- ^ i 
 
 You wiU have the goodness to correspond with me on behalt or the association. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (for the Committee), 
 Thomas Gerard, Esq. (signed) A. Macgregor. 
 
 525- ^ 
 
i6 PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION FROM CHINA TO 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Memorandum of Agreement between the undersigned for carrying out an Agreement 
 
 of this date with Mr. Gerard. 
 
 Permission having been granted to proprietors in British Guiana and Trinidad to 
 introduce into those Colonies Chinese immigrants at their own expense, according to the 
 general provisions of the Act 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104, styled the "Chinese Passengers' Act," 
 and the British Guiana Ordinance, No. 7 of 1854, and specially under an Ordinance, the 
 draft of which has been prepared by the Emigration Commissioners, and transmitted to the 
 Legislatures of British Guiana and Trinidad for their consideration. 
 
 It has been arranged among the undersigned, for the purpose of carrying out the proposed 
 emigration, that Mr. Thomas Gerard be engaged to proceed to China, according to the 
 terms of an agreement of this date, made with him by them. 
 
 And it is hereby further agreed among the undersigned, that the numbers against 
 their respective names are the numbers for which, or for any less number, they agtee to pay 
 proportionably the expenses to be incurred. 
 
 That a deposit of 2 1, per head of immigrants ordered be paid forthwith to the credit of an 
 account, to be called the account of the Chinese Immigration Fund, to be opened with 
 Messrs. Prescott & Co., in the name of the committee hereinafter mentioned, for immediate 
 expenses. 
 
 That for further expenses, rateable contributions shall be made by the undersigned from 
 time to time, as required by the committee, towards the due payment of bills to be drawn 
 by Mr. Gerard from China. 
 
 That on the arrival of the immigrants in the Colony, an allotment shall be made by the 
 Governor, or by an agent appointed for the purpose, to the undersigned or their agents, 
 who shall be bound without further notice to provide for the reception of the immigrants so 
 allotted, conformably with the provisions of the Immigration Ordinances, and shall pay 201. 
 per head for the immigrants, out of which the Governor or agent abovementioned shall pay 
 the passage-money in respect of such immigrants, and remit the balance to the committee, 
 to be applied towards the repayment of sums disbursed by them. 
 
 That at the termination of the season, or at such earlier period as may be deemed 
 expedient, a general account shall be taken of the expenses (exclusive of Mr, Gerard's salary), 
 which shall be apportioned equally among Ijhe undersigned, according to the number of 
 immigrants received by them, the intention being that, with the exception of Mr. Gerard's 
 salary, which shall be borne by the undersigned in proportion to the number of immigrants 
 ordered, all other expenses shall be equally divided according to the numbers received. 
 
 That the following gentlemen be a committee for the purpose of carrying out the pro-" 
 visions of this agreement : — 
 
 Stephen Cave, Esq. 
 H. E. Crura Ewing, Esq., m.f, 
 John Torrance, Esq. 
 Thomas Naghten, Esq- 
 
 Thomas D, Hill, Esq. 
 J. A. Tinne, Esq, 
 G, Bookcf, Esq, 
 
 Three to be a quorum- 
 
 We concur in the foregoing arrangement, and undertake to execute the stamped agree- 
 ment, when prepared. 
 
 Charles M'Garel, Esq., 
 M. J. Higgins, Esq., and 
 
 Thomas Daniel §• Co., for 
 Cavan, Brothers Sf Co., for 
 Bosanquet Naghten (for 
 
 Colonel Stopford Blair, 
 
 others) 
 
 G. Booker --__-__- 
 Henry R. Sandbach, William R. Sandbaeh, §■ John A. 
 
 Tinne (per John A. Tinne) - - - - - 
 
 Thomas Miters (on account of Henry Riters) 
 Thomas Riters (per self) ------ 
 
 John Moss (per John A. Tinne and George Booker) - 
 Matthew Hutt §• George H. Loxdale - - - - 
 
 Frank Skand (per John A. Tinne and George Booker) 
 Mungo Campbell, Jun. (for Enterprise and Aurora) - 
 James Ewing §• Co. (for themselves and John Ross) - 
 Jonathan Hopkimon ______ 
 
 C. Davison Kerr - - . _ _ , 
 
 Gavin Fullarton - - ^ . -, , - 
 Evan Baillie, Sons Sf Co. ------, 
 
 Evan Baillie (for J. E. Baillie) . . _ _ 
 
 Sir James W. Colvile (per Eden Colvile) - - - 
 
 Gregor Turnbull (Trinidad) -, - - - - 
 
 200 
 200 
 
 350 
 100 
 
 200 
 150 
 
 50 
 100 
 200 
 150 
 
 80 
 200 
 150 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 200 
 100 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 Half to be women, 
 if procurable. 
 
 One-fourth to be 
 if pro- 
 
 women, 
 curable. 
 
 Edmund 
 
THE COLONIES OF BRITISH GUIANA AND TRINIDAD. 17 
 
 Edmund Henery - - - _ _ 
 William Ross ------ 
 
 Robertson Gladstone (for Sir T. Gladstone, 
 
 Captain Gladstone, r. n., and self) 
 Henckell, Du Buisson §■ Co. - - - 
 John Stewart (per Robert Gardner) - 
 
 Bart, 
 
 50 
 60 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 Half to be women, 
 if procurable. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Memorandum of Agreement between the undersigned Parties interested in the British 
 West India Colonies and Mr. Thomas Gerard. 
 
 It is hereby agreed that the said Thomas Gerard shall proceed to China for the purpose 
 of procuring immigrants for the British West India Colonies, on account of the under- 
 signed, not exceeding the numbers against their respective names. 
 
 That the expense of procuring and landing such immigrants shall not exceed 25 I. per 
 &ead. 
 
 That Thomas Gerard shall receive for his services, 1,500 I. per annum, to commence on 
 his departure from England, and to include clerk's assistance and all personal expenses, 
 which amount the undersigned agree to pay, together with any charges he may incur in 
 travelling from place to place in China. 
 
 The agreement to be in force for two years, terminable at tlie end of the first year, at 
 the option of either party. 
 
 We concur in the foregoing arrangement, and undertake to execute the stamped agree- 
 ment when prepared. 
 
 Thomas Daniel §• Co. for ----- 
 
 Cavan, Brothers §' Lo. for _ - _ . - 
 
 Boganquet Naghten (for Charles M'Garel, Esq., 
 
 Colonel Stopford Blair, M. J. Higgins, Esq., and 
 
 others) _------- 
 
 G. Booker -------- 
 
 Henry R. Sandbach, William R. Sandbach, §• John A. 
 Tinne (per John A. Tinne) - - - - - 
 
 Thomas Riters (on account of Henry Biters) 
 Thxrmas Riters (for self) - - - - 
 
 John Moss (per John A. Tinne and Ge6rge Booker) - 
 Matthew Hutt Sf George H. Loxdale - - - - 
 
 Frank Shand (per John A. Tinne and George Booker) 
 Mungo Campbell, Jun. (for Enterprise and Aurora) - 
 James Ewing §• Co. (for themselves and John Ross) - 
 Jonathan Hopkinson ._-_-- 
 
 C. Davison Kerr - - -' - 
 Gavin Fullartnn - _ - - - - 
 
 Evan Baillie, Sons, §• Co. - - . - 
 
 Evan Baillie (for J. E. Baillie) 
 
 Sir James TV. Colvile (per E. Colvile) - - - 
 
 Gregor Turnbull {TrhMsA) - - - - - 
 
 Edmund Henery __----- 
 
 William Ross -------- 
 
 Robertson Gladstone (for Sir T. Gladstone, Bart., 
 
 Captain Gladstone, R.N., and self) - - - 
 
 Henckell, Du Buisson §• Co. - - - - - 
 
 John Stewart (per Robert Gardner) - - - - 
 
 2001 
 200 
 
 350 
 100 
 
 200 
 150 
 
 50 
 100 
 200- 
 150 
 
 80 
 200 
 150 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 200 
 100 
 
 50^ 
 
 100 
 
 Half to be women, 
 if procurable. 
 
 One-fourth to be 
 women if pro- 
 curable. 
 
 Half to be women, 
 if procurable. 
 
 525. 
 
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4- 
 
 HONG KONG. 
 
 RETURN to an Addreas of the Honourable The House of Commons, 
 dated 14 July 1858 ;-^r, 
 
 " COPIES or Extracts of Correspondence between the Colonial Department 
 and the Governor of Hong Kong, and between the Colonial Department 
 and the Foreign Office, on the subject of Emigration from Hong Kong, 
 and from the Chinese Empire to the British West Indies, and to 
 Foreign Countries, and their Possessions, since the 1st day of January 
 1853." 
 
 ^"ITH ?*ff'rfl I CARNARVON. 
 
 21st July 1358.J 
 
 Part I. 
 
 {Mr. Hamilton.) 
 
 Ordered, hy The House of Commons, to he Printed, 
 27 Jult/ 1858. 
 
 I 
 
 481. 
 
( in ) 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Correspondence betwe^ the Colonial Department and the Governor of 
 
 Hong Kong. 
 
 No. in 
 
 Seiies. 
 
 1853: 
 May 17 
 
 Sept. 9 
 
 Sept. 9 - 
 
 1854: 
 Jan. 6 
 
 April 21 
 
 6 j May 4 - 
 
 From Whom. 
 
 Acting-Governor 
 Jervois. 
 (No. 35.) 
 
 The Duke of New- 
 castle. 
 (No. 26.) 
 
 The Duke of New- 
 castle. 
 (No. 25.) 
 
 Governor Bonham. 
 No. 4.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (Extract.) 
 
 Lieut.-Governor 
 Caine. 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 Aug. 29 - 
 
 Eight Hon. Sir G. 
 Grey. 
 
 (No. 22.) 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Report of circumstances connected with the 
 mortality amongst Chinese passengers per 
 " Emigrant,"* bound from Whampoa to 
 Demerara ...... 
 
 Frauds of the Chinese agents - - - - 
 
 The intended voyage of the " Emigi-ant " aban- 
 doned, and the Coolies sent back to their homes 
 
 In reply ; forwards copy of Report from the 
 Emigration Commissioners, dated 19th August 
 1853, upon the above case, containing sugges- 
 tions on the general conduct of Chinese emi- 
 gration, and on the question of space to be 
 allotted to emigrants under the Passengers' Act 
 
 Enclosing Imperial Act, 16 & 17 Vict., cap. 84, 
 empowering the issue of a proclamation for 
 allowing 12 feet instead of 15 feet of space in 
 vessels carrying emigrants from Asia, &c. 
 
 Copy of proclamation, 28th December 1853, 
 • issued in conformity with the above Act 
 Length of voyage from Hong Kong to various 
 places declared ..... 
 
 Facilities for evasion of Passengers' Act by mas- 
 ters sailing their vessels from Chinese ports - 
 No immediate prospect of procuring emigrants 
 for the West Indies ..... 
 
 Departure of the West India emigration agent 
 (Mr. White) for England .... 
 
 Considerable voluntary emigration from China, 
 especially towards California and Australia - 
 
 Necessity for strict control. Proposes appoint- 
 ment of the chief magistrate as emigration 
 agent ........ 
 
 Proceedings in the case of the Peruvian emigrant 
 ship '' Libertad." Excess of numbers embarked 
 
 Steps for enforcing Passengers' Act in ships pro- 
 ceeding from ports of Hong Kong. Statement 
 relative to the magnitude of the Chinese emi- 
 gration and the great abuses prevailing. Great 
 demand for shipping. Purchase of unseaworthy 
 vessels. Desertion of emigrants. Wrecks. 
 Loss of life, &c. - - - - _ - 
 
 Appointment of the chief police magistrate to 
 act as emigration agent . . . - 
 
 Operation of the proclamation of December 
 1853, respecting space for emigrants - 
 
 Description of the process of collecting passen- 
 gers for the Catifornian ships. Proceedings 
 of the ship brokers, &c. - - . - 
 
 In reply to the above ; and approving the ap- 
 pointDient of the emigration agent 
 
 Page, 
 
 6 
 6 
 6 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 e 
 
 8 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 * iVW«..-The previous correspondence reUtl^e »» Chin«K emigratioa 
 
 ta the West ladies, will be found in the House of 
 
 481. ^ =^ 
 
IV 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 No. in 
 Series. 
 
 Date. 
 
 From Whom. 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1854: 
 March 16 
 
 The Duke of New- 
 castle. 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 Transmitting a communication from the Emi- 
 gration Commissioners, 25th February 1854, 
 with correspondence with Mr. White,* the 
 West India agent, on the subject of Chinese 
 emigration to the West Indies . . . 
 
 Want of shipping for West India emigration. 
 High rate of freights. Vessels to be taken up 
 atNamoa ---.-.. 
 
 Junes 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 1855: 
 March 14 
 
 June 5 
 
 Sept. 12 
 
 Nov. 23 
 
 Oct. 6 
 
 Lieut.- Governor 
 Caine. 
 (No. 23.) 
 
 Lieut.-Governor 
 Caine. 
 (No. 39.) 
 
 Lord John Russell. 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 Instructions for providing an emigrant dep6t - 
 Measures for procuring female.emigrants for a 
 
 money present ----.. 
 Want of European surgeons and employment of 
 
 native doctors •-.... 
 Emigrant dep6t at Macao. Proceedings of Mr. 
 
 Jorge in reference to immigrants despatched 
 
 to Cuba --..... 
 General observations on existing emigration to 
 
 California, Peru, and Australia - - . 
 
 Acknowledging the preceding Despatch, and 
 stating views with reference to its principal 
 topics ; establishment of depot ; presents to be 
 made for female emigrants ; operation of the 
 Passengers' Act ; services of newly appointed 
 emigration a^ent in obtaining emigrants for 
 the West Indies, &c. 
 
 Proclamation and notification, 28th February 
 and 9th March 1855, relative to accommoda- 
 tion and dietary for Chinese emigrants - 
 
 The above proclamation to be recalled for the 
 reasons stated. Intention to introduce a 
 Bill to the Imperial Parliament designed 
 expressly for the regulation of Chinese emi- 
 gration 
 
 Governor Sir John Amended proclamation, 20th August 1855 
 Bowrine. 
 (No. Tse.) 
 
 Right Hon. 
 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 H. 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 Dec. 8. - 
 
 1856: 
 Jan. 22 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 
 (No. 147.) 
 
 Right 
 
 Hon. 
 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 11.) 
 
 H. 
 
 Right Hon. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 27.) 
 
 H. 
 
 Conveying approval of same 
 
 Return of vessels cleared outwards with Chinese 
 passengers from 1st November 1854 to 30th 
 September 1855 ----.. 
 
 During that period emigration to the West 
 Indies had ceased - - . . . 
 
 Emigration from China generally carried on 
 froni places removed from consular control, in 
 foreign shipping, and directed by agents, not 
 British subjects - ' - 
 
 Transmitting Imperial Act, 18 & 19 Vict., cap. 
 104, for the future regulation of Chinese pas- 
 senger ships, with general instructions on* the 
 various points to be observed in carrying out 
 its provisions ---... 
 Duties of the emigration officer defined - 
 The proposed appointment of emigration ofiicers 
 at other ports in China adverted*to 
 
 For the present no emigration oflElcer will be 
 appointed elsewhere than at Hong Kong 
 
 British passenger ships to repair, in the first 
 instance, to Hong Kong to obtain clearance 
 papers - - - - 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 ^2 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 21 
 
 21 
 
 24 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 * Note. — The previous correspoadence respecting Mr. White's mission as emigration agent for the West ladies is contained in 
 the Papers presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's Command, in 1853 and 1855 " Emigration from China." 
 
SCHEDULE. 
 
 No. in 
 Series. 
 
 Date. 
 
 16 
 
 1856: 
 Jan. 32 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 March 7 
 
 Feb. 5 - 
 
 From 'Whom. 
 
 llifitht Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 27.) 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 May 7 - 
 
 April 1 1 - 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 Julys - 
 
 July 8 
 
 Aug. 11 
 
 Right Hon. 
 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 36.) 
 
 H. 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 20.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 78.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 59.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 109.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 113.) 
 
 Earl of Clarendon. 
 (No. 95.) 
 
 24 
 
 July 26 - 
 
 Nov. 20 ■ 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 
 Sept. 25 
 
 Nov. 14 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. [Extract.] 
 (No. 121.) 
 
 Right Hon. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 132.) 
 
 Right Hon. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 111.) 
 
 H. 
 
 H. 
 
 Right Hon. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 130.) 
 
 H. 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 481. 
 
 Transmitting copies of various notifications 
 issued under the Chinese Passengers' Act, as 
 required, for the information of H. M.'s 
 Consuls abroad ----.. 
 
 Reporting the first instances of infraction of 
 the Imperial Chinese Passengers' Act, in the 
 cases of the ships " Levani " and " General 
 Blanco," both sailing under the Hawaian flag 
 
 Correspondence with the Admiral on the station 
 on a question raised as to the right of seizure 
 of the " General Blanco " on the high seas - 
 
 Adjudication by the Vice-Admiralty Court of 
 the case of the ship " Levant." Fine of 100^. 
 and costs - - - - 
 
 In continuation of above despatch, reports final 
 settlement of the case of the "Levant," the 
 master having endeavoured unsuccessfully to 
 obtain remission of the decree condemning 
 him in costs ...... 
 
 In reply to Sir John Bowring's despatch, 
 No. 95, of the 11th August 1856, reporting 
 infraction of the Chinese Passengers' Act by 
 the ships " Levant" and " General Blanco," 
 and referring to the view taken by the 
 Admiral on the station as to the extent of 
 interference by the naval authorities in en- 
 forcing the Act in the case of vessels not 
 British 
 
 Observations on the subject of Coolie emigra- 
 tion at the public expense from China to the 
 British colonies 
 
 In reply to the foregoing, states that unless 
 means can be devised for securing a due 
 proportion of female emigrants, it is not con- 
 templated to set on foot an emigration of 
 Chinese to the British colonies at the public 
 expense ------- 
 
 Application of the Chinese Passengers' Act to 
 voyages between China and the Phillipines - 
 
 Copy of Report of Emigration Commissioners 
 (15 Sept. 1856) enclosed. 
 
 Calling for a report on the subject of the mor- 
 tality amongst the Chinese passengers on 
 board the " Duke of Portland," and " John 
 Calvin,"' on the voyage fi-om Hong Kong to 
 Havana " 
 
 Letters from Sir E. Buxton and reports from 
 the Emigration Commissioners on the subject, 
 dated 30 October and 6 November 
 
 a. 3 
 
 Page. 
 
 General duties of the emigration agent in respect 
 of sm-vey of ships, &c 
 
 Nothing to be done, however, which would 
 throw unnecessary obstacles in the way of 
 legitimate trade --.--. 
 
 British Consuls abroad to be furnished with 
 copies of all regulations issued in pursuance 
 of the Chinese Passengera' Act - - - 26 
 
 Aoknowjedging receipt of the Imperial Act, 
 18 & 19 Vict., cap. 184, for the regulation 
 of Chinese passenger ships, and enclosing 
 copies of Government proclamation and noti- 
 fication issued in accordance therewith 
 
 Requirement for European surgeons for emi- 
 grant ships ---... 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 38 
 
 38 
 
 39 
 
 40 
 
 41 
 
 41 
 
 42 
 
 44 
 
VI 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 No. in 
 Series. 
 
 28 
 
 Date. 
 
 1867; 
 Jan. 7 
 
 •29 
 
 March 14 
 
 From Whom. 
 
 R%M Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 4.) 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 March 7 
 
 June 29 ■ 
 
 June 18 - 
 
 April 6 
 
 34 April 27 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 38 
 
 39 
 
 April 10 
 
 Right Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 ^No. 38.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bo wring. 
 
 (No. 4G.) 
 
 Right Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 86.) 
 
 Right Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 83.) 
 
 Right Han. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 41.) 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Right Hon. 
 Labouchere. 
 (No. 52.) 
 
 H. 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bovitring. 
 (No. 64.) 
 
 June 15 - 
 
 May 20 - 
 
 July 17 - 
 
 Aug. 18 - 
 
 Oct. & - 
 
 Right Hon. 
 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 81.) 
 
 H. 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 
 (No. 82.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 
 (No. 112.) 
 
 Right Hon. H. 
 Labouchere. 
 
 (No. 101.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 148.) 
 
 Statement of views on. various important 
 questions raised in recent despatches on the 
 enforcement of the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 Interference by Her Majesty's cruisers. 
 Application of Act to vessels proceeding to 
 the Phillipine Islands. Clearance of vessels 
 from ijnaiuthorised parts (Skinghae and 
 others) in China, and subsequent transship- 
 ment of emigrants. Reperts of Emigration 
 Commissioners, 31 October, 26 November, 
 and 1 8 December, on the subject 
 
 Transmitting a correstpendence with the Board 
 of Trade relative to the mortality on board 
 the emigrant ships " John Calvin " and 
 "Duke of Portland" 
 
 Report from Her Majesty's consul at Havana, 
 exonerating from blame the master and par- 
 ties conneeted with the ship. 
 
 Report called for on the comipatation of space 
 for the passengers, and the number those ships 
 could legally carry. 
 
 Forwardiiag communications from the agents 
 and charterers of the " John Calvin " and 
 " Dttke of Portland," relative to tlie mortality 
 on board those ships - - . - 
 
 In reply to the preceding despatch, and com- 
 municating such remarks as the cases of 
 these vessels appear to require 
 
 Nature of the instructions to be given to the 
 emigration officer relative to the computation 
 of space on the lower decks for passengers in 
 Chinese emigrant ships - - 
 
 Governor Bonham required to report on state- 
 mei|||^ relative to the discrepancy in the 
 clearance certificate of the " John. Calvin" - 
 
 The master of the "John Calvin" to be com- 
 municated with in any inquiry instituted at 
 Hong Kong ...... 
 
 Reporting tlie piratical attempt of certain 
 Chi'nese emigrants to take possession of the 
 British ship " Gulnare." The trial of the 
 ringleaders, and execution of one of them 
 
 Acknowledging Sir John Bowling's despftteh. 
 
 No. 64, on the case of the " Gulnare " - 
 
 Farther report on the cases of the " John 
 Calvin " and '' Duke of Portland," in refer- 
 ence to the questioBSi whether the passengers 
 embarked were duly inspected, and the 
 correctness of their agreements ascertained. 
 Report of emigration officer thereon, and 
 on the proportion of space allotted to each 
 emigrant ------- 
 
 Result of inquiries respecting the master of the 
 emigrant ship " John Calvin " - - 
 
 Liability of the parties eomcCTned in the " John 
 Calvin.'' InstructioiK for putting the bond 
 in suit --.---. 
 
 Explanation by Superintendent of Police of his 
 conduct with regard to the despatch of " The 
 Duke of Portland " emigrant ship 
 
 Page. 
 
 44 
 
 47 
 
 57 
 
 59 
 
 61 
 
 61 
 
 61 
 
 62 
 
 63 
 
 63 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
SCHEDULE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 No. in 
 Series. 
 
 Date. 
 
 i 1858: 
 
 41 Jan. 2 - 
 
 1857 . 
 
 42 : Nov. 1 1 - 
 
 43 
 
 44 
 
 45 
 
 46 
 
 47 
 
 48 
 
 1858: 
 Feb. 16 - 
 
 1857: 
 Dec. 2 - 
 
 1858: 
 Feb. 25 - 
 
 March 16 
 
 From Whom. 
 
 March 27 
 
 April 12 
 
 Right Hon. H. La- 
 bouchere. 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 "Bowring. 
 (No. 161.) 
 
 Right Hon. H. La- 
 bouchere. 
 (No. 10.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 176.) 
 
 •Right Hon. H. La- 
 bouchere. 
 (No. 20.) 
 
 Right Hon. Lord 
 Stanley. 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 SUBJECT. 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 38.) 
 
 Governor Sir John 
 Bowring. 
 (No. 48.) 
 
 In replv ; the foregoing explanation considered 
 satisfactory ...... 
 
 Transmitting an Ordinance, No. 11, of 1857, 
 " for licensing and regulating Emigration 
 Passage Brokers" ..... 
 
 Notifying Her Majesty's confirmation of the 
 above Ordinance, No. 11, of 1857 
 
 Reporting the proceedings of a British ship, 
 " The Dream," employed in the Havana 
 Chinese coolie trade ..... 
 
 Case of the " Gulnare." Forwarding report of 
 the Emigration Commissioners, 16th February 
 1858, and suggesting the institution of certain 
 inquiries .---.-. 
 
 Correspondence between the Foreign Office and 
 Emigration Commissioners, respecting the 
 great mortality in ships conveying Chinese 
 Emigrants to Cuba ..... 
 
 Tabular returns and reports of vessels clearing 
 under Passengers' Act, &c., to be furnished 
 in future ---.... 
 
 Report of proceedings to enforce payment of 
 the bond in ^e case of the " John Calvin." 
 Recommendation of mitigation of penalty - 
 
 Observations of Mr. Chisholm Anstey on the 
 subject of coolie emigration ... 
 
 Letter from mercantile firms at Hong Kong, 
 praying for remission of the fine inflicted on 
 the sureties in the case of the ''John Calvin" 
 
 Page. 
 
 70 
 
 71 
 74 
 
 74 
 
 75 
 
 77 
 78 
 
 79 
 80 
 
 84 
 
 481. 
 
 A4 
 
( 1 ) 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Correspondence between the Colonial Department and 
 the Governor of Hongkong. 
 
 (250.) 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 HONGKONG. 
 
 No. 1. No. 1. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Acting Governor Jervois to his Grace the Duke 
 
 Newcastle. 
 
 (No. 35.) Victoria, Hongkong, May 17, 1853. 
 
 (Received August 5, 1853.) 
 My Lord Duke, (Answered, No. 26, September 9, 1853, page 3.) 
 
 Nos.* 1 to 4. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the information of your Grace, the 
 
 proceedings of a Commission which, with the advice of the Executive Council, 
 I appointed to inquire into the particulars of a serious outbreak of disease, 
 attended with considerable mortality, amongst the Chinese passengers on 
 board the ship " Emigrant," bound from Whampoa to Demerara, and which 
 had put in here for the purpose of completing her crew. 
 
 2. In laying the Report of the Commission, as well as the documents con- 
 nected therewith, before your Grace, I beg respectfully to call attention to the 
 precautionary measures proposed by the Commission for ensuring the health 
 and comfort of the Chinese emigrants, as such, I think, ought invariably to be 
 adopted on future occasions. 
 
 3. I would beg to submit, that it is absolutely necessary that all shipments 
 of coolies should be attended with governmental supervision, and that an 
 establishment for this purpose should be specially appointed. I am further of 
 opinion that as much care and caution should bfe used in shipping coolies from 
 hence to our colonies as are usually adopted with regard to our own troops, 
 bearing in mind the prejudices of the coolies, to whom the nature and extent of 
 their expected voyage, description of diet, and discipline of the ship, should be 
 especially explained through an efficient interpreter. In the present instance 
 the majority of the coolies were apparentlj"^ in a state of utter ignorance on 
 these points, and were grossly imposed upon by the brokers (their own country- 
 men) in a most fraudulent manner. 
 
 4. The proceedings fully show the kind and liberal intentions of the 
 shippers, Messrs. Turner and Co., for contributing to the best of their ability 
 in providing everything they considered necessary for the well-being and 
 comfort of the emigrants; but the great error has been in appointing agents 
 to see measures carried out which require close and minute European super- 
 vision. In fact, such supervision is absolutely necessary for the cause of 
 humanity, for not only would it prove beneficial to the coolies, but would 
 greatly tend to establish that feeling of confidence on the part of the emi- 
 grants towards our people which is so essential in such cases. 
 
 5. The Commission have in their able reports embraced everything of im- 
 portance, and therefore any further remarks from me are almost superfluous. 
 I shall therefore conclude by hoping that the labours of this Commission may 
 meet with the approval of your Grace, and their zealous observations tend to 
 the embodying of rules and regulations for the guidance of all shippers of 
 coolies to the colonies, so as to guard against a recurrence of the tragedies 
 which have so very recently occurred on board of several vessels, and which 
 are too fearful to contemplate. 
 
 6. Your Grace will perceive that happily the intended voyage, of the " Emi- 
 grant," has been abandoned, and the surviving coolies sent back to their homes 
 by the agents of the vessel, Messrs. Turner and Co. 
 
 7. Trusting that the steps taken by me on the important question of the 
 Chinese emigrants will meet with the approbation of your Grace. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) W. JERVOIS. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 * These documents being extremely voluminous are not printed, but a full statement of their 
 contents will be found embodied in the Emigration Commissioners Keport, dated August 19, 
 1853, ftud printed at page 8. 
 
.( 3 ) 
 
 No. 2. No. 2. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Sir George Bonham, 
 
 (No. 26.) 
 
 ^^^' Downing Street, September 9, 1853. 
 
 I HAVE carefully considered your despatch, No. 35,* of the 17th of May * Page 2. 
 last, accompanied by the proceedings of a Commission which you had ap- 
 pointed to inquire into the particulars of an outbreak of disease on board 
 the ship "Emigrant," bound with Chinese passengers from Whampoa to 
 Demerara. 
 
 Having also called upon the Emigration Commissioners for a Report on this 
 subject, I enclose a copy of their reply, and have to acquaint you that I 
 concur, generally, in the conclusions at which they have arrived. August 19, 1853. 
 
 With regard, however, to the measures to be taken for encouraging Chinese 
 emigrants to the West Indies to make 'Hongkong their place of departure, 
 and with reference more particularly to the question of, with this view, limiting 
 the allowance of space to 12 feet for each passenger, I shall have occasion to 
 address you in a separate despatch.* * See Page 5. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 Governor Sir G. Bonham, (Signed) NEWCASTLE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 2. End. in No. 2. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, August 19, 1853. 
 
 We beg to acknowledge your letter of the 11th instant, enclosing a despatch from 
 the Governor of Hongkong respecting the sickness and mortality which occurred on 
 board the ship " Emigrant," carrying Chinese from Whampoa to Demerara, and the 
 ultimate abandonment by that ship of her voyage. 
 
 2. The " Emigrant " was chartered by Messrs. Turner and Co., under directions from 
 Messrs. Hyde, Hodge, and Co., not, as supposed, by the authorities at Hong Kong, under 
 agreement with this Board, but in order to obtain the bounty promised by a colonial 
 proclamation to the importers of Chinese labourers. 
 
 3. She left Whainpoa in the afternoon of the 24th of April, with (as far as can be 
 ascertained) 350 coolies on board. At 7 a.m. on the next day the mate was informed 
 that one of the passengers was dead ; and the medical officer found, on examination, that 
 the man had apparently died of fever, and that there were oil board several cases of a 
 remittent type, and some of a typhoid character. Before reaching Hong Kong on the 
 27th of April the number of cases had increased to 30, and shortly after arrival two 
 moi'e died. An inquiry was immediately instituted ; the sick were taken to hospitals on 
 shore ; and on the 9th of May it would seem that 70 persons had been thus sent to 
 hospital, of whom 63 were fever cases, and six had terminated fatally. Up to the 14th 
 the number of patients was increasing, and the disease becoming more malignant ; and 
 on that day ten new cases were sent to hospital. The coolies were becoming very much 
 discontented and excited, as well (it may be supposed) from this cause as because many 
 of them were deprived of their customary use of opiimi, and (as they stated) had been 
 misinformed as to the terms of the contract, which they (or some persons for whom they 
 had been substituted) had signed. Under these circumstances it appeared that the 
 voyage con Id not be safely prosecuted, and it was accordingly abandoned. 
 
 ■i. A searching inquiry, however, had meanwhile been instituted into the treatment 
 which the emigrants had received both before and after their embarkation. The com- 
 mittee of inquiry was composed of the chief magistrate, the harbour master, the 
 colonial suro^eon, and two other medical men, and a ntimber of the emigrants were 
 examined by the official interpreter, Mr. Caldwell. 
 
 5. Although the arrangements were, in some respects, defective, and the officers appear 
 not to have enforced cleanliness and order with sufficient vigour, the committee state, 
 that Messrs. Turner and Co., the charterers, " appealed to have been very desirous that 
 " nothino" should be wanting on their part to secure the health and comfort of the 
 " passengers." The Governor observes, upon their " kind and liberal intentions," and 
 thev appear to have acted frankly and at once on all the suggestions of the authorities. 
 (250.) A 2 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 The case, therefore, may be considered merely as it furnishes a guide for the future 
 conduct of the emigration. 
 
 6. The sickness is ascribed by the committee to the crowded state of the ship, the 
 want of sufficient ventilation, the uncleanliness of the coolies, the omission to bring the 
 people from time to time on deck, the change of air (which is said frequently to produce 
 fever in vessels leaving Whampoa), and of diet, and finally, among those who were 
 addicted to opium eating, the sudden discontinuance of tliat indulgence ; and on these 
 opinions the committee found various suggestions applicable some merely to the 
 case of the "Emigrant," some generally to the conveyance of Chiuese. 
 
 7. The examination of the coolies also elicited the fact, that several of them were 
 unfit for emigration, and that many if not all had been more or less cheated and deceived 
 by the Chinese agents employed to collect them ; and on this point it is evident that 
 some precautions will be necessary on the renewal of emigration. 
 
 8. First, as to the conveyance of the emigrants. At the present moment the most 
 important, or at least the most pressing question raised by the Committee, respects the 
 space allowed for the passengers. The space actually allowed was 12 feet ; but the .com- 
 mittee express their opinion, that, " bearing in mind the unfavorableness of the season," 
 (the south-west monsoon having then commencedj, "and the probable length of the 
 " voyage in consequence, the space allotted for each cooley should not be less than 15 
 " superficial feet." As Dr. Morrison elsewhere expresses his opinion, that the space 
 allowed was too small, and as the sickness is ascribed in part to overcrowding, this raises 
 a doubt whether the Governor of Hong Kong could properly be instructed to give effect 
 to the Act of Parliament, which enables him to reduce the space required for orientals 
 sailing from that port to ] 2 feet per adult. 
 
 D. We think, however, that the present case does not aff'ord sufficient reason for enforcing 
 the larger allowance of space. Considering that several cases of fever broke out before the 
 vessel had been 24 hours at sea, it appears impossible to suppose that the crowded state 
 of the vessel had anything to do with the commencement of the disease ; and it is remark- 
 able that the disembarkation of a large number of the emigrants had no sort of effect in 
 checking its progress. It is indeed true that the history of last year's emigration at one 
 time appeared to indicate that the larger space was requisite, the "Australia " (where that 
 space was allowed) having been the first ship which reached the West Indies without a 
 great loss of life. But since that time two Chinese ships have arrived in Trinidad in 
 which J 2 feet only was allowed, — the •' Lady Flora Hastings " and the " Clarendon." In 
 the former the mortality was not extraordinary, and in the latter it was remarkably 
 small, being even less than in the " Australia." Finally, we have. already observed that 
 although, from the continual recurrence of cholera, considerable loss of life has occurred 
 in many of the Calcutta cooley ships, yet the health of the emigrants constantly improved 
 during the voyage from that port (showing that no continuing cause of disease was at 
 work) ; while in the Madras emigration, in which no such exceptional cause of mortality 
 occuri'ed, the average amount of deaths was no more than 2 • 31 per cent. 
 
 10. For these reasons, we are disposed to believe that the allowance of 12 feet, with 
 proper precautions as to ventilation, cleanliness, and exercise, would be sufficient during 
 any period of the year, and certainly that it should be at present allowed during the 
 prevalence of the north-east monsoon. 
 
 11. On this point we should be most anxious to receive the Duke of Newcastle's 
 instructions, as his Grace's decision will very materially afiect the rate at which we may 
 be able to take up vessels, or indeed might make it impossible to charter any on terms to 
 which the West India colonies would consent. 
 
 12. The other points suggested by the commitbee in respect to the conve3''ance of 
 emigrants are principally matters of detail. Omitting those that have reference to the 
 special case of the " Emigrant," they are to the effect that ships leaving China during the 
 south-west monsoon should be provisioned for six months ; that various arrangements of 
 convenience should be made in the fittings, and provision made, by the appointment of 
 headmen and cooks and bai-bers, for the discipline of the people, for their washing, for 
 airing themselves and their beds, cleaning the decks, and cooking tea and other provisions ; 
 that the regulations, scale of provisions, &c., be posted up in Chinese ; and that the 
 captain should be instructed as to the treatment of the emigrants, and (if necessary) their 
 punishment, through their countrymen. 
 
 13. With regard to the selection of emigrants, the committee consider it inevitable (as 
 it clearly is) that this should be carried on through Chinese agents. Nor would it be 
 possible to guard against a certain amount of abuse in transactions between parties of 
 whom each is probably anxious to overreach the other ; the agent, by intercepting part of 
 the payments due to the eriiigrant ; the emigrant, by absconding when he has received 
 any part of his advances. In the present case it would seem (if the statements of the 
 emigrants are to be believed) that they had misapprehended the date from which their 
 wages were to run, and had been cheated of the greater part of their advances ; that a 
 clause promising a back passage after five years had been interpolated into their g^gree- 
 ment ; and, finally, that few knew where they were going, and a large number were not 
 willing to go to Demerara. Considering the circumstances under which this question was 
 put to them, it is rather surprising that any should have been ready to, proceed than that 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 the majority should have been unwilling. But the examination proves the necessity, (as 
 suggested by the committee,) of instituting an inquiry, under the supervision of the 
 emigration officer, into the circumstances of each person emigrating, and ascertaining 
 whether he has really consented, with an understanding of what he is about, to emigrate 
 to the West Indies on the terms contained in the indenture. The committee also suggest 
 (with Governor Barkley), that opium-eaters should not be selected for emigration, there 
 being plenty of persons ready to go who are not infected with that vice ; and they 
 s\iggest the necessity of sending females. On this we can only add our concurrence in 
 both suggestions, and our satisfaction at perceiving that they do not treat the latter as 
 impracticable. 
 
 1 -i. It will of course form part of Mr. White's duties to give effect to these suggestions, 
 (which, indeed, he has in a great measure anticipated,) or such a modification of them as 
 shall appear most practicable ; and, with this view, v.-e shall, unless the Duke of New- 
 castle should disapprove that course, communicate to him a copy of the committee's 
 report before he leaves England. 
 
 15. We have only to add that it appears from Mr. White's letter of the 9th of April 
 1853, (CoiTespondence relative to Emigration of Chinese Coolies, pp. 136, 138, 139,) that 
 two interpreters who were engaged to go by the " Emigrant " to Demerara and Trinidad 
 respectively will have been left at Hong Kopg. As Mr. White will probably leave 
 England at the beginning of next month, it would be advisable that, if these persons 
 have not left the colony, they should be detained fciU liis arrival, when some arrangement 
 may be made for forwarding them. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. (Signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. Frederic Rogers. 
 
 No. 3. ^°- ^^ 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Duke of Newcastle 
 
 to Governor Sir G. Bonham. 
 
 (No. 25.) 
 Sir Downing Street, September 9j 1853. 
 
 I ENCLOSE for your information the copy of an Act passed in the recent 16 & 17 Vict. c. 84. 
 session of Parliament, by which the Governors of the Colonics are empowered 
 to declare by Proclamation that in vessels sailing from ports within the limits 
 of their respective governments, a space of 12 instead of 15 feet shoitld 
 suffice for natives of Asia or Africa, who were to be conveyed through the 
 
 tropics. 
 
 The long and extensive experience which has now been had of the in- 
 troduction of coolies from India into the West Indies at the rate of one for 
 every 12 feet, justifies the conclusion that that allowance of space is compatible 
 with the preservation of the health of the passengers on board ship. 
 
 From China itself the experience has been too limited to support any general 
 conclusion, but the healthiest ship which has yet reached the West Indies with 
 Chinese emigrants contained one for every 12 feet, and I think that, looking 
 to the wide extent of the analogous emigration from India, the experiment 
 may very properly be tried of adapting the same rule to emigration from 
 
 \ have therefore to recommend you to make use of the power conferred upon 
 vou by the recent Act, and to issue a Proclamation declaring that, during the 
 north-east monsoon at least, 12 instead of 15 feet shall be a sufficient 
 allowance of space for any natives of Asia or Africa who may be conveyed 
 from Hongkong through the tropics. , , ,. ■ 
 
 I have permitted the Emigration Commissioners to make their agreements 
 resnectino^some vessels which they have engaged in this country for the con- 
 veyance of Chinese emigrants from Hongkong, on the assumption that you 
 wiiHssue the proposed proclamation. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir G. Bonham, (Signed) NEWCASTLE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 A 3 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Page 5. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Bonham to his Grace the 
 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 (No. 4.) 
 
 Victoria, Hongkong, January 6, 1 854. 
 
 My Lord Duke, (Received March 6, 1854.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's 
 despatch No. 25 * of the 9th of September last, enclosing copy of Act l6 & 17 
 Vict. c. 84., and recommending that the powers therein conferred on the 
 Governors of British Colonies be availed of, and a proclamation, declaring that 
 12 feet instead of 15 feet be a sufiScient allowance of space for any natives of 
 Asia or Africa who may be conveyed through the tropics, be issued, 
 
 I have in consequence issued a proclamation in conformity with the views 
 contained in your Grace's despatch, and I have now the honour to enclose 
 an attested copy thereof. 
 
 Acting on the principle observed at New South Wales in reference to the 
 Act passed in the 15th and l6th years of Her Majesty's reign, commonly 
 called the " Passengers Act, 1852," I have embodied in the proclamation the 
 requirements of both Acts, The provisions that have been made in conformity 
 with the first-mentioned Act cannot, however, be strictly adhered to, for if it 
 was attempted to enforce them in this colony they would be immediately 
 evaded by the masters and consignees of vessels removing them either to 
 Kowloon, a Chinese port not above three miles distance from the anchorage of 
 Hongkong harbour, or to Macao, Whampoa, Cumsingmoon, or some other 
 Chinese port in the vicinitj?^ ; a measure which would effectually prevent all 
 interference of any British authority, and at the same time be detrimental to 
 the interests of the colony. 
 
 I may as well remark that at present there appears no immediate chance 
 of procur ng coolies for the West Indies where they cannot be conveyed with 
 advantage to the shippers, so long as freight of vessels remains at its present 
 high rate. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) S. G. BONHAM. 
 
 &C. &C. &C. ' 
 
 End. in No. 4. Enclosure in No. 4. 
 
 Peoclamation. 
 
 By his Excellency Sir Samuel George Bonham, Baronet, Knight Commander of the 
 most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and 'Commander-in-Chief of the Colony 
 of Hong Kong and its dependencies, and Vice- Admiral of the same, Her Atajesty's Pleni- 
 potentiary and chief superintendent of the trade of British subjects in China. 
 
 Whereas by an Act of the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland, passed 
 in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's, reign, intituled " An Act to 
 "amend and consolidate the lavs^s relating to the carriage of passengers by sea," it is 
 amongst other things enacted, shat it shall be lawful for the' Governor of any of 
 Her Ma esty's possessions abroad, by any Proclamation to be by him, from time to 
 ■time, issued for that purpose, (which shall take effect from the issuing thereof,) to declare 
 what shall be deemed for the purposes of the said Act to be the length of the voyage of 
 any ship carrying passengers from such possessions to any other place whatsoever, and 
 to substitute for the articles of food and provisions specified in the said Act, such other 
 articles of food and provisions as he shall deem to be a full equivalent for the same ; and 
 also to declare what medicines, medical instruments, and other matters shall be deemed 
 necessary for the medical treatment of the passengers during such colonial voyage. 
 
 And whereas also by a certain other Act of the said Parliament passed in the seven- 
 teenth and eighteenth years of Her said Majesty's rcign, intituled " An Act to amend the 
 Passengers Act, 1852, so far as relates to the passages of natives of Asia or Africa, 
 and also passages between the island of Ceylon and certain paxts of the. East Indies," it is 
 amongst other things enacted, that it shall be lawful for the Governors of Her Majesty's 
 possessions abroad, if they shall think fit, to declaro by Proclamation that ships intended 
 to pass within the tropics, from any ports within their respective Governments, may 
 convey passengers being natives of Asia or Africa, after the rate of one for every twelve 
 superficial feet of the passenger deck, instead of one for evepy fifteen sycb superficial 
 
( ? ) 
 
 feet, as required "by the 12th section of the said " Passengers' Act, 1852." Now, there- 
 fore, I, Sir Samuel George Bonham, Bart,, the Governor aforesaid, by this my Procla- 
 mation, issued for that purpose, do declare that the following shall be the rule of 
 computation by which the length of the voyage of any ship carrying passengers from 
 Hongkong to the several places herein-after enumerated shall be computed, for the 
 purposes of the said recited Act, that is to say ; 
 
 Passage from Hppgkong to the under mentioned Places 
 
 for 
 Ships propelled by Sails. 
 
 In the Months. 
 
 October 
 
 to 
 March. 
 
 April 
 
 to 
 
 September. 
 
 ( ^ 
 
 I Both inclusive. 
 
 Days. 
 
 California, or West Coast of America, north of the Equator - 
 West Coast of America south of the Equator - 
 Sandwich Islands 
 
 New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Feejee Islands, Tahiti, Society 1 
 or Friendly Islands - - - j 
 
 Sydney, Melbourne, or South Australia 
 Western A.ustralia 
 
 Van Diemen's Land - . . _ 
 
 New Zealand 
 
 Manila . : " . - - 
 
 Singapore - - 
 
 Batavia . _ - - - 
 
 Ceylon - - - 
 
 Madras or Calcutta - - - 
 
 Bombay _ - - .- 
 
 Mauritius, or Bourbon ... 
 
 Cape of Good Hope - . . - - 
 
 West Indies, East Coast of America 
 Great Britain or Europe - - - - 
 
 100, 
 120 
 
 75 
 
 100 
 
 75 
 
 120 
 
 56 
 
 100 
 
 60 
 
 80 
 
 45 
 
 60 
 
 65 
 
 80 
 
 75 
 
 90 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 45 
 
 30 
 
 60 
 
 45 
 
 70 
 
 50 
 
 75 
 
 60 
 
 80 
 
 60 
 
 80 
 
 65 
 
 85 
 
 147 
 
 168 
 
 162 
 
 180 
 
 Water 
 
 gallon 1 per diem 
 
 Firewood 
 
 - 3 lbs. 
 
 Salt - 
 
 - 1 oz. per week 
 
 Pepper 
 
 - - 1 „ 
 
 Vinegar 
 
 pint i 
 
 Tea 
 
 - 4 ozs. 
 
 And I do hereby further declare, that with respect to passengers being Chinese, or 
 persons accustomed to Chinese diet, in addition to, and irrespective of any provisions 
 of their own which any such passenger may have on board, the master of every 
 " Passenger ship " shall make to each statute adult during the voyage, including the 
 time of detention, if any, at any port or place before the termination of such voyage, 
 an allowance of pure water and sweet and wholesome provisions, according to the 
 following dietary scale, and the provisions mentioned in such scale shall in the case 
 of such Chinese passengers only be substituted for the articles of food and provisions 
 specified in the said Act : 
 
 Eice - - - H lb. per diem. 
 
 Salt Pork - - i „ - » 
 
 Lard, salted fat, fresh fat, 
 
 or oil - " " 'a *^^- " 
 
 Pickled vegetables - 8 „ „ 
 
 Tobacco - - - - 2 » » 
 
 Three weeks supply of biscuit is to be placed on board, to be issued at the rate 
 of 2 lbs. a day only when the weather is too bad for cooking, or when reqmred by 
 the surgeon. 
 
 Peas or beans may be substituted for rice, and opium for tobacco, to the extent and 
 in the proportion to be fixed by the surgeon. 
 
 Half issues to be made to children under ten years of age. The issues in accordance 
 with this scale are to be made daily; the first issues to be made on the day of 
 embarkation. 
 
 And I do hereby also further declare in pursuance of the said last-mentioned 
 anv that 12 instead of 15 feet shall be deemed a sufficient allowance of space for 
 S, nltives of Asia or Africa who may be conveyed from Hongkong through the 
 
 Tropica. 
 
 (250.y 
 
 A 4 
 
No. 6. 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 And lastly, I do hereby further declare, that the medicines, medical instriiments, and 
 other matters necessary for the medical treatment of the passengers during any such 
 voyage, shall be as follows, namely: — 
 
 For a Ship carrying 100 passeifigers and in like propoHion for any greater or less 
 
 number. [Here follows the scale.] 
 
 Given under my hand and seal of the Colony, at Government House, Victoria, 
 Hongkong, this 28th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred and fifty three and in the seventeeth year of Her Majesty's 
 reign. 
 
 By his Excellency's command, 
 
 J. G. BONHAM. 
 
 W. Caine, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 God save the Queen. 
 
 No, S. No. 5. 
 
 Extract of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Duke 
 of Newcastle, dated Hongkong, April 2 1st 1854. 
 
 (Received June 22, 1854.) 
 
 " Mr. White the emigration agent has left the colony for England, and Avill 
 of course report to your Grace on the prospects for continuing a supply of 
 Chinese for the Colonies. Meanwhile the voluntary emigration is considerable, 
 and the Coolies, still seem disposed to press in great numbers towards Cali- 
 fornia and Australia. They are deplorably ignoi'ant, are likely to be the 
 victims of the cupidity, alike of Chinese brokers and sea captains, and the 
 interests of humanity, to say nothing of the reputation of a British colony, 
 require that more control should be exercised over abuses. 
 
 " An example has just occurred. I learnt that a Peruvian vessel (the 
 Libertad) had engaged nearly a hundred Coolies more than she was able 
 properly to take, or would be allowed to take under the Passengers' Act ; that 
 her seaworthiness was very doubtful ; and that the state of the Coolies on 
 board was most unsatisfactory. 
 
 " Wc have prevented her departure in order that some steps may be taken 
 for the protection of human life. 
 
 " Though Sir Geo. Bonham has applied certain portions of the Colonial 
 * Page 6. Passengers' Act to this colony by his proclamation of 28th' December,* there is 
 
 really no machinery here, for giving effect to the regulations adopted. We 
 \i?ant more efficient control, and I think Mr. Hillierj the chief magistrate, 
 might very properly and usefully be appointed, at an additional salary of 
 200/. a year to undertake the duties of emigration agent. His knowledge of 
 the Chinese language, and his habits of intercourse with the Chinese people 
 make his nomination particularly desirable. I am afraid the remuneration by 
 any system of fees would from the almost universal venality of subordinates, 
 lead to uncontrollable abuses, and that the object in view could hardly be 
 accomplished without some slight expense to the colony. 
 
 " I cafinot allow there is force in the objection, that if our colonial regulations 
 are stringent and efficient the emigration trade will be transferred to other 
 localities. It appears to me that when Coolies learn from experience that their 
 interests and comforts are cared for, and that securities are provided for their 
 protection in this colony which they cannot find elsewhere, emigrating Coolies 
 would prefer resorting to it, and thus the interests of the colony be permanently 
 promoted. Means might be found of circulating in the districts, which furnish 
 the supplies of emigrants, some information as to the arrangements made in 
 Hongkong in favour of those who embark in the colony." 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Lieutenant-Governor W. Caine to his Grace 
 
 the Duke of Newcastle. 
 
 (No. 11.) Victoria, Hongkong, May 4, 1854. 
 
 My Lord Duke, (Received July 3, 1854.) 
 
 I have the honour to address your Grace on the subject of Chinese 
 emigration from this colony to California, Australia, and other places, which 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 has now attained so great magnitude as to render it most desirable to enforce 
 the salutary provisions of the English Passengers' Act of 1852, as flir as the 
 circumstances of the locality permit ; for, at present, the ships that leave this 
 port crowded with human beings are under no sufficient control as to the 
 quantity of provisions and space or the seaworthiness of the ship, except what 
 inay be afforded by the foresight and self-interest of the passengers or the rules 
 ot the place at which they disembark ; and this last species of control, as will 
 appear m the sequel, is not unfirequently rendered valueless. 
 
 2. I cannot, I think, give your Grace a better idea of the present state of 
 emigration m this quarter than by extracting a few remarks on the subject 
 from the " China Mail " newspaper of the l6th and 23rd of last month. It is 
 there said that emigration to California, notwithstanding the immense numbers 
 who have already crowded thither, is still on the increase ; that no fewer than 
 12,000 Chinese in Canton and Hongkong are waiting shipment to San Fran- 
 cisco, while the departures since the 1st January last may be safely estimated 
 at 5,500 ; that, within the last three months, upwards of 2,100 have departed 
 for Melbourne, thus showing what attention Australia is exciting among the 
 Chinese ; that Chinese passage brokers, being under such heavy engagements 
 to find passages, are driven to the utmost straits, so that European ships con- 
 demned years ago as unfit to carry cargo are readily purchased at enormously 
 high prices and fitted out for passengers ; that of those already purchased only 
 one can be termed a sound wholesome ship ; that one ship of 850 tons was sold 
 for ^85,000; another of 337 for ^33,000; one of 140 tons for ^^15,000; one of 
 379 tons for ^30,000 ; and four or five others at prices equally ejctravagant. 
 
 3. Added to this, in two instances, the master of the vessel, after taking on 
 board a number of passengers far in excess of that which is either legal or safe, 
 fearing the consequences, has forced a number of them on shore at the momenc 
 of sailing, when the passage broker having absconded they looked in vain for 
 a return of their passage money or even for food and shelter. In the case of 
 the " Shamrock" brig this cruelty was practised at Singapore, where the vessel 
 touched on her way to the Australian colonies. One vessel has been wrecked 
 on the Madjicosiina Islands, involving great loss of life ; another, a Dutch ship, 
 has put into Singapore leaky ; and it is much to be feared that these are but 
 a small part of the casualties which may be expected to occur unless some 
 efficient control be speedily exercised. 
 
 4. It has therefore been thought fit to exercise the power given by the Pas- 
 sengers' Act of appointing an emigration officer, for without his intervention 
 none of the penalties in that Act can be enforced. For this duty, Mr. Hillier, 
 the chief magistrate of police has been selected, and for the additional labour 
 thus imposed on him, and the exposure to the climate that it will necessarily 
 involve, it has been considered that an addition of 200/. a year to his salary is 
 such a sum as could reasonably be given, and one very much below that which 
 would be necessary to ensure the services of a competent person not already 
 in Government employ. I should have been disposed to recommend the 
 levying a small fee upon each emigrant as some con)pensation for the protec- 
 tion afforded him, and with the view of relieving the colony from any pecuniary 
 burden, but I fear the difficulty of collection and the abuses to which it might 
 lead in the hands of subordinate officials would more than counterbalance its 
 advantages, and (small though it be) would induce the emigrant Coolie to seek 
 its evasion by embarkation at some other port. 
 
 ' 5. The process of collecting passengers for California ships appears to be 
 somewhat as follows: — A passage-broker at Hongkong (not unfrequently a 
 man of straw who is not to be found a few hours after the vessel leaves) sends 
 out his crimps to the mainland, and these on the payment of about five dollars 
 as baro-ain money, give to each candidate for shipment a bargain-ticket, sealed 
 with the seal of the broker for whom they act. With this ticket the candidate 
 proceeds to Hongkong, where on payment of the balance of passage-money 
 and re-delivery of the bargain-ticket, a passage ticket is granted, securing to 
 the possessor a passage to California. Thus the broker may receive the money 
 of shiploads of passengers before he has provided by the purchase or the 
 charter of ships, for the accommodation of even a small number of them. If 
 the charter money be high, the shipowners may often risk the confiscation of 
 the ship at the port of debarkation in consequence of an infringement of the 
 Passenger law there, and still be sure of a profit on the transaction } and the 
 (250.) B 
 
C 10 M 
 
 ship may be despatched with the same certain profitable result, if the Chinese 
 purchaser pay but a small sum for her acquisition and receive large amounts 
 for passages. It is difficult at present to account satisfactorily for the enor- 
 mous prices paid for ships as related above, though the sum paid for a passage 
 is also unusually high; I can only attribute it to the pressure upon the more 
 substantial Chinese brokers of engagements which they must fulfilat the risk 
 of absolute ruin. It is manifest that the temptatioli under these circumstances 
 to crowd human beings recklessly into unseaworthy vessels must be extra- 
 ordinarily great. 
 
 6. In conclusion, I would state that this subject was brought to the notice 
 of Sir George Bonham before it attained to its present more serious importance. 
 He issued in consequence a proclamation, of which a copy was forwarded to 
 * Page 6. your Grace, in Despatch * No. 4j of 6th January last ; but he refrained then 
 
 from doing more, fearing that to enforce the English Passenger Act in all its 
 strictness would tend to drive emigrant vessels away to Chinese ports and thus 
 deprive the colony of the benefits that it must derive from this source. Yet it 
 may well be doubted whether the additional protection and comfort afforded 
 to the passenger by an effective Government surveillance, will not render the 
 colony more attractive to emigrants, and thus counterbalance the supposed 
 evil consequences of a feeling of dissatisfaction on the part of charterers or 
 owners of fehips at any interference with the liberty of action they have hitherta 
 enjoyed; and at all eventSj the existing danger of serious casualties rendei's 
 this contingency of minor consideration. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) W. CAINE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 7. No. 7. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Sir George Grey to Governor 
 
 Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 22.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, August 29, 1854, 
 
 I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of Lieut.-Governor Caine's Despatch, 
 Page 8. No. 11, of the 4th* of May last, reporting the steps which he had taken for 
 enforcing the provisions of the Passengers' Act, in regard to emigrant vessels 
 proceeding from the ports of Hongkong; and in expressing my approval of 
 tho$e measures I have to convey to you the sanction of the Lords Commissioners 
 of the Treasury to the allowance of 200/. per annum to Mr. Hillier, the 
 chief police magistrate, to act as. Emigration Officer, on the understanding that 
 this additional income is to be discontinued whenever the cessation of emigration 
 may render the office unnecessary. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) G. GREY. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 8. No. 8. 
 
 Copy of .DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to Governor 
 
 Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 11.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, March 16, 1854. 
 
 I TRANSMIT to you for your information and guidance a copy of a letter 
 
 from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, transmitting copies of a 
 
 cbri'espondence with Mr. White on the subject of Chinese emigration to the 
 
 25th Feb. 1854. West' Indies, together with a copy of the answer returned to the Commissioners 
 
 by my desire. ' ^ 
 
 L7th March 1854. ' 1 h^ve to request that you will instfiict the Surveyor-General to place him- 
 self miibmifiunicatibn with Mr. AVhite respecting the establishment of a depdt, 
 
( ii ) 
 
 and that you will report to me your opinion ns to the expediency of such a 
 Governor Sir John Bpwring, (Signedr^' NEWCASTLE. 
 
 &C. &C. &C. V & / 
 
 End. 1 in No. 8. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 8. 
 
 Q Colonial Land and Emigration Office. 
 
 1 w V. i February 25, 1854 
 
 J.. WE beg to enclose copies of two letters which we have received from Mr. White,* No. 2. 10th Dec. 
 with the answer which we have returned to those letters. It is not possible, however, No. 4 26th Dec. 
 that this answer can be received before the emigration has practically terminated. 24th February 
 
 M wu-T [ ^^^^ *^^* ^^**^® ^^*°^°® ®^i^*® of chartering ships in China, but that -^ 
 
 Mr. White has authorized Messrs. Tait and Co. to send one or two vessels (if they can be 
 procured) from Namoa ; a step which we cannot refrain from regretting. 
 
 3. It appears to us that no better course can be adopted for commencing a healthy 
 temale emigration than that adopted by Mr. White ; but we do not feel very sanguine of 
 his immediate success. 
 
 4. We trust that next year, being at liberty to advertise for shipping at a far earlier 
 period, we shall be able to secure a supply of European surgeons. 
 
 5. The emigration is as yet of so uncertain a kind that we could not recommend that 
 the expense of constructing a depot should be incurred ; but we tliink it might be very 
 advisable to obtain the opinion of some Government officer on the spot ; and we would 
 suggest that if the emigration proceeds the Governor should be instructed to direct the 
 Surveyor-General or some other competent officer to place himself in communication with 
 Mr. White on the subject, and report respecting the expediency oi such a step; the 
 expense^ which would be necessary ; and on any means which Government might possess 
 for facilitating the construction of a building adequate for the purpose. 
 
 ■ We have, fee. 
 Herman Merivale, Esq. (Signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. Fredebic Eogers. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure 1 in No. 8, Sub-Encl 1 to 
 
 (No. 2.) End. I in No, 8. 
 
 Sib, Hongkong, December 10, 1853. 
 
 Since I had the honour of addressing you by last mail, several vessels have 
 arrived, suitable for the emigration service, but they have all been taken up at rates very 
 far exceeding those which I am authorized to give, and are princicipally under charter 
 for California. 
 
 2. As an instance of the high rates of freight now current, I may mention that 
 Mr. Comstock, agent on behalf of the Panama Railway Company (of whom I made 
 mention in my last), offered, a few ' day s ago, $70 for the conveyance of labourers to 
 Panama, and to put 700 on bioard, the charterer finding water and fittings and everything 
 necessary. The vessel (the Wilhelmsbnrgh) registers 900 tons, and according to the 
 English Passengers' Act could not carry more than 450 emigrants. But 700 passengers 
 at $70 each is equivalent to 450 at $109, and this latter is the sum I would have had to 
 offer in order to place matters on a par. In addition to the freight for the emigrant, the 
 charterer engaged, if required, to furnish a cargo of guano from Peru for New York. 
 The whole offer has., however, been declined, and the vessel is now under charter for 
 California. This statement will show the Commissioners how little prospect there is of 
 procuring shipping for the West Indies during the present season, 
 
 3. As it is possible that some stray vessels may call in at Amoy, without knowledge of 
 
 the high freightis current here, I have authorized Messrs. Tait and Co. to take them up 
 
 on my account ; and I annex copy of the letter I have addressed them on the subject. I 
 effected this arrangement only on the condition required by them, that they should 
 receive a commission for placing emigrants on board (from Namoa) ; and although, this is 
 contrary to my express wish, that the emigration should be conducted from Hong- 
 kouo- I thouo-ht it best to accede to it under present circumstances, for I see little 
 prospect of getting vessels in Hongkong, aiid if I had rejected the proposal made to me 
 by Messrs. Tait and Co. I would lose the chance 6f any vessels that might arrive at Amoy, 
 for they would unquestionably be taken up under a similar engagement for the Cuban 
 emigration. 
 
 4. If emigration is to be carried on from this port continuously (or at least for a few 
 years) and systeraaticalty, and in a manner creditable to the Government, it is absolutely 
 
 * Xote. The previous correspondence relative to Mr. White's proceedings, as West India 
 
 EmiTation Agent in Chi)ia, is contained in the papers presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's 
 command in 1853' and '1855, '• Correspondence Emigration from China." 
 
 (250.) B 2 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 necessaiy to have a depot. Here emigrants may be collected, and be prepared for em- 
 barkation, so that no delay shall arise when the vessel is ready to receive them, and here 
 they will be protected from the possibility of fraud on the part of the collecting agents. 
 The present method of bringing them together two or three days before the vessel leaves, 
 and then shipping them off without sufficient preparation or inquiry, leaves open the door for 
 all manner of abuses, in spite of the best exertions of the emigration agent. But the establish- 
 ment of a dep6t, whether afloat or on shore, will be attended with some expense ; and with 
 the little prospect there is of obtaining shipping this season, I do not wish to incur any ex- 
 pense that may be avoided, without having the previous sanction of the Commissioners. A 
 hulk, such as would answer the puqjose of a dep6t afloat, will cost at present from 3,000/. to 
 4,000?. The town of Hongkong, at the foot of an abrupt hill, offers few conveuiencies 
 for building, and I have been unable to find any place but one suitable for the purposes 
 of a depot. This place comprises three lots of land (on which there are buildings, now 
 in a nearly ruinous condition, as the parties to whom they belonged have allowed them 
 to lapse to the Crown rather than pay a heavy ground rent), and is nearly three acres 
 in extent, and situated on the shore of the bay. The Surveyor-General informs me that the 
 three lots may be had for SOOl. a year, but they cannot be made available for the purposes 
 of a dep&t until the Governor, who resides at present in a house adjoining one of these 
 lots, shall have removed into the new Government House now in course of erection. The 
 repairs to the old buildings, and the erection of new ones that may be required, will, 
 on a rough calculation, cost from IfiOOl. to 1,.500Z. If emigration from China is likely 
 to be carried on for a few years, I recommend the establishment of a depot, afloat or on 
 shore (the latter only as being the most economical) ; but if it is to be uncertain and 
 desultory the expense of a dep6t may be saved. And in this case the emigrants required 
 may be obtained as well through the agency of a respectable mercantile house as by the 
 instrumentality of a Government agent. 
 
 5. No emigration from China will be safe or satisfactory until some of those who have 
 left return with favourable accounts of the West Indies, and till this takes place the 
 respectable Chinese will continue to regard this emigration with suspicion and distrust. 
 If the accounts be fa,vourable, the emigration may become to a great extent self- 
 supporting, for thousands will be eager to emigrate, and will gladly undertake to pay 
 at least a portion of tlie passage money, as soon as their confidence has been secured. 
 
 6. I have already stated frequently that I see no prospect of procuring wouien, except 
 by purchase, direct or indirect. If the Government will authorize me to advance money 
 for this purpose I liave no doubt of success. Girls of respectable connexion may be 
 obtained for about forty dollars of ten to fifteen years of age, and I propose to pay this 
 amount to a few of the more respectable emigrants, and leave them to make their own 
 arrangements, on condition of their marrying the v,^omen before the departure of the 
 vessel. When favourable accounts are brought from the West Indies by returned Chinese 
 emigrants, it may become unnecessaiy to resort to this method to procure women and 
 children ; but until that takes place, if my information be correct, there is no probability 
 of obtaining women without purchase, for such is the universal custom of the country. 
 
 7. In my last communication I stated that I could not get access to the depot at Macao ; 
 but being furnished with introductions from Canton I returned there on my v/ay back to 
 Hongkong. Mr, Jorgd at once consented to ray seeing it, on condition that I should 
 communicate nothing in reference to it, either to Government or to the newspapers, 
 I found everything exceedingly well arranged and worthy of imitation, and the whole 
 establishment such as I should be glad to see in Hongkong. I found 480 stout men 
 and boys well lodged and well clothed, and looking clean and comfortable, and the 
 arrangements of the place in every way satisfactory! As Mr. Jorg^ has purchased vessels 
 for the service, this portion of the Cuban emigi-ation may be considered as well organized 
 and likely to be pei-manent. He has not been able to charter any vessels, although ho 
 has offered as high as seventy dollars per emigrant. As he puts about fifty per cent, 
 more men on board than would be allowed by the English Passengers' Act, this sum of 
 seventy dollars is equivalent to about 105 dollars to the British West Indies. He 
 informs me that the vessels despatched by him towards the close of last season arrived in 
 
 . Cuba w-ithout any accident, and that the ratio of mortality among the emiorants was 
 very trifling. 
 
 8. There is no prospect of obtaining a European surgeon ;' none can be obtained here ■ 
 and the vessels from Australia, California, and India do not bring any. If I succeed in 
 procuring vessels, I shall have to despatch them with Chinese surgeons instead ; and if it 
 be made imperative for the future that European surgeons must be employed,'it will be 
 necessary to make arrangements for this purpose in England. Upwards' of 40 000 
 Chinese have left this for California without surgeons (except their own) ; and I am' not 
 aware that any epidemic has broken out, or that any untoward accident has occurred to 
 mar the success of a single voyage. Almost everything depends on the captain, and 
 the surgeons likely to be picked up here are men whose services would probably 'be of 
 little or no value. The surgeon of the " Emigrant," who was engaged at a hio-h salary 
 for the voyage to Demerara, died of " delirium tremens " from sheer drunkenness a few- 
 days after the voyage had been abandoned. 
 
 9. As to emigration generally, I see no reason to doubt that any number of people 
 may be obtained that the resources of the West India colonies can afford. 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 That portion of the Cuban emigration which is estabhshed at Macao is, except as 
 to the overcrowding of the vessels, on a satisfactory footing, and is likely to be of a 
 permanent chai-actev. 
 
 An extensive and increasing emigration is going forward to California. Numbers of 
 Chinese return from there, and go back again, after having made here such purchases as 
 they think likely to yield profit. Hardly a week passes without vessels arriving from and 
 leaving for San Francisco, so that the intercourse is regular and well established. There 
 are now in harbour two English vessels of considerable size, which have been purchased 
 by Chinese expressly for this trade, and a line of packets has been lately established by a 
 respectable firm, with vessels* advertised to sail at stated periods. The emigration to 
 California may therefore be considered as thoroughly well established, and as Hkely to 
 increase yearly, at least for some years to come. 
 
 As yet, little or nothing has taken place in emigration to Australia ; but as a few 
 Chinese have recently returned from there, and have brought with them a good deal of 
 gold, it is expected that emigration will set in to Australia in the same manner as to 
 California.! 
 
 The Peruvian consul at Canton has recently issued a notice "that the Peruvian 
 " Government conceive it undesirable to encourage the importation of Chinese Coolies 
 " into Peru, and will henceforth decline to enforce the observance of any contracts that 
 " may be entered into between shippers and Coolies." 'J'his will in all probability check 
 the shipment of labourers to that quarter. 
 
 The " Sea Witch " (American) is now in harbour, and proceeds shortly to Namoa, to 
 take labourers for the Panama Railway. Her upper deck has been housed over from the 
 mizen forward, so that she will carry nearly as many passengers on this deck as on her 
 'tween deck, and in all many more than would be jaermitted by the English Passengers 
 Act. The agent for the company has not been able to charter any vessels here, although 
 he is authorized to give very high terms for the conveyance of labourers. The " Sea 
 Witch" v/as chartered in New York, and was fitted out there for her present occupation. 
 
 10. I liave drawn upon the Commissioners in favour of Messrs. Dent and Co. for 5001. 
 sterling, so as to have some funds in hand for the payment of any disbursements that may 
 'be requii'ed. The bill is at thirty daj's,' and under date 10th December. 
 
 I have, ifec. 
 S. Walcot, Esq., Secretary, (Signed) James T. White. 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 
 &c. &c. ' &c. 
 
 Deau Sirs, Hong Kong, December 9, 1853. 
 
 If any vessels arrive at Amoy suitable for the emigration service, I shall feel 
 obliged by your taking them up on my account, for the conveyance of 500 to 600 
 emigrants to British Guiana, and a similar number to Jamaica. The first vessel to go 
 to Jamaica. The ship to provide wood, water, and the necessary fittings, and a European 
 surgeon, if one can be obtained ; and the amount to be paid must not exceed HI. 10s. 
 sterling, or |70, for every emigrant landed. I name this sum as the maximum, and 
 trust you will be able to procure freight at lower rates. 
 
 You are aware of the stringent provisions of the English Passengers Act; and I 
 must urge you not to employ any vessel that is not unexceptionally sea-worthy, and 
 in every way suited for the comfortable coiiveyance of emigrants. They must be care- 
 fully surveyed. .„ . ^ 
 
 I wish these vessels to take emigrants from Namoa ; and if you will inform me when 
 a vessel has been chartered, I will, if possible, meet her at that place.' I have arranged 
 with your Mr. Tait as to the commission you will be entitled to charge for this service, 
 and also as to the probable outlay for local charges, and for provision and clothing to 
 the emio-rants, amounting in the aggregate to $24, and if two months wages, or $8, 
 be paid"in advance, the total sum required per man will be $32, which sum I shall 
 be prepared to advance as soon as I am informed that a vessel has been taken up for 
 
 The provisions must be of the best quahty, and the supply of water abundant ; but on 
 this and other points connected with the emigration I will write hereafter. 
 
 To obviate the inconvenience and dissatisfaction that appears to have arisen in the 
 West Indies by deducting .|1 a month from the wages of the emigrants, so as to refund 
 to the colonies the $8 advanced here, I think it would be well, instead of having any 
 reference to these $8 in tlie contract, merely to stipulate that for the first eight months 
 after their arrival they wiU be entitled to receive as wages (exclusive of food, &c.) only 
 $3 a month, after which they will be placed on the full allowance of |4. Interpreters are 
 absolutely necessary. ^ ^^^^ ^^_ 
 
 Messrs. Tait and Co., Amoy. (Signed) James T. White. 
 &c. &c. ^ 
 
 * One of these is the "Lord Warriston," a fine vessel, which the Commissioners may, perhaps, 
 i-Pmember was tendered to them by Mr. HamUn, a few. days before I left London 
 
 ^Three Vessels are now advertised for Fort Phifip and Sydney, and are intended to carry 
 passengers. ^ 
 
 (250.) ^ ^ 
 
( i4 ') 
 
 I understand that no commission will be chiarged for chartering. I send a copy of some 
 " papers relating to emigration," which will show the spirit in which the colonial 
 authorities desire that this emigration should be carried on. 
 
 find 2 in No. 8. (No. 4.) 
 Sir, 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 8. 
 
 Hong Kong, December 26, 1853. 
 Nothing of any interest connected with emigration has occurred since I had the 
 honour of addressing you on the 10th instant. 
 
 2. Very few vessels have arrived, and these all under previous engagements, so that 
 the rates of freight are fally as high as they were ; and as there is a great deal of Chinese 
 produce on hand waiting for shipment, it is probable that they will go even higher. 
 
 3. No vessels have been taken up here, either for Panama, Peru, or Cuba, but 
 Mr. Jorgd has purchased another vessel (now at Manilla under the French flag, fo^ the 
 Cuban emigration. 
 
 4. As an indication of the high rates of freight now current, I may mention that a 
 vessel being required for the conveyance to England of the invalids of the 59th regiment, 
 tenders were called for in the usual form, but only one vessel was offered (the " Enter- 
 prize "), and the rate required 45Z. per man. Last year the rate paid was 301. This 
 tender was rejected; but an arrangement has since been made, by which the rate per man 
 is reduced to 40J., the difi'erence being made up, or nearly so, by the freight payable ou 
 stores that are to be sent home, and by other concessions. 
 
 5. Upwards of 800 Chinese have returned from Califoinia since the lOtli instant. A 
 passenger on board one of the vessels that brought 300 informs me that they appeared, 
 all of them, to have plenty of money, and that they stated their intention of returning to 
 CaUforuia as soon as they had seen their friends and enjoyed the festivities of the new 
 year. The return of Chinese under such favourable circumstances must naturally stimulate 
 emigration to that quarter, and the communication is now so certain and so frequent 
 that it cannot fail to become of considerable importance. 
 
 6. Subjoined is a memorandum furnished to me by Mr. Jorg^ of the three vessels 
 despatched by him at the close of the last emigration season. It is singular that the 
 mortality was least on board of the vessel that was most crowded. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Coolies. 
 
 Died. 
 
 Sophia 
 
 240 
 
 250 
 
 - 17 
 
 Viagant^ 
 
 — 
 
 300 
 
 51 
 
 Victoria 
 
 - 500 
 
 - 400 
 
 53 
 
 950 
 
 121 
 
 The mortality on board of the " Viagantd " was caused liy "scurvy," which broke out 
 ninety days after leaving this ; and he attributes it entirely to the negligence of the 
 captain. 
 
 The mortality on board of the " Victoria" he attributes to her being despatched "too 
 late in the season, about the end of March." 
 
 7. He has made arrangements for this season with parties residing at Anjer, and at the 
 Cape of Good Hope and St Helena, to furnish liis vessels with whatever provisions or 
 supplies may be required, and he makes it imperative upon the captains to call at Anjer 
 for fresh vegetables and pigs, and at the Cape of Good Hope or at St. Helena, or at 
 both, if necessary, for the same purpose, taking sheep at the Cape instead of pigs. These 
 arrangements are good, and might be adopted with advantage in our West Indian 
 emigration, for the various breaks in the voyage, and the frequent supply of fresh 
 vegetables and water, must conduce to the health, comfort, and cheerfulness of the 
 emigrants. 
 
 8. Difliculties, however, occur in spite of his precautions and care. By late advices 
 from Singapore I learn, that the " Adamastor," of 400 tons, despatched by Mr. Jorg^ 
 for Cuba in last October, with upwards of 300 Coolies on board, had put into that port, 
 the captain being compelled to this step imder the threat of losing his Mfe. The Coolies 
 deserted the ship immediately after her arrival, and the voyage was necessarily abandoned. 
 
 ,9. Incidents such as this deter captains from embarking in the emigration service; 
 and to show the general feeling that prevails on the subject, I annex the copy of a 
 letter from the consignee of the " Jamestown," to Whom I had made an offer for the 
 conveyance of emigrants to Jamaica. 
 
 10. The proper season for emigration is passing away so rapidly that I have taken 
 upon myself the responsibility of oflfering $80 for the passage of emigrants to the West 
 Indies. This sum, payable on arrival, is equal to _ - . ^1(5 13 4, 
 
 The provisions, clothing, and local charges will amount to about |25, 
 which at the current high rates of exchange will not be less than - 6 6 8 
 
 Making in all 
 
 ^23 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 auSii' ^^ f™T* ^^^''''^ ""^'t *^' Commissioners would not, as 1 apprehend, 
 authorize me to advance, nor would any such advance be sanctioned by the loca 
 governments. ■' 
 
 n.i • , T^' Y*^''^°*i.^'.'l-' Sp^'^e^^ary, (Signed) ^''^' jImes T. White 
 
 Colonial Land-and Emigration Commissioners 
 
 My bear Sib, _ Ca^ffcon, December 10, 1853. 
 
 Informed through Captain Moore you are very desirous of getting forward 
 1.001168 to Jamaica and ready to pay very liberally, considering the scarcity of tonnage, 
 1 am induced to soheit an offer for the "Jamestown." I send this by express boat, as 
 tmie is an object, and the voyage for this ship already marked out for Manilla. Still your 
 oner may be an object for me to abandon the latter, therefore you must send me your 
 very best terms, as on receipt of same I shall either accept them or close my despatches 
 to Uaptam Moore for Manilla. j f 
 
 Let your offer be very clear. Say $ per head for 500, or as many more as the ship 
 can take m her tween decks. 
 
 Freight to be paid on the number shipped, less two (2) per cent, in the event of any 
 mortality amounting to more than tliat per-centage, and no further abatement in any 
 case, not excepting the possibility of the ship stopping on the voyage and the men 
 escaping. 
 
 Ship to find water and fuel only, and to be despatched on 1st Januai-y, or sooner if 
 possible. 
 
 Freight to be paid in Spanish dollars, on arrival of the ship at Jamaica. 
 
 'Tis unnecessary to send me an offer coupled with receiving freight on the number of 
 Coolies landed, as it wiU not be considered for a moment. 
 
 So much has been said of your readiness to pay a ship more liberally than present rate 
 of freights will yield, I shall be most happy to abandon the Manilla voyage of the 
 " Jamestown," and meet you promptly ; but remember the last clause, as I cannot take the 
 slightest risk of being disappointed in the out-turn of the freight. 
 
 As the post boat may give me your reply earlier than the bearer of this can return, 
 better write by it. 
 
 Very truly, 
 (Signed) H. W. Hubbett. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 8, 
 
 Colonial Land and Emigration Office, 
 Sir, Park-street, Westminster, February 24, 1854. 
 
 I AM directed by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to acknowledge 
 your letters. No. 2. of the 10th December, and No. 4. of the 26th December last. 
 
 The Commissioners regret much that you should have been unable to procure any 
 shipping for emigrants for the West Indies. They entirely approve of your having 
 increased your offer to $80 a head ; they also fully approve the proceedings which you 
 propose to take in regard of obtaining women, understanding your intention to be this^ — 
 that as wives are, in fact, obtained by purchase in China, you will furnish some of the 
 emigrants procured by you with the means of effecting marriages in this, the usual manner, 
 taking care that the connection thus formed is one of a nature as legitimate and obligatory 
 as the law and usage of China renders possible. 
 
 With regard to your intention to employ native surgeons, the Commissioners cannot 
 but feel much apprehension, especially observing the large' mortality which has taken 
 place in two out of the three ships despatched by M. Jorg^ to Cuba. They trust that 
 if you find yourself forced to have recourse to this class of persons, you will have spared 
 no pains to secure as capable a person as can be obtained. 
 
 The Commissioners would not as yet feel at liberty to sanction the expenditure of 
 money in a dep6t. The emigration from Hongkong is at present experimental, not a 
 single cargo of emigrants having been yet collected at that port. The Commissioners 
 are glad to observe that you anticipate no difficulty in obtaining emigrants, but they do 
 not think so large an expense (which does not appear to be indispensable) should be 
 incurred, at least till those anticipations have been tested by experience. ^ There is, how- 
 ever, one point in your proceedings to which the Commissioners cannot advert without 
 great regret. Your instructions authorize you to despatch emigrants from Hongkong, 
 or if necessary, from Amoy. But you state that you have entered into an engagement 
 with Mr. Tait for despatching vessels fi-om Namoa. There appeared reason to be dis- 
 satisfied with the mode in which the Messrs. Tait conducted in 1852 such part of the 
 West Indian emigration as fell in.to their hands. Emigration from Namoa is, as you are 
 awaxe, in direct violation of our treaties with China, and on that account, when emigra- 
 tion Was set' on foot from that f)6rt last year, it elicited an immediate remonstrance 
 (250.) B 4 
 
 End. 3 in No. 8. 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 from the Foreign Office. The Commissioners trust, therefore, that no emigrants will 
 have been despatched from that or any other locality which is not legally open to 
 British trade. 
 
 The Commissioners have perused with much interest the account which you give of 
 the emigration to Cuba and other destinations. They are glad to perceive that a stop 
 has been put to an emigration alleged to be connected with so many abuses as that to 
 Peru. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) S. Walcott, 
 J. T. White, Esq. Secretary. 
 
 End. 4 in No. 8. Enclosure 4 in No. 8. 
 
 Gentlemen, Downing Street, March 17, 1854'. 
 
 I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to acknowledge the receipt of your / 
 letter of the 25th ultimo, transmitting copies of two letters from Mr! White, reporting 
 liis proceedings in connexion with the emigration of Chinese to the West Indies, together 
 with a copy of the answer you have returned to>Mr. White. 
 
 I am to acquaint you, in reply, that the Duke of Newcastle approves of your answer 
 to Mr. White ; and his Grace has directed the Governor of Hong Kong to instruct the 
 Surveyor-General of that colony to place himself in communication with Mr. White 
 respecting the establishment of a depot, in the case of the continuance of emigration, 
 and to report his opinion respecting the expediency of such a step. 
 
 As regards the mode suggested by Mr. White for obtaining female emigrants, whilst 
 his Grace is aware that Chinese marriages are always a, matter of purchase of the wife 
 from her parents, he desires that Mr. White be instructed to take care that neither him- 
 self nor his agents are the purchasers. The way to prevent such a result will, in his 
 Grace's opinion, be to offer a bounty to married emigrants equivalent to the price paid 
 by a man of the labouring class for his wife. He will then, in consideration of thi^ 
 sum, make his own domestic arrangements, and of course bring his wife with him. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration . (Signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
 No. 9. No. 9. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Lieutenant-Governor Caine to the Duke of 
 
 Newcastle. 
 
 (No. 23.) Victoria, Hongkong, June .5, 1854. 
 
 My Lord Duke, (Received August 7, 1854.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's despatch 
 * Page 10. of l6th M^rch last,* giving cover to sundry letters from Mr. White, late West 
 India Emigration Agent in this colony, and the correspondence relating to 
 these letters. 
 
 2. Your Grace desires me to instruct the Surveyor- General to place himself 
 in communication with Mr. White respecting i.he establishment of a depot for 
 Chinese emigrant Coolies destined for the West Indies, and to report ray 
 own opinion as to the expediency of such a measure. Mr. White having, as 
 your Grace will have been apprised, returned to England at the termination of 
 the season favourable to emigration, I can only comply with the second 
 requirement. 
 
 3. I am decidedly of opinion, with Mr, White, that if the emigration to the 
 West Indies from this place is to be systematic and constant, it cannot be con- 
 ducted in so creditable a manner as the Government would wish, without the 
 establishment of a dep6t on shore or afloat : the former would probably be the 
 least expensive both as to its original cost, and in regard to the establishment 
 necessary for its due regulation. 
 
 4. It is difficult to imagine how, without the aid of such an establishment, 
 labourers can be selected of such class as by their introduction would benefit 
 the Colonies, for this must necessarily require time : nor bow, when such 
 selection has been made, the Coolies can be prevented from absconding after 
 the receipt of the advanced wages that are always given as a part of the 
 inducement to emigrate. The ordinary lay-days of a ship chartered for the 
 voyage cannot be sufficient time, nor the ship a suitable place, for these 
 preliminary arrangements ; and the fact that such a depot has been found 
 
( i^ ) 
 
 necessary both at Macao, where emigration is in private hands, and in Calcutta, 
 where it is under the supervision of the Government, seems to strengthen the 
 supposition that it would also be a requisite here. 
 
 5. Such an establishment would also seem necessary to realize Mr. White's 
 anticipations of success with regard to inducing married men and families to 
 emigrate. Unquestionably it is most desirable that in emigration of every 
 kind the proportion of male and female emigrants be as nearly as possible 
 equal. When this is the case the removal of labourers from a country where 
 the wages of labour are barely sufficient for their scanty subsistence to another 
 country where labour is in great demand, and the climate at the same time 
 suitable, must be a source of mutual benefit, and a work of high philan- 
 thropy. To accomplish this equalization of sexes among Chinese emigrants,; 
 we must tolerate Chinese ignorance and Chinese prejudice in regard to ma- 
 trimony, which we shall find on examination to be, after all, not so far different 
 from our own notions as might at first sight be supposed. Mr. White, in 
 advocating the purchase of women might with equal truth have used a term 
 less abhorrent to our notions of freedom and less suggestive of abuse ; for in 
 reality the money and presents given to the parents of the bride are considered 
 to be for the purpose of enabling them to send her to her husband's house pro- 
 vided with a suitable wardrobe, and in a manner becoming their station., Per- 
 haps the question propounded by the parents to the intending husband what 
 sum of money he was willing to disburse to induce them to place their daughter 
 at his disposal, might not to European ears appear more indecorous than would 
 to Chinese ears the converse of the question as propounded by intending hus- 
 bands in Europe to parents what sum of money they were willing to add as a 
 dowry to their daughter, to induce him to place himself at her disposal. And 
 both in China and England mercenary considerations in such engagements 
 are admitted to be abnormal and improper. 
 
 6. It is true that such a bounty on marriage as that proposed, might induce 
 some to select as their wives prostitutes from the numerous brothels within 
 their reach ; but the better the class of emigrants selected, the less probability 
 of this contingency ; and even should its occurrence be certain I cannot look 
 upon it with any degree of apprehension ; on the contrary, I believe that 
 very many of this unfortunate class of females, were such an opportunity 
 presented to them of escaping from their terrible bondage, would most gladly 
 avail themselves of it, and become thereafter grateful and virtuous wives ; for a 
 great number of them, perhaps a large majority, are purchased as slaves in 
 their infancy, and are so trained up for the express purpose of prostitution, 
 that their mode of life can scarcely be termed voluntary. Here it is true they 
 are free (and they constantly take advantage of their freedom in this manner), 
 but on the mainland they are, I imagine, utterly without the power, if without 
 the money, to obtain their liberty. I am glad that this subject is occupying 
 the attention of Her Majesty's Government, for I consider it to be one of the 
 greatest importance. 
 
 7. The very best stimulant of emigration to the West Indies would be, as 
 Mr. White remarks, the return to China for a season of those who have already 
 emigrated, earned money, and been well treated in the country of their tempo- 
 rary adoption. 
 
 8. With regard to the treatment of emigrants on board their ships, the great 
 desideratum is the selection of a good captain, for on him, more than on any 
 arrangements that can be made before the departure of the vessel, depend the 
 comfort, health, and good humour of the passengers. For this reason it is 
 most desirable that a sufficient number of ships for the season's emigration be 
 chartered in England. 
 
 9. The Passengers Act seems to me to be unnecessarily stringent, in regard 
 to the number that each vessel is allowed to carry. Vessels hence to Califor- 
 nia almost without exception, build deck houses for the accommodation of 
 passengers, and when they find it more profitable than to carry cargo, they lay 
 an orlop deck also for the same purpose. The American Passengers Act allows 
 this • and the emigration officer (recently appointed, as your Grace was in- 
 
 form'ed by my despatch of 4th* of May last), with my sanction, permits the * Page 9. 
 nractice to continue, taking care only that fully twelve feet of space be allowed 
 to each adult on the upper decks, and twenty-four feet on the orlop-deck— the 
 (250.) C 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 height between the decks being six feet. This I consider to be fully sufficient 
 for the preservation of health, and it satisfies both the Chinese passenger and 
 the shipowner ; and I see no reason why the same indulgence should not be 
 allowed to ships carrying emigrants to the West Indies. It is obvious that 
 such a relaxation from the stringent provisions of the English Passengers Act, 
 would materially diminish the cost to the colonies of each emigrant. The great 
 points to be attended to are, the seaworthiness and ventilation of the vessel,, 
 the quality and quantity of the provisions, and the space allowed to each pas- 
 senger. If on these the emigration officer satisfy himself, I consider others of 
 minor importance. 
 
 10. . It would be well, I think, if some local enactment were made to meet 
 the peculiar situation of this place. Under present circumstances, though 
 some effective control is absolutely requisite, the emigration officer is placed 
 in the anomalous position of acting under a law of which he enforces not a 
 great deal more than its general spirit ; to carry it out in the letter would, in my 
 view, be productive of nothing but harm. It would simply drive away from 
 our harbour a source of employment and wealth to the colonists, which it 
 should be our anxious endeavour to foster and increase, and would not at the 
 same time tend in any way to further the interest of the emigrant or of 
 humanity. Such an enactment I purpose to submit to your Grace at a future 
 time, when we shall have .had more experience of what is required : to delay 
 it seems necessary, not only on the score of deficient knowledge, but also that 
 it may, if possible, be made to square with the intention of the Emigration 
 Commissioners in regard to the more permanent and systematic establishment 
 of the West Indian emigration, and with further reference to the measures on 
 the same subject, which, I am given to understand, it is the intention of Her 
 Majesty's Government to bring before Parliament at an early period. 
 
 11. I would add, in conclusion, that if the Condmissioners think fit to employ 
 the emigration officer already appointed here to organize measures for a 
 regular supply to the West India Colonies of Coolie emigrants, instead of 
 sending out a special agent for the purpose, this Governmeint will not object. 
 He is, I believe, quite competent for the task, and, from his acquaintance with 
 the language and. people, peculiarly fitted for it; but his services would be 
 available as a supervisor only — want of time would cdnapel him to leave much 
 of the details to some trustworthy subordinate. In the former capacity and as 
 a correspondent of the Emigration Board, I have no doubt his services would 
 be very valuable, and would require for their remuneration a much smaller 
 expenditure than would be necessary in the case of an officer sent from England 
 for the purpose. I make these remarks under the impression that Mr. White 
 does not wish to return to China, and that the Commissioners may have some 
 difficulty in finding a suitable successor. , That the emigration can be con- 
 ducted only during one-half of the y^ar Is, perhaps, an additional reason for 
 the 'employment as agent of some persoil not wholly dependent for support 
 upon the emoluments of the office. '■■-'■ 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, (Signed) W. CAINE. 
 
 &c. Sec. 
 
 No. 10. • No. 10. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Lieut.-Governor Caine to the Right Hon. 
 
 Sir George Grey. 
 
 ,-.j _„^ Victoria, Hongkong, March 14, 1855. 
 
 (ISO. ay.) (Received May 9, 1855.) 
 
 gjjj (Answered, No. II, June 3, 1855.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour- to enclose copies of proclanaation and notification 
 ■pag^^H^-- — ' — recently promulgated in this colony on the subject of emigration. 
 
 , : . I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart. ( (Signed) W. CAINE. 
 
 .,,. :&c.; &c. &c. 
 
 -■ > ■'} 
 
( W ) 
 
 "• EndoBure in No. 10. 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 With reference to the provisions of "The Passengers' Act, 1852" restricting the number 
 of passengers to -which the required space of twelve feet has been allotted to one for every 
 two tons of the ship's registered burthen, the emigration officer has been instructed to 
 apply to all ships a tiniform standard of measurement, n&mely — that now or hereafter to 
 be employed for ascertaining the capacity of British vessels. — Ships not registered under 
 the latest Imperial Acts must therefore procure from the Government Surveyor a certifi- 
 cate of their actual capacity before they can be passed by the emigration officer. 
 
 By order, 
 . W. T. Meecee, 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, V^ictoria, Colonial Secretary, 
 
 Hongkong, 9th March, 185.5. 
 
 End. in No. 10. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 1 0. 
 Peoclamation. 
 
 End. 2 in No. 10. 
 
 John BowEiNG. "— 
 
 Wheeeas by a Proclamation dated 28th December 1853, made in pursuance of the 
 85th Section of "The Passengers' Act, 1852-," it was declared that the provisions and 
 medicines supplied to passenger ships should be in accordanqe with certain scales in the 
 said. Proclamation duly set forth, and whereas these scales have been found in some points 
 UBSuited to the wants of Chiniese J)assehgers* it is hereby declared that with respect 
 to passengers being Chinese or persons aqcustpmed to Chinese diet the supply of provisions 
 and medicines for passenget ships may in future be as follows. 
 
 Or such amount of 
 provisions customari- 
 ly used by Chinese as 
 may in the judgment 
 of the emigration offi- 
 cer be capable of per- 
 fect preservation dur- 
 ing the passage, and 
 be fully eq^uivalerit to 
 this scale. 
 
 [TJien follows a list of medicines, &c.,for every 100 passengers, and in like p7'opm'iion 
 
 for any greater or less nu/mber.'\ 
 
 Or such other medicines, disinfectants, and medical and surgical implements as a duly 
 qualified medical practitioner may certify and the emigration officer may consider to be 
 sufficient. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal of the colony at Victoria, 
 Hongkong, the 28th day of February, 1855. 
 
 By His Excellency's command. 
 
 W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 Gop save the Qiteen. 
 
 
 Provisions. 
 
 Eice 
 
 - lbs. IJ per diem 
 
 Salted Provisions — 
 
 
 wholly pork ; or - 
 
 1 
 
 f pork and -^ fish ; or 
 
 - - - „' i So. I 
 
 ^ pork, ^ beef, and ^ fish 
 
 J 
 
 Salted vegetai)les or pickles 
 
 - „ i do. 
 
 Watery imperial quarts 
 
 - '- 3 do. 
 
 Firewood 
 
 lbs. 2 , . do. 
 
 Tea 
 
 - oz. 4- ' do. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Lord John Russeix to 
 Governor Sir John Bo wring. 
 
 (No. 11.) _ . „ 
 
 Cjg ■ Downing Street, 5th June 1855. 
 
 ' I have the honourto acknowledge the receipt of Lieut.-Governor Caine's 
 Despatch, No. 39,* of the 14th of March last, enclosing copies of a notification 
 and a proclamation which you have recently issued on the subject of emigration. 
 In the former, you announce that in calculating the restriction of thenum- 
 ber of passengers by the tonnage of the vessel, the system employed tor 
 measuring the tonnage of British shjps will in. future be applied to all vessels 
 emoloved in the carriage of passengers. 1 see no objection to this notification ; 
 
 ^(250.) --^^ C2 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 * Page 18. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 but I have to inform you that in the Bill now before Parliament for the amend- 
 ment of the Passengers' Act, it is proposed altogether to except from the 
 tonnage check vessels sailing from Hongkong. 
 
 The proclamation substitutes for the provisions and medicines required by 
 the previous proclamation such provisions and medicines as may be approved 
 by the emigration officer. This is unobjectionable in itself, but the law has not 
 authorized the Governor to delegate such .power to the emigration agent. 
 
 It will be necessary, therefore, that you should recall the proclamation and 
 should issue a fresh one, comprising, as far as possible, the whole list of sub- 
 stitutes which may be considered advisable. 
 
 I may take this opportunity of informing you that it is in contemplation to 
 introduce into Parliament a measure designed expressly for the repression of 
 abuses in Chinese emigration ; and I shall put you in possession of the provi- 
 sions of the Bill as soon as it is prepared. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Sir John Bowring, (Signed) J. RUSSELL. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 12. No. 12. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right 
 Honourable Lord John Russell, M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 (No. 136.) September 12, 1855. 
 
 (Received November 10, 1855.") 
 My Lord, (Answered November 23, 1855.) 
 
 In compliance with the instructions convej'^ed in your Lordship's 
 ' Page 19. despatch No. 11 ,* of 5th June last, I have the honour to report that the pro- 
 
 clamation of 28th February, 1855, regulating the scale of provisions and 
 medicines to be carried in emigrant ships, has been cancelled, and another, of 
 which copy is enclosed, has been issued in its stead. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. Lord John Russell, M.P. (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 End. in No. 12. Enclosure in No. 12. 
 
 Pboclamation. 
 John Bowring. 
 
 Whereas under proclamation dated 28tli February 1855, certain powers were 
 unduly delegated to the emigration officer at this port, it is hereby declared that the 
 proclamation aforesaid shall be, and the same is, annulled from this date ; and that with 
 respect to passengers, being Chinese or persons accustomed to Chinese diet, the supply of 
 provisions and medicines for passenger ships shall in future be as follows : — 
 
 Provisions. 
 
 Rice, . - . - - . . - H lb. per diem. 
 Salt provisions, — wholly pork ; or f pork and ^ fish ; or ^ pork, 
 
 ^ beef, and ^ fish, -- i 
 
 Salted vegetables or pickles, - - . _ . . 1 
 
 Water, 3 i^p, ^^g 
 
 Firewood, -------.- 2 lb.' 
 
 Tea, ------ -----loz. 
 
 [Then follows a scale of me<Ucines, &c., for every 100 passengers, and in like 
 proportion for any greater or less number!] 
 
 Given under my hand, and Seal of the Colony, at Victoria, Hongkong,* this 20th 
 Day of August 1855. 
 
 By His Excellency's Command, 
 
 W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 God save the Queen. 
 
( -2.1 ) 
 
 No. 13. No. 13. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labodchere 
 
 to Governor Bowring. 
 (No. 3.) 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, November 23, 1855, 
 
 I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 136 of the 
 12th September, and to convey to you my approval of the proclamation 
 which you have issued for regulating the scale of provisions and medicines to 
 be carried in emigrant ships. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governol- Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring, to the Right 
 Honourable Sir William Molesworth, Bart., M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 (No. 147.) October 6, 1855. 
 
 Sj;ji (Received December 7, 1855.) 
 
 I HAVE now the honour to forward copy of an interesting document, by 
 which it appears, that during eleven months, ending on the 30th September 
 last, nearly 15,000 Chinese have left this colony by square-rigged vessels, — the 
 return giving no information as to the amount of emigration in native junks, 
 which are generally employed for conveyance of passengers to Cochin China, 
 Siam, the Strait's Settlements, and the islands of Netherlands India. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that during this period not a single vessel has 
 cleared from Hongkong with emigrants for our West India colonies, or for the 
 island of Cuba, or Peru, or any of the countries of Western America, except 
 California. 
 
 The great mass of emigrants who have departed from hence are of the 
 superior class, such as have been able to pay their passage money; and the 
 return is instructive as evidence that the protecting character of our emigration 
 legislation is no impediment to the shipment and conveyance of Chinamen who 
 are willing to quit their country as adventurers in foreign lands. 
 
 These returns show the number of emigrants : — 
 
 To Australia - - - - . - 10,467 
 
 To California 3,042 
 
 To ports in China . _ - . 1,375 
 
 To the Philippine Islands - - - - 11 
 
 To Siam - 50 
 
 To Singapore ----- 46 
 
 It may be added, that the shipment of emigrants from the legal ports in China 
 has almost wholly ceased, and that it is now generally carried on from unlawful 
 places removed from consular control, principally Swatow and Cumsingmoon, 
 m shipping not British, and directed by agents not subjects of Her Majesty. , 
 
 I have &c 
 The Right Hon. (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Sir William Molesworth, Bart., M.P. 
 &c. Sec. &c. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 C 3 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 End. in No. 14. 
 
 EmdoBure in No. 14. 
 
 Retukn of Vessels Cleaeeb Outwaebs with Chinese Passengers from the 1st 
 November 1854 to 30th September 1855. 
 
 Vessel. 
 
 Flag. 
 
 Tons; 
 
 Date sailed. 
 
 Destination. 
 
 Number of 
 Passengers. 
 
 Hamilton - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 438 
 
 Nov. 14, 1854 ; 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 6 
 
 Pleiades 
 
 Dutch 
 
 424 
 
 1 ' 
 
 33 53 
 
 Amoy - - - 
 
 12 
 
 Yen Looing - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 70 
 
 Nov. 17 „ 
 
 Ca'iiton 
 
 10 
 
 Zetland . - - 
 
 35 
 
 1,283 
 
 Nov. 18 „ 
 
 East Coast - 
 
 26 
 
 Samuel Churchman 
 
 Am. - 
 
 221 
 
 Nov. 29 „ ~ 
 
 California - 
 
 72 
 
 Alfred - 
 
 S) 
 
 453 
 
 Dec. 1 „ 
 
 California - 
 
 246 
 
 Nightingale - . - 
 
 » 
 
 1,066 
 
 Dec. 6 „ 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 4 
 
 Bombay 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 400 
 
 Dec. 11 „ 
 
 Amoyj - - - 
 
 1 
 
 Eliza Ann 
 
 J? 
 
 "258 
 
 5? 37 
 
 Singapore - 
 
 30 
 
 Bella Vascongda 
 
 ■Spain -. 
 
 480 
 
 Dec. 12 „ 
 
 Manila 
 
 4i, 
 
 Tarranta - : 
 
 Portug. 
 
 320 
 
 Dec. 13 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 386 
 
 Margaret Mitchell - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 930 
 
 Dec. 23 „ 
 
 shisii^hM ' - 
 
 7 
 
 Inchinnan - - . 
 
 ,55 
 
 565 
 
 Dec. 26 „ 
 
 CaUfornia - 
 
 257 
 
 Naryana . - - 
 
 55 
 
 '' 417 
 
 Dec. 27 „ 
 
 Foo-Chow-Foo - 
 
 4 
 
 E. E. Schutt - : - 
 
 Hamb. 
 
 280 
 
 Jan. 3, 1855 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 -) 4 
 
 Leonore . - - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 373 
 
 Jan. 5 .. 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 ' 17p 
 
 Alfred 
 
 55 
 
 453 
 
 33 33 
 
 San Francisco. 
 
 246 
 
 Wizard - - - 
 
 55 
 
 1,601 
 
 Ja:n; „ 
 
 Wha,mpoa - 
 
 12 
 
 Arturo - - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 675 
 
 33 53 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 450 
 
 Resolution - - - 
 
 3) 
 
 382 
 
 33 35 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 315 
 
 Lucas - - - - 
 
 A.m. - 
 
 349 
 
 Jan. 17 „ 
 
 California - 
 
 168 
 
 Malane . . _ 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 133 
 
 Jan. 19 „ 
 
 Foo-Chow-Foo - 
 
 4 
 
 Java . - - - 
 
 35 
 
 1,175 
 
 Jan. 25 „ 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 578 
 
 Annie - - - - 
 
 New Gren.' 
 
 307 
 
 Jan. 31 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 219 
 
 Lady Hayes - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 384 
 
 Feb. 1 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 263 
 
 William and Martha 
 
 55 
 
 359 
 
 Feb. 2 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 275 
 
 Statesman 
 
 55 
 
 345 
 
 55 55 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 289 
 
 Asa Thor - - - 
 
 Dan. - 
 
 '250 
 
 55 55 
 
 'Amdy - - ' 
 
 18 
 
 Levant - - - . 
 
 Am. - 
 
 382 
 
 55 35 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 355 
 
 George Metcalf 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 413 
 
 Feb. 5 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 229 
 
 Neptune - - . 
 
 Siam. 
 
 700 
 
 Feb. 7 „ 
 
 Siam - - 
 
 50 
 
 Gem . - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 249 
 
 Feb. 8 „ 
 
 Singapore - 
 
 4 
 
 Harpley- 
 
 55 
 
 547 
 
 Feb. 10 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 336 
 
 Joven Idhap - - - 
 
 Portug. 
 
 600 
 
 Feb. 12 „ 
 
 Macao 
 
 4 
 
 Ehzabeth Ellen 
 
 Am. - 
 
 581 
 
 Feb. 14 „ 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 240 
 
 Kate Hooper 
 
 5! 
 
 1,507 
 
 Feb. 15 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 716 
 
 Cum-hap-lee - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 78 
 
 Feb. 17 „ 
 
 Amoy - - - 
 
 50 
 
 Santiago 
 
 Peruv 
 
 198 
 
 Feb. 24 „ 
 
 East Coast - 
 
 1 
 
 Palmetto . - - 
 
 Am.' - 
 
 282 
 
 Feb. 27 „ 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 20 
 
 Neurea - - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 264 
 
 Mar. 8 „ 
 
 Amoy 
 
 70 
 
 Tuskina 
 
 Am. - 
 
 422 
 
 '3 35 
 
 PortPhiUp - ■ - 
 
 280 
 
 Monsoon . - - 
 
 33 
 
 404 
 
 Mar. 16 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 285 
 
 Alfred - . - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 788 
 
 Mar. 17 „ 
 
 jVTelbourne - 
 
 453 
 
 Hashemy - . - 
 
 33 
 
 523 
 
 Mar. 23 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 336 
 
 Whistler 
 
 Am. - 
 
 922 
 
 55 S5 
 
 Melbourne - 
 
 418 
 
 Nina 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 95 
 
 Mar. 24 „ 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 2 
 
 Ameer - - - - 
 
 33 
 
 459 
 
 Mar. 28 „ 
 
 Port Philip - J. 
 
 214 
 
 Eace Hound - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 500 
 
 Mar. 30 „ 
 
 San Francisco - 
 
 100 
 
 Vigilant . . - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 257 
 
 Mar. 31 „ 
 
 Melbourne - 
 
 196 
 
 Elizabeth ... 
 
 35 
 
 711 
 
 35 55 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 320 
 
 Thos. Fielden 
 
 33 
 
 904 
 
 35 55 
 
 Melbourne - . - 
 
 423 
 
 Menado - - - - 
 
 Dutch 
 
 717 
 
 55 55 
 
 Hobson's Bay 
 
 308 
 
 India - - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 573 
 
 April 4 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 266 
 
 Gundreda _ - - 
 
 55 
 
 450 
 
 April 10 „ 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 25 
 
 Forerunner - - - 
 
 55 
 
 141 
 
 April 12 „ 
 
 Amoy - - - 
 
 25 
 
 Sting Ray - . - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 846 
 
 April 3 „ 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 301 
 
 Eliza Jane 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 564 
 
 April 14 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 264 
 
 Nile - - - - 
 
 33 " " 
 
 378 
 
 53 55 
 
 Melbourne - 
 
 173 
 
 Stephen Baldwin - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 634 
 
 April 17 5, 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 262 
 
 Resolu5ao - - - 
 
 Portug. 
 
 689 
 
 April 19 „ 
 
 Melbourne - 
 
 317 
 
 Hannah- - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 261 
 
 April 20 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 100 
 
 Wild Pigeon - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 1^00.- 
 
 April 21 „ 
 
 Foo Chow-Foo 
 
 16 
 
 Alverton - - - 
 
 Brit. - 
 
 409 
 
 April 27 „ 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 187 
 
 Science - - - - 
 
 Am. - 
 
 380 
 
 April 28 „ 
 
 East Coast - 
 
 3 
 
 Colibri - - 
 
 Dan - 
 
 202 
 
 May 2 „ 
 
 Singapore - 
 
 4 
 
 Victoria . . - 
 
 Peru- 
 
 894 
 
 May 3 „ 
 
 Hobson's Bay 
 
 426 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 Vessel. 
 
 Flag. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Date sailed. 
 
 Destination. 
 
 Nximber of 
 Passengers. 
 
 Maria Natividad 
 
 J. W. A. Lorenzen - 
 
 Melane - - - 
 
 Bombay - - - 
 
 Banner • 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 St. Joseph 
 
 Arturo - 
 
 General Chass6 
 
 Johanna 
 
 Nestorian 
 
 Hamilton 
 
 General Blanco 
 
 Mariner's Hope 
 
 Primera de Santander 
 
 Lizzie Jarvis - 
 
 Aar . - - 
 
 Clarita - - - 
 
 Taranta 
 
 Tiger - - - 
 
 Hamlet - - - 
 
 Adelaide 
 
 Cristina 
 
 Ifew Margaret 
 
 Uniicorn 
 
 Frederick VII. 
 
 Mariner's Hope 
 
 A,udax - - - 
 
 E. B. Forbes - 
 
 Nina 
 
 Homer - - - 
 
 Paul Johan - 
 
 Betah - - - 
 
 Banner - 
 
 Abbotsford - 
 
 Lizzie - - - 
 
 Snow Squall - 
 
 Black River Packet 
 
 Paquita - - - 
 
 Excellent 
 
 Favorite 
 
 Horatio - - - 
 
 Confucius 
 
 Antoinette 
 
 Nairn Balgyce 
 
 Lima - " " 
 
 Keenan Hasselar - 
 
 Ocean Quoen - 
 
 Mary Spencer 
 
 Eaglet - - " 
 
 Cambalu 
 
 Taranta - - " 
 
 Ann 
 
 Siam - " ' 
 
 Lontra Eagle - 
 
 Amoy -■ - " 
 
 Betty - 
 
 Homer - - " 
 
 Africa - - " 
 
 Christina 
 
 Annie - * " 
 
 Carman - " ,' 
 
 Johan Christople - 
 
 Peru 
 Ham. 
 Brit. 
 
 Am. 
 French 
 Brit. 
 Dutch 
 
 J) 
 Am. 
 Brit. 
 Hano. 
 Brit. 
 Span. 
 
 New Gren. 
 Hamb. 
 Peru 
 Port. 
 Brit. 
 
 Am. 
 Brit. 
 
 jj 
 Netherd. 
 Brit. 
 
 New Gren. 
 
 Am. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Span. 
 
 Dan. 
 
 Siam. 
 
 Am. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Dutch 
 
 Ham. 
 
 Dutch 
 
 Siam. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Portug. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Siam. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Dutch 
 
 Dan. 
 
 Brit. 
 
 Dutch 
 New Gren. 
 Peru 
 Dan. 
 
 518 
 
 749 
 
 136 
 
 513 
 
 133 
 
 250 
 
 811 
 
 700 
 
 300 
 
 445 
 
 697 
 
 438 
 
 985 
 
 240 
 
 550 
 
 500 
 
 450 
 
 200 
 
 320 
 146 
 420 
 285 
 272 
 411 
 900 
 131 
 246 
 150 
 756 
 98 
 595 
 600 
 177 
 133 
 425 
 373 
 742 
 265 
 348 
 300 
 556 
 460 
 500 
 219 
 330 
 219 
 698 
 500 
 479 
 241 
 636 
 297 
 169 
 250 
 139 
 474 
 170 
 595 
 515 
 343 
 307 
 350 
 272 
 
 May -3, 1855 
 May 9 
 
 May 11 
 
 May 15 
 
 May 25 
 May 31 
 June 5 
 
 J) 
 June 6 
 
 June 9 
 June 15 
 June 16 
 
 J? 
 June 18 
 June 22 
 June 28 
 July 3 
 July 5 
 July 7 
 July 15 
 July 20 
 July 21 
 
 July 24 
 July 26 
 
 July 28 
 July 30 
 
 Aug. 
 
 2 
 
 Aug. 
 
 4 
 
 Aug. 
 
 6 
 
 Aug. 
 
 11 
 
 Aug. 
 
 14 
 
 33 
 
 Aug. 
 
 15 
 
 Aug. 
 
 17 
 
 Aug. 20 
 Aug. 23 
 Aug. 24 
 
 Aug. 25 
 Aug. 27 
 Aug. 28 
 Aug. 30 
 Aug. 31 
 Sept. 1 
 
 » 
 Sept. 6 
 Sept. 10 
 Sept. 14 
 Sept. 15 
 Sept. 17 
 Sept. 18 
 Sept. 21 
 Sept. 22 
 Sept. 24 
 
 Brought over 
 Port Philip - 
 Hobson's Bay 
 Shanghai 
 Port Philip - 
 Amoy - 
 San Francisco 
 San Francisco 
 Hobson's Bay 
 Amoy - 
 Shanghai 
 Shanghai 
 Shanghai, 
 Hobson's Bay 
 Singapore - 
 Manila 
 San Francisco 
 Amoy - 
 East Coast - 
 Shanghai 
 West Coast - 
 Amoy - 
 Amoy 
 Shanghai 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Singapore - 
 
 East Coast - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Foochow 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 West Coast - 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 East Coast - 
 
 Manila 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 West Coast - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 West Coast - 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Canton 
 
 Amoy - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Whampoa - 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Shanghai 
 
 Port Philip - 
 
 Shanghai 
 Shanghai 
 
 Total - 
 
 11,849 
 215 
 357 
 12 
 230 
 4 
 5 
 290 
 332 
 70 
 14 
 25 
 12 
 520 
 4 
 2 
 42 
 1 
 6 
 12 
 2 
 50 
 45 
 30 
 15 
 30 
 9 
 4 
 3 
 2 
 4 
 V 200 
 2 
 20 
 5 
 8 
 21 
 8 
 50 
 5 
 6 
 20 
 2 
 100 
 1 
 20 
 10 
 20 
 50 
 4 
 3 
 2 
 6 
 15 
 48 
 30 
 70 
 3 
 12 
 1 
 30 
 14 
 9 
 
 14,991 
 
 Harbour Master's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 "* " October 5, 1855. 
 
 (Signed) Thos. V. Watkins, 
 
 Harbour Master. 
 
 (250!) 
 
 C 4 
 
{ 24 )•; 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 No. L5. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 
 Sir, 
 
 11.) 
 
 Downing Street, December 8, 1855. 
 1 TRANSMIT to jou herewith copies of an Act (18 & 19 Vict. c. 104.) 
 passed during the last session of Parliament for the regulation of Chinese 
 Passenger Ships. 
 
 By the last section it is provided that this Act shall come into operation as 
 soon as it shall have been proclaimed in Hongkong, if not previously pro- 
 claimed oh 1st January next. The period at which the Act will reach you, 
 will of course render a Proclamation unnecessary to bring it into operation. 
 Nevertheless, it will be desirable that you should give it as extensive a pub- 
 licity as possible. 
 
 The object of this Act is to prevent the recurrence (so far as regards 
 British ships or ships sailing from British territory,) of the grave abuses which 
 have existed in the carriage of Chinese emigrants, and with this view it pro- 
 vides that until otherwise enacted by the Legislature of Hongkong, every such 
 ship shall be subject to certain regulations specified in a Schedule to the Act 
 which limits the numbers to be carried, and requires a specified supply of 
 provisions, water, medicines, and medical comforts. The duty of certifying 
 that these regulations have been observed, is devolved on the " Emigration 
 Officer," and any ship sailing without such certificate is made liable to for- 
 feiture. 
 
 If you should decide, for the present at least, not to exercise the power of 
 legislation confided to the Legislature of Hongkong, but to leave the regula- 
 tions of the Act in operation, 1 should see no objection to that course. But 
 in that case it would be necessary that you should at once issue a Proclamation, 
 under the 3rd section to determine the length of voyages of Chinese passenger 
 ships, and to make any alterations which you may think desirable in the scale 
 of provisions, medicines, and medical comforts.* I must also point out that in 
 «onseciuence of an alteration in the House of Lords, thie "note" to Schedule A. 
 has become inconsistent with the body of the Act, and it would, therefore be 
 necessary in publishing the Act to add another note, to point out this incon- 
 sistency, and that the penalty for breach of the regulations has been reduced 
 from forfeiture of the ship and a fine, to a misdemeanor. 
 
 But if you should decide on substituting a local Act for these regulations, it 
 would be essential that you should not diminish the protection which Parliament 
 intended to provide for the Chinese passengers in matters affecting his health. 
 You should not for instance reduce the superficial or cubical space to be 
 allowed to each passenger in the between decks, nor should you except on 
 very strong grounds diminish the space required by the regulations on the 
 upper deck. Considering the latitudes through .which Chinese passenger 
 ships must pass, it is very important, that there should be sufficient space on 
 the upper deck to allow the great bulk of, if not all, the people to be col- 
 lected there in the day time. Otherwise the between decks can never be 
 sufficiently ventilated and cooled. In other respects I should desire to leave 
 your discretion and that of the Council unfettered. You will observe that any 
 ordinance which you may pass wiir require the confirmation of Her Majesty 
 before it comes into operation. , , 
 
 But whether you continiue the regulations of the Act, or substitute for them 
 a local ordinance, it is evident that the principal responsibility in carrying the 
 law into operation will devolve on the einigration officer.' It is that officer who 
 is to decide on the number that a ship may carry, to ascertain that she is' 
 seaworthy and properly fitted, manned and stowed, to inspect her provisions 
 and water, and to enquire whether the passengers understand the contracts into 
 which they have entered. It will also be his duty to see to the due execution 
 of the bond required under the fourth section by the master and two sureties,, 
 and to ascertain the sufficiency of any sureties proposed to' him. In filling 
 up the bond the names of the master and their sureties with their additions 
 must of course be inserted at full length. Upon the manner in which these 
 duties are performed, will depend, almost entirely, the amount of protection 
 which the emigrants will obtain. • 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 To assist the emigration ofiScer in the performance of his duties, I have 
 obtained from the Emigra,tion Commissioners a memorandum* showing the * Printed Volume 
 mstructions issued by them to their officers in this country for the performance of Instructions, 
 of duties similar to those which will devolve on the emigration officer in 
 reference to a Chmese passenger ship. These instructions will probably not be 
 applicable m all respects to Chinese passenger ships, but they will show the 
 mmute attention paid in this country to questions relating to the seaworthiness 
 ot passenger ships, the number of passengers they may carry, their ventilation, 
 and the goodness of their provisions and water. Too great vigilance cannot be 
 exercised on these points, and it is therefore indispensable that the officer 
 entrusted with the duty should be a man of energy, decision, and firmness; 
 acquainted with shipping, and capable of exercising a sound judgment in the 
 matter of provisions, &c. You would not hesitate, should it appear to you 
 necessary, to make any changes among the holders of office in the colony, 
 which would secure the appointment of a thoroughly efficient officer. 
 
 In respect to the appointment of emigration officers at other ports than 
 Hongkong, if such appointments should be deemed requisite, and in respect to 
 all that relates to Her Majesty's consuls, you will receive instructions from the 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 
 
 1 hcivc &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No, 16. No. 16. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouohf.rf., M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowiung. 
 
 (No. 27.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, January 22. 1856. 
 
 With reference to that part of my despatch of the 8th * instant which * Page 24. 
 refers to the possible appointment of emigration officers at some of the legalized 
 ports in China, I have now to inform you that Her Majesty's Government 
 have decided, for the present at least, to appoint no emigration officer elsewhere 
 than at Hongkong. This decision will make it necessary that every British 
 ship carrying passengers fi'om China should repair in the first instance to 
 Hongkong to obtain her emigration papers. But as the district from which 
 emigrants are likely to be procured lies between Amoy and Hongkong, and 
 during the north-east monsoon (when the principal emigration in British ships 
 is likely to be carried on), is practically nearer to Hongkong than Amoy, I 
 do not anticipate that any material inconvenience will be caused by this ar- 
 rangement. The facilities which it will aflbrd for carrying out the Act and 
 preventing the abuses which have prevailed in this trade are too obvious to 
 require notice. 
 
 But as under these circumstances it may be expected that passenger ships 
 will arrive at Hongkong to be surveyed and obtain their emigration papers, 
 with their passengers, stores and cargo already on board, it will be necessary 
 that the emigration officer should exercise discretion as to the manner in 
 which he should perform the duties imposed on him in regard to the survey of 
 the ship, &c. In the " substance of instructions issued to emigration officers " 
 in this country, which I transmitted in my despatch of 8th instant, it is assumed, 
 as you will perceive, that the ship can be entirely cleared of cargo and pas- 
 sencrers before she is surveyed, and consequently that a thorough examination 
 may be made of her both inside and outside. This of course would be im- 
 possible in the case of ships arriving at Hongkong with their passengers, &c., 
 on board. In that case, therefore, the emigration officer must take the best 
 means in his power to satisfy himself as to the ship's seaworthiness, bearing 
 in mind that while his first duty is to see that nothing is omitted which may be 
 necessary to the safety of the ship and her passengers, it. is also indispensable 
 that nothing should be done which would throw an unnecessary or vexatious 
 obstacle in the way of legitimate trade. The same remarks will apply to the 
 instructions in regard to fittings and ventilation. Provided the.se be in the 
 (250.) O 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 Opinion of the emigration officer sufficient for security and health, it would 
 not be desirable that he should attempt to follow strictly the rules observed 
 in this country. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 17. No. 17. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 36.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, March 7, 1856. 
 
 With reference to my despatch No. 11 of the 8th of December, I have 
 to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government consider it desirable that the 
 British Consuls abroad should be furnished with copies of all regulations issued 
 by the Governor of Hongkong in pursuance of the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 I have, therefore, to request you to transmit to me a sufficient number of 
 copies of such regulations as are in fdrce, in order that they may be forwarded 
 through the Foreign Office to Her Majesty's Consuls, by which means they 
 are more likely to reach those officers than if sent direct from Hongkong. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 18. No. 18. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere, M P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkongj 
 (No. 20.) February 5, 1856. 
 
 Sir, (Received April 10, 1856.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform you that towards the end of last month a 
 copy of the " Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," was placed in my hands by a 
 private resident in the colony. 
 
 Seeing from the last clause that it was actually in force here even without 
 
 notification from the Government, I determined, on the authority of the London 
 
 No. 1. Gazette officially receivedj in which it was announced as having obtained the 
 
 Royal Assent, to publish it at once and enforce it from the date of publication. 
 
 Accordingly the enclosed notification and proclamation, dated 25th and 26th 
 
 — ^^— ^ January respectively, were drawn up and appeared in the G9vernment Gazette. 
 
 A few days after the above date I had the honour to receive your despatch, 
 No. 11, of 8th December l,ast, with the Act enclosed. 
 
 A second notification was in consequence prepared and will appear in next 
 Saturday's Gazette. 
 -^°- ^- I enclose copy of it ; and I also have to report that, as it may be impossible 
 
 to procure a European surgeon for every vessel leaving this with emigrants, and 
 as Schedule A. under the first regulation, regarding instruments, &c., seems to 
 contemplate such impossibility, I have directed the emigration officer to procure 
 from the master a declaration of his inability to engage a regular practitioner, 
 and to permit the employment of a person otherwise competent, and possessing 
 the confidence of the passengers. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 18, End. 1 in No. 18. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 iThaying been notified in the io'/wZow Ga2!e^<e of August 17th, 1855, that "the 
 Chinese Passengers' Act 1855" has received the Royal Assent, His Excellency the 
 Governor is pleased to direct the publication of the same for general information. 
 
 This Act will therefore be enforced from this date, and the emigration officer has been 
 instructed accordingly. 
 
 By Order, 
 
 (Signed) W. T. Meecee, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 25th January .1856. 
 
 [Then follows a copy of thi, Imperial Act, c. 104, 18 & 19 VictJ] 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 18. E°^^- ^ i» ^o. 18. 
 
 (No. 13.) 
 
 Proclamation. 
 John Bowring. 
 
 By His Excellency Sir Jolm Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander- 
 in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. 
 Her Majesty's plenipotentiary, and chief superintendent 'of the trade of British subjects 
 in China. 
 
 Whereas by an Act of the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland passed 
 in this the Eighteenth and Nineteentli years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled an Act 
 for the regulation of Chinese passenger ships, under the third clause thereof it is 
 enacted, that " it shall be lawful for the Governor of Hongkong to declare by proclamation 
 " for the purposes of this Act, what shall be deemed to be the duration of the voyage of 
 any Chinese passenger ship :"— 
 
 Now therefore I, Sir John Bowring, Governor as aforesaid, by this my proclamation 
 issued for that purpose, do declare that the following shall be the rule of computation by 
 which the length of the voyage of any ship cariying Chinese passengers from Hongkong 
 to the several places herein-after mentioned shall be computed, for the purposes of the Act 
 above referred to ; that is to say : — 
 
 Passage from Hongkong to the vmder-mentioned places f&r shvps propdled by sails. 
 
 ' In the months 
 
 Octoher to Mstrch. | April to September, 
 (both inclusive.) 
 
 California or West Coast of America, North of the Equator 
 West Coast of America, South of the Equator - ' 
 
 Sandwich Islands - - 7 
 
 New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Feejee Islands, Tahiti, 
 
 Society or Friendly Islands - - 
 
 Sydney, Melbourne, or South Australia 
 Western Australia ... . - 
 
 Van Diemen's Land 
 
 New Zealand - - - - 
 
 Manila . _ - 
 
 Singapore _-.--- 
 
 Batavia - - ' " 
 
 Ceylon _ . . - 
 
 Madras or Calcutta - - 
 
 Bombay - 
 
 Mauritius or Bourbon _ , ... - _„ - 
 
 Cape of Good Hope " , " . 
 West Indies, or East Coast of. America 
 Great Britain or Europe - 
 
 Siam - " " 
 
 Given under my hand and seal of the Colony, at the Governmeiit Offices, Victoria, 
 Hongkong, this 26th day of January,, in the -year of our , Lord One thousand 
 eight hundred and fifty-six, and in the nineteenth year of Her Majesty's reign. 
 
 r „ 1 , ' By His Excellency's Command, 
 
 L^- J ; - '- (Signed)- W. T. Merger, 
 
 .; Colonial Secretary. 
 
 God Save the Queen. 
 
 100 . 
 
 days. 
 
 75 days' 
 
 120 
 
 3J 
 
 120 „ 
 
 75 
 
 3) 
 
 56 „ 
 
 100 
 
 t> 
 
 100 „ 
 
 60 
 
 3J 
 
 80 „ 
 
 45 
 
 )> 
 
 60 „ 
 
 65 
 
 )> 
 
 80 „ 
 
 75 
 
 )J 
 
 90 „ 
 
 20 
 
 3> 
 
 20 „ 
 
 20 
 
 JJ 
 
 45 „ 
 
 30 
 
 J3 
 
 60 „ 
 
 45 
 
 )) 
 
 70 „ 
 
 50 
 
 JJ 
 
 .. 75 „ 
 
 60 
 
 )> 
 
 80 „ 
 
 60 
 
 5J 
 
 80 „ 
 
 65 
 
 i> 
 
 85 „ 
 
 147 
 
 >7 
 
 68 „ 
 
 162 
 
 JJ 
 
 , 84. „ 
 
 20 
 
 3» 
 
 '^ 45 „ 
 
 (250.) 
 
 'T)2 
 
End. 3, in No. 18. 
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 Enclosui'e 3 in No. 18. 
 
 (No. 18.) Government Notification. 
 
 In continuation of Government Notification, No. 12, it is hereby further intimated 
 that the " Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 " has now been officially communicated to this 
 Government ; and his Excellency the Governor desires to point out, for general infor- 
 mation, that in consequence of an alteration made in the House of Lords the "note " to 
 Schedule A. has become inconsistent with the body of the Act, and that the penalty for 
 breach of the regulations has been reduced from forfeiture of the ship and a fine to a 
 misdemeanor. 
 
 By Order, 
 
 W. T. Mercer, 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, Coloifial Secretary. 
 
 February 4, 1856. 
 
 NO 8. No. 19. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labodchere, M.P, 
 
 (No. 78.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 May 7, 1856. 
 
 Sir, (Received July 7, 1856.) 
 
 Pago 26. In reply to your despatch. No. 36,'^' of 7th March last, I have the honour 
 
 to state that the Chinese Passengers' Act was published in the Government 
 Gazette of this colony on the 25th January last, and that the following noti- 
 fications have been issued in the said Gazette with reference thereto. 
 
 No. 13 (proclamation), of 26th January; No. 18, of 4th February ; No. 22, 
 of 1.5th February; No. 34, of I4th March; No. 46, of 9th April; No. 51, 
 of 22nd April ; arid a notification from the department of the superintendent 
 of trade, dated 12th March. 
 
 Of these I beg to forward all the available copies herewith ; viz., 25 of Nos. 
 13 and 51 ; 12 of Nos. 18, 34, and 46; and six of No. 22; together with two 
 of the notification from the superintendency of trade. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 > (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P., 
 &c. &c. &c. . 
 
 End. 1 in No. 19. Enclosure 1 in No. 19. 
 
 [Proclamation, No. 13, January 26, 1856, see page 32.] 
 
 End. 2 in No. 19. Enclosure 2 in No. 19. 
 
 [Government Notification, No. 18, February 4, 1856, see page 38.] 
 
 End. 3 in No. 19. Endosure 3 in No. 19. 
 
 (No. 22.) Government Notification. 
 
 It is hereby notified that the following fees are charged by the Government 
 
 surveyor for certifying the seaworthiness or capacity of emigrant ships under the 
 " Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 : " — 
 
 Certificate of seaworthiness - - - - - ^^16 
 
 Certificate of admeasurement (when required) - - - 16 
 
 By Order, 
 
 (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, Colonial Secretaiy. 
 February 15, 1856. 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 1,9. End. 4 in No. 19 
 
 GOVEENMENT NOTIFICATION. 
 
 ' Diplomatic Department. 
 
 His Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and chief superintendent of British 
 trade in China, fee, &c., has received instructions from the Earl of Clarendon, to the 
 effect that no British vessel is to be permitted to depart with Chinese emigrants for any 
 foreign country until she shall have proceeded to Hongkong, where the emigration officer 
 will be charged to ascertain that the conditions of the Chinese Passenger Act have been 
 fulfilled ; and Her Majesty's consular authorities are required to notify these instructions 
 of the Secretaiy of State in their several jurisdictions. 
 
 Her Majesty's Naval Commander-in-Chief will instruct aU officers under his authority 
 to assist the Consul in giving effect to the orders of Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 By order, 
 (Signed) G. W. Cmne, 
 
 In the absence of the Officiating Secretary 
 Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, to H.B.M.'s Plenipotentiary. 
 
 Hongkong, March 12, 1856. 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 19. End. 5 in No. 19. 
 
 (No. 34.) 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 In order to prevent difficulties arising on board emigrant ships at the moment of 
 intended departure, through unfounded statements by the passengers that their contracts 
 were not properly explained at the time of signature, persons engaging emigrants for 
 labour in the Colonies are advised to convey each labourer before the emigration officer, 
 or before a magistrate, who shall fill in the contract with a full description of the 
 intending emigrant, and certify in the form following, that its purport has been fully and 
 intelligibly explained. At present no fee will be charged for such attestation : 
 
 Form. 
 
 Name and Surname of the Labourer contracting {to he vjritten in the 
 
 Chinese as well as in the English character). 
 Age, 
 
 Native Province, District, and Place, 
 Descriptive Marks, 
 I certify, that on this day of 185 , in my presence, the 
 
 within contract was fully, distinctly, and intelligibly (as I believe) explained to the 
 above-named Labourer in a dialect which he understood ; that he expressed himself 
 willinc to be bound by its terms ; and that he received into his own hands, in my 
 presence, the sum of dollars, as ^advance wages. 
 
 ^ (Signed) A. B. 
 
 Justice of the Peace for HongkoHg. 
 The attention of merchants and others interested in the emigration business is specially 
 called to the above intimation. 
 
 By order, 
 
 (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 March 14, 185G. 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No. 19. End. 6 in No. 19. 
 
 (No. 46.) 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 In order to prevent unnecessary delay in the despatch of Chinese passenger ships 
 reported ready 'Yor sea, notice is hereby given that— 
 
 1 It is not permitted to enter any of the passengers on the ship's articles as cooks 
 
 ' or stewards (if their names be excluded from the passenger Hst) notwithstanding 
 
 that compensation is made, by a remission of passage-money for their services in 
 
 these their respective capacities. 
 
 2. The ship will be detained if passengers whose respective ages exceed 12 years be 
 
 entered on the list as childi-en. 
 (25J.) D 3 
 
( 30 ), 
 
 3. To the passenger list must be appended the names of the cabin passengers, if any, 
 the description and number of the crew, and all persons on the ship's articles 
 (mentioniug the number of Chinese) ; and a memorandum of the total number of 
 souls on board the ship. 
 
 By order, (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Hongkong, April 9, 1856. 
 
 End. 7 in No. 19. Enclosure 7 in No. 19. 
 
 (No. 51.; 
 
 Government Notification. 
 
 It is hereby notified for the information of masters of ships carrying Chinese 
 passengers, and improvided with the improved apphances usually found in vessels of 
 modern construction, and generally for the information of all interested, that in addition 
 to a windsail for every hatchway, it is required that a constant supply of fresh air be 
 ensured to the between decks in bad weather, by fitting at each end of the space set 
 apart for passengers, two funnels of wood or metal, four in aU, with moveable heads, 
 in manner following, that is to say, the body of the air funnel to reach from under- 
 * neath the lowermost deck overhead to a height of 3 or 4 feet above the uppermost 
 
 deck, and to pass through holes cut for the purpose in either side of the deck, and 
 made water-tight by a canvas coat or other suitable means. 
 
 The attention of the emigration officer has been called to the above regulation. 
 
 By order, W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Hongkong, April 22, 1856. 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right 
 Honourable Henry Labocchere, M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, 
 Hongkong April 11, 1856. 
 (No. 59.) (Received June 7, 1856.) 
 
 SlR^ (Answered No. 95, August 11, 1856, Page 39.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to report that, during the past month of Marchv 
 two cases were brought to my notice of intended violation of the Chinese Pas- 
 sengers' Act. 
 
 One was that of the ship " Levant," which has been seized, and is now in 
 custody of the Marshal of the Vice- Admiralty Court ; the other that of the 
 " General Blanco," which, it is to be feared, has succeeded in starting on her 
 disastrous voyage. 
 
 Both vessels sailed under the Hawaian flag, and were owned by the same 
 person. 
 
 The enclosed correspondence will give full particulars, and after the decision 
 in the case of the " Levant," I shall have the honour of again a,ddressing you. 
 
 As regards the " General Blanco," she was out of colonial jurisdiction when 
 intelligence of her proceedings reached the authorities ; but 1 am anxious to 
 be advised if the position taken by Rear- Admiral Sir James Stirling be 
 correct ; that though she possessed no national rights, and was violating a law, 
 no matter of what nation, he was not justified in seizing her on the high seas. 
 
 It will be perceived that I made immediate appeal to the Governor of the 
 Portuguese settlement of Macao, who endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to detain 
 the " General Blanco," for whose passengers I entertain grave apprehensions. 
 
 T n3VP oCf 
 The Right Hon. (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Henry Labouchere, M.P. 
 &c: &c. 
 
( 3i ) 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 20. End. 1 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 168.) 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 ^^^' „, ^ , March 17, 1856. 
 
 With reterence to my private communication made to you yesterday (Sunday) I 
 am directed by his Excel ency to ascertain from you full particulars conceraing the ship 
 J.evant, which is stated to have been anchored in this harbour, and to have left with 
 passengers, and without a certificate from the emigration officer. 
 
 n . • nr ,^ • -r^^^ I haVC, &C. 
 
 Captain Watkins, R.N., (Signed) W. T. Mebcee, 
 
 Harbour Master. Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 20. End. 2 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 17.) 
 
 Harbour Master's Office, 
 Si^' Victoria, Hongkong, March 18, 1856. 
 
 In reply to your letter of the 17th instant. No. 168,- 1 beg to report that the 
 " Levant " arrived at Hongkong from Whampoa on the 31st January ultimo, and dropped 
 down to Green Island on the 15th instant, where she still remains. The "Levant" is 
 under the Hawaian flag, and commanded by Albert Wood ; the owner I believe is a 
 Mr. McCormick, a Hawaian subject, now I imderstand at Whampoa. 
 
 The crew of the vessel were partly entered at this office, and the ship's articles are still 
 here, to have the remainder of her complement added, when they can be procured. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., (Signed) Thos. V. Watkins. 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 &;c. &;c. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 20. End. 3 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 184.) 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 Sir, March 19, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to apply to your Excellency for assistance under the following 
 circumstances : — 
 
 The ship " Levant," owned, as reported, by a Hawaian subject, but possessed of 
 no register, sailing letter, or other sufficient papers, is lying off Green Island with say 
 200 Chinese passengers on board, having dropped down beyond harbour limits yesterday 
 evening. 
 
 The Chinese passengers are bound for Melbourne, and I believe it is intended to clear 
 the ship, if possible, for Macao, the voyage for which being under seven days' duration, 
 the vessel is assumed to be beyond the provisions of the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 But the ship's articles are in custody of the harbour master, who is instructed not to 
 deliver them up, till the master, by anchoring again within the harbour, shall place 
 himself in a position to demand them. 
 
 I am this instant given to understand the vessel is now moving once more within the 
 harbour limits for this purpose. 
 
 By the interpretation clause of the Chinese Passengers' Act the " Levant " comes 
 clearly under the definition of a Chinese passenger ship, as carrying from this port " more 
 than twenty passengers, being natives of Asia." 
 
 As regards her plea, if offered, that her voyage is to Macao, and therefore, by its dura- 
 tion, not bringing her under the Act, the passengers themselves will overset this, as will 
 also the fittings, the provisions, and the general preparations made. 
 
 I should here remark that the " Levant " has no certificate, nor has she applied for 
 such, from the emigration officer of this colony. 
 
 Under section 6 of the Act the commander of a ship of war belonging to Her Majesty 
 has power to search a vessel such as this, and by section 10 to seize and detain her. 
 
 I therefore request your Excellency's assistance, as Her Majesty's Government have 
 issued stringent instructions that this Act of Parliament be firmly enforced, and by 
 section 1 1 of the Act, no responsibility will attach to any naval officer for acts don° as 
 
 above advised. 
 
 The Attorney-General will advise further proceedings when the " Levant is reported 
 
 under seizure. • m 
 
 As your Excellency may remark, that it is in the power of the emigration officer to 
 make the seizure under section 6, I would observe that the naval authority is first 
 specified under that sectioa,-aBtU, lso t h a t it is-a4 yi fiable te employ an armed force to 
 prevent opposition. 
 
 (250.) D 4 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 The " Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855 " is published, should your Excellency not be fur- 
 nished with a copy of it by authority from home, in the Government Gazette of this 
 colony, 2nd February 1856. 
 
 I have further to suggest to your Excellency that, independently of the operation of 
 the Chinese Passengers' Act, the " Levant " is liable to seizure and legal proceedings on 
 the ground of insufficient papers. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Excellency, (Signed) John BoWRiNG, 
 
 Rear Admiral Sir James Stirling, Governor, &c. ■ 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 End 4 in No 20 Enclosure 4 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 185.) 
 
 Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 - Sir, March 19, 1856. 
 
 The ship " Levant," apparently unregistered, is reported to have, say, 200 Chinese 
 . passengers on board for Melbourne, and has applied for her ship's articles, in possession of 
 the harbour master, the master giving out that he is bound for Macao. 
 
 His Excellency the Rear-Admiral has been written to, but Sir John Bowring is afraid 
 that active assistance may not be rendered by the navy, though the Admiral's reply has 
 not yet been received. 
 
 It is possible, however, that the Admiral may require some application from the emigra- 
 tion officer, who has like power to seize under the Act ; and his Excellency the Governor 
 therefore directs you to make full inquiry into the circumstances of the " Levant's case, 
 then to apply to the Admiral for aid, and finally to report proceedings to this office for 
 his Excellency's information. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W, T. Merckr, 
 The Hon. C. B. Hillier, Esquire, Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 &c. &e. 
 
 End. 5 in No. 20. Enclosure 5 in No. 20. 
 
 ■ Winchester, at Hongkong, 
 
 Sir, , March 20, 1856. 
 
 I HAD the honour to receive yesterday evening your Excellency's Despatch of 
 yesterday's date, and having had this raoi'ning a conference with you, I now proceed to 
 reply to tlie application for assistance contained in that communication. 
 
 In the first instance, I have the honour to state that I am ready and willing to despatch, 
 at an instant's notice, such assistance as may be sufficient, in men and boats, to prevent 
 opposition, by persons on board the ship " Levant," to the legal exercise of authority on 
 the part of any ofiicer appointed by your Excellency to give efi'ect, within the limits of 
 this colony, to the provisions of the Act for the regiilatioh of Chinese passenger ships. 
 I only await the expression of your wishes in this respect, and in the meantime suggest 
 that such officer be sent at once to my flag-ship, in order that the necessary force may 
 accompany him from this to the " Levant." 
 
 In the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th paragraphs of your Excellency's Despatch it is 
 intimated that a commander of a ship of war belonging to Her Majesty has power to 
 search a vessel such as the " Levant," and to seize and detain her, and that no responsi- 
 bility will attach to naval officers for such proceedings ; and that the Attorney-General 
 will advise further proceedings when the " Levant " shall be reported tinder seizure ; and 
 your Excellency requests my assistance to enforce the Act in question, it being, as you 
 inform me, the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the Act should be enforced with 
 firmness. 
 
 In these circumstances, I am naturally anxious to give effect to your Excellency's 
 application, and I have to notify to you that in the event of your considering it impossible 
 tliat the seizure or detention of the " Levant" can be effected by any officer appointed by 
 you to carry out the provisions of the Act, I shall, in this instance, direct a naval officer 
 to detain her until further instructed. 
 
 Awaiting your Excellency's reply, 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) Js, Stirling, 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Knclosure 6, in No. 20. End. 6 in No. 20. 
 
 ^ (No. 188.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 ^^^> , March 20, 1856. 
 
 Our Dr. Harland's certificate, his Excellency sanctions your leave of absence to 
 Macao for 10 days, as applied for by you in your letter, No. 19, of this date. 
 
 Before your departure, however, I shall be obliged by your giving me further particulars 
 about the ship "Levant," in addition to those furnished in your letter. No. 17, of 18th 
 instant. 
 
 It is necessary to know what steps you took on learning that the "Levant " had no 
 regular papers ; at what date you ascertained that she had Chinese passengers on board ; 
 whether inquiry (and of what nature, and when) was made by you into the peculiar 
 position of this ship ; and if she complied with all the harbour regulations previously to 
 her leaving the harbour and dropping down to Green Island, on the 15th, as reported by 
 you on the 18th. 
 
 It is of great importance tliat you supply, without delay, a detailed account of the 
 movements and transactions of this ship while under your authority in this harbour, and 
 the measures adopted by you, from time to time, with reference to her. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. T, Mekcer, 
 Captain Watkins, RN., Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Harbour Master. 
 
 Enclosure 7 in No. 20. E„^l_ 7 ;„ ^^_ ^0. 
 
 (No. 7.) Emigration Office, Hongkong, 
 
 SiK, March 21, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 185, of 19th 
 instant, and, from inquiries made on board the " Levant " and elsewhere, am enabled to 
 report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, as follows : — 
 
 The " Levant," a ship of 382 tons, sailed under the flag of the United States of America, 
 and was recently sold to James McCormick, an American citizen, naturalized, under the 
 Government of the Sandwich Islands, who chartered lier to a Chinese named Chong Ahoy, 
 for the conveyance of emigrants to Melbourne. I have seen the bill of sale and a com- 
 munication from Mr. Jardine, the Hawaian Consul, to the effect that a sailing letter 
 will be granted as soon as the usual documents are presented for verification. 
 
 It was arranged that she should prepare for sea in this harbour, get a clearance for 
 Macao, take her passengers on board in the vicinity of this city, beyond the limits of the 
 port, then proceed for emigration papers to Macao, and thence to Melbourne. Through a 
 mistake of the mate, she sailed beyond these limits and took on board her passengers 
 before she had obtained a port clearance from the liarbour master, and this document 
 being, in consequence, refused, she returned to the harbour with her passengers on board. 
 It is stated that a portion of these were, through inadvertance, embarked within the 
 limits of the port ; but of this I have not yet been able to obtain any certain information. 
 No notice was given to the emigration officer that the ship wasfitting for passengers. 
 
 Mr. McCormick informs me that he despatched the Hawaian ship "Emma "from this 
 place under similar circumstances, and intends to pursue the same course with the ship 
 " General Blanco," sailing under the same flag, being assured by his legal adviser that by 
 so doing he does not infringe the provisions of the Chinese Passengers' Act of 1855. 
 
 Under these circumstances, before attempting to move his Excellency the Kear- Admiral 
 to so serious a measure as the seizure of the vessel, I beg for the opinion of the legal 
 adviser to the Government whether, on the facts stated, this ship has become liable to 
 forfeiture, under the 8th section of the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esquire, (Signed) C. B. Hilliee, 
 
 &;c &c. &c. Emigration Officer. 
 
 (Copy.) 
 I see nothing in the circumstances above detailed to warrant a delay. No time should 
 be lost in seizino- the vessel for the purpose of forfeiture, under the Chinese Passengers' 
 Act. The harbour regulations ordinance, which has been violated,' as appears by Captain 
 Watkins' letter, ought also to be enforced. I cannot advise the postponement of process 
 until to-morrow, as it is doubtful how far it can be legally executed on a Sunday. Easter 
 Monday, again, is a close holiday. If the vessel proceeds to sea in the meantime, it will 
 be hard to clear the Executive of the laches which will have enabled her to do so. 
 
 (Signed) T. Chisholm Anstet. 
 Attorney-General's Office, March 22, 1856. 
 
 The emioration officer must act on the Attorney-General's opimon. 
 ° By order, 
 
 (Signed) "W. T. Meecee, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 E 
 
( 34 ;) 
 
 End. 8 in No. 20. (No. 22.) Enclosure 8 in No. 20. 
 
 Sir, ' Victoria, Hongkong, March 21, 1856. 
 
 In reference to your letter of the 20th instant, No. 188, I have the honotp: to 
 report, — 
 
 1st. That I was not aware, nor had I any suspicion, that the '^ Levant." had no regular 
 papers : some time after the vessel's arrival from Whampoa the crew were discharged, 
 and, when the master came to enter a fresh crew, he brought .the ship's register to the 
 oifice, merely that the tonnage might he taken from it and inserted in the new articles ; 
 being under a foreign flag, with a Consul at the port, he is the person in whose custody 
 the papers ought to be placed, and who would judge as to whether they were correct and 
 regular or not ; the articles were brought to the shipping office at the request of 
 Mr. Jardine, simply for the convenience of entering the men there at once, until the crew 
 was completed, instead of giving the men the trouble of going to East Point. 
 
 2nd. The date I first ascertained that the " Levant " had Chinese passengers on board 
 was Sunday last, the 16th instant, communicated by the note of Mr. Murrow enclosed in 
 yours of that date. 
 
 3rd. On Monday, the l7th instant, I sent to ascertain the position of the "Levant," 
 what Chinese passengers she had on board, and the reason for her moving down, but was 
 unable to remain at office, and for hours totally unequal to any effort or exertion from 
 a severe attack of diarrhoea and fever; the " Levant " was then within the limits of the 
 harbour, and had a number of Chinese on board. 
 
 4th. Before the " Levant " dropped down to Green Island on the 5th instant, she had 
 complied with all the regulations of the port as far as I have any means of judging. 
 
 5th. During the night of the 18th instant, the " Levant " left the harbour and returned 
 again on the 19th, as reported in my letter of that date: after office hours on that day, 
 application was made to the acting chief clerk for a clearance, and refused on the ground 
 of her not having the emigration officer's certificate : on the following day the application 
 was renewed for a clearance for Macao, and again refused ; the circumstance being re- 
 ported to you, as I understand, by the acting chief clerk. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) Thos, V. Watkins, 
 
 Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esquire, Harbour Master. 
 
 Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 9 in No. 20. Enclosure 9 in No. 20, 
 
 (No. 190.) Government Offices^ Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 Sir, March 22, 1856. 
 
 In acknowledging your Excellency's reply of the 20th to mine of the 19th instant, 
 I beg to infoijn your Excellency that in my opinion, confirmed by that of the Honourablte 
 the Attorney-General, there is no authority here to whom I could, imder the Chinese 
 Passengers' Act; and the circumstances of this case, delegate authority to seize or detain 
 the ship "Levant," until at least after an appeal for this service to your Excellency. 
 
 That appeal I have now the honour to make, and I am informed that the ship in 
 question is expected to leave the harbour instantly. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) John Bowring, 
 His Excellency Rear- Admiral Sir James SfcirHng, Governor, &c. 
 
 &c. &G. &c. 
 
 End. 10 in No. 20. (No. 8.) Endosure 1 in Na 20. 
 
 Sir, " Winchester," at Hongkong, March 22, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform you that in compliance with the requisition for 
 assistance contained in your despatch of the 19th instant, and still further urged in your 
 communication of to-day, I have caused the Hawaian ship " Levant " to be seized and 
 detained this evening, and for further security removed to an anchorage near this ship. 
 
 Having taken these steps solely with a view of giving effect to your Excellency's 
 application for aid, and having no intention on my own part to proceed against the vessel 
 seized, and it being necessary that the officer and seamen of the " Winchester," at present 
 in custody of the " Levant," should return to the " Winchester " as speedily as possible, 
 I request you will give directions for such proceedings to be taken as you may see fit 
 to adopt, in order that the naval department may be relieved of further charge. 
 
 I have, &c. • 
 (Signed) James Stirling, 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief 
 
 &c.' &c. 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 Enclosure 11 in. No. 20. End. 11 in No. 20. 
 
 (Wo. 8.) Emigration Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 ^^^' March 22, 1866. 
 
 • ^^^ 1 ^^^"^"^ *o report for the information of his Excellency the Governor 
 that, immediately on the receipt of the Attorney-General's opinion covering the facts 
 detailed in my letter. No. 7, of 21st March, I waited on his Excellency the Eear-Admiral, 
 placed these documents m his hand, and said that I had been instructed by his Excellency 
 the Governor to ascertain the circumstances attending the departure of the "Levant," and 
 f ^^^nt i ^^^ ™^S^* ^® enforced against her in conformity with the 10th section 
 ot the Ghinese Passengers' Act, 1855. That these circumstances were as stated in my 
 letter, with the difference that, after further enquiry, I had no longer a doubt that the 
 vessel had embarked a considerable portion of her passengers within the limits of the 
 port, and had sailed beyond the Hmits with these on board. I added that, although the 
 Act conferred on me no power to seizej I was quite ready to point out the vessel, and to 
 accompany for this purpose any force that might be sent in execution of the law ; and, 
 lastly, I suggested the probability that, unless the measures taken were of a very prompt 
 character, endeavours would be made to withdraw the ship from British jurisdiction. 
 
 To a,Il which, after a conversation of some length, his" Excellency finally replied that he 
 was willing to enforce the law if the Colonial Government would assure him that they 
 had no officer of their own competent to this service ;. that he had already written to his 
 Excellency the Governor to this effect, and now awaited a reply. 
 
 Soliciting,'therefore, the further instructions of his Excellency the Governor, 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. Emigration Officer. 
 
 Enclosure 12 in No. 20. End. 12 inJSTo. 20. 
 
 (No. 192.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 Sir, March 24, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt, on Saturday evening, of your 
 Excellency's letter, informing me of the seizure and detention of the ship " Levant," in 
 compliance with my requisition for assistance from the naval authorities. 
 
 In furtherance of your desire that the naval force in charge of this vessel be relieved 
 without unnecessary d^elay, I have consulted the Honourable the Attorney-General, who 
 advises that the naval officer making the seizure apply to Mr. Gaskell, Queen's Proctor, 
 under sections 10 and 11 of the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 The Proctor will thereon apply to the Marshal of the Vice- Admiralty Court to take 
 charge of the ship, and your Excellency will not be troubled with the further custody 
 of her. 
 
 The Attorney-General shall be instructed to look after the subsequent proceedings, and 
 the Colonial Secretary has communicated with Mr. Gaskell. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling, (Signed) John Boweing, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. Governor, &c. 
 
 Enclosure 13 in No. 20. End. 13 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 193.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 SiE, March 24, 1856. 
 
 The ship " Levant " has been seized, at the request of his Excellency the Governor, 
 by the naval authorities for breach of the Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855. 
 
 His Excellency the Rear-Admiral is anxious to be relieved from the charge of her as 
 soon as possible, and I am instructed to desire that you will place yourself, as Queen's 
 Proctor, in communication with the Honourable the Attorney-General, and take, without 
 delay, the necessary steps for bringing the case into the Vice-Admiralty Court, and placing 
 the vessel in custody of the Marshal. 
 
 The Admiral is anxious that the depositions be taken to-day. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 WiUiam GaskeU, Esq., (Signed) W. T. Meecee, 
 
 Queen's Proctor. Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 14 in No. 20. End. 14 in No. 20. 
 
 (No 195 ) Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 Sir , March 24, 1856. 
 
 With reference to your letter No. 22, in reply to mine. No. 188, I have the honor 
 to make the following observations : — 
 
 You say that the master of the " Levant " brought the ship's register to your office. 
 But it was at your office that I learnt that the ship had no register, and from subsequent 
 inquiry I am led to think still that she has none. 
 (250.) E 2 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 Again, you say that the ship was under a foreign flag, with a consul at this port. I 
 must point out that this Government is not aware of any Hawaian Consul at this port, so 
 that, even admitting the "Levant's" right, which is more than doubted, to fly the 
 Hawaian flag, it is in yoiir office that her papers would be pi-operly deposited. 
 
 And, again, you state that the " Levant," before dropping down to Green Island, had 
 complied with port regulations as far as you had the means of judging. As the harbour 
 master is fully furnished with these means, it is presumed that the blue-peter was hoisted 
 as required by section 9 of the Harbour Ordinance ; but it is to be regretted that you did 
 not ascertain the circumstances under which the " Levant " was leaving, and make these 
 known at once to the emigration officer or myself. 
 
 As the matter stands, a flagrant breach of the Chinese Passengers' Act has been, to all 
 appearance, deliberately committed or planned in this harbour, and no notice has been 
 taken of it by the proper authorities. 
 
 However, the vessel is now seized, and will be brought into the Vice- Admiralty Court 
 for adjudication, so it is only necessary for me to call your attention to the point I have 
 first above mentioned, and request to know if a register was at any time produced to you 
 by the master of the " Levant." 
 
 I have, &c. * 
 
 Captain Watkins, R.N,, (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Harbour Master. Colonial Secretary, 
 
 End. 15 in No. 20. Enclosure 15 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 198.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 Sir, March 25, 1856. 
 
 I HAVR to request that you will forward to me, under sealed cover, the ship's 
 articles of the " Levant," of which I verbally directed you to retain possession. 
 I should wish these by 1 1 a.m. to-morrow at latest. 
 
 I have, &e. 
 H. Gunthorpe, Esq. (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Harbour Master's Office. Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 16 in No. 20. 
 
 Enclosure 16 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 199.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 Sir, March 25, 1856. 
 
 In reply to your letter, No. 8, of 22d instant, this day received, I have the honor 
 to inform you that steps have been already taken to place the ship " Levant " in the Vice- 
 Admiralty Court. 
 
 Should further instructions to you be necessary, you will either hear from the Queen's 
 Proctor, or I shall have the honor of again communicating with you. 
 
 I have, (fee, 
 Tlie Hon. C. B. Hillier, Esq., (Signed) W. T. Mercer, 
 
 Emigration Officer. Colonial Secretary. 
 
 End. 17 in No. 20. ' Enclosure 17 in No. 20. 
 
 Harbour Master's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 Sir, March 26, 1856. 
 
 In conformity witli request, communicated by your letter, No. 198, of yestei'day's 
 date, I have the honor to enclose lierewith the articles belonging to the ship " Levant." 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., Colonial Secretary, (Signed) Henry Gunthorpe. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 End. 18 in No. 20. 
 
 Enclosure 18 in No. 20. 
 
 (No. 201.) 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 StE, March 27, 1856, 
 
 I HAVE the honour to bring to your Excellency's notice another flagrant case of 
 violation of the Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855, similar in all respects, save one, to tl^at 
 of the ship " Levant," in which your Excellency has already rendered the colonial authorities 
 your valuable assistance. 
 
 The " General Blanco " belongs to the same owner as tlie " Levant," is said also to fly 
 the Hawaian flag, without any papers, and to have embarked hefe a lai^e number of 
 Chinese passengers for the colony of Victoi'ia. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 _ I am given to understand that it is intended to land these men at a place on the coast 
 called Twofold Bay, a considerable distance from Melbourne, which city there will be no 
 probability of their reaching from the bay in question. 
 
 If this be true, nothing but death by starvation awaits these unfortunate men. 
 
 The case of the " General Blanco " differs from that of tlie " Levant " in this,— she is 
 lying just outside this harbour, whereas the " Levant," though she proceeded outside, was 
 induced to return, and was thus brought within the jurisdiction of the colony. 
 
 With the " General Blanco," however, we have no means of interfering, and I have no 
 alternative but to bring the above facts to the notice of your Excellency, in the hope that 
 your Excellency will exercise your authority and prevent the prosecution of this disas- 
 trous voyage by seizing the " General Blanco," which, as I have said, is reported to be 
 possessed of no papers, and cojisequently of no national rights or privileges, and has on 
 board a very large number of natives of Asia. , 
 
 It is given out that this ship intended to make for Macao in the firat instance. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 His Excellency Rear-Admiral (Signed) John Bowtitng. 
 
 Sir James Stirling, Knt., 
 &c. ■ &c. 
 
 Enclosure 19 in No. 20. End. 19 in No. 20. 
 
 " Winchester," at Hongkong, 
 Sir, March 28, 185G. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencji-'s Despatch of 
 yesterday, in whicli you call my attention to the ease of tlie " General Blanco," a ship 
 which you represent to be under the Hawaian flag, and at present lying just outside tliis 
 port, and beyond the jurisdiction of this colony ; and in which you inform me that, as, 
 under the circumstances stated, you have not any means of interfering with the " General 
 Blanco," you entertain a hope that I will exercise my autliority and seize her, and tliereby 
 prevent her from proceeding on the disastrous voyage she is supposed to have in con- 
 templation. 
 
 I have the honour to inform your Excellency, in reply, that I have no authority to 
 seize and detain a ship for having violated the Chinese Passengers' Act, even when proof 
 of such violation may be exhibited to me, such ship not being a British ship, and not 
 within Her Majesty's dominions. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bo wring, (Signed) Js. Stirling, 
 
 .&c. &c. Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Cliief. 
 
 Enclosure 20 in No. 20. End. 20 in No. 20. 
 
 (No 210.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 gljj^ " " March 28, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE the honour to bring to the notice of your Excellency that the ship "General 
 Blanco " has left this harbour for Macao, on her Avay to the Au.stralian colonies, with a 
 caro-o of Chinese passengers. 
 
 She quitted this port without the emigration officer's certificate, or a port clearance 
 from the harbour master, and is understood to be possessed of no legal papers, and to have 
 no claim to the rights and privileges of any national flag. 
 
 As I have reason to fear that fraud and injury to the unfortunate emigrants are con- 
 templated, I beg that, should the "General Blanco" come within your Excellency's 
 iurisdictio'n, your Excellency will take such steps in the matter as tlie claims of humanity 
 mav dictate and the laws of Portugal permit. 
 
 •' I have, &c. 
 
 His Excellency Governor Guimaraes, (Signed) John Bowring. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 21 in No. 20. (Translation.) End. 21 in No. 20. 
 
 Most Illustrious and most Excellent Sir, 
 
 I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency s despatch ot 
 of the 28th ultimo, informing me that the ship " General Blanco," had sailed irregularly 
 from the port of Hongkong, and that she was bound to Macao. 
 
 Whilst thanking you for this information, I have to state that the ship m question 
 actually appeared^'at anchor in Macao Roads yesterday morning. The master landed 
 nnd RDDlied at the harbour master's oflice for a clearance, but this was refused him by my ■ 
 nrders until he had produced i)apers authorizing him to sail lawfully. The master showed 
 only a clearance from Macao fi-om the harbour master of Hongkong, a deed of sale of the 
 (250.) ^' 3 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 vessel, and some kind of register signed by Mr. Jardine as consul for the Sandwich 
 Islands, the flag of -which islands the ship was flying. When the master was asked 
 respecting the cargo of the vessel, he at first hesitated to give an answer, but afterwards 
 stated that he had some Chinese passengers on board, but not Coolies. 
 
 Having received the harbour master's report of what was taking place, I desired him 
 to proceed on board the ship and inquire iuto the description of her passengers, and to take 
 such measures as humanity and the laws dictated in respect of Chinese emigrants ; and 
 also to ascertain aU further particulars connected with the ship ; but this inspection could 
 not be effected, as the vessel set sail the same evening, and, as it appears, and is reported, 
 has proceeded to Hongkong. 
 
 God preserve your Excellency, 
 
 Macao, April 2, 1856. 
 (Signed) IsiDOEO F. Guimaraes. 
 
 The most illustrious and most excellent Sir John Bowring, 
 Governor of Hongkong and Her Britannic, 
 Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China. 
 
 True translation. 
 
 (Signed) L D'AmADA e Castro. 
 
 No. 21. No. 21. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere. 
 
 Government OflSces, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 (No. 109.) July 5, 1856. 
 
 Sir, (Received Sept. 5, 1856.) ' 
 
 I HAD the honour in despatch No. 59, of 11th April last, to report the 
 seizure of the ship " Levant," for violation of the Chinese Passengers' Act, and 
 I mentioned that after adjudication of the case bj the Vice- Admiralty Court 
 I should again have the honour of addressing you on the subject. 
 
 I have now to state that on the I7th ultimo the Judge condemned the ship 
 to a fine of 100/. and costs, and I enclose a letter from the Attorney-General in 
 which that officer complains of the inadequacy of the punishment, in opinion 
 as to which I myself concur, when I consider the nature of the offence, and the 
 expediency if not necessity of making severe example of the first case occurring 
 under the Act. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, (Signed) J. BOWRING. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 22. ^^- ^^• 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 (No. 113.) July 8, 1856. 
 
 SiK, (Received Sept. 5, 1856.) 
 
 * Page 43. Since writing my despatch, No. 109,* of 5th instant, I have learnt that 
 
 an attempt was made, on behalf of the owner of the " Levant," to procure the 
 remission of that part of the Judge's decree which condemned him in costs. 
 
 The motion was heard yesterday and failed, as will be seen from the en-, 
 closed letter of the Attorney-General, and the case may now be considered 
 finally settled. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
K 39 ) 
 
 Enclosure in No. 22. End. in No. 22. 
 
 The " Levant." 
 
 Attorney-General's Office, Hongkong, 
 ^^^' July 8, 1856. 
 
 This case was again brought on yesterday by the advocate for the claimant, who 
 moved that so much of the Chief Justice's decree as gave costs should be rescinded, as 
 bemg contrary to the common law principle that " the Crown neither pays nor receives 
 costs. The unskilful language of the " Chinese Passengers Act " I have more than once 
 had occasion to point out to you, and in no instance is it more apparent than in this. 
 Fortunately I was able to satisfy the Chief Justice that principle and authority supplied 
 what was wanting in that enactment; and it may be that the consciousness 'of the 
 inadequacy of the trifling penalty (1001.) imposed by him to meet the costs and charges, 
 if they were to be defrayed by Government and not by the claimant, contributed to the 
 decree being pronounced once more in my favour. 
 The motion was refused with costs. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., (Signed) T. Chisholm Anstey, 
 
 Colonial Secretary. Attorney-General. 
 
 No. 23. No. 23. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Clarendon to 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 95.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, Aug. 11, 1856. 
 
 I. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch. No. 59,* of the *Page 36. 
 1 1th of April, with its enclosures relative to the seizure of the " Levant " and 
 the contemplated seizure of the " General Blanco," for violating the Chinese 
 Passengers' Act, 
 
 2. It appears that these vessels belong, to a Mr. McCormick, who is said to be 
 a subject of the Hawaian Republic, and that they are sailed under the flag of 
 the Sandwich Islands. It further appears to be the object of the owner to 
 carry on a passenger traffic from Hongkong or its vicinity without complying 
 with the provisions of the Chinese Passengers' Act. With this view his vessels 
 take their passengers on board beyond the limits of the colony, and clear out 
 for Macao only, which being less than a seven days' voyage they are not re- 
 quired by the Act to obtain a clearance from the emigration officer or to pro- 
 vide themselves with ernigration papers or to give a bond to the Crown. They 
 contemplate taking a further ^clearance from Macao for their ultimate destina- 
 tion, or, as would appear from the case of the " General Blanco," sailing from 
 Macao without any such clearance. 
 
 3. The " General Blanco" is said to have taken on board a number of Chinese 
 passengers in Hongkong, but proceeded beyond the jurisdiction of the colony 
 before this was discovered, and afterwards sailed for Macao without having been 
 cleared by the emigration officer or given bond, and without any " emigration 
 papers." While she was still in the vicinity of Hongkong, but beyond the 
 limits of the colony, you applied to Admiral Sir J. Stirhng to seize her, on the 
 ground that she had violated the Chinese Passenger Act. Sir J. Stirling 
 declined to comply, observing that he had no authority to seize and detain a 
 ship for violating the Chinese Passenger Act, such ship " not being a British 
 ship, and not within Her Majesty's dominions." 
 
 4. On this point I feel no doubt that Admiral Stirling was right. The 
 authority to enter and search Chinese passenger ships is strictly limited by the 
 sixth section of the Act to British ships or ships within British jurisdiction. 
 The " General Blanco " fell within neither of these categories. Whatever her 
 nationality she was certainfly not a British ship, while the ground of your 
 application to the Admiral was that she was not within British jurisdiction. If 
 therefore, Sir J. Stirling had seized the ship on the ground of her having 
 violated the Chinese Passenger Act, he would unquestionably have exceeded 
 the powers vested in him by the Act 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104. 
 
 5. If a foreign ship, though iitted and prepared in Hongkong, do not take 
 passengers on board till she is beyond its limits, she does not so much evade 
 the law as avail herself of a liberty which the Legislature has not attempted, 
 and I think could not have' attempted, to control. If she take passengers on 
 
 (250.) E 4 
 
( 40 
 
 board in Hongkong, but, in order to evade the Act, take out a fraudulent 
 clearance for Macao, it is for the authorities of Hongkong to consider whether 
 the proof of fraud is suflBcient to justify them in detaining the ship before she 
 gets beyond the colonial jurisdiction, and to ensure success in legal proceedings 
 against her. When she has once left the colony she is beyond the power of 
 arrest until she come again within British jurisdiction. 
 
 6. In the case of the "Levant," you and the Attorney-General were satisfied 
 that there were sufficient grounds to go upon, and accordingly seized the ship. 
 I hope that the proceedings in that case will lead to the effectual vindication of 
 the law which the owner of that vessel has sought to evade ; but whatever the 
 result may be, I anticipate that the course thus adopted will deter foreign 
 owners or masters from attempting to take passengers on board in Hongkong 
 unless they are prepared to comply with the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 7. Before closing this despatch, I may advert to a point which, though it has 
 no bearing on the general question, it is as well to set right. In your letter to 
 the Admiral you state that you had been informed that the passengers in the 
 " General Blanco" were to be landed at Twofold Bay in Victoria, which, being 
 distant from Melbourne, nothing but death from starvation awaited them. I can 
 inform you that no such misfortune need be apprehended. Twofold Bay, 
 though distant from Melbourne, is the port of a large pastoral district, and was 
 of sufficient importance to induce the Emigration Commissioners to dispatch a 
 ship to it direct from this country as far back as 1848. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) CLARENDON. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 24. j^^_ 24. 
 
 Extract of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right 
 
 Hon, H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Plongkong, 
 July 26, 1856. 
 TNo 121 ^ (Eeceived October 11, 1856.) 
 
 ^ ' (Answered November 20, \ 856, No. 32, Page 41.) 
 
 " I HAVE attentively read the communication from Sir George Bonham to 
 Mr. Merivale,* on the subject of Coolie emigration from China. 
 
 " In the general views of Sir George Bonham I cordially concur. I think 
 there is a great superfluity of labour in China which might advantageously be 
 transferred to the colonies, and the condition of the emigrant might be greatly 
 benefited if proper security could be obtained, — 1st, as to the honest purposes 
 and proper fulfilment of the original contract ; 2nd, fitting arrangements for the 
 sea voj'age ; and, thirdly, security, when the period of the contract is expired, 
 for the return of the emigrant (should such be his wish) to his native 
 
 country. 
 
 " But I am afraid no adequate security can be found for giving effect to any 
 of these three conditions. The shipment of Coolies is now almost wholly con- 
 fined to unlawful ports where there exists no consular control, and where there 
 can be no doubt shocking abuses and abominations prevail. The crimps em- 
 ployed in the collection of emigrants have been hitherto people of the very 
 worst character, and are frequently sacrificed to the vengeance of the people, 
 and of late, in several cases, have been put to death by the mandarins. The 
 profits of the trade, the enormous premiums given for the collection of emi- 
 £?rants, naturally and necessarily create agents of the lowest and most worthless 
 description. As regards contracts entered into between planters and emigrants 
 in our own colonies, no doubt local authority might give them full effect ; but 
 in most other countries the correspondence of the J'oreign Office will, I appre- 
 hend, show that legislation does not provide any sufficient protection for the 
 emigrant labourer. 
 
 " The securities for the pioper treatment of Coolies during the voyage might 
 be satisfactorily provided, if vessels, let them have collected their emigrants 
 
 by 
 
 * This communication will be found printed at page 22 of the Papers presented to Parliameut 
 ' Her Majesty's Command, "Emigration from China," 1855. 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 where they may, were compelled to clear out at a port where an emigration 
 office and functionaries are established. But since the existence of the Chinese 
 Passengers' Act, which, from the 1st January last, compels all British emigrant 
 ships to come to Hongkong, in order to have their papers examined, I am 
 aware of only one instance (the " Henry Miller," now in harbour, bound to 
 Havanna) in which a cargo of emigrants has been brought to Hongkong in 
 order to fulfil the conditions of the Act, though I have reason to believe many 
 shipments have taken place from Swa tow, Cumsingmoon, and Macao, in none 
 of which is there any British official to control or prevent irregularities. 
 
 " I attach much importance to the condition, as referred to by Sir George 
 Bonham, that after the period of contract is expired, there should be an obli- 
 gation to convey the emigrant home. This condition has been invariably 
 repudiated by contractors, but I think it should be enforced. * * * 
 
 '* No doubt it would be desirable to circulate among the Chinese all possible 
 information which could attract them to the places of their destination ; but 
 such information would be infinitely increased in value if it were furnished by 
 their own countrymen who have preceded them in the countries to which they 
 are invited. If the reputation of a British colony were well established in a 
 district of Kwantung or Fookein no local opposition would prevent emigra- 
 tion to that colony. The Hongkong government might be an auxiliary of 
 great value to the colonies if emigration could be placed on proper foundations, 
 and if it were really in a condition to secure fair contracts, comfortable pas- 
 sages, fit treatment, and ultimate restoration of the emigrant to his native soil ; 
 but it is impossible to close one's eyes to the difficulties of the whole question, 
 whether in reference to the character of the agents employed or to the nature 
 of the competition with the vessels of all nations, and, above all, to the tempta- 
 tions which large profits offer to the violation of law." 
 
 No. 25. ^°- 25- 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 132.) ~^^ 
 
 Sj^ Downing Street, November 20, 1856. 
 
 I HAVE received and considered your despatch,* No. 121, of the 26th of * Page 40. 
 July last, on the subject of emigration from China. 
 
 I have to acquaint you that unless such means as would meet the approval of 
 Her Majesty's Government can be devised for securing a due proportion of 
 females, it is not contemplated to make any endeavour to set on foot an 
 emigration of Chinese to the British Colonies at the public expense. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 26. No. 26. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 Sir ^^°' ^^^^ Downing Street, September 25, 1856 
 
 I have received through the Foreign Office the copy of a letter* 
 addressed to yourself by Her Majesty's consul at Manilla, dated the 28th June 
 last regarding the application of the Uhmese Passengers' Act to voyages 
 between^China and theVilippi^^V^d ^ transmit herewith for your mforma- 
 tion the copy of a report from the Emigration Commissioners on the subject. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H? LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Sept. 15, 1856. 
 
 (250.) ^ 
 
End. in No. 26. 
 
 l( 42 )) 
 
 Enelosure in No. 26. 
 
 SlB, ' Emigration Office,. September 15, 1856. 
 
 We have to acknowledgie your letter of the '6tli' instant, enclosing the copy of 'a 
 letter addressed by Her Majesty's Consul' at Manila to the GovfernOr of Hongkong, 
 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104, relative to the application of the " Chine'sfe Passenger Act " to British vessels carrying 
 Chinese emigrants from China to Manila. i 
 
 2. By the 1st section of the Act, a " Chinese passenger ship " is defined to be " every 
 " ship carrying from any port in Hongkong, and every British ship carrying from any 
 " port in China or within 100 miles of, the ;Coapt; tl^ereofjimore than 20 persons, being 
 " natives of Asia." There cannot be a question, therefore, that a British ship carrying 
 passengers between Amoy and Manila is in the meaning of the Act a " Chinese pas- 
 senger ship." By the 4th section it. is provided that no " Chinese passenger ship " shall 
 proceed to sea on a voyage of more than seven days without emigration papers; and any 
 Chinese passenger ship proceeding on such a voyage' without such papers, is, by the 8th 
 section, forfeited to the Crown. By a proclamation issued by Sir J. Bowring on the 
 26th January last, imder the 3rd section of the Chinese Passenger Act, the length of 
 voyage from Hongkong to Manila is declared to be 20 days, but we are not aware 
 whether any proclamation has been issued by him declaring the length of voyage from 
 the ports of China to other places. We p]:esume, . however, that, even without such a 
 proclamation, any Court before which the question might be raised wovdd have no 
 difficulty in deciding that a voyage from the coast of China to the Philippines was a 
 voyage exceeding seven days. 
 
 3. It follows that the " Fortuna," as a British ship carrying more than 20 Chinese 
 passengers on a voyage exceedirig seven days, was clearly a Chinese passenger ship, and 
 as such' required to be furnished with' emigration papers, and that she might have been 
 seized for the want of them by the British Consul at Manila, or by the commander of any 
 of Her Majesty's ships by whom she might have been met at sea. She will be equally 
 liable to forfeiture whenever she may return to any port in Her Majesty's dominions, 
 provided sufficient proof of her neglect of the law can be produced. We think it probabTe 
 that Sir J. Bowring, who has evinced anxiety to enforce the pfovisidns of the Chinese 
 Passenger Act, will, if he has had the opportujiity, have taken steps to enforce the law 
 against the " Fortuna." We do not doubt that he is fully alive to the exact state of the 
 law in regard to her. . - ,- 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (Signed). T. W. C. Mubdogh. 
 H. Merivale, Esq. Fbederic Rogers. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 No. 27. 
 
 No. 27. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Laboucherb, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 130.) 
 Sir, DowEfirig Street, 14th November 1856. 
 
 Sir E. Buxton, I TRANSMIT herewith the copy of a letter and enclosure from Sir E. 
 
 October 18, 1856. Buxton, together with two reports from the Colonial Land and Emigration 
 Emigration Com- Commissioners, on the subject of the mortahty reported to have occurred 
 missioners, among the Chinese passengers ,ou board iha.- " -Duke of Portland" and the 
 October 30, 1856. " John Calvin " on the voyage from Hongkong to Havana. 
 
 Ditto, ditto, As the mortality on board these; vessels appears to have been of deplorable 
 
 November 6, 1856. extent, I request that you will furnish me with any information which may 
 exist respecting them at Hongkong. - ' 
 
 ' I have; &c. 
 
 (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 End. 1 in No. 27. 
 
 Eiifelosure 1 in No. 27. 
 Mt Lord, Cromer, October 14. 
 
 I HAVE the honoui" to enclose for yoUr Lordship's information an extract from the 
 " Shipping and Mercantile Gazette," which gives a dreadful account, of . the consequences 
 that result from the ill-treatment of Asiatics in their voyage from Hongkong to Cuba. 
 
 I have the honour to request, as President of the Strangers' Home foij Asiatics, that 
 your Lordship will cause an inquiry tb be made into the truth of the, fact stated, and as 
 to the condition of the CooUes after their arrival in Cuba. "'"* • ' 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 The Earl of Clarendcm ^ ,. ,^ (Signiad) EpwD. N. Buxton, 
 
 President. 
 
End. 1 in No. 27* 
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Encloeua-e 1 in No. 27. 
 Extract from the "Shipping and Mercantile Gazette," Friday, 3rd October 1856. , ■p_^?\'^°11t„*°9 
 A New York paper mentions the arrival at Havana of four British ships with 
 cargoes of Coolie labourers. One of the ships, the '•' Duke of Portland," is reported to 
 have sailed'from Hong, Kong with 500 of these peopte on board, out of which number she 
 has landed but 202 ; 130 are said to have died. by natural death upon the voyage, and the 
 residue to have drowned themselves. Another vessel, the "John Calvin," lost 110 by 
 " natural death and suicide " in a passage of 185 days, making a total loss in both ships 
 of 240 Goolies. If the information in our American contemporary be correct the affair 
 demands the prompt attention of the Foreign Office. The unfortunate survivors were, it 
 appears, at once drafted upon estates on^ontraots of eight years' service. We take it for 
 granted that these poor people were voluntary emigrants, and that they simply fell victims 
 to brutal treatment on the voyage. But even this aspect of the affair, if correct, is bad 
 enough, for more reasons th9,n one. Great efforts have been made, more especially of late, 
 to procure a supply of lajjour for our West India colonies. The scarcity of that com- 
 modity lies at the root of the West Indian difficulty. It is advisable by every means to 
 encourage immigration , from the East, or from any other, quarter where it may be legiti- 
 mately procured. 
 
 In a recent article we dwelt at some length, upon the efforts which have been made to 
 procure an adequate supply of labour, more especially in British Guiana, on the results 
 which have* followed those efforts, and on the intereat attending tbe.discuesioft of the 
 labour question throughout the West, In^i?. Islands. .i, It .is of the last importance that 
 emigration to the West should not get into disrepute with the labouring classes of British 
 India and China,, from which countries, large supplies have been heretofore drawn; and 
 nothing is more likely to discourage it than the, barbarities which seem to have attended 
 l^he transport of these, recent cargoes to the shores .of Cuba. Biit what if it turns out that 
 they were cargoes of veHtable slaves, captured or kidnapped in the Bay of Bengal or the 
 Bay of Hong Kong instead of in the Bight of Benin or the Mozambique Channel and 
 conveyed by British vessels to the slave mart of Havana 1 So valuable is the trade which 
 the Cuba planters are now driving at the expense of our colonies that they can afford to 
 pay ^.Imost fabulous prices for labour, and would risk almost anything to procure it. We 
 take the report we have referred to for as much as it is worth, but we shall watch the 
 progress of the necessary inquiry respecting it with some interest. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 27. 
 gjjj Emigration Office, October 30, 1856. 
 
 ■ ' We have to acknowledge your letter of the 25th instant, enclosing one from 
 Sir E. Buxton,, with an extract from the " Shipping and Mercantile Gazette," and desiring 
 us to report what information we may have respecting the two ships the " Duke of 
 |!ortland," and " John Calvin/' said thprein to have sailed from Hongkong to Havana 
 with Chinese passengers, and to have incurred a most frightful mortality on the voyage. 
 
 2 In reply, we have to state that we have received no information whatever on the 
 subject of these ships. We have, hovrever, communicated with the owner of the "John 
 Calvin," with whom we -are acquainted,' and shaU. endeavour to communicate with the 
 owner of the " Duke of Portland," to ascertain whether they have received any informa- 
 tion on the subject. ttt , <, 
 
 We have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) T. W. C. Murdoch. 
 T. F. EUiot, Esq. C. Alexander Wood. 
 
 End. 2 in No. 27 
 
 End. 3 in No. 27. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 27. 
 „ Emigration Office, November 6, 1856. 
 
 '^ With reference to our report of the 30th ultimo, we have to state that 
 Mr Duncan Gibb, whom we bad supposed to be the owner of the " John Calvin," has 
 informed us that he sold his. vessel of that name some time ago, and that the vessel 
 reported to have arrived at Havana with Chinese immigrants, though; bearing the same 
 name is not the same vessel. As.ther&is no vessel pf the name in Lloyd s list, we are 
 unable to obtain any farther particulars about her. ,. n . xi -kt -ir i 
 
 2 In respect to the " Duke of .Portland," the other vessel mentioned m the New York 
 pap;r, we enclose the copy of a letter whiqh we hayereceived from th^ wner. It wJl ^^ 
 
 L seen from this letter that the whole number originally embarked was 330, and that 
 
 of these iTo or 2-5ths of the whole, died on the voyage. This is so shocking a mor- 
 ?alitv that Mr. Labouchere will probably think it right to endeavour to obtain, through 
 Her Majest^ Consul at Havana, a« well as from -the Governor of Hongkong, some 
 explanation of the causes -which led to it. We have, &c. 
 
 TT Tir • T War. (Signed) T. V. 0. Murdoch. 
 
 H. Merivale. Esq. V S ; c. Alexander Wood. 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 (250) 
 
 F2 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 Sub.-Encl. to 
 End. 3 in No. 27. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 3. 
 
 Sir, Greenock, November 1, 1856. 
 
 In reply to your favour of 29th ultimo, received this morning, we beg to state 
 that the " Duke of Portland " took on board 330 emigrants (not 500 as reported) ; of 
 these 130 were lost from natural death (chiefly fever we understand) and suicide, hnt we 
 have no particulars as to the number lost by each cause. The remainder, 200, were 
 safely landed at Havana. 
 
 From what we know of the master, we feel certain that no improper harshness would 
 be used towards the passengers. The passage was a very protracted and severe one ; 
 besides the severe gales in rounding the Cape of Good Hope for three weeks, three 
 hurricanes were encountered in the Carribean Sea in as many days. Both master and 
 crew were quite exhausted on their arrival ; 'one or two of the latter died, and the chief 
 mate was off duty two months. 
 
 We are, &c. 
 
 S. Walcott, Esq., Secretary. (Signed) Thomas Hamlin and Co. 
 
 m. 28. 
 
 November26,1856. 
 
 Dec ember 18. 
 
 October 31. 
 
 No. 28. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchebe, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 4.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, 7th January, 1857. 
 
 1. I have had before me various despatches addressed by you to me, 
 and others addressed to the Foreign Department, which have been referred 
 from thence to this office, raising important questions connected with the 
 enforcement of the Imperial statute styled the Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 2. The questions may be enumerated as follows :— 
 
 First. The propriety of any interference by Her Majesty's cruisers, under 
 the provisions of this Act, whether on the high seas or in any place beyond 
 British jurisdiction, either with foreign vessels or with vessels not strictly 
 entitled to any national flag. 
 
 Secondly. The application of the Chinese Passengers* Act to vessels pro- 
 ceeding from China to the Philippine Islands. 
 
 Thirdly. The practicability of preventing an evasion of the Act, pointed out 
 by Mr. Robertson, Her Majesty's Consul at Shanghae, by means of British 
 vessels conveying emigrants from Hongkong to some unauthorized port in 
 China, and there trans-shipping them into other vessels for conveyance to 
 distant countries, 
 
 3. I transmit to you an extract of a report from the law officers of the Crown, 
 dated the 20th of November, containing their opinion on the two first of these 
 questions, together with an extract of another report, dated the 1 1th of De- 
 cember, containing their opinion on the third question ; I also enclose copies 
 or extracts of two reports from the Emigration Commissioners, dated the 
 26th of November and the 18th of December, on the subject of emigration to 
 the Philippines, and of a report from them dated the 31st of October on the 
 subject of the evasion pointed out by Mr. Robertson at Shanghae. 
 
 4. Some of these questions have been raised by you, as Governor of Hong- 
 kong, and others in your capacity of superintendent of trade, but seeing how 
 closely they are connected together, I have settled, in concert with the Earl 
 of Clarendon, that you should receive your directions upon the whole of them 
 in the present despatch. I have, therefore, to instruct you as follows : — 
 
 First. No attempt is to be made to enforce the Chinese Passengers' Act 
 against a foreign ship, either on the high seas or anywhere else out of British 
 jurisdiction ; neither is any such attempt to be made in respect to vessels 
 supposed to be not strictly entitled to any national flag. 
 
 Secondly. As regards voyages in British ships from China to the Philippine 
 Islands, I agree in the opinions expressed in the reports of the Emigration 
 Commissioners, dated the 26th of November and 18th of December ; and I have 
 to authorize you to take such steps as appear to you most expedient for 
 carrying them into effect, seeing that the law officres have reported that you 
 possess the requisite legal power. You will, therefore, proclaim the length of 
 passages from Chinese ports as wfell as from Hongkong under the third section 
 of the Imperial Act, having reference in such proclamation to the difference in 
 the length of voyages during the north-east and south-west monsoon ; and you 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 will not pass any local Ordinance which would relieve any vessels now subject 
 to the Imperial Act from its operation. There occurs here a subordinate 
 question, whether the Consul at Amoy may be appointed an emigration agent, 
 on which point you will receive instructions from the P'oreign Department. In 
 the evedt of such an appointment being made, you will, of course, communicate 
 with the Consul at Amoy on all matters connected with the enforcement of the 
 Chinese Passengers' Act at that port. 
 
 Thirdly. If the trans-shipment alluded to by Mr. Robertson be made from 
 one British vessel to another, this latter becomes immediately a Chinese 
 passenger ship under the terms of the Act. In sailing from a remote port, 
 she may, indeed, violate the Act, but she cannot be said to evade it, since its 
 enactments fully extend to her ; and if detected in a deviation from them, she 
 remains liable to the penalties of the law. Should a British vessel, carrying 
 Chinese passengers, be met on the high seas without being furnished with 
 regular papers, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have hitherto been 
 unwilling to impose on the commanders of Her Majesty's cruisers the respon- 
 sibility of actually seizing such a vessel, unless the passengers should appear to 
 be suffering from ill-usage or neglect. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 28. g^^^l 1 i^ No. 28. 
 
 SiE, Emigration Office, November 26, 1856. 
 
 We have to acknowledge your letter of 13th. instant, enclosing a letter addressed 
 to the Earl of Clarendon by the Consul at Manila, accompanied by letters from 
 Sir J. Bowring and the Attorney-General of Honkgong, on the subject of the British ship 
 " Fortuna " which had carried Chinese emigrants from Amoy to Manila without com- 
 plying with the requirements of the Chinese Passengers Act. 
 
 2. In our report of the 15 th September* last we expressed our opinion that the • Page 49. 
 " Fortuna" had violated the provisions of the Passengers Act in not procuring the 
 " emigration papers " required for vessels proceeding on a voyage of more than seven 
 days' duration, and that she had accordingly rendered herself liable to forfeiture. The 
 same opinion is expressed very decidedly by the Attorney-General of Hongkong and 
 Sir J. Bowring. The Consul we perceive states that the voyage from Hongkong to 
 Manila is sometimes made in five, and even in three days in the favourable monsoon, 
 and that an average voyage from Amoy at the same season would be seven, but against 
 the monsoon fifteen days. As regards a voyage from Hongkong to Manila, Sir J. Bow- 
 ring's proclamation of 26th January last fixes it at twenty days, and as the voyage from 
 Amoy is longer, it is scarcely credible that any Court would assume it to be less than 
 seven days on the ground that it was not included in the proclamation. But to prevent 
 any doubt or difficulty on the matter hereafter, it would be desirable that Sir J. Bowring 
 should issue a proclamation under the third section of the Chinese Passengers Act, defining 
 the length of voyages from ports on the continent of China as well as from Hongkong. And 
 we wotild suggest the question whether in certain cases the proclaimed'duration of the voyage 
 should not be made to vary according to the season, since the compelling a shipping agent 
 to put on board during the favourable monsoon a quantity of provisions which could only 
 be required during the unfavourable monsoon would be unnecessary in itself, and would 
 tend to diminish the inducement to send off emigrants during the fittest season. 
 
 We have, &c., 
 Herman Merivale, Esq., (Signed) T. W. C. MuEDOOH. 
 
 ^g &c. Fredeeic Rogees. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 28. •g^j.j 2 in No. 28. 
 
 ExTBACT of a Repoet from the Emigeation Commissionees to H. Mebivale, Esq., 
 dated Emigration Office, December 18, 1856. 
 
 " The questions raised by Sir J. Bowring relate, first, to the mode of dealing with 
 non-British ships which fit in Hongkong, but take their passengers onboard beyond the 
 limits of the colony, and thus escape the operation of the Passengers Act ; and, second, to 
 the course to be adopted in regard to emigration to, the Philippine Islands and the Indian 
 
 ''^oKe first of these points we are happy to perceive that the view which we sub- 
 mitted in our report of 28th of June last is sanctioned by the law officers of the Crown. 
 Upon this point, therefore, there can be no difficulty in deciding on the instructions to be 
 issued to Sir J. Bowring. 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 , "The second question is more, complicated. It is urged by Jffeasrs. Lime, the owners of' 
 the ' Fortuna/ which has been engaged in this trade and by, Messrs, Tait andipo,.,. whp 
 had chartered the ' Fej-ozepore' for Manila, supported, to a great extent )3y Mr. Morrison 
 the Consul at Ainoj'-jthat the provisions of the Chinese Passengers Act are in reality inappli- 
 cable to voyages to the Philippine Islands and the Straits settlements, that the passage to 
 Manila or Singapore is short, that the passengers are not ignorant Coolies but mechanics, 
 who have either made the passage before, or are acquainted with the circumstances of it frOni^ 
 others, that they contract for their own passages and supply their own provisions, the ship* 
 finding only water, and in case of emergency rice ; that it is the interest of the master to treat 
 the passengers well, and that , the trade has. been in existence for many years without 
 giving rise to complaint. They further point out that to jBompel British vessel^, engaged, 
 ill this business to proceed from Amoy or other ports to Hongkong fqr emigration papers 
 (asunder the present arrangements they must do) would be yirtuaily to, exclude them, 
 from the business and to throw it, into the hands of forei^ers; as regards Manila 
 into the hands of Spaniards, and as regiards the Straits settlements into the hands of 
 the Dutch. It is therefore suggefstedtliat voj^ages' from Atiiby to Manila and Singapore 
 should be exempted from' the operation of the Act by a local Ordinance, to be parsed 
 under the authority of the second section of it. '■ ' "■■_' 
 
 " There is no doubt much weight in the above representations, but they do not satisfy' 
 us that it is necessary or expedient to exempt the pa§senger, trafiic in British vessels toi 
 the Philippines and the Straits, from control and supervision. The passage from Amoy 
 to Manila or Singapore, is; in the favourable monsoon aboutseven days, •but against ihe 
 monsoon 1 5 days, and " the utmost limit in unfa vourablfe weather is within six, weeks ;" 
 the emigrants are a poor and singularly penurious class, and under" the present system 
 are left to supply their own provisions, and it is admitted that the Spanish ships are 
 often ' excessively overcrowded.' ^ Here" then, as "it appears to us, are strong grounds for 
 requiring the supervision of Governinent. , WJjgre, a, voyage is liable to such extreme 
 variations as between seven days and six weeks, there wiU always be a probability, if 
 the owner is left uncontrolledythat the -ship wiU be sent to sea. provided pnly^for the 
 shorter, or at the utmost for an average, voyage; and this^ probabilty is increased where 
 the emigrants find their own provisions. We know from what occurred in the emigration 
 from^ this country, when a similar system was in force here, that many emigrants 
 embarked with a stock of provisions insufficient for even an average voyage, and of 
 course quite inadequate for a protracted one. It was because of the frequent occurrence 
 of such cases,- and the suffering and sickness produced by them, that, in the English 
 Passengers Act a compulsory dietaiy was provided, suflScieht for the maintenance of the 
 people, irrespective of whatever they might provide for themselves. Looking to the 
 penurious habits of the ChinesCj it does not appear to us saf6 to exempt the vessels in 
 which they are conveyed from that provision of the Chinese Passengers Act which requires 
 the ship to ptovide a sufficient dietary far the passengers. ' 
 
 "Again in regard to space, it appears to us essentiar that notwithstanding the 'com- 
 parative shortness of the voyage, British ships engaged in the . trade should be subjected 
 to control. The allegation that no complaint has heretofore been made, is scarcely 
 sufficient ^proof that no ground of complaint has existed, and if it is the fact that Spanish 
 vessels have been excessively overcrowded, we see no reason why the same thing might 
 not occur in British ships.^ Considering that the voyage is within the Tropics, and 
 during the unfavourable monsoon consists in beating to windward, it is plain that great 
 risk of sickness might be the result- of overcrowding, even in a short voyage. And it 
 cannot be forgotten that some of the most scandalous cases of abuse in Chinese emigration, 
 involving an excessive crowding Of the passengers, and consequent mortality^ have ,taken 
 place on board British ships. For these reasons we do not think it would be right to 
 authorize Sir J. Bovrring to comply with the suggestion that the emigration to. Manilai 
 or the Straits should be removed from the control of the Passengers Act. 
 
 ■■' But the objection urged against requiring all vessels from whatever port to proceed 
 to Hongkong for emigration papers, appears reasonable. In the south-'yirest monsoon it 
 is probable that a vessel would not reach Hongkong from Amoy; in much less than a 
 week, and if destined for Manila, she would scarcely be nearer her destination at Hong- 
 kong than at Amoy. The delay- to vessels preceeding^fr-om a more northerly port would 
 of course be greater. The result mnst .be. as is alleged, to drive British vessels entirely 
 out of the trade from those ports, unless, as is probable, it should induce them to carry 
 it on in defiance of the law, taking their jchance of being stopped on. their voyage by any 
 of Her Majesty's cruizers. iBTDE 4?, it iik respect ;tQ the.' short voyages only that this result 
 will foUow. It will eventually be equally the case in the long voyages across the Papific, 
 or round Cape Horn, But such a result is not' to be. desired. It would throw the 
 trade into the hands of foreigners, who would be uiider no control,' or of British subjects 
 who would be in conflict vnth the law, and either class would be likely in conducting 
 it to consider little beyond the profits of the particulaf voyage. The improvement in 
 the general trade which might be expected to follow from the example of a well con- 
 ducted system would be lost^ and Chinese emigration would continue as at present, to be 
 marked by occasional disasters of an appalling description. 
 
 " It appears to us then of much importance that an emigration officer should be established 
 at Amoy, gs weli as at Hongkong, to carry out the Chinese Passengers Act, Sir J. 
 
i 47 ) 
 
 Bo-wring- asks whaufc is to be done at ports wlifere there is no consular authority, suc^h as 
 Swatow, Namoa, &c. We presume that at such ports British trade, whether in passengers 
 or in anything else, is illegal and contrary to treaty, and Her Majesty's Government 
 cannot make any arrangement which would reheve British vessels frequenting those ports 
 from thOj risks which they thereby run, or would imply any sanction of their doing so. 
 But if any such yessels. carrying passengers proceed either to Hongkong or Amoy, and 
 there take out emigration papers, they wotila be relieved from the liability to seizure by 
 Her Majesty's cruizers for violating the Chinese Passengers Act. We gather from the 
 papers before us, that at present there is no emigration from ports to the north of Amoy, 
 so that the appointment of an addiySsnal emigratiori afent at that port would meet the 
 case as tar as Her Majesty's Government can meet it. It will be for the Foreign OflSce 
 to decide whether the duties of emigration officer can be properly devolved on the Consul. 
 On that point we do not venti:p-e to offer an opinion." 
 
 Endosure 3, in No. 28. End. 3, in No. 28. 
 
 Extract "of a Eepoet from tlie Emigration CoMMissioiirEES to H. Merivale, Esq., dated 
 
 ' Emigration Office, October 31, 1856. 
 
 " The Consul at Shanghai, Mr. Robertson, states that the Chinese Passengers Act 
 is evaded by British ships clearing for Swatow, ' a Chinese port capable of being reached 
 ' withifi. the period of seven days at this season,' and there transhipping the passengers 
 into other Vessels to be carried to America, the Havana, or elsewhere. By this means, 
 lie says, the 4th section of the Chinese Passengers Act is evaded, and the local Ordinance, 
 No. 9, of 1856, will be equally insufficient when it comes into operation. 
 
 " Now it wiU be seen, on reference to the Chinese Passengers Act (18 & 19 Vict, c. 1 04) 
 that by Section 2 a Chinese passenger ship is defined to be 'every ship carrying from 
 'any port in Hongkong, and every British ship carrying from any port in China, or 
 '■vyithin 100 miles of the coast thereof, more than 20 passengers, being natives of Asia,' 
 "and by Section 4 eviery Chinese passenger ship proceeding on a voyage of more than 
 'seven days is required to be provided with emigration papers. The Colonial Ordinance 
 (No. 9 of 1856)* jiassed in May last further provides (Section 3) that any Chinese pas- 
 senger ship clearing out from a port in' Hongkong Or China, or within 100 miles of the 
 coast, on a voyage to any port, for the purpose of commencing ofrom silch latter port a 
 voyage of more than seven days' duration; shsill be deemed, within the meaning of the 
 Chinese Passengers Act, to have cleared out from the port it originally left.. This Ordi- 
 nance was referred to us on the 9th of August last, and on the 19th of that month we 
 pointed out some particulars in which it appeared to require amendment. But as no 
 objection was taken to its principle it will no doubt be re-enacted very shortly by the 
 Colonial Legislature^ . , , . 
 
 " Looking to these enactments we are unable to understand in what way a British veSsel 
 proceeding with passengers in the first instance to Swatow, a Chinese port, on taking 
 passengers on board therie, and tlience taking her final departure on a Voyage eicebeding 
 seVefiL' days, can be supposed to remove herself from the .operation of the Chinese Pas- 
 sengers Act. It is no doubt the fact that, by sailing from a remote port where there, are 
 no British authorities, a vessel may bid defiance to the law, and if not intercepted by any 
 of Her Majesty's cruisers, may escape with impunity. But no alteration or increased 
 stringency in the law will prevent such an offence as this. The only hope of preventing 
 it is by the vi^ance of -Her Majesty's cruisers, and by the infliction of a heavy penalty 
 wherever it is aiacovered. , Upon this point we would venture to call attention to the 
 ffourthparagrapLof our Report of the 3rd of April. last. The case which we there put 
 ItTpothetically appears to:be exactly the case which has occurred, and has given rise to 
 Mr. Robertson's' letter." ;. • 
 
 No. 29.; Na.29. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Laboucheee, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowbing. 
 
 o Downing Street, March 14, 1857- 
 
 With ref€renGe to my despatch,* No. 1.30, of the 14th of November last, * Page 42. 
 sendinsr to you such accounts as had at that time been received at this office 
 of the deolorable mortality on board of two Chinese emigrant ships, named the 
 « Dute of Portland" and the "John Calvin," I jtransmit herewith two letters February 3, 1857. 
 f m the Board of Trttde. The first of these letters encloses an account of an February 5, 1857. 
 
 * See Papers presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's command, February 1857. 
 "' (260;) F4 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 inquiry into this case by the Local Marine Board of London. The second 
 encloses some other documents, including a statement by the chief mate of the 
 " Duke of Portland," with explanatory notes by the captain in the margin, and 
 also a copy of the certificate granted to the " Duke of Portland " by the 
 March 14, 1857. emigration officer at Hongkong. I am likewise desired to enclose a copy of 
 ' the answer returned from this department to the Board of Trade. 
 
 Accounts have been received from Her Majesty's Consul at Havannah, in 
 which he agrees with the Local Board in London, in exonerating from blame 
 the master and the parties interested in the ship. He states that there is no 
 reason to doubt that the emigrants w^ere treated with every care and humanity. 
 He says, that a fatal disease manifested itself among the Coolies, and that they 
 were probably predisposed to infection from not being in good condition when 
 they were put on board. Both the " Duke of Portland " and the " John Calvin" 
 are stated to have had a plentiful supply of water taken in at Hongkong, but, 
 the Consul remarks, that it is supposed that it was not of a quality suitable to 
 so long a voyage, and that it was often complained of by the passengers. 
 * Page 54. From the enclosures to your despatch* to the Earl of Clarendon, No. 5, dated 
 
 the 1st of January, it appears that the passengers embarked in the "John 
 " Calvin " were duly inspected, and the correctness of their agreements ascer- 
 t Page 51. tained. In compliance with the concluding suggestion in the letterf from the 
 Board of Trade, dated the 5th of February, 1 have to request that you will 
 inquire what record or evidence may exist that a similar course was pursued in 
 regard to the " Duke of Portland." 
 
 With respect to both vessels, I wish an explanation upon the numbers which 
 they were computed to be legally qualified to carry. The body of rules 
 appended to the Chinese Passengers Act required for each passenger a space of 
 five superficial feet on the upper and 12 superficial feet on the lower deck. 
 I am not aware that the Hongkong Legislature has exercised its power to 
 substitute another set of rules ; but the figures embodied in the Emigration 
 Officers' certificates would only allow about three superficial feet above and 
 eight below, in proportion to the number of passengers declared admissible in 
 the " John Calvin " and " Duke of Portland." I shall be glad to receive a 
 report on this subject. The space prescribed in the rules annexed is, in my 
 opinion, decidedly not larger than sufficient, and it ought not to be diminished. 
 I may also remark, that no requirement of the Passengers Act is more important 
 than the one limiting the numbers to be carried, and that it is additionally 
 useful from its simplicity, and from the consequent ease with which this security 
 for the good of the passengers can be enforced. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, I have, &c. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 End. in No. 29. Enclosure in No. 29. 
 
 Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, 
 Sib, Whitehall, February 3, 1857. 
 
 I AM directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to 
 request that you wUl call the attention of Mr. Secretary Labouchere to the case of the 
 mortality among Chinese emigrants on board the ship " Duke of Portland," on her voyage 
 from Hongkong to the Havana, in the year 1856. 
 
 My Lords' attention was called to this case by proceedings in one of the police courts, 
 reported in the " Times " of the 5th December. They immediately requested the Local 
 Marine Board of London to inquire into the case. That Board has made its report, and 
 a copy of the report, and of the evidence taken, is enclosed for Mr. Labouchere's infor- 
 mation. The evidence given before the Board is confirmed by the entries in the official 
 log, which has been examined at this office. 
 
 The report and evidence contain a full statement of all that happened during the 
 voyage. They show that of 332 emigrants shipped, no less than 128 died on the passage, 
 most, as it appears, from fever, and some by suicide. They give an account of the first 
 appearance of discontent and mutinous conduct on the part of the emigrants in the port 
 of Hongkong, and they show the steps taken by the captain in the course of the voyage. 
 My Lords have, however, been anxious to obtain fm*ther information upon one or two 
 points, to which the attention of the Local Marine Board does not seem to have been 
 specially directed. 
 
 These points are : — : 
 
 1. By what persons and on whose behalf the ship was chartered for the voyage in 
 question. , 
 
{ 49 ) 
 
 2, How it happened that the ship left Hongkong on such a voyage so late in the 
 season. 
 
 3. The conduct of the emigration officer at Hongkong, whose duty it was to enforce 
 the provisions of the Chinese Passengers Act. 
 
 On these points Captain Seymour, who has shown willingness throughout to give a 
 full account of the matter, will no doubt be able to give information. He is at present 
 away from London, but if he returns, or if my Lords can obtain the information from 
 other quarters, they will forward it for Mr. Labouchere's information. 
 
 In the meantime they request that you will call his especial attention to the following 
 points : — 
 
 1. This is a case in which the ship took in her emigrants at and sailed from Hongkong, 
 and that there ought therefore to have been no difficulty whatever in applying strictly 
 the provisions of the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855. 
 
 2. That if those provisions and the regulations adopted under them concerning room, 
 ventilation, &c., were complied with, there is good reason for thinking that the 
 regulations are wholly insufficient to effect the desired object, at any rate for such a 
 voyage in such latitudes, and commenced at such a time of year as that of the " Duke of 
 " Portland." 
 
 3. Mr. Labouchere will observe, that the first appearance of discontent or mutinous 
 conduct on the part of the emigrants appears to have arisen from the belief on the part 
 of those last shipped that they had been cheated by those who had engaged them. It 
 is therefore very important to learn whether the emigration officer did, according to the 
 terms of the certificate given in Schedule (B.) of the Chinese Passengers Act, inspect the 
 contracts between the emigrants and their intended employers, and satisfy himself that 
 they were reasonable, and that no fraud was practised in collecting the emigrants. 
 
 Under the above circumstances, my lords would suggest for Mr. Labouchere's con- 
 sideration, that instructions should be given to the Governor of Hongkong to make the 
 strictest inquiries concerning the circumstances under which the " Duke of Portland " 
 left Hongkong, and concerning the conduct of the emigration officer with respect to that 
 
 vessel. 
 
 It will, as it appears to my Lords, be also necessary to have it considered whether the 
 regulations already adopted by the authorities at Hongkong under the Chinese Passengers 
 Act are sufficient for the purpose, or whether further and more stringent regulations are 
 necessary. 
 
 I am to add that my Lords have communicated the facts of this case to the Foreign 
 Office. I liave, &c. 
 
 H. Merivale, Esq. (Signed) James Booth. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to. Enclosure 1 in No. 29. Sub-Encl. to 
 
 Local Marine Board, 71, CornhiU, ^"^1- ^ ^"^ ^°- ^^• 
 gjjj January 20, 1857. 
 
 ' In compliance with your letter of 7th instant, this Board has caused inquiry to 
 be made into the extraordinary mortality on board the ship " Duke of Portland," on a 
 voyage from China to the Havannah with emigrants. 
 
 Every facility has been affiDrded by the owner and captain of the ship. 
 
 This Board are unanimously of opinion that no blame attaches to them, or any one 
 connected with the ship ; that Captain Seymour's conduct to the emigrants appears to 
 have been kind and attentive, and that every possible precaution was used by him to 
 decrease the mortality. Dr. Ludgatt appears also to have exerted himself for the same 
 
 ^"^°e ^details of this unfortunate voyage will be found in full in the copy of Captain 
 Seymour's letter to the owner, Mr. HamUn, and the copy of the proceedings at the 
 investigation, both sent herewith. , j i, ,r, . i ^ 
 
 It appears to this Board that the mortahty was greatly aggravated by the great heat 
 and unusual length of the passage (150 days) caused by the sailing of the ship m an 
 improper season ; she sailed fuU one month later than she ought to have done, to enable 
 her to get down the China Seas. I am, &c^ 
 
 T H Farrer, Esq., (Signed) D. Dtjnbae, 
 
 Marine Department, Whitehall Chairman. 
 
 Local Marine Board, 71, Comhillj 
 January 8, 1857. 
 
 Investigation into Circumstances attending the Mortahty of Chmese Emigrants 
 whSron board the Ship " Duke of Portland," on her Passage from Hongkong to the 
 
 Havana. 
 
 Present : 
 
 Messrs. Dunbae, Phillips, Geeen, Anderson, Ingham, and Captain Denny. 
 
 f; Duncan Dunbae, Esq., in the Chair. 
 
 Captain'^. N.S%mour, master, and Mr. Thomas Hamlin, owner of the "Duke of 
 
 Portland," attended before the board. 
 
 (250.) ^ 
 
< 50 ) 
 
 The letter of the "Zth instant from the Board of Trade, calling* thp .atte|i|Lon of this 
 Board to a statement in the " Shipping Gazette " of the 6th instant concerning the 
 mortality, was then read. ^ ■ . . , 
 
 Captain Seymour stated: — "We left Hongkong Avith, 332 Chinese coolies; we had 
 been measured for 334. We had a surgeon who had been all the voyage from London 
 to New Zealand, and thence to China, He had ,a diploma. He had been approv;^d by 
 Captain Lane, Government Agent. We took out the Bishop of New Zealand and other 
 passengers. We were to be paid a lump sum per head for all the Chinese coolies landed 
 alive at the Havana. We received nothing for those who died. The coolies appeared in 
 good health when shipped ; that was the general opinion on our leaving China. There 
 were ample medicines put on board by the owner. We had water from China in excess." 
 
 Captain Seymour then read a letter which he had addressed to the owner ; it was 
 dated "Havana, 10th September 1856," in which he states, that the emigrants were 
 all on board on the 31st March 1856. " On 2d April, when hove short and ready foi 
 sailing, the Chinese crowded aft, took belaying pins from the rails and armed themselves 
 with fire-wood, yeUing and shouting in a fearful manner, throwing every thing moveable 
 overboard. He then had an interview with the stipendiary magistrate, at the Supreme 
 Court, who came on board with a pohce force ; the coolies laughed at them, and at length 
 they were driven below at the point of the bayonet. Then planted my two guns inside 
 the cuddy door, loaded them with griape and canister, had the carronades loaded £ind 
 placed at the poop fife raU; gaye, the men a cutlass each; Mr. May (magistrate) was 
 then on board. He left a serjeant and five policemen on board, for sentries during the 
 night. At daylight I was out of the road?. When at sea they refused to cook. The 
 third day I had the first suicide, and on an average I had three suicides daily between 
 Hongkong and until I passed the Straits of Sunda. ; 
 
 "On the morning of the 15th I discovered a plan among the Chinese to take the ship: 
 the same afternoon they carried their plan out, but as I was quite prepared for therd, a 
 few well-directed blows from the flat of a cutlass prevented the rush, and J. Williams 
 jumped overboard and saved the man who had been thrown from the forecastle ; after 
 the failure of the attempt they became quieter, but I had usually 12 to 18 in irons, for 
 riotous behaviour or attempted suicide. 
 
 " On evening of 28th an attempt was made to rescue None of their ringleaders who I 
 had put in irons ; one of them threw a large bone at me when trying to pacify them : ,1 
 then thought it time to clear the decks, and in the struggle one was wounded in the side. 
 I called at the Cocoa Islands in hopes of getting vegetables, fresh meat, and fish, for the 
 invalids, but was. much disappointed with the result of my visit." 
 
 (Above from the letter.) * 
 
 Captain Seymour then stated— "We lost 128 Chinese before arriving at the Havana 
 chiefly from congestive fever ; it is like the Hongkong fever. We lost one of the crew. 
 I think the coolies brought the seeds of the disease on board with them. When they 
 would not eat I have tried to force food down their throats. We were 150 days on our 
 passage from China to the Havana. We rernaihed three days at St. Helena. We had 
 vegetables from St. Helena to within a few days of our arrival at the Havana. All the 
 opium for the Chinese was consumed before we arrived at St. Helena. The Chinese 
 mutinied before we sailed from Hongkong, on account of their wanting more money. I 
 beUeve one-third of them were kidnapped. They had spent the money they had before 
 leaving China. The surgeon was kind to them; I was with them much more than the 
 surgeon was, he saw them always twice a day. The Chinese were shipped under the 
 direction of the chief magistrate ; I have a document froni hiin, stating that all required 
 for them was shipped. The entries regarding the assistance rendered by the magistrate 
 at Hongkong, were made a day or two after in the official log. ; The opium required by 
 law was put'.on board in China, and I got more at St. Helena. I gave the doctor fuU 
 authority at St. Helena to get all the opium and medicines he required." • 
 
 (Entries in the official log regarding the disturbance previous to sailing, the raedical 
 treatment, and the plan for giving more air to the emigrants, were then read.) 
 
 Captain Seymour then stated, — " The ship is 533 tons. The emigrants had the whole of 
 the lower deck, excepting the cuddy. We could see the difierence between those who died 
 from congestive fever and those who suffered from the want of opium. In April the ther- 
 mometer in my cabin ranged from 82° to 90°. The season of the year was bad for them. 
 The ship had scuttles. She has carried emigrants before. I was 100 days to St. Helena. 
 The loss of the monsoon in the China Sea was caused by our detention in China. They 
 could not get the people ready for shipping. We sailed from Hongkong on the 2nd 
 April. Only one man was injured in the ■disturbainp^ ; he was wounded,. The 'John 
 Calvin' sailed about three weeks before me, and arrived after me. The scurvy was 
 frightful on board that ship ; we had none. I was told by the consul at the Havana that 
 I was the first ship arrived there without scurvy on board. I was without a chief mate 
 for two months coming home ; he was below, ' sick, and off' the Cape too, in bad 
 weather." . , 
 
 The interpreter, a Chinese, who came from China in the ship, was examined ; he stated, 
 " The first time come on board ship, Chinamen complain ; had not money, wanted captain 
 to pay them." 
 
( 61 ) 
 
 Captain Seymour here stated, " They agree to serve for so long a period. They got 
 food, clothing and everything. They complained they had one dollar given to them 
 instead of eight. ± ^ o 
 
 The interpreter then stated :-" Some sick jump overboard. I keep men always to look 
 alter sick. JJont know why that man jump .overboard. They had food prepared 
 regularly Ihey wanted to get possession of the ship ; said they would never get back to 
 Lhina ; they wanted to set her on fire. Some men say, not teU me. They threatened to 
 Jmime and the captain. I believe the men only got one dollar. One 'PortugaF take 
 money irom them going down. The madarin told them they would be paid more when 
 tney got on boai^. One day only at sea, in a gale of wmd, they only had biscuits; 
 could not cook. The doctor saw them two or three times a day." 
 
 L-aptain Seymour also stated :— "I never laid down in my bed without a cutlass at my 
 oelt. i believe the men all received their eight doUars, because there had been a previous 
 row about it, in the 'John Calvin.' We had twenty-five Chinese, from Hongkong ; all 
 the others were from Macao." >= & > 
 
 The inquiry was then adjourned until the 15th instant for the purpose of obtainina; 
 the evidence of the surgeon. 
 
 Local Marine Board, 71, Oomhill, 
 January 15, 1857. 
 Present : 
 
 Messrs. Dunbae, Green, Ingham, and Anderson, and Captaias Denny, and Hunter. 
 
 Duncan Dunbar, Esq., in the Chair. 
 The Board resumed the investigation into the circumstances attending the mortality of 
 Chinese emigrants whilst on board the ship "Duke of Portland," adjourned from the 
 8th instant. 
 
 Captain G. JST. Seymour, the master, and Mr. Thomas Hamlin, the owner, attended 
 before the Board. 
 
 Mr. David Ludgat, surgeon of the " Duke of Portland," was then called in ; he 
 stated : — 
 
 " A low typhoid fever generally prevailing among the low class of Chinese was brought 
 on board by them when shipped at Hongkong. "Sufficient food was provided for the 
 coplies. The sickness was attributed to improper food used by themselves, such as onions 
 and pickles. A number of suicides took plaice, but many more would have taken place 
 had not the boat been kept in readiness to pick those up who jumped overboard. 
 The Chinese were kindly treated all the time, both as to diet and other neces- 
 saries of life, and were supplied with the usual quantity of opium. I have not seen 
 any of the cases on shore, but had the symptoms of the peculiar fever which the 
 Chinese are subject to described to me by the medical officer of the hospital. The 
 symptoms on board were the same as those described to me by the medical officer. I 
 prescribed the same medicines and treatment as adopted in the hospital. The fever 
 appeared among the coolies after they had been three days on board. Within a week 
 after sailing as many as sixty cases had appeared. All the symptoms on board were the 
 same as thpse described by Dr. Barton, the hospital surgeon. The berthing was in every 
 way well fitted. The habits of the Chinese were very filthy. Every means was used to 
 correct their habits, by taking every precaution to keep them as clean as possible. The 
 length of the voyage aggravated the symptom^ and increased the number. The number 
 of deaths were nearly the same all the voyage, but increased in malignity. The deaths 
 after our arrival* at Havana were much the same. No expedient to ensure carrying 
 coolies such a long voyage can be put in force but to lessen the numbers. This disease 
 would be infectious among, persons of .low habits, but with those more robust not so. 
 The coolies had food so regular on board that they had no occasion to complain. The 
 boatswain was the only ones of th^ crew that died. The mate and steward were seized 
 with the disease, but they, recovered : they were occupied more among the Chinese than 
 others of the crew ; I am disponed to think that the disease is infectious.. When the 
 disinfecting matter was aU used, the tVeen-decks were fumigated with boiling pitch daily, 
 when possible to do it. The cooHes died from debility and affection of the liver and lungs, 
 and exhaustion arising from the seeds of the disease. The chief mate was treated for the 
 same disease previous to sailing from Hongkong. As many of the coolies as could 
 be allowed with safety were ordered on deck daily. Captain Seymour's conduct was 
 attentive at aU times to the Chinese in satisfying their wants and attending to their 
 cleanliness. Those of the Chinese who attempted to commit suicide, and were picked up, 
 generally made a second attempt ; they were then more carefully looked after." 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 29. End. 2 in No. 29. 
 
 Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, 
 giR^ WhitehaU, February 5, 1857. ■ 
 
 Referring to Mr. Booth's letter * of the 3d instant, on the subject of the mortality ^ 
 onboard the ship "Duke of Portland," I am directed by the Lords of the Committee - -^"S® ^°- 
 (250) G 2 
 
( 5^ ) 
 
 No. 
 
 1. 
 
 No. 
 
 2. 
 
 No. 
 
 3. 
 
 Nos. 4 & 5. 
 Being very volu- 
 minous, are not 
 printed. 
 
 Marginal Notes by 
 Captain Seymour. 
 
 Measured by harbour- 
 master, -who inspected 
 the ship twice. 
 
 * These 86 were in an 
 exhausted state from 
 sea sickness, haying 
 
 of Privy Council for Trade to enclose, for Mr. Labouehere's information, the following 
 documents : — 
 
 Copy of questions addressed to the master of the " Duke of Portland," and of his 
 replies. 
 
 Copy of a statement made by John Hagan, late chief officer of the "Duke of 
 Portland." 
 
 Copy of the Emigration officer's certificate. 
 
 Copy of the list of the male emigrants who embarked in the " Duke of Portland. " 
 
 Copy of a docu.ment in Spanish annexed to the certificate, with its indorsements. On 
 the back of this document are Chinese characters, apparently a translation. 
 
 The statement made by Hagan, who my Lords have reason to believe to be a respectable 
 and trustworthy man, was made in the presence of certain officers of this department, and 
 subsequently taken down in writing. 
 
 Mr. Labouchei'e will observe that, if this statement be true, a large number of the 
 emigrants were sick at the time the emigration officer granted his certificate ; that he 
 did not see them individually ; and that he does not appear to have had that personal 
 communication with each of the emigrants which would seem to be necessary in order to 
 ascertain that the agreements with them were properly made and understood. 
 
 My Lords wish it to be understood, that they are not considering a charge as proved 
 which the emigxation officer has no means of rebutting, but they think it right to call 
 Mr. Labouehere's attention to the statements made, in order that full inquiry may be 
 made at Hongkong. I have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) T. H. Farber. 
 
 No. L 
 
 Queries asked of the Captain of the " Duke of Portland." 
 
 January 30, 1857. 
 
 1. How and by whose orders did the ship happen to be engaged in the carrying of 
 Chinese emigrants ? 
 
 2. Who were the charterers of the ship on the voyage from China to the Havanna ; 
 and on whose account were the emigrants shipped ? 
 
 3. If done through an agent in China, what was the name and address of the agent ? 
 
 4. How did it happen that with such a voyage in view the ship sailed from Hongkong 
 with such a cargo so late in the season ? 
 
 5. Was the ship duly surveyed by an emigration officer at Hongkong ; if so, what was 
 his name, and when was the survey commenced, and when completed ? 
 
 6. Can the captain furnish a copy of any certificate or document given by the 
 emigration officer ? 
 
 The Registrar of Seamen. (Signed) T. H. Farrer. 
 
 Eeplies of Master of " Duke of Portland " to the foregoing Queries. 
 
 1. From various contingencies, arising in the earlier part of the voyage, the ship was 
 thrown out of the tea and silk carrying trade, in which it was first purposed to employ 
 her, and it was optional with me to employ her as I considered prudent. 
 
 2. The charterer was a Don A. R. Ferran, of Havana, but at that time residing at 
 Macao, and the emigrants were shipped on his account. 
 
 3. Messrs. Lyall Still, Hongkong, were agents for A. R. Ferran, and through them the 
 charter was negotiated. 
 
 4. The ship preceding the "Duke of Portland" experienced great difficulty in 
 obtaining her emigration papers, and the charterers could not pay that attention in col- 
 the emigrants necesssary in order to despatch the ship at an earlier date. 
 
 -5. The ship was surveyed and measured by Captain Watkins, the harbour-master at 
 Hongkong, in February 1856, afterwards by the emigration officer, whose name will be 
 found attached to the papers left at the registry office for copying on Saturday. 
 
 6. Yes, and left at the registry office on Saturday. 
 
 (Signed) Geo. F. Setmotte, 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 John Hagan (certificate of competency, 11,628) joined the "Duke of Portland" in 
 London, as second mate, in March 1855, bound to New Zealand with emigrants, thence 
 to Shanghai and Hongkong, where the ship was chartered to convey Chinese emigrants 
 to Havana. 
 
 Before receiving the emigrants at Hongkong, the ship was surveyed and measured by 
 the emigration officer ; a deck-house was built, and other preparations made for their 
 reception. In February 1856, 25 came on board from the shore ; they had a small chest 
 each, and a change of clothing. About a week after, 225 came alongside in a steam- 
 vessel from Macao ; they had bags with them, but no chests ; afterwards four or five 
 escaped to the shore. The steamer returned with another batch of 86,* about a week 
 after. 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 These men were on board three or four days before we sailed, and about the second experienced heavy 
 day,* the emigration officer came on board, and all the emigi-ants that were able assembled ftom'^Ma'So^^ ^^'*^* 
 on the deck. The emigration officer addressed them in the Chinese language, not » j ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ 
 individually, but generally. ^ft„_ a„a I beUeve he 
 
 The captain ordered me to go below and report how many were too ill to come upon "was on hoard twice, if 
 deck. I found 38 were in their berths, and did not make their appearance on deck. ''°' ™°''*- 
 Before this one of them had died, and his body had been sent on shore. This was the frlTthTeffe«fo™fa 
 only time the emigration officer spoke to the men. sickness principaUy. 
 
 When we were about getting under weigh, the emigrants began to mutiny ; the captain 
 was on shore at the time, but finding they were likely to be troublesome, we lowered the 
 fore topsail. When the master came on board, and found how matters stood, he returned f No person came from 
 again to the shore, and went to the agents, Messrs. Lyell and Co.,t the charterers. Lyeli Still's office on 
 Some person from their office came on board, with eight or ten policemen armed, and the 'efLTd to assist^r ki- 
 emigrants were all sent to their berths. Three policemen remained on board all night. I terfere in any way. 
 understood from the interpreter that the cause of the disturbance aro.'se from the promised I ^o »«* recollect the 
 amount of advance in money not having been paid. On 3rd of March we sailed, and 15iTsfated!'°'°'^**^° 
 fortified the ai^er part of the ship, to keep the emigrants under. Before we had been many ^ jj g 
 days at sea, the deaths became very frequent, and the sickness increased very much. The ^^^ ^j^^ deaths &c 
 sickness arose from the loss of their opium, and some were so disposed when they came on the 0. F. L. is'an 
 board.J Some of the emigrants had a little opium with them ; the doctor used all he had. authority. 
 Several times during our passage down the China Seas the emigrants were very trouble- ^° °°* ^'^'^° ^'^^' 
 some; some slipped overboard during the night,§ and were not missed till the next ontionofrefushi^auy 
 morning ; those that went overboard during the day were all saved, excepting one man. that myself or surgeon 
 By the time we arrived at St. Helena, more than 100 had perished. We remained there considered unhealthy 
 three days, took in fresh provisions, water, vegetables, and the medicine chest was, andUinowofbut ont 
 I believe, replenished ; it was not short of anything before, sxs far as I know. Upwards man that I could have 
 of 30 died between St. Helena || and Havana ; but the remainder appeared in a better objected to. Many 
 state of health, and very few committed suicide.lF When we arrived at Havannah we laid .' 
 
 eight days in quarantine ; there were two deaths during this period, and the bodies were „p duringThe^night. 
 buried on shore. We put the emigrants on board the receiving ship, and I do not know || pe^^r deaths and a 
 what became of them afterwards. The charterer, I understood, was a Spaniard at larger number of 
 Havannah, his agents being Messrs. Lyall, Still, and Co., of Hongkong. thl'mosi detemTnef 
 
 We remained at Havannah about 14! days, and then went to St. Cruz for mahogany character. 
 and cedar for London. At Havannah the chief mate left, and I was appointed his ^r i cannot state num- 
 stead. ^^''^i having no papers 
 
 There was plenty of water, rice, and meat ; the emigrants were not on short allowance ^^^^ *° ™^^'" *°- 
 during the voyage; provisions were served out to ten cooks twice per day, and they ^„*!^terwardrunder 
 divided it among the men. The doctor went round twice every day to visit the sick men, t^e superintendence of 
 and of a night when called upon. There was a great stench in the ship,** owing to the the interpreter and 
 manner in which the Chinese used the water closet, one of which was within five feet of boatswain. 
 the ship's galley ; they were not built in a' proper manner ft for the way in which they !'^*^™'/ consider 
 use them. The urine was not carried ofi", but run along the deck. The men slept on ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 
 mats, but were very lousy ; no soap was allowed by the ship,tt and consequently they Hagan suggest an im- 
 were very filthy, and were covered with vermin. Dead bodies were sewed up in rice provement? I could 
 bags and thrown overboard. . , tfo ^t y, , . 
 
 One of the crew died the day after we left St. Helena,§§ and some of the crew were sick «JX°d" ttlSk!: 
 
 in the China Seas.[||l and soap was obtained 
 
 (Signed) John Hagan, at St. Helena for their 
 
 February 4 1857 ^^^^ Chief Officer. "^^- 
 
 Signed in presence of Everard Home Coleman. tier saiUng S' 
 
 (Signed) J. H. BeOWN, about ten days after 
 
 Registrar General of Seamen. 
 
 g II The greater number 
 suffering from venereal 
 
 Jifo, 3. o"" 't^ effects. 
 
 Emigration Oi'ficee's Certificate, 
 
 I HEREBY authorize the Chinese passenger ship " Duke of Portland," to proceed to sea 
 for the port of Havana, in Cuba ; and I certify that the said ship can legally carry 334- 
 adults and that there are on board 334 passengers, making in all 334 adults, viz., 
 334 men no women, no male children, and no female children, such children being 
 between the ages of one and twelve years ; that the space set apart and to be kept clear 
 for the use of such emigrants is as follows : On the upper deck, 1,140^ superficial feet, 
 beincT fore poop cabins, cabin before poop, and deck-house ; and in the between decks 
 9 870^ superficial feet, being the whole deck ; that the ship is properly manned and 
 fiHed- 'and that the means of ventilating the part of the between decks appropriated to 
 Passengers are as follows : scuttles, air fonnels and windsails ; that the sh^ is furmshed 
 with a proper quantity of good provisions, fuel, and water, more than sufficient for the 
 Tassa^e to^t. Helena, for 168 days' issues to the passengers, according to the annexed 
 dietar°v scale ; and with a proper quantity of medicines, instruments, and medical comforts, 
 ^ppordine to the annexed scale of medical necessaries ; that I have mspected the contracts 
 between the emigrants and their intended employers (the terms of which are annexed to 
 (250.) ^ 3 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 this certificate), and consider them reasonable ; that no fraud a,ppears to have been 
 practised in collecting the emigrants ; and that there are on board a surgeon and 
 iaterpreter, approved by me, and designated respectively David Sudgate and Sungto. 
 
 The master of the ship is to put into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. 
 
 Passage from Hongkong to St. Helena estimated at 90 days ; from St. Helena to 
 Havana at 79 days. 
 
 : (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Dated at Hongkong, this 1st day of AprU 1856, Emigration Officer. 
 
 Annexed to this certificate are : — 
 
 1. Passenger List, as supplied by Master. 
 
 2. Copy of the Contract for Labour. 
 
 3. Schedule A. of Chinese Passenger Act. 
 
 End. 3. in No. 29. Enclosure 3 in No. 29. 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, March 14, 1857. 
 
 January 1, 1857. WiTH reference to your letter of the 3rd, and to Mr. Farrer s letter of the 5th. of 
 
 • February, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Labouchere to transmit to you the inclosed 
 
 copy of a despatch, just received through the Foreign Office from Sir John Bowring, by 
 which it would appear that the " John Calvin " and the " Duke of Portland " were both 
 of them regularly cleared by Mr. Hillier, the emigration, officer. Mr. Hillier himself is 
 unhappily since deceased. Sir John Bowring will be called upon to inquire, as you have 
 suggested, whether the passengers by the "Duke of Portland" were duly seen, and the 
 correctness of their agreements ascertained ; but it is to.be observed that the evidence 
 which the documents now received afford of the promptitude and vigour of action in this 
 respect in the case of the " John Calvin," gives reason to hope that there was no undue 
 neglect of the same matter in the case of the other ship, the " Duke of Portland," which 
 sailed about the same time and under the same superintendence. 
 
 I am to acquaint you, however, that Mr. Labouchere notices another point which also 
 requires to be cleared up. The rules appended to the Chinese Passengers Act require 
 that for every passenger on board there should be at least five superficial feet on the 
 upper deck and 12 such feet below. The Legislature of Hongkong had power, under the 
 Act itself, to substitute other rules, but Mr. Labouchere is not aware that the power has 
 been exercised. Nevertheless, in the case of both these vessels, the number of superficial 
 feet allowed to each passenger is only about three on the upper deck, and eight on 
 the lower. As the reduced space so nearly agrees in the case of each vessel, it may be 
 that the emigration officer proceeded on some, local rule which has escaped notice. But 
 an explanation wiU be demanded on the point ,; and it is decidedly Mr. Labouchere's 
 opinion that the space named in the rules appended to the Act of Parliament is not larger 
 than sufficient. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 J. Booth, Esq. (Signed) H. Merivale. 
 
 Sub.-Encl. to Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 3 in No. 29. 
 
 End. 3 in No. 29. ^^ - „ . - 
 
 No. 5. Superintendency of Trade, Hongkong, 
 
 My Lord, January 1, 1857. 
 
 In reply to your Lordship's despatch. No. 209, dated 18th October last, directing 
 me to ma.ke inquiry into the cases of "John Calvin" and " Duke of Portland," British 
 ships which conveyed Chinese emigrants from this colony to the Havana, a great mor- 
 tality having taken place during the voyage, I have now to forward to your Lordship 
 the information I have obtained from theTlmi^Stion Officer's Department through the 
 Colonial Secretary. .'.; . ',' 
 
 ,.. >-. , .,- I have, &c. 
 The Earl of Clarendon, K.G., ' (Signed) J. Bowring. 
 
 &c. &c. &c, . '.''., 
 
 , Emigration Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 Sir, December 29,1856. 
 
 I DO myself the honour to acknowledge; the receipt of your letter dated the 26th 
 instant. No. 975, transmitting a letter from the Superintendency of Trade, and also 
 enclosing a copy of a communication from the President, of the Strangers' Home for 
 Asiatics in England, with reference to the mortality which is said to have occurred on 
 board the emigrant ships " John Calvin " and " Duke of Portland," which vessels were 
 cleared out from this port bound to Havana, by my predecessor (Mr. Hillier), on the 
 12th of March and 1st April last respectively, and requesting me to furnish you with 
 the fullest particiilars in my power respecting them. , 
 
 2. On reference to the records of my predeeeiSsor, I find that the ship " John Calvin" 
 was authorized to carry 81 passengers only, whereas, by the slip of newspaper attached 
 
(f !^5 ) 
 
 to Sir E. K Buxton's letter to the Earl of Cla,rendon above mentioned, I find that 110 
 deaths occurred on the voyage ! It would therefore appear that this vessel succeeded in 
 going to sea with a much larger number of coolies than that authorized by the emigra- 
 tion officer, a copy of whose certificate is hereto annexed, and also an extract from the 
 emigration record book, which purports to show that a portion of the coolies originally 
 shipped had, declined to proceed on the voyage, 
 
 3. As regards the ship "Duke of Portland," I can only say, that the vessel was 
 authorized to carry 334 passengers only, out of which number she appears to have landed 
 202. A copy of the clearance certificate of Mr. Hillier I also annex ; I would, however, 
 remark, that the requirements of the Chinese Passengers Act of 1855, appear to have 
 been complied with at this port ; that the vesse| carried a surgeon, was supplied with 
 medicines according to the scale prescribed in Schedule (A), and that the bonds in each 
 case, copies of which are annexed, were duly entered into and executed. 
 
 4. It appears to me that the ship " John Calvin " was improperly allowed to clear 
 inwards at Havana with a greater number of Coolies on board than the emigration 
 officers' clearance from this port perijaitted ; and that had an inquiry taken place at 
 Havana, the fraud in both cases, if any had been committed, would have been detected, 
 and this Government would no doubt have been furnished with such evidence as would 
 have enabled it to recover from the sureties the penalties for the non-fulfilment of the 
 provisions of the "Chinese Passengers Act" of 1855. 
 
 I have &;c. 
 The Hon. "W. F. Mercer, ' (Signed) C.R.Mitchell, 
 
 Colonial Secretary, &c. &c. &c. Emigration Officer. 
 
 No. 
 
 1. 
 
 No. 
 
 2. 
 
 No. 
 
 3. 
 
 No. 
 
 4. 
 
 No. 
 
 5. 
 
 No. 1. 
 Emigration Officer's Certificate. 
 
 I hereby authorize the Chinese passenger ship " John Calvin " to proceed to sea for 
 the port of Havana, in Cuba ; and I certify that the said ship can legally carry 301 
 adults, and that there are on board 81 passengers, making in all male statute adults ;* that 
 the space set apart and to be kept clear for the use of Such emigrants is as follows : — On 
 the upper deck, 895.5 superficial feet, being fore poop cabin, 337.7 ; after deck house, 
 99.4 ; fore deck house, 4'S'8;'6 ; and in the between decks, 2,724.2 superficial feet, being (*gic jn original.) 
 the whole deck ; that the ship is ptoperly manned and fitted, and that the means of 
 ventilating the part of the between decks appropriated to passengers are as follows : — 
 "Wind sails and Ventilatidh trunks ; a plank taken out on each side of the deck ; that the 
 ship is furnished with a proper quantity of good provisions, fuel, and water for 147 days' - 
 issues to the passengers according to the annexed dietary scale, and with a proper quantity 
 of medicines, instruments, and medical comforts according to the annexed scale of medical 
 necessaries ; that I have inspepted the contracts between the emigrants and their intended 
 employers (the terms of which are annexed to this certifi^cate), and consider them, as now 
 modified, to be reasonable ; that no fraud appears to have been practised in collecting the 
 emigrants, and that there are on board a surgeon and interpreter approved by me, and 
 designated respectively, Le Chew and Laong Ahoy. The master of the ship is to put 
 into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. Estimated length of voyage from Hong- 
 kong to St. Helena, 79 days ; St Helena to Havana, 68 days. 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 
 Dated at Hongkong, this 12th day of March 1856. 
 
 True copy. 
 (Signed) C. R. Mitchell, 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856, Emigration Officer. 
 
 ; No. 2. 
 
 This ship was despatched by Messrs. Lyall, StUl, and Co., who applied for a clearance 
 for 302 passengers (the ship had capacity for 301 and a portion), but on the passengers 
 being mustered and the contracts explained by the emigration officer, all but 81 dechned 
 to 20. Messrs. Lyall, Still, and Co. were told that a certificate could be granted for such 
 passengers only as had signed their contracts and come on board willingly, with a full 
 knowledge of the premises ; that this present refusal to proceed made evidence of consent 
 in each case necessary. They replied that they were not prepared with this evidence, 
 as the contracts had for the most part been witnessed before the procurador of Macao ; 
 they preferred, therefore, to receive a clearance for the number now consenting. There 
 was no evidence of fraud or violence in collecting the men, but, on the contrary, proof 
 
 of unusual care. 
 
 irue copy. ' 
 
 (Signed) C. R. Mitchell, 
 Hongkong. December 29, 1856. Emigration Officer, 
 
 ° True copy. 
 
 (Signed) ' W. Woodgate. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 G 4 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 No. 3. No. 3. 
 
 Emigration Officer's Certificate. 
 
 I HEREBY authorize the Chinese passenger ship " Duke of Portland," to proceed to sea 
 for the port of Havana, in Cuba ; and I certify that the said ship can legally carry 334 
 adults, and that there are on board 334 passengers, making in all 334 adults, viz., 
 334 TTien, no ■women, no male children, and no female children, such children being 
 between the ages of one and twelve years ; that the space set apart and to be kept clear 
 for the use of such emigrants is as follows : — On the upper deck, ],'140y»-j superficial feet, 
 being fore poop cabins, cabin before poop, and deck-house, and in the between decks, 
 2,870-5^^ superficial feet, being the whole deck ; that the ship is properly manned and 
 fitted, and that the means of ventilating the part of the between decks appropriated to 
 passengers are as follows : scuttles, air funnels, and wind sails ; that the sliip is furnished 
 with a proper quantity of good provisions and fuel ; water, more than sufficient for the 
 passage to St. Helena, for 168 days' issues to the passengers, according to the annexed 
 dietary scale, and with a proper quantity of medicines, instruments, and medical comforts, 
 according to the annexed scale of medical nesessaries ; that I have inspected the contracts 
 between the emigrants and their intended employers (the terms of which are annexed to 
 this certificate), and consider them reasonable ; that no fraud appears to have been 
 practised in collecting the emigrants ; and that there are on board a surgeon and 
 interpreter, approved by me, and designated respectively David Ludgate and Sungto. 
 The master of the ship is to put into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. Passage 
 from Hongkong to St. Helena, estimated at 90 days ; from St. Helena to Havana at 78 
 days. 
 
 (Signed) 0. B. Hillier, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 
 Dated at Hongkong this 1st day of April 1856. 
 
 Annexed to this certificate arp: 
 
 1. Passenger List, as supplied by Master. 
 
 2. Copy of the Contract for Labour. 
 
 3. Schedule (A.) of Chinese Passengers' Act. 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. Emigration Officer. 
 
 True copy. 
 (Signed) C. R. Mitchell, 
 
 True copy. 
 (Signed) W. Woodgate. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Colony of Hongkong to wit. 
 
 Know aU men by these presents, that we^re held and firmly bound unto our Sovereign 
 Lady Queen Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, in the sum of One thousand pounds of good and 
 lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to our said Sovereign Lady the Queen, .her 
 heirs and successors ; to which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves 
 and every of us, jointly and severally, for and in the whole, our heirs, executors, 
 administrators, and every of them, firmly by these presents. 
 
 (l. s.) (Signed) A. Thornhill. 
 (l. s.) „ G. Lyall. 
 
 (L. s.) „ C. F. Still. 
 
 Sealed with our Seals. 
 Dated at Hongkong this 11th day of February 1856. 
 
 Whereas by the Chinese Passengers Act, 1855, it is enacted, that before any Chinese 
 passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on a voyage of more than seven days' 
 computed_ duration, the master thereof shall, with two sufficient sureties to be approved 
 by an emigration officer, enter into a bond to Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, in 
 the sum of One thousand pounds : 
 
 Now the condition of this obligation is this, that if (in respect of the ship "John 
 Calvin," whereof Alonso Thornhill is master,) all and every of the requirements of the 
 said Chinese Passenger Act, and of the regulations contained in Schedule (A.) to the said 
 Act annexed, or enacted by the legislature of Hongkong, shall be well and truly observed 
 and performed, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and 
 effect. 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-bounden Alonso Thornhill, George Lyall, 
 and Charles Frederick Still, in the presence of, 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. 
 
( -57 ) 
 
 No. 5. No. 5. 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that we are held and firmly bound unto our Sovereign 
 Lady Queen Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, in the sum of One thousand pounds of good and 
 lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to our said Sovereign Lady the Queen, Her 
 heirs and successors, to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves and 
 every of us, jointly and severally, for and in the whole, our heirs, executors, administra- 
 tors, and every of them, firmly by these presents. 
 
 (l. s.) (Signed) G. F. Seymoub. 
 (l. s.) „ A. 0. Malcolm, 
 
 (l. s.) „ G. Lyall. 
 
 Dated at Hongkong this 28th day of March 1856. Sealed with our Seals. 
 
 AVliereas by the Chinese Passengers Act 1855, it is enacted, that before any Chinese 
 passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on a voyage of more than seven days' 
 computed duration, the master thereof shall with two sufficient sureties to be approved 
 by an emigration officer, enter into a bond to Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, in 
 the sum of One thousand pounds : 
 
 Now the condition of this obligation is this, that if (in respect of the ship " Dulce of 
 Portland," whereof George Frederick Seymour is master) all and every of the require- 
 ments of the said Chinese Passenger Act, and of the regulations contained in Schedule 
 (A.) to the said Act annexed, or enacted by the legislature of Hongkong, shall be well 
 and truly observed and performed (in like manner as the same oiight to be observed and 
 performed in case the said ship were a British ship, and the said* a British *(This blank was 
 
 subject,) then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect. in the original cor 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-bounden George Frederick Seymoui', tificate.) 
 Alexander Campbell Maclean, and George Lyall, in the presence of, 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hilliee, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. 
 
 No. 30. No. 30. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 (No. 46.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 March 7, 1857. 
 Sir, (Received May 2, 1857.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform you that on receipt of your despatch. 
 No. 130,f of 14th. November 1856, relating to the mortality which occurred on f Page 42. 
 board the ships " Duke of Portland " and " John Calvin," I directed commu- 
 nications to be made on the subject to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., the 
 agents for the " Duke of Portland," and Messrs. Lyall, Still & Co., the char- 
 terers of both ships. I have received the accompanying replies from these 
 firms, and this appears to be the only information that can be collected here on 
 these lamentable cases. 
 
 Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) ' JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 30. End. 1 in No. 30. 
 
 gjjj Hongkong, February 12, 1857. 
 
 We have the honour of -acknowledging receipt of your letter of 9th instant, 
 having reference to the Coolie ships " John Calvin " and " Duke of Portland," and we 
 shall have great pleasure in affording his Excellency the Governor every information 
 which may be in our possession regarding the sad mortality which occmxed amongst the 
 emigrants on board those vessels. 
 
 Of the " Duke of Portland " we know but little, beyond the fact that in her case, as in 
 the case of the ." John Calvin," the greatest possible care was taken here in her despatch, 
 both by ourselves and by the late Mr. HiUier, the emigration officer, who was on board 
 repeatedly previously to her leaving, and who inspected the provisions very closely. From 
 this vessel since her leaving, we have had no communication ; but we are aware that a 
 ereat mortaUty did take place, and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., who were the 
 accents for the ship, may probably have heard either from the master or the owners. 
 ° With reference to the " John Calvin," owing to the circumstance of our being the owners 
 of that vessel, we are enabled to give you more information ; and we have now the honour 
 (250.) H 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 of handing you an extract from Captain Thomhill's letter to us, announcing his arrival at 
 Havannah, and giving us the particulars of the sickness on board. Beyond this we know 
 nothing, excepting that 2251. were spent at St. Helena in the pm-chase of vegetables and 
 other fresh provisions for the use of the Coolies. 
 
 As we have said before, great care was taken both by Mr. Hillier and ourselves in the 
 despatch of the vessel from this ; and the master and officers were most efficient, the former 
 particularly having had experience in carrying Chinese. It would appear, therefore, that 
 the mortality arose from the length of the voyage and from causes which were beyond all 
 human control. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (Signed) Ltall, Still, and Co, 
 The Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., Colonial Secretary, 
 &c. &c. &;c. 
 
 End. 2 in No. 30. Enclosure 2 ia No. 30. 
 
 ExTEACT of Captain Thoenhill's letter to Ltall, Still, and Co., dated Havannah, 
 
 September 23, 1856, ■ ' 
 
 I BEG to inform you, by this opportunity, of iny arrival here on the 2d instant, after a 
 long and tedious passage of 171 days, and much regret being placed in quarantine imme- 
 diately, having lost 111 Coolies and 11 of my crew by death from fever, dysentery, 
 anasacra, and from the effects of opium. .After writing you from Anjer, the wind came 
 from the south-west, with a current settmg at the fate of three knots per hour to the 
 eastward, which compelled me to anchor in the Straits of Sunda until the 15 April, during 
 which time the typhus fever broke out and carried off 10 of them, cleared the Straits on 
 the I7th, and arrived at St. Helena on the 28th June, having experienced light winds in 
 the south-east trade, and heavy westerly gales off the Cape of Good Hope, and lost 
 55 Coolies. After leaving there, they appeared to improve,. and no death until the 10th 
 day out, when the strongest went off suddenly, after a few hours' ilbiess of anasarca ; they 
 were perfectly quiet and "submissive during the whole -passage;^ - 1 received pratique on 
 9th, having laid eight days in quarantine, .during which time lost 11 Coolies, and landed 
 175 alive. . , 
 
 (True copy.) 
 (Si^ed) LYALt, Still,' AND Co. 
 
 End. 3 in No, 30, Enclosure 3 in No. 30. 
 
 The Hononourable W. T. Bridges, Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, &c. &c. Hongkong. 
 
 Sir, . Hongkong, February 21, 1857- 
 
 We beg to acknowldge receipt of your communication of the 17th instant, on the 
 part of his ExceUeney the Governor, requesting information regarding the case of the 
 Coolie ship " Duke of Portland," from this to the Havannah, and asking for particulars of 
 the mortality reported to have taken place. 
 
 In reply, we beg'to state that we were mere agents for the ship which we chartered to 
 Messrs. Lyall, Still, and Co., who had afterwards everything to do with the shipment of 
 the Coolies, &c,, and who are. therefore much more likely to be in a position to afford you 
 information regarding the Voyage than we are ; indeed, we have not heard of or from the 
 vessel since her departure, and consequently know nothing whatever of the mortality on 
 board to which you allude. 
 
 We have, &;c. 
 (Signed) "'Jabdine, MATHESON, AND Co. 
 
 End. 4 in No. 30. 
 
 Enclosure 4! iu No. 30. . r - . 
 
 Sib, - , ,. Hongkojpg, March 5, 1857. 
 
 We have the honour of acknowledging receipt of your letter, Np. 213, of 23d 
 ultimo, on the subject of the despatch of the " Duke of Portland," and in reply regret that 
 we can only refer you to our former letter of 12th ultimo. 
 
 The vessel was despatched from this, as we have already informed you, by the emigra- 
 tion officer in the usual way], only with unusual care; and since her departure we have 
 received no information regarding her. 
 
 We-have, &c. 
 To Honourable W. T, Bridges, Esq., (Signed) Ltall, Still, AND Co. 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary, ., .,n:.' 
 
 &C. &C. fee, ' ' ... ;■-,•.,, 
 
( S9 ) 
 No. 31. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchebe, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 86.) 
 
 ^^^' Downing-street, June 29, 1857. 
 
 Tv/r X, "f ^^ "-^^^^ ™y consideration your despatch, No. 46,* of the 7th of * Page 57. 
 
 March relative to the passenger ships "John Calvin" and "Duke of 
 Portland. , 
 
 This despatch shows that no further light is hkely to be thrown upon the 
 facts, and I shall therefore now proceed to convey to you such remarks as these 
 cases appear to me to reqtiire. 
 
 The "John Calvin" sailed from Hongkong for Havannah on the 13th of 
 March 1856, with 298 emigrants on board, and lost 135 ; the Duke of Port- 
 land" sailed from Hongkong for the same destination on the 3d of April 1856, 
 with 332 emigrants on board, and lost 128. 
 
 So deplorable a mortality occurring on board of two British ships despatched 
 from the chief port of a British Government in China could not fail to excite 
 both the deep regret of Her Majesty's Government, and also an anxiety to 
 detect its causes, and endeavour to guard against its recurrence. The main 
 points to be ascertained are, whether ithere was any inhumanity or culpable 
 neglect on the passage ; whether the numbers embarked were too large ; and 
 whether the emigrants had been deceived and were taken away against their 
 will. 
 
 As regards the first point, there appears no reason to suspect any want of 
 humanity or care on the voyage. The British consul at the Havannah, to 
 which the vessels proceeded, instituted an inquiry at the moment of their arrival, 
 and reported that the treatment of the passengers had been humane and attentive. 
 This conclusion was confirmed in the case of the " Duke of Portland " bj^ the 
 report of the Local Marine Board of London. It has not been disputed in the 
 case of the " John Calvin." 
 
 No reason has appeared for supposing that the unfortunate sickness on board 
 these vessels was attributablfe to overcrowding, owing to a misconception of the 
 late emigration officer at Hongkong, ; the numbers which he declared the ships 
 qualified to carry were larger than the Act really intended. According to the 
 Chinese Passengers Act (18 & 19 Vict. c. 104.), the number of passengers is 
 not to be greater than after the proportion of one to every 12 superficial feet 
 of the 'tween decks. The emigration officer did not confine his measurement 
 of Ihe " 'tween decks " to the lower deck (which is the usual and real meaning 
 of the term), but included all those parts of the upper deck which were housed 
 over, and which thus formed a space fit for habitation. The particulars set 
 forth in his certificates, i^and also the figures of his calculations, prove that this 
 was the fact. You have received from me separate instructions, which will 
 prevent the recurrence of this mistake. The persons concerned in the vessel, 
 however, cannot be held responsible for the error of the emigration officer, nor, 
 as already stated, has it been alleged that overcrowding was the cause of the 
 illness and mortality in these vessels. 
 
 It remains to be considered whether the people were deceived or removed 
 against their will. That kidnapping and various frauds are often practised by 
 the Chinese brokers who procure emigrants there can be no doubt. On the 
 other hand, it appears unfortunately to be the case that the people themselves 
 who embark are frequently cheats. They pretend to be emigrants in order to 
 live free of expense in the cooly ships, and then, at the last moment, when they 
 have received an advance of wages, they endeavour to desert the ship, or to 
 seize her by force, and effect a landing on the coast. This, of course, must 
 multiply the risks of collision, and enhance the difficulty of doing justice. 
 
 The security provided by the Chinese Passengers' Act against the use of 
 frauds; or violence in procuring semigrants is contained in the sixth of the 
 regulations annexed to the Act, The emigration officer is to muster the 
 passengers and ascertain that they understand whither they are going, and that 
 they have not been improperly collected ; and he may, if he think fit, detam 
 the ship, and order all or any of the passengers to be relanded. 
 
 In the " Duke of Portland " the emigration officer mustered the passengers 
 and gave his certificate that the ship was qualified to carry 334, and that 
 (250,) " H 2 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 the same number (two less than weie finally taken) were on board, and 
 that the ship might proceed. After he had gone, and when the ship was 
 starting, a disturbance occurred, but was suppressed by the police, and the 
 vessel proceeded on her voyage. 
 
 Here I have to call your attention to the apparent conduct of the police in 
 the matter. The master of the ship states (at page 10 of the Parliamentary 
 Paper, of which some copies are sent to you herewith), that Mr. May, the 
 superintendent of police, came on board, and that he left several pohcemen to 
 act as sentries during the night, and that next morning at daylight the vessel 
 was out of the roads. The mate stated (page 13), that the pohcemen were 
 accompanied by some one from the office of the charterers ; but the master says 
 that he is mistaken on this point, and it is evident that the master is the most 
 likely to have known whom he brought from the shore. If these accounts are 
 to be trusted, it appears strange that a superior officer of police, being a witness 
 of the insurrection of a large body of passengers, should have taken no steps to 
 ascertain the real cause of the disturbance. You will call upon Mr. May for 
 an explanation on the subject, and you will give strict orders that in case' of 
 any tumult on board of a cooly ship at the time of sailing, no police or other 
 force of the Government is on any account to facilitate her departure without 
 re-summoning the emigration officer, with proper interpreters, if necessary, to 
 discover the grounds of complaint, and whether or not the ship ought to be 
 detained. 
 
 It would have been far more prudent, to say the least, on the part of the 
 master himself, to have waited until the nature and validity of the emigrants' 
 discontent could have been ascertained ; and he suffered the natural penalty of 
 the opposite course by constant alarms and attempts at violence during the 
 voyage. But still, having been regularly cleared by the functionary designated 
 for the purpose by the Act of Parliament, who had assembled the passengers, 
 and had been ready at that time to receive any complaints which they might 
 have to prefer, he cannot be said to have committed any legal offence, and 
 there appears no ground to sustain a prosecution against him or the owners of 
 the ship. 
 
 The case of the " John Calvin " is different in this respect. The emigration 
 officer certified that the ship was quahfied to carry 301, but that only 81 were 
 actually on board. It seems that all but 81 declined to go, and that he 
 therefore refused to insert more in his clearance, but the ship nevertheless 
 proceeded to sea with 298. In a letter from the master to the owners, written 
 soon after reaching Havannah, and before he could have any knowledge of the 
 inquiries which would take place in England, he mentions that the conduct of 
 the emigrants was quiet and submissive during the voyage. Whether the 
 excess beyond 81 consisted of the verv persons who objected in the presence 
 of the emigration officer, or whether oi others picked up subsequently, is not 
 stated ; but the former case is the most probable. It also is not stated that 
 the emigration officer ordered the passengers to be re-landed under the terms 
 of the 6th Regulation, and he certainly did not detain the ship, for by grantino- 
 his certificate he enabled the captain to put to sea. The proper course for 
 the emigration officer would have been to withhold his clearance until he was 
 satisfied that all the passengers whom he wished to be removed were re-landed. 
 You will explain this carefully to the present emigration officer, and desire him 
 to guide himself accordingly in any future case which may occur of the same 
 nature. Although, however, the late emigration officer does not appear to 
 have taken the best course for enforcing his views, there can be no doubt that 
 the master of the " John Calvin " defeated the spirit of the Act in proceeding 
 to sea with 298 emigrants, when only 81 had been approved of by the emigration 
 officer ; and I have, therefore, caused a case to be laid before the law officers 
 of the Crown, to ascertain whether there may not have been such an infraction 
 of the letter as will sustain a prosecution ; and in that case the bond should 
 without fail, be put in suit against the master and his sureties. I shall lose no 
 time in apprising you of the result of the reference to the law officers of the 
 Crown, 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
(-^61 ) 
 
 No. 32. No. 32. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 83.) 
 
 '"^iKj Downing Street, June 18, 1857. 
 
 In my despatch, No. 28,* of the 1 4th of March last, your attention was * Page 47. 
 called to the requirements of the regulations appended to the Chinese Pas- 
 sengers' Act, that for every passenger on board there should be a space of at 
 least twelve superficial feet on the 'tween decks, and also a space of five super- 
 ficial feet on the upper deck left clear for the use of the passengers, and you 
 were ^ informed that this space was in my opinion decidedly not more than 
 sufficient, and that it ought not to be diminished. I trust, therefore, that any 
 communications to the present emigration ofiicer which you may have founded 
 on that despatch from me will have precluded any future misunderstanding 
 of the subject. 
 
 But since the time when I wrote to you, the nature of the misconception 
 under which the late emigration officer acted in computing the capacity of the 
 two ships, the " John Calvin " and " Duke of Portland," has become apparent 
 on further examination of the figures and statements contained in his certi- 
 ficates of clearance, it is found that in computing the superficial feet of the 
 'tween decks, he did not confine himself to the lower deck, but included all 
 those parts of the upper deck which were housed over. To prevent the possi- 
 bility of further mistake, therefore, I have to request that you will apprise the 
 present emigration officer that this is not the true intent of the regulations 
 appended to the Act. The meaning of them is, that for every passenger on 
 board there shall be distinctly twelve superficial feet of the lower deck itself, 
 and likewise five superficial feet of the upper deck available to them for air and 
 exercise. You will enjoin it upon the emigration officer to carry this regu- 
 lation fully into effect. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 33. N° 33. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 41.) 
 
 SiRj Downing- street, April 6, 1857- 
 
 My attention has been drawn by the Lords of the Committee of Privy 
 Council for Trade to the fact that the ship " John Calvin" was cleared from 
 Hongkong, whence she sailed in March 1856, with a certificate for 81 pas- 
 sengers, but that she would appear to have proceeded in reality with 298 pas- 
 sengers on board. Their Lordships are endeavouring to learn from the master 
 of the ship who is now in London, how this discrepancy or evasion of the law 
 may have occurred. In the meanwhile, I have to request that you will inquire 
 whether any explanation of the circumstance can be furnished from the emigra- 
 tion office at Hongkong. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 34. No. 34. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P,, to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 52.) 
 gj^ Downing Street, April 27, 1857- 
 
 ' With reference to my despatch. No. 41, of the 6th of April, requesting 
 you to seek information respecting the circumstances under which the " John 
 Calvin " was cleared, I have to acquaint you that the Board of Trade have 
 (250.) H 3 
 
(6a ) 
 
 apprised me that all endeavours to find Captain Thornhill, the late master of 
 that vessel, have failed, but that from recent information obtained by the 
 registrar, of seamen, it appears likely that he left this country for China by the 
 overland route, about a month since. I apprise you of this probability in 
 order that if Captain Thornhill should have reached Hongkong, you may be 
 able to make use of his presence in any inquiry which may be instituted on 
 the spot into the case of the " John Calvin." , , 
 
 I have, &Gi 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 35. , „ , No. 35. ' ■ 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Laboucheee, M.P. 
 
 (No. 64.) Government Offices, Victoria, April 10, 1857. 
 
 (Received June 5, 1857.) 
 Sljj (Answered No. 81, June 15, 1857, page 63.) 
 
 I HAVE to report to you the following circumstances connected with the 
 British ship " Gulnare," engaged in conveying Chinese hired emigrants to the 
 Havannah. The "Gulnare" arrived in Hongkong on March 13, an'dher captain 
 reported that she had left Swatow, near Amoy, on March 11, with a crew of 
 32 men, and having on board 432 Chinese. On the following morningj at 
 7.15 a.m., a despera,te and well-combined attack was made by the emigrants to 
 obtain possession of the ship, and, as they failed in this, through the determined 
 conduct of the officers and crew, they attempted to set her on fire. They were 
 finally put down, after severely wounding the third officer and one of the crew; 
 nine of their own number were shot, many more wounded, and three jumped 
 overboard to avoid capture. On March 14, 20 of the Chinese, who had taken 
 the most ptominent part in this piratical attempt, were brought on shore in the 
 custody of the police ; the charge against them was investigated by the chief 
 magistrate, who committed 13 to take their trial at the Supreme Court for 
 piracy, with wounding. One of the wounded Chinese died soon after the 
 "Gulnare" arrived in harbour, and a. coroner's inquest, whose verdict was one of 
 "Justifiable homicide," was held' on the body on March 17. To facilitate 
 the despatch of the ship, the Chief Justice held an extra criminal sessions of the 
 Supreme Court on March 27- A verdict,' of " Guilty " was returned thereat, 
 after a trial which lasted the whole day, against all the 18 prisoners ; the 
 Chief Justice left three, Ng-king-seang, Cheem-koong-sew, and Chun-amoon 
 for execution, and ordered a sentence of " iPeath recorded " to be entered lip 
 against the remaining 15. ; -4,t a meeting of the* Executive Council, held on 
 Monday the 6th, after a lengthened investigation of all the circumstances of 
 this case, I came to the conclusion, in which, However^ I was not supported by 
 the Lieutenant-Governor and Colonial Secretary, that the ends of justice would 
 be sufficiently answered if the extreme penalty of the law were carried out in 
 the case of the first-named convict, Ng-king-seang only. This man had clearly 
 acted as a ringleader, and was apparently of a different, if not of a superior, 
 station in life to the other prisoners. Ng-king-seang was executed on Thursday, 
 April 9, and the sentences of the other 1 7 prisoners have been commuted into 
 that of transportation for life. I have to remark, in conclusion, that the 
 emigration officer was directed to institute a thorough inquiry into the state of 
 the provision, &c., on board the " Gulnare," and he has reported that she was 
 provided in every way in a complete and satisfactory manner. She was 
 despatched from this on March 30, with 326 emigrants, being of sufficient 
 capacity to carry 338. 
 
 I hope that you will approve of the line of conduct I have pursued ; and 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 No. 36. No. 36. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowking. 
 (No. 81.) 
 
 Sir, Downing Street, June 15, 1857. 
 
 I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 64,* of the 10th # Page 64. 
 of April, reporting that eighteen Chinese emigrants had been tried for a pira- 
 tical attempt to take possession of the British ship " Gulnare ;" that one of the 
 prisoners had been executed, and that the sentences passed on the other seven- 
 teen had. been commuted to transportation for life. In sparing the lives of 
 two of the three prisoners who were left by the Chief Justice for execution, I 
 entertain no doubt that you used to the best of your discretion the prerogative 
 of mercy with which you are invested. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 37. N°- 37. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere^ M,-P.^,,; = 
 
 (No. 82.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 May 20,. 1857. 
 
 Sir, (Received July 20; 1867.) ' f Page 19 of 
 
 In despatch No. 28, of the 14th March ,f relating to the passenger ships House of Commons 
 " Duke of Portland " and " John Calvin," you directed me to inquire what record ^*P^^' ^""/^t' 
 or evidence exists, that, the passengers embarked in the " Duke of Pdrtland " ^^'^ ' 
 were duly inspected, and the correctness of their agreements ascertained. You 
 further desired an explanation upon the numbers which both the said ships were 
 computed to be legally qualified to carry, and a report explaining how, when 
 the Chinese Passengers' Act requires for each passenger a space of five super- 
 ficial feet on the upper, and twelve superficial feet on the lower deck, the emi- 
 gration officer's cei-tificate would only allow about three superficial feet above, 
 and eight below, in proportion to the number of passengers declared admissible 
 in such two ships. 
 
 I have the honour to transmit in reply the accompanying letters with docu- 
 ments from the emigration officer, dated respectively the December 29, 1856, 
 and May 15, 1857. 
 
 These will, I trust, prove to your Satisfaction that no precautionary measure 
 was omitted here to protect the passengers in the " Duke of Portland " and 
 " John Calvin." The discrepancy as to the amount of room allowed has, I 
 conceive, arisen from an inaccurate copy of the emigration officer's certificate, 
 as the full space in both instances appears to have been secured. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure .1 in No. 37. End. 2 ia No. 3" 
 
 Emigration Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 glK, . May 15, 1857. 
 
 In reply to your letter of the 13th instant, No. 457, requesting me to ascertain 
 and report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, whether there exists in 
 my office any record of the passengers by the " Duke of Portland " having been duly 
 inspected, and the correctness of their agreements ascertained, and informing me that the 
 Secretary of State for the Colonies is under the impression that instead of five superficial 
 feet on the upper deck and 12 superficial feet on the lower deck for each passenger on 
 board the ships " Duke of "Portland " and "John Calvin," there was only three feet above 
 and eight below allowed, and requesting me to ascertain, if possible, the proportionate 
 amount of room aUowedta each passenger on board of such ships; and also requiring a 
 statement whether the ' regulations of the Chinese Passenger Act, with regard to pas- 
 sengers, are or have been in any* way departed from ; I do myself the honour to draw 
 attention to my letter to your predecessor, dated the 29th December last, No. 13, and its 
 (520.) H 4 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 enclosm-es, in reply to his letter to me of the 26th December, No. 975, enclosing for my 
 report a copy of a letter from the President of the Strangers' Home for Asiatics in Eng- 
 land, which I thiak will be found to contain nearly all the information now required. 
 
 2. I would, however, state that each statute adult on board the ship " John Calvin " 
 was allowed the full space prescribed by the Act, viz., 1 2 feet below and five feet above 
 for exercise ; and that the provisions of the Chinese Passengers Act have been, during 
 my term of office, and are at present, so strictly carried out' in this colony that it wUl be 
 in his Excellency's recollection that complaints have been made by the masters and agents 
 of vessels thereof, and in one instance a protest was made by the master of the British 
 ship " Gulnare " against me for so strictly enforcing the provisions of the Act with regard 
 to space. 
 
 3. With regard to the ship " Duke of Portland," she appears to have cleared out with 
 the number of passengers she was entitled to carry, although, upon the face of it, there 
 
 J appears to be some clerical error in the certificate of Mr. Hillier, my predecessor, inas- 
 
 — ^ much as I find, from the certificate of Captain Watkins, copies of both of which I beg to 
 
 ^- annex, that the full space was allowed to each individual on board the said vessel. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) E. K Michell, 
 Hon. Dr. Bridges, Colonial Secretary, Emigration Officer. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Emigration Officer's Certificate. 
 
 I HEREBY authorize the Chinese passenger ship " Duke of Portland " to proceed to sea 
 for the port of Havannah, in Cuba ; and I certify that the said ship can legally carry 
 334 adults, and that there are on board 334 passengers, making in all 384 adults, viz., 
 334 men, no women, no male children, and no female children, such children being be- 
 tween the ages of one and 32 years ; that the space set apart and to be kept clfear for 
 the use of such emigrants is as follows : — On the upper deckl,140-r superficial feet, being 
 fore-poop cabins, cabin before poop, and deck-house ; and in the between deck, 2,870-5^^3 
 superficial feet, being the whole deck ; that the ship is properly manned and fitted,. and 
 that the means of ventilating the part of the between decks appropriated to passengers 
 are as follows ; scuttles, air-funnels, and windsails ; that the ship is furnished with a 
 proper quantity of good provisions and fuel ; water more than sufficient for the passage to 
 St. ±Ielena for 168 days' issues to the passengers, according to the annexed dietary scale, 
 and with a proper quantity of medicines, instruments, and medical comforts, according 
 to the annexed scale of medical necessaries ; that I have inspected the contracts between 
 the emigrants and their intended employers (the terms of which are annexed to this 
 certificate,) and consider them reasonable ; that no fraud appears to have been practised 
 in collecting the emigrants ; and that there are on board a surgeon and interpreter 
 approved by me, and designated respectively David Ludgate and Sungto. 
 
 The master of the ship is to put into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. Passage 
 from Hongkong to St. Helena estimated at 90 days, from St. Helena to Havannah 78 
 days. 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 Dated at Hongkong, this 1st day of April 1856. Emigration Officer. 
 
 Annexed to this certificate are, — 
 
 1. Passenger List, as supplied by Master. 
 
 2. Copy of the Contract for Labour. 
 
 3. Schedule A. of Chinese Passenger Act. 
 
 I HEREBY certify that 1 have measured the British ship " Duke of Portland," and 
 report that she has capacity, under Act 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104., for the conveyance through 
 the tropics of three hundred and thirty-four -^ (334 -^■^) Chinese passengers, allowing 
 12 superficial feet for the accommodation of each passenger, as follows, viz. : — 
 
 On the main deck _ _ _ 2,870 '5 superficial feet. 
 
 In the fore-poop cabins _ - - - 343 '10 „ „ 
 
 In the cabins before the poop - - 539 "5 „ „ 
 
 In the deck-house ----- 257 '5 
 
 12)4,011-1 
 
 TT 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 I further certify that the " Duke of Portland " has a clear space of 2,674 superficial feet 
 on the upper deck for the use of the passengers, viz. : — 
 
 On the poop - . ' . 863-7 superficial feet. 
 
 On the cabin before the poop - - - 5656 
 
 On the spar-deck - - . 756-6 
 
 On the forecastle - _ . 488-6 
 
 5)2,674-1 
 
 5344- 
 
 Being upwards of five superficial feet for each passenger. 
 Dated at Victoria, Hongkong, February 28, 1856. 
 
 (Signed) J, V. Watkins, 
 
 Harbour Master. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 37. End. 2 in No. 37. 
 
 Emigration Ofiice, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 Sir, December 29, 1 856. 
 
 I DO myself the honour to acknowledge tlie receipt of your letter dated the 26th 
 instant, No. 975, transmitting a letter from the KSuperintendency of Trade, and also 
 enclosing a copy of a communication from the President of the Strangers' Home for 
 Asiatics in England, with reference to the mortality which is said to have occurred on 
 board the emigrant ships "John Calvin" and " Duke of Portland," which vessels were 
 cleared out from this port, bound to Havannah, by my predecessor (Mr. Hillier) on the 
 12th March and 1st April last respectively, and requesting me to furnish you with the 
 fullest particulars in my power respecting them. 
 
 2. On reference to the records of my predecessor, I find that the ship "John Calvin" 
 was authorized to carry 81 passengers only, whereas by the slip of newspaper attached 
 to Sir E. N. Buxton's letter to the Earl of Clarendon above mentioned, I find that 110 
 deaths occurred on the voyage. It would therefore appear that this vessel succeeded in 
 going to sea with a much larger number of Coolies than that authorized by the emigra- 
 tion officer, a copy of whose certificate is hereto annexed, and also an extract from tjie 
 Emigration Record Book, which purports to show that a portion of the Coolies originally 
 shipped had declined to proceed on the voyage. 
 
 3. As regards the ship " Duke of Portland," I can only say, that this vessel was 
 authorised to carry 334 passengers only, out of which number she appears to have landed 
 202. A copy of the clearance certificate of Mr. Hillier I also annex. I would, however, 
 remark that the requirements of the Chinese Passengers Act of 1855 appear to have been 
 complied with at this port ; that the vessel carried a surgeon, was supplied with medicines 
 according to the scale prescribed in Schedule A ; and that the bonds in each case, copies 
 of which are annexed, were duly entered into and executed. 
 
 4. It appears to me that the ship " John Calvin " was improperly allowed to clear 
 inwards at Havannah with a greater number of Coolies on board than the emigration 
 officer's clearance from this port permitted ; and that had an enquiry taken place at 
 Havannah, the fraud in both cases, if any had been committed, would have been detected ; 
 and this Government would no doubt have been furnished with such evidence as would 
 have enabled it to recover from the sureties the penalties for the non-fulfilment of the 
 provisions of the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855." 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) E. R. Michell, 
 Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., Colonial Secretary, Emigration Officer. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Emigration Officer's Certificate. 
 
 i HEREBY authorize the Chinese passenger ship " John Calvin " to proceed to sea for 
 the port of Havannah, in Cuba ; and I certify that the said ship can legally carry 301 
 adults, and that there are on board 81 passengers; all male statute adults ; that the space 
 set apart and to be kept clear for the use of such emigrants is as follows :— On the upper 
 deck 895-5 superficial feet, being fore-poop cabin, 337-7 ; after deck-house, 99-4 ; tore- 
 deck house, 458-6, and in the between deck, 2,724-2 superficial feet, being the whole 
 deck. That the ship is properly manned and fitted ; and that the means of ventilating 
 the part of the between decks appropriated to passengers are as follows :— windsails and 
 ventUatino- trunks, a plank taken out on each side of the deck. That the ship is furnished 
 withe a proper quantity of good provisions, fuel, and water for 147 days' issues to the 
 passengers, according to the annexed dietary scale, abd with a proper quantity of medicines, 
 instruments, and medical comforts, according to the annexed scale of medical necessaries 
 That I have inspected the contracts between the emigrants and their intended employers, 
 (the terms of which are annexed to this certificate), and consider them, as now modified, 
 (250.) I 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 to be reasonable ; that no fraud appears to have been practised in collecting the emigrants 
 and that there are on board a surgeon and interpreter approved by me, and designated 
 respectively Le Chew and Laong Ahoy. 
 
 The master of the ship is to put into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. 
 Estimated length of voyage from Hongkong to St. Helena, 79 days; St. Helena to 
 Havannah, 68 days. 
 
 (Signed) 0. B. Hillieb, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 Dated at Hongkong this 12th day of March, 1856. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (Signed) E. R. Michell, 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. Emigration Officer. 
 
 Enclosure No. 2 in Emigration Officer's Letter to the Hon. W. T. Mercer, Esq., of the 
 29th December 1856, having reference to the Ship " John Calvin." 
 
 This ship was despatched by Messrs. Lyall, Still, and Co., who applied for a clearance 
 for 302 passengers (the ship had capacity for 301 and a portion), but on the passengers 
 being mustered and the contracts explained by the emigration officer, all but 81 declined 
 to go. Messrs. Lyall, Still, and Co. were told that a certificate could be granted for such 
 passengers only as had signed their contracts and come on board willingly, with a full 
 knowledge of the premises ; that this present refusal to proceed made evidence of consent 
 in each case necessary. They replied that they were not prepared with this evidencCj 
 as the contracts had for the most part been witnessed before the procurador of Macao ; 
 they preferred, therefore, to receive a clearance for the number now consenting. There 
 was no evidence of fraud or violence in collecting the men, but, on the contrary, proof of 
 unusual care. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (Signed) E. R. Michell, 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. Emigration Officer. 
 
 Emigration Officer's Certificate. 
 
 I HEREBY authorize the Chinese passenger ship " Duke of Portland '' to proceed to sea 
 for the port of Havannah, in Cuba, and I certify that the said ship caa legally carry 384 
 adidts, and that there are on board 334 passengers, making in all 334 adults, viz., 334 
 men, no women, no male children, and no female children, such children being between 
 the ages of one and 12 years ; that the space set apart and to be kept clear for the use of 
 such emigrants is as follows : — On the upper deck, 1,140-1^5 superficial feet, being fore-poop 
 cabins, and cabin before poop ; and in the between deck, 2,870-i-4s^ superficial feet, being- 
 deck-house, the whole deck ; that the ship is properly manned and fitted, and that the 
 means of ventilating the part of the between decks appropriated to passengers are as 
 follows : — scuttles, air-fiinnels, and windsails ; that the ship is furnished with a proper 
 quantity of good provisions and fuel, water more than sufficient for the pas.sage to 
 St. Helena, for 168 days' issues to the passengers, according to the annexed dietary scale, 
 and with a proper quantity of medicines, instruments, and medical comforts according to 
 the annexed scale of medical necessaries ; that I have inspected the contracts between 
 the emigrants and their intended employers (the terms of which are annexed to this cer- 
 tificate,) and consider them reasonable; that no fraud appears to have been practised in 
 collecting the emigrants ; and that there are on board a surgeon and interpreter approved 
 by me, and designated respectively David Ludgate and Sungto. 
 
 The master of the ship is to put into St. Helena for water and fresh vegetables. 
 Passage from Hongkong to St. Helena, estimated at 90 days ; from St. Helena to 
 Havannah, 78 days. 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Emigrant Officer. 
 
 Dated at Hongkong, this 1st day of April 1856. 
 
 Annexed to this certificate are — 
 
 1. Passenger List, as supplied by Master. 
 
 2. Copy of the Contractor for Labour. 
 
 3. Schedule A. of Chinese Passenger Act. 
 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (Signed) E. R. Michell, 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 Colony of Hongkong to wit. 
 
 Know aU men by these presents, that we are held and firmJy bound unto our Sovereign 
 Lady Queen Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith, in the sum of One thousand pounds of good and 
 lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to our said Sovereign Lady the Queen, Her heirs 
 and successors ; to which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and 
 every of us, jointly and severally for and in the whole, our heirs, executors, administra- 
 tors, and every of them, firmly by these presents. 
 
 (Signed) A. Thornhill. (l.s.) 
 Geo. Ltall, (l.s.) 
 C. F. Still. (l.s.) 
 Sealed with our Seals. 
 Dated at Hongkong, this 11th day of February 1856. 
 
 Whereas by the "Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," it is enacted, that before any 
 Chinese passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on a voyage of more than seven 
 days' computed duration, the master thereof shall, with two sufficient sureties to be 
 approved by an emigration officer, enter into a bond to Her Majesty, Her heirs and 
 successors, in the sum of 1,000Z. 
 
 Now the condition of this obligation is this, that if (in respect of the ship " John Calvin," 
 whereof Alonso Thornhill is master) all and every of the requirements of the said Chinese 
 Passenger Act, and of the regulations contained in Schedule A. to the Act annexed, or 
 enacted by the Legislature of Hongkong, shall be well and truly observed and performed, 
 then this obligation to be void, otherwise, to remain in Ml force and effect. 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-bounden Alonso Thornhill, George Lyall, 
 and Charles Frederick StiU, in the presence of 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hiller, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 (True copy) 
 (Signed) E. R Micheu., 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. Emigration Officer. 
 
 Know all men be these presents, that we are held and firmly bound unto our Sovereign 
 Lady Queen Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdon of Great Britain and 
 Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, in the sum of One thousand pounds of good and 
 lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to our said Sovereign Lady the Queen, Her 
 heirs and successors ; to which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves 
 and every of us, jointly and severally for and in the whole, our heirs, executors, admi- 
 nistrators, and every of them, firmly by these presents. 
 
 (Signed) Geo, F. Seymour. (l.s.) 
 A. C. Maclean. (l.s.) 
 Geo. Lyall. (L.s^) 
 
 Dated at Hongkong this 28th day of March 1856. Sealed with our Seals. ' 
 
 Whereas by the " Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," it is enacted, that before any 
 Chinese passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on a voyage of more than seven 
 days' computed duration, the master thereof shall, with two sufficient sureties, to be 
 approved by an emigration officer, enter into a bond to Her Majesty, her heirs and suc- 
 cessors, in the sum of One thousand pounds. 
 
 Now the condition of this obligation is this, that if (in respect of the ship " Duke of 
 Portland," whereof George Frederick Seymour is master), all and every of the require- 
 ments of the said " Chinese Passenger Act," and of the regulations contained in Schedule 
 A. to the Act annexed, or enacted by the Legislature of Hongkong, shall be well and 
 truly observed and performed (in like manner as the same ought to be observed and per- 
 formed in case the said ship were a British ship, and the said British ship a British sub- 
 iect ) then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect. 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-bounden George Frederick Seymour, 
 Alexander Campbell Maclean, and George Lyall, in the presence of 
 
 (Signed) C. B. Hillier, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 (True copy.) 
 
 (Signed) E. R. Michell, 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 
 Hongkong, December 29, 1856. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 I 2 
 
< 68 ) ■ 1 
 
 No. 38. No. 38. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 (No. 112.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 July 17, 1857. 
 
 Sir, (Received September 25, 1857.) 
 
 • Page 61. By yom- Despatch, No. .52,* of 27th April 1857, I had the honour to be 
 
 informed by you that Captain Thornhill, of the ship " John Calvin," was sup- 
 posed to have left England for China by the overland route. I have caused 
 inquiries to be made with regard to him, and by the accompanying letter from 
 the harbour master, Captain Thornhill seems to have proceeded to Calcutta, 
 and not to China. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) JOHN BO WRING. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 End. in No. 38. Enclosure in No. 38, 
 
 (No. 44) 
 
 Harbour Master Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 Sib, July 11, 1857. 
 
 In reply to your letter, No. 621, of the 9th instant, having reference to the where- 
 abouts of Captain Thornhill, lately in command of the ship " John Calvin," I do myself 
 the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that, from 
 inquiries made, 1 have every reason to believe he is somewhere in India, having left 
 London some months ago, as I learn, for Calcutta. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (Signed) E. R. MiCHELL, 
 
 Acting Harbour Master. 
 The Hon. Dr. W. T. Bridges, Acting Colonial Secretary, 
 &e. &c. (Sic 
 
 No. 39. . No. 39. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (^^o. 101.) 
 SiK Downing Street, August 18, 1857. 
 
 With reference to the concluding portion of my Despatch No. 86, of 
 the 29th of June, I enclose, for your information and guidance, a copy of the 
 August 8. opinion which I have received from the law officers of the Crown upon the 
 question of the liability of the parties concerned in the "John Calvin," to the 
 forfeiture of the bond given for the observance of the Chinese Passengers' 
 Act. 
 
 I think that, in pursuance of this opinion, it will be proper that you should 
 take steps for putting the bond in suit. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 40. No. 40. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. 
 
 Henry Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 (No. 148.) October 9, 1857. 
 
 (Received December 7, 1857.) 
 Sir (Answered, No. 1, January 2, 1858, page 70.) 
 
 • Pao'eSQ. In your Despatch, No. 86, of June 29,* 1857, you were pleased to 
 
 direct me to call upon Mr. May, the superintendent of police, for an expla« 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 nation of his conduct with regard to the dispatch of the emigrant ship " Duke 
 of Portland." I have done so, and I have the honour to forward herewith such 
 explanatory letter which will, I trust, prove satisfactory to you. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 40. End. in No. 40. 
 
 (No. 80.) 
 
 Police Department, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 ^^^' September 2, 18o7. 
 
 I HAVE the honoui; to acknowledge receipt of your letter. No. 746, dated 21sfc 
 ultimo, upon the subject of a Despatch received from the Right Honourable the Secretary 
 of State for the Colonies, calling for an explanation of my conduct as superintendent of 
 police, on the matter of the Coolie ship " Duke of Portland." Captain Seymour, the 
 master of such ship, informed his owners by letter that — 
 
 " On 2nd April, when hove short and ready for sailing, the Chinese crowded aft, took 
 belaying pins from the rails, and armed themselves with fii-ewood, yelling and shouting 
 in a fearful manner, throwing everything moveable overboard. He then had an inter- 
 view with the stipendiary magistrate at the Supreme Court, who came on board with a 
 police force. The coolies laughed at them, and at length they were driven below at the 
 point of the bayonet. Then planted ray two guns inside the caddy door, loaded them witli 
 grape and canister ; had the carronades loaded and placed at the poop fife-rail ; gave the 
 men a cutlass each. Mi-. May (magistrate) was then on board ; he left a Serjeant and 
 five policemen on board for sentries during the night. At daylight I was out of the 
 Eoads." 
 
 I have the honour to state, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, with a 
 view that the statement may be laid before the Right Honourable the Secretary of State 
 for the Colonies, that the extent of my knowledge on the subject is very limited ; but 
 that I have enclosed reports touching the matter which will convey the required intelli- 
 gence, in so far as it regards the interference of the Hongkong police. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 1st of April 1856, I proceeded in the police boat on police 
 duty to the town of Aberdeen, and returned therefrom to Victoria in the afternoon, 
 arriving in Victoria harbour at about six p.m. I was casually informed by a gentleman 
 passing in a boat that there had been a disturbance on board the Coolie emigrant ship 
 " Duke of Portland," then at anchor in the harbour, and that he believed police constables 
 were on board the said ship. I immediately steered to the " Duke of Portland," and 
 went on board. I saw two constables there, who told me that there had been a dis- 
 turbance on board amongst the coolies, and that they had been ordered to remain to 
 prevent a recurrence of the disturbance. They mentioned, as far as my memory serves 
 me, that the cliief magistrate (who Avas also emigration officer), and the assistant-super- 
 intendent, Mr. Grand Prd, had been on board. Everytliing was remarkably quiet on 
 board. I did not observe any excitement, or did I see the carronades or guns planted 
 as stated in the captain's letter. I did not make any inquiry, or did I remain on board 
 above a minute, as I was satisfied that, under the orders of the cliief magistrate (who 
 was a Chinese scholar), all needful inquiries and proper steps therein had been taken. 
 
 Upon arriving at the police station, I saw assistant-superintendent Grand Prd, who 
 reported to me the outlines of the matter, to the effect as reported in the following day's 
 " Morning Report." 
 
 I have the honour to enclose a report from assistant-superintendent Grand Prd, an 
 extract from the "Police Morning Report" of the 2nd April, which report was, as usual, 
 forwarded that day to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary and the chief magistrate, 
 and a copy of the case taken at the police court before the assistant magistrate, referring 
 to the prisoner taken for disorderly conduct from on board tlie " Duke of Portland." 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) C. May, 
 Hon. W. T. Bridges, Esq., D.C.L., Superintendent of Police, 
 
 Actin<T Colonial Secretary. At present Acting Assistant Magistrate. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure 1 in No. 40. Sub.-Encl. 1 in 
 
 ' ' ^ No. 40. 
 
 Report. 
 
 On the 2nd of April 1856 the captain of the ship "Duke of Portland" came to the 
 
 Central Station and said that the Chinese Coolies on board were creating a disturbance, 
 
 and that he did not consider himself safe. I went to the emigration officer, Mr. Hillier, 
 
 and reported the circumstances to him ; hi then told me to take some constables on board, 
 
 (250.) I 3 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 and titat he would follow immediately afterwards. I carried out his orders, and had nSt 
 been on board five minutes, when Mr. Hillier and Mr. Lyall, the latter agent of the ship, 
 came on board ; and Mr. Hillier examined all the Coolies, and they seelned aU pretty 
 quiet, with the excerption of one of them, who was brbught on shore, and charged with 
 being one of the ringleaders. Mr. Hillier then told me it would be well to leave some 
 constables on board ; three of them were left. I returned on shore and gave orders to 
 Serjeant M. D'Silva, of the water police, that if he saw everything quiet on boar'd the 
 " Duke of Portland," the next morning, when coming off duty, he was to bring the con- 
 stables on shore. I saw Serjeant Silva the next morning, and he told me that the ship 
 had got under weigh, and that everything was very quiet on board, and the constables 
 left there had all come on shore. 
 
 With regard to what Captain Seymour says, that "the Coolies laughed when they saw 
 the police come on board," and that " the police drove them down below with the points 
 of bayonets," I must beg to say is incorrect. 
 
 (Signed) A. Grand Pre, 
 Police J)epartment, August 24, 1857. Acting Superintendent of Police, 
 
 True copy. 
 (Signed) W. T. Bridges, 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Sub.-Encl. 2 in Sub- Enclosure 2 in No. 40. 
 
 No. 40. 
 
 In consequence of representation made that the Chinese emigrants on board the British 
 
 ship " Duke of Portland " were creating a disturbance on board, having demanded pay- 
 ment of an additional sum of money, more than specified in agreement, assistant-super- 
 intendent Grand Pr^ and a party of pohce proceeded on board ; the Coolies were all 
 orderly excepting one man, who was apprehended. Three constables were left on board, 
 and remained until the ship sailed at four a.m. this day. 
 
 (Signed) C. B. H. 
 W. T.M 
 True copy. 
 
 (Signed) A. Grand Pr^, 
 
 Acting Sup. Police. 
 
 Commenced April 3, 18.56. Concluded April 3, 1856. C. M. Court, No. 363. 
 At the Chief Magistrate's Office, Victoria, in the Colony of HoQgkong. 
 
 Minutes of Proceedings in the cause in which C. Bartlett, police constable, is plaintiff; 
 and Huen Ahchun, 22, of S^rasui, shopman, defendant. 
 
 Thursday, April 3, 1856. 
 
 C. Bartlett, police constable, charges defendant with using exciting language, calcu- 
 lated to cause a breach of the peace on board the ship " Duke of Portland," on the 2nd 
 April instant, in this harbour. 
 
 Defendant discharged. 
 
 (Signed) W. H. Michell. 
 
 No. 41. No. 41. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 1.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, January 2, 1858. 
 
 * Page 68. J have to acknowledge your Despatch, No. 148* of the 9th October, 
 
 accompanied by an explanatory letter from the superintendent of police of 
 Hongkong respecting the emigrant ship " Duke of Portland." 
 
 You will inform Mr. May that his explanation respecting his conduct in 
 connexion with this vessel is satisfactory. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 No. 42. 
 
 CbPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Rt. Hon. 
 
 H. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 (No. 161.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 „ November 11, 1857. 
 
 ^^f (Received January 7, 1858.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to transmit to you for submission to Her most 
 tjrracious Majesty the Queen, Ordinance 1 1 of 1857. Its principal object is to 
 put a check on the frauds to which Chinese emigrants, and especially those 
 paying their own passage fares, have been from time to time exposed by unprin- 
 cipled men, both Europeans and Chinese, taking upon themselves the office of 
 passage brokers, and then defrauding their victims of their money and passaee 
 by absconding from the colony. r o 
 
 I am of opinion that the Ordinance will be found a valuable auxiliary to the 
 objects of the Government, and therefore confidently submit it for your favour- 
 able consideration. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 The Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No 42, 
 
 End. in No, 42. 
 Enclosure in No. 42. 
 
 TT (Seal.) 
 
 Hongkong. ^ 
 
 Anno Vicesimo peimo VicxoRi^ai Regin^. 
 
 No. 11 of 1857. 
 
 By His Excellency Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander-inr 
 Chief of the colony of Hongkong and its dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, 
 Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British subjects 
 in China, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong. 
 
 An Ordinance /or Licensing and Regulating Emigration Passage Brokers. '^^^• 
 
 [3d November 1857.] 
 Whereas it is expedient to amend existing legislation with reference to emigrants ; Be Preamble, 
 it enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, by and with the 
 advice of the Legislative. Council thereof, as follows : 
 
 I. From and after the passing of this Ordinance, no person shall act as a passage No person to act as a 
 broker or in procuring passengers, for or in the sale or letting of passages in any emigrant passage broker with- ^ 
 ship, unless he shall, with two sufficient sureties, to be approved by the emigration ?"* having entered 
 officer, have entered into a joint and several bond in the sum of five thousand current tained a licence. ' 
 dollars to Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, according to the form contained in 
 
 Schedule A, hereunto annexed, which bond shall be renewed on each occasion of obtaining 
 such licence as herein-affcer mentioned, and shall be deposited with the emigration officer ; 
 nor unless such person shall have obtained a licepce to let or sell passages, nor unless 
 such licence shall be then in force ; and where different members of the same firm act 
 as passage brokers, each person so acting shall comply with the terms of this section. 
 
 II. Any person wishing to obtaui a licence to act as a passage broker, shall make How passage brolter's 
 application for the same to the emigration officer, and the emigration officer is hereby \^^^ ""^^ ^^ °^' 
 authorized (if he shall think fit) to gTant such licence according to the form in Schedule B. p^^ r f • f 
 hereunto annexed- : Provided always, that no such licence shall be granted unless such order lie enses to be 
 bond as herein-lbefore mentioned .shall have been first entered into : Provided also, that forfeited. 
 
 any justice or justices of the peace who shall adjudicate on any offence against this Ordi- 
 nance, are hereby authorized to order the offender's licence to be forfeited, and the same 
 shall thereupon be forfeited accordingly ; and the said justice or justices making such 
 order shall forthwith cause notice of such forfeiture, in the form contained in the Schedule 
 C. hereunto annexed, to be transmitted to the emigration officer, and such forfeiture 
 shall be exclusive and independent of any other punishment which may be inflicted upon 
 such offender under the provisions of this Ordinance. 
 
 III. Every person obtaining such licence as aforesaid sh&li pay to the emigration Fee to be paid for 
 officer a fee of two hundred current dollars, which fee the emigration ofBcer is hereby li^occs. 
 empowered and required to demahiJand receive upon the issuing of any such licence; and 
 
 the said emigration officer shall pay over all such fees to the Colonial treasurer, to be 
 applied to the Colonial revenue, 
 
 (250.) I 4 
 
( n ) 
 
 How bng licences are 
 to coDtinue in force. 
 
 Contract tickets for 
 passages. 
 
 Passage broliers to 
 produce to emigration 
 officer certificate that 
 they have chartered 
 the ship for carrying 
 emigrants. 
 
 ! brokers to 
 attend before emigra- 
 tion officer for the 
 purpose of delivering 
 the contract tickets 
 to passengers. 
 
 Contract tickets not 
 to be altered. 
 
 Agents not to act 
 ■without written aii- 
 thoritv, and 1o produce 
 their authority on 
 demand. 
 
 Penalties for offences. 
 
 1. Against section I, 
 
 2. Against section V 
 
 3. Against section 
 TI. and IX. 
 
 4. Against section 
 VII. 
 
 5. Against section 
 VIII. 
 
 IV. All sucli licences shall continue in force until the 31st day of December in the 
 year in which such licence shall be granted, and for fourteen days afterwards, unless 
 sooner forfeited as herein-before mentioned : Provided that any licence granted before 
 the 31st day of December in the present year shall continue in force till the 31st day of 
 December 1858, and for fourteen days afterwards. 
 
 V. Every passage broker who shall or may receive money from any person, for or in 
 respect of a passage in any emigxant ship, shall give to every such person a contract ticket, 
 under the hand of such passage broker, and stamped with his seal or trade mark, — each 
 ticket to be printed in a plain and legible type, according to the Form in the Schedule D. 
 hereunto annexed, and to be accompanied with a translation thereof in the Chinese 
 language, in plain and legible characters. 
 
 VI. Every such passage broker before he shall receive or take any money on account 
 of any such passage, or for the sale or letting of the whole or any part of the accommodation 
 of or in any emigrant ship proceeding from Hongkong, shall produce to the emigration 
 officer the certificate of the master or owner of the ship, in respect of which such passage 
 shall or may ha,ve been taken, or the accommodation in which shall have been so sold or 
 let, to the effect that such ship has been chartered for the purpose of carrying emigrants^ 
 and that he, such passage broker, is authorized to receive payment for such passage, or 
 for.the sale or letting of the accommodation in such ship ; and such certificate shall 
 be filed in the office of the emigration officer, and the contents thereof entered in a 
 book to be kept by the emigration officer, for recording therein the contents of such 
 certificate. 
 
 VII. On every occasion of the delivery to any passenger of such contract ticket as 
 aforesaid, the passage broker who shall have engaged to provide such passenger with a 
 passage shall attend with him at the office of the emigration officer, in whose presence 
 the contract ticket shall be delivered to such passenger, and who shall explain to him the 
 true intent and meaning of such contract. 
 
 VIII. No person shall fraudulently alter or cause to be altered, after it is once issued, 
 or shall induce any person to part with, or render useless, or destroy any such contract 
 ticket, during the continuance of the contract which it is intended to evidence. 
 
 IX. No licensed passage broker shall, as agent for any person, whether a licensed 
 broker or not, receive money for or on account of the passage of any passenger on board 
 an emigrant ship without having a written authority to act as such agent, or on the 
 demand of the emigration officer refuse or fail to exhibit his licence and such written 
 authoiity ; and no person, whether as principal or agent, shall, by any fraud, or by false 
 representation as to the size of the ship or otherwise, or by any false pretence whatsoever, 
 induce any person to engage any passage as aforesaid. 
 
 X. All violations or disobediences of, or defaults in compliance with, the provisions of 
 this Ordinance, shall be heard and determined summarily under Ordinance No. 10 of 
 1844 ; and on conviction of such ofiences, the respective offenders shall be sentenced to 
 pay the several penalties, or in default of the payment thereof, to suffer the several terms 
 of imprisonment respectively herein-after specified. 
 
 1. For every >offence against section one, a fine not exceeding four hundred current 
 
 dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. 
 
 2. For every offence against section five, a fine not exceeding fifty current dollars, 
 
 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six weeks. 
 For every offence against sections six or nine, a fine not exceeding one hundred 
 current dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months. 
 
 4. For every offence committed by a passage broker against section seven, a fine 
 
 not exceeding one hundred current dollars, or imprisonment for a terra not 
 exceeding three months. 
 
 5, For every offence against section eight, a fine not exceeding fifty current dollars, 
 
 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months. 
 
 XI. For the purposes of this Ordinance, the term " emigrant ship " shall mean every 
 ship carrying more than twenty passengers being natives of China, and clearing out for 
 a port or ports not in the Chinese empire ; the term " emigration officer " shall include 
 every person lawfully acting as emigration officer, emigration agent, or protector of im- 
 migrants in Hongkong ; and the term " passengers," shall include all passengers being 
 natives of China. 
 
 John Bowring. 
 Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, 
 this 3d day of November, 1857. 
 J. M. D'Almada e Castro, 
 for the, Clerk of Councils. 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 SCHEDULES to which the foregoing Ordinance refers. 
 
 Schedule A. 
 Form of Emigration Passage Broker's Annual Bond, with two Sureties to he approved 
 
 by the Umigration Officer. 
 KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that we A* B of 
 
 ii".^ . ^ 1 , ■'^ of&c, apdE F of&c, are 
 
 lieJd and tirmly bound unto Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria in the sum of 
 hve thousand current doUars, to be paid to Her said Majesty, Her heirs and successors ; 
 to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves, and every of us jointly 
 and severally, our heirs, executors, and administrators, and the heirs, executors, and 
 adunmstrators of each of us, and each and every of them, firmly by these presents ; 
 sealed with our seals, dated this day of " in the year One thousand 
 
 eight hundred and 
 
 Whereas by jbhe "Ordinance for licensing and regulating Emigration Passage Brokers, 
 No. 11, of 1857," it is amongst other things enacted: that no person whatever shaU 
 carry on the business of a passage broker in Hongkong, in respect of any emigrant ship, 
 or shall be in any wise concerned in the sale or letting of passages in any such ship, 
 unless such person, with two good and sufficient sureties to be approved of by the emi- 
 gration officer, shall have previously entered into a joint and several bond to Her Ma- 
 jesty, Her heirs and successors, in the sum of five thousand current dollars ; aiid whereas 
 the said C. D. and E. F. have been approved of by the emigration officer as sureties for 
 the said A. B, 
 
 Now the condition of this obligation is, that if the above bounden A. B. shall well and 
 truly observe and comply witli all the requirements of the said recited Ordinance, so far 
 as the same relates to passage brokers ; and further, shall well and truly pay all fines, 
 forfeitures, and penalties, — and also all sums of money; by way of subsistence money, or 
 of return passage money, and compensation to any passenger, or on his account, — and 
 also all costs which the above bounden A. B. may at any time be adjudged to pay, 
 under or by virtue of any of the provisions of the above-recited Ordinance, or of the 
 Act of the imperial Parliament 18th and 19th Victoria, cap. 104, entituled, " An Act for 
 the Kegulation of Chinese Passenger Ships:" then, and in such case, this obligation 
 to be void, — otherwise to remain in full force. 
 
 Signed, sealed and delivered, by the above bounden A. B., C. D., and E. E., in the 
 presence off 
 
 [* Insert pei'Sonal and family names in full, with the occupation and address of each of the parties.] 
 [t Insert the names and addresses in iuU of the -witnesses.] 
 
 Schedule B, 
 Form of Emigration Passage Broker's Licence. 
 
 A. B. of J having shown to the satisfaction of me, the under- 
 
 signed, that he hath given bond to Her Majesty, as by the " Ordinance for licensing and 
 regulating Emigration Passage Brokers, No. 11, of 1857," required: I, the undersigned, 
 do hereby license and authorize the said A. B. to carry on the business of a passage 
 broker in Hongkong, in respect of passengers on board emigrant ships proceeding from 
 Hongkong, until the end of the present year, and fourteen days afterwards, unless this 
 licence shall be sooner determined by forfeiture for misconduct on the. part of the said 
 A. B., as in the aforesaid Ordinance is provided. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal this day of One thousand 
 
 eight hundred and 
 
 Signature [L.S.] 
 
 Emigration Officer. 
 [t The personal and family names in full of the person applying for the licence, with his address and trade or occu- 
 pation, must be correctly inserted.] 
 
 Schedule C. 
 Form of Notice to be given to the Emigration Officer of forfeiture of a Licence. 
 
 Sir 
 
 ' This is to give you notice, that the licence granted on the day of 
 
 18 to A.B. of II tp act as an emigration passage broker, was on the 
 
 (ja^„ of now last past duly declared by me (or us), the undersigned justice 
 
 Cor iustices) of the peace in petty sessions assembled, to be forfeited.! 
 ^ Signatures 
 
 Place and date 185 
 
 To the Emigration Officer, 
 
 Victoria, Hongkong. 
 ni The personal and family names in fall, with the address and trade or occupation of the party, to be here inserted.] 
 ["if Here state severally the reason of forfeiture.] 
 
 (250.) 
 
 K 
 
( u ) 
 
 Schedule (D.) 
 
 Form of Contract Passage Ticket. 
 
 I HEREBY engage that the Chinese named at the foot hereof shiall be provided with a 
 passage to and shall be landed at the port of in , in the ship 
 
 or vessel called the " " with not less than 72 cubic feet and 12 superficial 
 
 feet for berth accommodation, and shall be victualled according ta Schedule (A.) to the 
 " Chinese Passengers Act, 1855," annexed, during the voyage, and the term of detention 
 at any plao^ before its' determination, for the sum of ' dollars, and I hereby 
 
 acknowledge to have received the sum of dollars in full payment.. 
 
 Name of Passenger. 
 
 Male. 
 
 Female. 
 
 Occupation. 
 
 Native Place. 
 
 Age. 
 
 Age. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Victoria, Hongkong, the 
 
 day of 
 
 Signature. 
 185 
 
 Passage Broker. 
 
 I hereby certify, that I have explained and registered the above contract passage 
 ticket. 
 
 Signature 
 
 Emigration Officer, 
 day of 185 . 
 
 J. J. W. D'almada Castko, 
 
 For the Clerk of Councils. 
 
 Victoria, Hongkong, the 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 Page 71. 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to Governor 
 
 Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 10.) 
 Sir, Downing Street, February 16, 1858. 
 
 I HAVE received and laid before the Queen an Ordinance passed by 
 yourself and the Legislative Council of Hongkong on November 3rd last, 
 entitled No. 11 of 1857, ''for licensing and regulating Emigration Passage 
 Brokers," the transcript of which was enclosed iii your Despatch No. I6l of 
 November 11.* 
 
 I have received the Queen's commands to acquaint you that Her Majesty 
 has been pleased to confirm and allow this Ordinance. 
 
 You will cause Her Majesty's decision to be signified to the inhabitants of 
 Hongkong by a proclamation to be published in the usual and most authentic 
 manner. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., to Governor 
 
 Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 175.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 December 2, 1857. 
 
 Sir, (Eeceived February 2, 1858.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour herewith to forward a letter received this date from 
 the harbour master regarding the piroceedings of a British ship employed in the 
 Havannah Chinese Coolie trade. I entertain little doubt that a bold attempt 
 has been made by the parties concerned to set at defiance the requirements of 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 the Chinese Passengers Act. Should punishment not follow in this instance, 
 jne example will be speedily imitated by other ships in these seas, and I have 
 tneretore to express my hope that every means may be taken to effect the 
 capture of the " Dream " befere her cargo is landed. 
 
 rp, 19* XT TT ^ have, &c. 
 
 I he Kt. Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., (Signed) JOHN BO WRING. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 44. 
 
 End. in No. 44. 
 
 Q Emigration Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 
 
 ^^^' Deceiriber 2, 1857. 
 
 I DO myself the honour to report for the information of his Excellency the 
 trovernor, that the British ship " Dream," A. Wilson, Master, of the burthen of 1,106 tons, 
 belonging to the port of Glasgow, Potter, Wilson, and Co., owners, received the 
 harbour master's clearance from this port for that of Macao on the 12th October last ; 
 copy of which clearance is herewith transmitted. 
 
 It has come to my knowledge that the " Dream " left Macao about the 15th November 
 last, bound to Havana with between 400 and 500 Chinese Coolies on board, thereby com- 
 pletely setting at defiance the Chinese Passengers' Act of 1855. 
 
 The first section of the Act clearly defines the " Dream " as a Chinese passenger ship ; 
 the fourth section provides that no " Chinese passenger ship " shall proceed to sea without 
 receiving certain papers from the Emigration Officer, and entering into a bond with two 
 sureties., ^ These papers have not been received from me, the Emigration Officer of Hong- 
 kong, neither has the bond been entered into. 
 
 _ Section 8 provides that the ship shall be forfeited to Her Majesty for proceeding to sea 
 without the papers described in section 4. 
 
 As it appears to me that there can be no doubt of the Illegality of the proceedings of 
 the master of the "Dream," and as I deem it to be absolutely necessary that the peculiar 
 traffic in which the " Dream " is engaged should be under strict surveillance, I would 
 respectfully request that the necessary steps may be taken for the seizure of the 
 " Dream," as is provided for in the Act. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (Signed) E. R, Michell, 
 
 Emigration Office 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 49. 
 
 Poet clearance for the "Dream," burthen 1,106 tons, under British colours, 
 Captain Alexander Wilson, bound for Macao, in ballast. 
 
 This is to certify to whom it may concern, that the master of the above-mentioned 
 vessel has rendered an account of her import and export cargo, and complied with all 
 the regulations of the port. 
 
 (Sighed) Henry Gunthorpe, 
 
 Chief Clerk to the Harbour Master, 
 ^registered at the Harbour Master's Office, 
 
 Victoria, Hong Kong,, October 12, 1857. 
 (Signed) E. A. Michell, 
 
 Acting Harbour Master. 
 
 No. 45. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH/rom the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere to 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 
 (No. 20.) 
 giK Downing Street, February 25, 1858. 
 
 With reference to your Despatch, No. 64* of the 10th of April last, 
 respecting the Chinese emigrant ship " Gulnare," J, transmit to you for your 
 information the enclosed copy of a report from the Emigration Commissioners. 
 ! The question of issuing the instructions suggested in para. 5 has been sub- 
 mitted to the Foreign Office for Lord Clarendon's consideration. 
 
 In reference to the concluding paragraph, I have to request that you will 
 state whether the inquiry therein alluded to was made by the emigration officer 
 at Hongkong, and if Hot, why it was omitted, and that you will give positive 
 directions that it should never be neglected on any future occasion of a similar 
 
 kind. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 Governor Sir John Bowring. (Signed) H. LABOUCHERE. 
 
 Sub-Enclosure to 
 End. in No. 49. 
 
 No. 45. 
 
 Eight Hon. H. 
 Labouchere to 
 Governor Sir J. 
 Bowring. 
 
 Feb. 16, 1858. 
 * Page 62. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 K 2 
 
( 7e ) 
 
 End. in No. 43. Enclosure in No. 45. 
 
 Copy of a Report from the Emigration Commissioners to H. MerivALE, Esq.; 
 
 Sir, Emigration Office, 16 February, 1858. 
 
 We have to acknowledge your letter of the 29th ultimo, accompanied by a 
 despatch from the Governor of Hongkong, reporting the circumstances connected with 
 the sailing of the " Gulnare" with Cliinese emigrants for the Havannah, and by a letter 
 from the Marine Department of the Board of Trade, calling attention to the great 
 mortality which occurred on the voyage. 
 
 2. From Sir J. Bowring's despatch, it appears that the " Gulnare " arrived at Hong- 
 kong on the 13th of March, from Swatow, with 432 Chinese emigrants on boar/i ; that 
 the next morning the emigrants endeavoured to seize the ship, and, failing in that, to set 
 her on fire ; that after a desperate conflict, in which the third officer and one of the ci'ew 
 were wounded, nine of the emigrants shot (killed, we presume, is meant), many more 
 wounded, and three had jumped overboard, the mutiny was put down; that 18 of 
 the ringleaders were afterwards brought to trial and found guilty, and three ordered 
 for execution, of whom one was actually executed, and the remaining 17 transported 
 for life ; and that the emigration officer having examined and reported that the 
 " Gulnare " was " provided in every way in a complete and satisfactory manner," she was 
 despatched from Hongkong on the 30th of March with 326 emigrants on board. 
 
 3. By the letter from the Board of Trade and its enclosure, it appears that the 
 " Gulnare" did not finally sail from Hongkong till the 1st of April, and that she arrived 
 at Havannah on the 1 9th August ; she was therefore 20 weeks on the Voyage. During 
 that time the mortality amounted to 58, or 17"79 per cent. ; of those who died, 21 are 
 said to have died of fever, or fever combined with dysentery; S of dysentery; 12 of 
 debility, of whom 9 are described as opium smokers ; and 3 committed suicide ; the 
 remaining 1 4 died of various diseases. The account gives no further particulars fropa 
 which it is possible to form any opinion as to the causes of the mortality, or the mode of 
 treating the sick ; but we observe among the deaths that of the Chinese doctor, who died 
 on the 8th of June, when the ship had been at sea ten weeks. As, however, 26 deaths 
 had occurred before this, and as under any circumstances the rate of mortality in a sickly 
 ship would be likely to increase the longer she was at sea, we can hai-dly infer that the 
 
 *• greater mortality in the latter ten weeks waS attributable to the loss of that officer. 
 We presume that a duly qualified surgeon was on board in addition to the native doctor. 
 
 4. We fear that there would be no possibilitj', at this distance of time and place, of 
 instituting any effective inquiry into the causes of the lamentable mortality in the ship. 
 The report of it did not reach the Board of Trade until the 19th ultimo, exactly five 
 months after the "Gulnare" arrived at Havannah, and as a ship's log is not, under the 
 Merchant Shipping Act (sec. 286), delivered in to the Board of Trade until the arrival 
 of the ship in this country, a delay sufficient to embarrass, if not defeat inquiry, miist 
 always intervene between the landing of African or Asiatic emigrants in the West 
 Indies and the report of the circumstances of the voyage in tliLs country. 
 
 5. The only means of obtaining an effectual inquiry into cases of this nature is by aii 
 investigation on the spot immediately on the arrival of the ship. Such an inquiry would, 
 as a matter of course, be instituted in any British colony on the arrival of an emigrant 
 ship with a loss of a large proportion of her emigrants. In foreign ports a similar 
 inquiry might, we presume, be instituted by Her Majesty's Consuls ; and as Havannah 
 is the pi-incipal foreign port in the West Indies to which emigrants are conveyed in ' 
 British ships, we would submit that the Consul at that port should be instructed, when- 
 ever a British ship arrives there with emigrants, to inquire into the circumstances con- 
 nected with the voyage, and especially to endeavour to ascertain the causes of any 
 mortality which may have occurred, and the different forms of treatment adopted in 
 different ships ; even if such inquiries- should not reveal anything requiring the Consul's 
 immediate intervention, the information obtained might be of great value in framing 
 I'egulations for the future management of Chinese passenger ships. 
 
 6. In respect to Sir J. Bowring's report on the " Gulnare," we may perhaps be allowed 
 to point out an omission which appears to us remarkable. The circumstances connected 
 with that vessel proved that the emigrants were unwilling to proceed in her, and would 
 suggest, therefore, that they might have been collected on board either by force or fraud. 
 To prevent such a transaction, the regulations attached to the Chinese Passengers' Act 
 provide that the emigration officer shall not give his clearing certificate until he shall have 
 mustered the passengers, and ascertained to the best of his power that they understand 
 whither they are going, and the nature of the contract into which they have entered* It 
 would not be fair to infer, because Sir J. Bowring has not mentioned it, that the 
 emigration officer did not comply with this particular regulation ; but under all the cir- 
 cumstances of the case, the very cursory way in which the emigration officer's inquiry is 
 mentioned, and the total omission of all i-eference to this essential point, appear to us so 
 remarkable, that we think it right to notice them. We must also point out that no 
 allusion is made to any medical examination of the ]ieople before the emigration officer's 
 certificate was granted. 
 
 We have, &c., 
 (Signed) T. W. 0. Murdoch, 
 
 Frederick Rogers. 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 No. 46. 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Lord Stanley to Governor Sir John Bowring. 
 (No. 7.) 
 
 ' T- , Downing Street, March 16, 1858. 
 
 1 . -I TRANSMIT herewith copies of a correspondence which has taken place 
 between the Foreign Office and the Emigration Commissioners on the subject 
 ot tl3e great mortahty which has taken place on board ships conveying Chinese 
 emigrants to Cuba. r ./ a 
 
 I request that you will furnish me from time to time with returns of vessels 
 Clearing out from Hongkong under the Chinese Passengers' Act, and with any 
 mtormation which it may be in your power to supply respecting British vessels 
 taking passengers at other ports without complying with that Act. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 ^ e- T , X, (Signed) STANLEY. 
 
 Governor Sir John Bowring, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 No. 46. 
 
 Foreign Office, 
 Feb. 15. 1858. 
 
 Emigration 
 Commissioners. 
 March 6, 1858. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 46. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 End. 1 in No. 46. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 15, 1858. 
 I AM directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you the accompanying 
 copy of a despatch from Mr. Crawford, Her Majesty'.s Consul-General in Cuba, enclosing 
 a statement, showing the nmnber of Chinese Coolies introduced into that island between 
 the 1st January 1847 and the 31st December 1857, and also showing the number of 
 deaths that have taken place on the voyage, and I am to request that in laying these 
 papers before the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, you will move them to 
 favour Lord Clarendon v;ith any observations which they may have to 'offer with regard 
 to the great mortality which appears to have taken place on board British ships engaged 
 in transporting Chinese to Cuba. Lord Clarendon desires me further to request that 
 the Commissioners will inform him, if they have the means of doing so, whether the pro- 
 visions of the Chinese Passengers' Act are complied with by British vessels engaged in 
 carrying Chinese passengers to Cuba. 
 . S. "Walcott, Esq. I liave, &;c., 
 
 &C. &e. (Signed) Shelburne. 
 
 My Lord, Havana, December 31, 1857. 
 
 With reference to your Lordship's despatch, S. T. No. 35, dated the 30th ultimo, 
 the receipt of which I have the honor to acknowledge, with its enclosures upon the sub- 
 ject of the trade in free colonists from China, I have to observe that it has been on 
 board of some of the British vessels which have brought Chinese to this port, subsequent 
 to the enactment of the laws for regulating such passenger vessels, tliat the greatest 
 mortality has occurred upon their voyages from China attributable only to the previous 
 condition of the colonists themselves, and in some degree to the qualities of the water, 
 which was taken in at some of the places where they called on their way here. 
 
 I beg leave to lay before your Lordship a concise abstract from the archives of this 
 office, which shows the number of ships of the several nations, and their tonnage, number 
 of passengers landed, and the deatlis on board. 
 
 It is distressing to reflect that the extract from the " New York Herald" is in the main 
 correct. The mortality has been enormous until now on board of these passenger vessels, 
 but it is to be hoped that it will be less in future, because the effects of the opium, which 
 the Chinese smoke to great excess, will be better attended to, and tobacco be allowed 
 thein, so as to wean them of that pernicious habit by degrees, instead of taking it from 
 them all at once, — a practice which proved fatal to so many of them who had been used to 
 smoke, and otherways consume the opium to great excess, and more pains will be taken 
 in selecting transports with more perfect ventilation, and having better accommodation, 
 as well as by providing better provisions and water. . Towards these desirable requi- 
 sites the activity and intelligence of the inspectors- of passenger vessels might be 
 directed with great advantage, and their, sailing qualities should be attended to ; indeed 
 they ought all to be furnished with screw propellers. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) J. T. Crawford. 
 
 (250.) 
 
 K 3 
 
(' 78 ) 
 List of Chinese LAUotrREES imported into, Havana up to 3lst December, 1857. 
 
 Nationftli'ty of 
 
 No. of 
 
 
 Chinese 
 
 Chinese * 
 
 Deaths on 
 
 Percentage 
 
 
 "Vessel. 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Tonnage., 
 
 embarked. 
 
 landed. 
 
 the Voyage. 
 
 of 
 Mortality. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 British 
 
 26 
 
 18,549 
 
 9,606 
 
 8,215 
 
 1,391 
 
 14* 
 
 Many of the Chinese j umped 
 overboard. 
 
 American - 
 
 9 
 
 7,832 
 
 3,910 
 
 3,538 
 
 ' 372 
 
 M 
 
 
 Dutch 
 
 8 
 
 5,003 
 
 2,773 
 
 2,463 
 
 310 
 
 
 French 
 
 6 
 
 4,453 
 
 2,825 
 
 2,478 
 
 347 
 
 12i 
 
 Screw steamer of 1,600 tons 
 brought 842, and losp 
 besides 58 Chinese. 
 
 Spanish 
 
 5 
 
 2,038 
 
 1,779 
 
 1,489 
 
 290 
 
 . iii 
 
 
 Portuguese 
 
 3 
 
 1,246 
 
 1,049 
 
 1,021 
 
 28 
 
 s 2t 
 
 
 Peruvian - 
 
 3 
 
 2,484 
 
 1,314 
 
 812 
 
 502 
 
 38J- 
 
 Cord lost 117 out of 292'; 
 cause, bad water. 
 
 Bremen 
 
 1 
 
 560 
 
 249 
 
 236 
 
 13 
 
 5i 
 
 
 Norwegian 
 
 1 
 
 470 
 
 221 
 
 179 
 
 42 
 
 19 
 
 ' 
 
 Chilian 
 
 1 
 
 250 
 
 202 
 
 155 
 
 47 
 
 23i 
 
 ' 
 
 Total - 
 
 63 
 
 42^930 
 
 23,928 
 
 20,586 
 
 3,342 - 
 
 14 
 
 f From June 3, 1847, to Dec. 
 \ 31, 1857. 
 
 End. 2 in No. 46. 
 
 Havana, December 31, IS.")?. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 T. Crawfobd, 
 
 Consul-General in Cuba. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 46. , 
 
 Extract of a Eeport from the Emigration Commissioners to H. Merivale, Esq.. 
 dated, Emigration Office, March 6, 1858. 
 
 " We have to acknowledge the Earl of Shelburne's letter of the 1 5tb ultiniO, 
 enclosing a Report from Her Majesty's Consul-General in Cuba, on the subject of Chinese 
 immigration into that island during 1857, and desiring us to offer any observations which 
 may occur to us in regard to the mortality which took place in the British ships engaged 
 in this traffic, and to state, as far as we have the means of doing so, whether the pro- 
 visions of the Chinese Passengers' Act are complied with by British vessels canying 
 Chinese passengers. - ' 
 
 " 2. From the Schedule attached to Mr. Crawford's despatch, it appears that 63 vessels, 
 measuring 42,930 tons, took on board for Cuba 23,928 Chinese passengers ; that of these 
 3,342 equal to 14 per cent, died on the passage, that of the above 63 ships, 26 measuring 
 18,549 tons were British, and that these British ships embarked 9,606 passengers, of 
 whom 1,391, equal to 14.48 per cent., died on the voyage. Mr. Crawford gives no specific 
 information in respect to the causes of this great mortality, but attributes it in general 
 terms to the state of the passengers at the time of embarkation, to the badness of the 
 water on board, and to the sudden withdrawal of opium from those accustomed to 
 smoke it. 
 
 " 3, From a return of so very general a nature no inference can be drawn. The only 
 facts which it shows bearing at all on the question of mortality are the numbers embarked 
 compared with the tonnage of the vessels which carry them. But they bear apparently no 
 relation to the number of deaths. Thus the space in the British ships, assuming their 
 tonnage as a criterion, is rather above the average, yet their mortality is also above the 
 average mortality. But the most striking contrast is between three Portuguese and three 
 Peruvian vessels comprised in the return. In- the three Portuguese vessels measuring 
 1,246 tons, 1,049 passengers were embarked of whom only 28, equal to 2| per cent., died. 
 In the three Peruvian ships measuring 2,484 tons, 1,314 passengers were embarked, of 
 whom 502 or 38^ per cent. died. Thus while the tonnage of the ship was doubled, and 
 the number of passengers increaised by only one-fourth, the mortality was multiplied 14 
 fold. It is indeed stated that one of these vessels lost 117 out of 292 by bad water, but 
 even deducting this vessel, the mortality in the two others would be 37.67 per cent, or 
 1 31 times as great as in the Portuguese ships. 
 
 " 4. With such opposite results in the only facts which the return discloses, it is im- 
 possible to draw any inference from it, and we regret to say that the other information at 
 our command does not enable us to supply the deficiency. We have scarcely any infor- 
 mation on the subject of Chinese emigration during 1857, beyond what is comprised in 
 the letters from the Foreign Office to' the Colonial department of 6th June and 17th 
 August last, which were commimicated to us by Mr. Labouchere's directions. But the 
 facts stated in the enclosures to those letters show that the collection of emigrants in 
 China is carried' on in a Very irregular and unsatisfactory manner, and without those 
 precautions which are necessaiy to ensure that the people put on board are voluntary 
 emigrants, and at the time in a fit state -of health-to undertake the voyage. Those cir- 
 cumstances, taken in connexion with such particulars as reach us from other quarters, 
 
(^ 79 )• 
 
 ead us to believe that a large portion of the mortality is probably attributable to the 
 flabits of_ life, of the people who embark and to their state of health at the time of 
 embarkation. 
 
 No. 47. 
 
 No. 47. 
 
 Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right Hon. BoSg'to the' 
 
 Henry Labouchere, M.P. Right Hon. H. 
 
 (No. 38.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hongkong, ^'SSTss^'^' 
 
 March 27, 1858. - 
 
 ^'^» (Received 21st May, 1858.) 
 
 I HAVE the honour to inform you, that in compliance with your in- 
 structions conveyed in despatch No. 101,* dated 18th August 1857, proceedings #Page68 
 were taken to enforce the payment, of the bond signed by Messrs. Lyallj 
 Still & Co., in the case of the " John Calvin," and yestprday a verdict was 
 given for the Crown for the amount of the said bond, viz. 1,000/., the jury 
 having appended to their verdict the opinion which you will find referred to in 
 the various documents which I now enclose. 
 
 I received from Messrs. L'yall, Still & Co. the application, of which I send 
 copy, requesting that I should stay the execution for the penalty involved in No. 1. 
 
 the verdict. I could not consent to this in a case where I have been acting 
 under your direct instructions, but I have expressed my willingness, under the 
 peculiar circumstances of the case, to recommend to you a mitigation of the said 
 penalty. 
 
 I forward herewith letters from the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General, 
 by which you will see that such mitigation would be deemed by both a becoming ■ '^ No. 2. 
 act on the part of the Government. No. 3. 
 
 Had not the prosecution been instituted in consequence of your directions, 
 I should not have hesitated in suspending the payment of the bond. The liouse 
 condemned is one of great respectability ; it availed, itself of no legal quibble 
 or technicality to escape responsibility, and I am persuaded there was no intention 
 or desire on the part of Mr. Lyall to evade the requisitions of the law. 
 
 Mr. Ansteyhas availed himselfof the opportunity to make some observations 
 on the Coolie trade, which is undoubtedly associated with horrible cruelties and 
 crimes. Several documents I have lately forwarded to the Earl of Clarendon 
 will, I doubt not, excite his Lordship's attention ; and, perhaps, you may 
 think it desirable to convey to the Foreign Office Mr. Anstey's statements 
 as to the character of the contracts entered into with Coolies shipped for the 
 Havannah. 
 
 ilight Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P. (Signed) iOHN BOWRING. 
 &c. &c. Sec. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 47. End. 1 in No. 47. 
 
 gijj Hongkong, March 25, 1858. 
 
 In reference to the cause which was tried to-day in the Supreme Court, of the 
 Queen against ourselves, in the matter of the " John Calvin," we have the honour to 
 inform you that a verdict was found for the plaintiff, but that the jury unanimously 
 appended to their verdict the expression of their opinion,, " that the ship, ' John Calvin,' 
 was fitted and properly equipped for the purpose ; that there was ample provision, space, 
 and accommodation in the ship for the number of passengers taken in the ship ; that the 
 mortality arose alone from the act of God ; and that the act of the emigration officer, in 
 not landing all on board in excess of the 81 named in the certificate, may have misled 
 
 From what fell from his Honour the Chief Justice and the Honourable the Attorney- 
 General in the course of the trialj we believe we are correct in stating that they quite 
 concur in this expression of opinion on the part of the jury ; and we would therefore 
 solicit from his Excellency the Governor the indulgence that he would give directions for 
 stav of execution for the penalty involved in the verdict until the matter can be brought 
 to the notice of Her Majesty!s Government, and the pleasure of Her Majesty be known 
 
 thereon ^^ ^*^^> ^*^' 
 
 tnereon. . (Signed) Lyall, Still, and Co. 
 
 To the Hon. W. T, Bridges, Esq., D.C.L., 
 Acting Colonial Secretary, 
 
 &G. ,&ic. &a ' 
 
 (250.) 
 
 K 4 
 
( 80 ) 
 
 End. 2 in No. 47. Enclosure 2 in No. 47. - 
 
 Sir, Hongkong, Friday, Marcli 26, 1858. 
 
 With reference to the case of the Attorney-General v. Lyall and Still, I beg to repeat 
 what I stated from the Bench yesterday, that I feel assured when the home authorities 
 have the whole matter before them, when they are made acquainted with the very fair, 
 upright, and honest conduct of the defendants, who, as owners of the ship " John Calvin," 
 evinced throughout the utmost anxiety to comply with every requirement of the Chinese 
 Passengers' Act of 1852, they will not insist upon forfeiture of the bond. The Crown 
 having, with the laudable view of inquiring into the real cause of the awful mortality 
 whicli occurred on board the " John Calvin," thought fit to institute legal proceedings, I 
 allowed the whole case to be fully entered into, although in the view I took as to the 
 legal construction to be put upon, the 18 & 19 Vict. c. 104, the greater portion of the 
 matter introduced was irrelevant, strictly speaking. 
 
 I directed the jury that, inasmuch as there were on board a greater number of Chinese 
 passengers than specified in thex;ertificate of the emigration officer, their verdict must be 
 for the Crown. I, at the same time, told them that they were at liberty to find any facts 
 , specially if they so thought fit. They, accordingly, found — 
 
 " That there was ample space and accommodation and suflicient provisions for the 
 number of passengers actually on board, and that the mortality on board was the act of 
 God. That the ship was in every respect properly equipped, and that the fact of the 
 emigration officer having allowed the excess of passengers above 81 to remain on board 
 was calculated to mislead the captain and owners." 
 
 I have, &c. ^ 
 
 The Hon. the Acting Colonial Secretary. (Signed) John Walter Hulme. 
 
 End. 3 in No. 47. Enclosvire 3 in No. 47. 
 
 Attorney-General's Office, Hongkong, 
 Sir, March 26, 1858. 
 
 The Crown Solicitor has informed you that in the case of "The Attorney-General 
 V. Lyall and another," I obtained a verdict yesterday before a special jury of seven, for 
 the full penalty of the bond given by the defendants and their absent principal, Mr. 
 Thornhill, late master of the " John Calvin." 
 
 I did not oppose the wish of the jury to append to their verdict a recommendation of 
 the claims of Messrs. Lyall and Still, the defendants, to the favourable consideration of 
 his Excellency in respect of the remission of the penalty, or the stay of execution. There 
 can be no doubt that the vessel was well found in all respects for the number of Coolies 
 actually on board, that the mortality of the middle passage was the act of God, and that, 
 by Mr. Hiilier's informing Messrs. Lyall and Still that he should not order the number of 
 Coolies in excess of 81 to be relanded here, that lamented and most excellent officer did 
 mislead Messrs. Lyall and Still as to his powers, their liabilities, and the intentions of 
 Government. 
 
 Moreover, I am bound to acknowledge the fair and honourable frankness with which 
 every particle of evidence, however inadmissible on strict principles of law, was allowed 
 by the defendants to be used on the part of tlie Crown, it being their own desire that the 
 whole of the facts should be before the jury. And I must here remind his Excellency that 
 this too was their conduct from the beginning'. If they had not furnished his Excellency's 
 Government, when first applied to, with the extract from the master's letter from the 
 Havannah, detailing the important particulars of his voyage, the action could not have 
 been tried at all, or at least not until the questionable expedient of commissions to the 
 Havannah and elsewhere had been tried and succeeded. In truth, they have been cast 
 by evidence which themselves furnished. 
 
 I mention these facts, because they are highly creditable to the defendants, and deserve 
 to be recorded. 
 
 There are, however, some observations on other questions arising out of tliis trial 
 wliich I wish to lay before his Excellency, since they go to show the importance of a 
 still more thorough revision of the Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855, than it is undergoing 
 or has hitherto undergone, 
 
 One good result has been obtained,, the closing (by Ordinance, No. 9, of ] 856, approved 
 by Her Majesty) the door to all hope of evasion of the "definition" of " Chinese passen- 
 ger ship," contained in section I. of the Imperial Act. By that Ordinance, vessels clear- 
 ing out hence for any port, with intent there to cominence the voyage of more than seven 
 days' duration, shall be deemed to have commenced it at this port. 
 
 If the draught Ordinance for the further amendment of the Act, which stands for 
 discussion to-morrow in Council, shall be allowed to pass into a law, a far more mischie- 
 vous fraud upon the enactment will have been prevented for the future. By extending 
 the meaning of " Chinese passenger ship," so as to bring within the several enactments of 
 the Act, applicable respectively to the case, all passenger ships managed or conducted by 
 persons here, but themselves lying in roads or harbours outside our waters, a disgraceful 
 traffic f .'xolusivcly carried on by citizens of American republics, northern and southern, by 
 
( '81 ) ' 
 
 one French firm,' by one German fii-m, and other foreigners abusing the shadow <5f British 
 protection, and opposing British law to Chinese prohjMtion, must infallibly be rooted 
 out. 
 
 But I submit to his Excellency that the revision should niot stop here. 
 
 The disclosures that were made in the course of the proceedings yesterday, of frightful 
 abuses beyond the control and even the knowledge of the oWers and masters of thtese 
 ships, in many cases appear to call for further legislation ; andW much of the mischief is 
 beyond the competence of a single Colonial Legislature to correct, the whole case might 
 very fitly receive the consideration of the Imperial Parliament. : 
 
 It is ilnpossible to peruse the Spanish form of contract presented to Mr. Hillier by the 
 late Consul for the Spanish Queen at this port, and not to see that every one of the 
 Coolies who accepted the terms therein specified and is now in the JTavannah, is in fact 
 a slave for the period of his service. 
 
 Let his Excellency take that document and compare it with the carefully and mercifully 
 worded form of contract used by this Government for the purpose of Coolie emigration to 
 oui- OAvn colonies (" Papers and Instructions relatiixg to Emigration fi-om China," January 
 and March 1853), and Sir John Bowring cannot faS to be struck with the contrast. 
 
 Bearing in mind what are the securities which his own Government provides in such 
 cases, what wiU not be his Excellency's indignation to be told that, where the Spanish 
 shippers and their foreign abettors have unrestrained liberty of action, these are the terms 
 which they impose upon their emigrants, and which are published by themselves under 
 the sanction of their own consular agents : — 
 
 1 . To work for eight years in Cuba, under the orders of the speculator or his asdgns, 
 for the contract is negotiable or traxisferable, and whether at prsedial labour or domestic, 
 and whether for private persons or for governmental establishments (inclu ding, of course; 
 the mines), the selection to be entirely at the discretion of the undertaker- 
 
 2. Hours of sickness are not to be included in the melancholy computation of the labour 
 term, nor is that to be deemed to have begun on the immigrant's arrival, if sick at that 
 time, but only from the period of his restoration to health 
 
 3. No limitation on the master's right to regulate the duration of a day's labour is 
 allowed, except that the bondsman is to have his " Jioras seguidas de deseanso y el tiem/po 
 preciso ade/mas para la corrdda y el alfmjberzo," nor is even Sunday an exception in this 
 respect. 
 
 4<. The wages (in the principal case, 4 dollars per mensem) are to cease, and revive with 
 the health and vigour of the Coolie, whose daily food is limited moreover to a half-pound 
 of salt meat, and two pounds and a half of vegetables. 
 
 5. That tiiese allowances are short of the usual rate in Cuba may be inferred from th* 
 concluding significant stipulation, that, "although I know and ascertain {aunque yo se' 
 y me consta) that far greater are the earnings of free labourers and slaves (jornaleros 
 libres y esclavoa) in the island of Cuba, I will conform myself to the wages stipulated. 
 
 6. Subjection to the " order and discipline " of the " establishment," fee, destined to 
 the immigrant, and especially to the " system of correction " imposed therein, to supply 
 the deficiencies of Spanish law, by way of punishment for " default of application and 
 constancy in labour," for " disobedience of the orders of the master or his agents," and 
 for *' all such like faults ; " and the denial of all right to transfer himself to another 
 
 master. . . , , 
 
 7. Renunciation clear and express of all right of action or suit against the same per- 
 sonages ; and in particular, 
 
 8 Renunciation of -all benefit of protection under the ordinances of Isabella II. of 
 22d March 1864 (Articles 27, 28, 43, 44, and 45), touching colonisation, rescision of 
 contracts and payments of wages, and also of all other laws and dispositions touching 
 the same, hereafter to bepublished. ,^ . ci x /^ • j 
 
 I It is not uncharitable to suppose that at Macao, Amoy, bwatow, Oumsmgmoon, and 
 other ports in our neighbourhood, this infamous form of agreement is carried through in 
 all cases without scruple, as without check ,,.,,, ^ , , , x .i, « 
 
 In the particular case, Mr. HiUier so far amended it that he struck out the renun- 
 ciations" last mentioned, and added a clause imposing on the undertaker the condition 
 that no Coolie was to work for more than 12 hours per dienr, upon the average. 
 
 But these amendments were obviously far short of the exigency of the case. 
 
 It must be remembered also, that there being no provision for compelhng the emigra- 
 tion officer to re-land aU aUeged emigrants denying their supposed contracts, no less than 
 206 recusant persons therefore, in whose favour he haxi not interfered for the purpose 
 of making any such amendments, tod some of whom were as he certihes, " mere 
 children" and unfit for such undertaking, were, m fact, carried to sea along with the 81 ; 
 and that of these, all who did not die on the passage are now at Havannah, bound by the 
 common form of engagement ; but unprotected by the special clauses which Mr. Hilher 
 introduced in favour of the rest. , ,. j. vj. j. v 
 
 I think that such a provision for the compulsory re-landing of passengers ought to be 
 Tmraediaitely recommended for adoption. . , , , j 
 
 But I father think that no power to clear and pass emigrant labourers, under any 
 CoSractlike the above, ought to be vested in any British officer so long as the slave 
 trade is a crime. 
 
 (250.) ^ 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 The indefinite power of coercion ; the want of reciprocity with respect to complaints 
 on the score of wages and food ; the sordid calculation of horcB non of sickness, no 
 matter how necessarily incident to the nature of the employment ; the arbitrary power 
 to transfer and assign the servant ; the arbitrary denial of all power to the latter to 
 exchange masters ; the enormous duration of service, if taken in combination with the 
 probable nature thereof ; and the bold avowal of a right of chastisement not recognized 
 even by Cuban law : these are surely ingredients whose compound is nothing else than 
 unadulterated slavery. 
 
 I will go further ; the contract is not one of hiring and service at all ; and the laws of 
 " master and servant " are entirely out of place. It is a contract with A. by B. to work 
 not for A. alone, but for all the other letters of the alphabet ; an undertaking not pro- 
 tected by the letter, and to say the least, inconsistent with the spirit of the law, and the 
 policy of Great Britain, whose dominion this island unquestionably is. 
 
 If, indeed, we were bound by our Chinese treaties to tolerate or give effect to such 
 enterprises, that would change the situation of the case ; but tlie truth is far otherwise. 
 British law is strained, evaded, and violated ; and British policy and honour brought into 
 serious embarrassment for the protection of a traffic prohibited by Chinese law, and 
 carried on within British jurisdiction by aliens, audaciously pretending to be aggrieved 
 because they are threatened by the British authorities with the same restraints to which 
 British subjects are by law amenable. 
 
 I take the liberty of enclosing the document which has given rise to these remarks. 
 On receiving it back, I will cause it to be restored to the registrar ; his Excellency will 
 see that I have altered the order of arrangement, but not the effect, in my analysis. 
 
 An Act of Parliament, were it possible to obtain one, for the amendment and consolida' 
 tion of the Chinese Passengers Act, the local ordinance, and the practicable clauses of 
 other enactments of Parliament in pari raateria, would be a great boon to humanity ; 
 for to do complete justice to the present need is only within the power of Parliament. 
 If this be not to be hoped for, much partial good may be done by local legislation ; 
 and I shall be very ready, on receiving instructions to that effect, to prepare the proper 
 ordinance. 
 
 In conclusion, I have to acknowledge, whilst perusing this last sheet of my present 
 communication, your letter (No. 163) of this date, on the subject of the principal case. 
 
 I have already stated what took place at the trial, and I need not say that I fully 
 concur in the entire verdict. 
 
 The case, so far as Messrs. Lyall are concerned, is a very hard one. 
 
 No one pretends that, as owners, they are liable under the Act. They had no part in 
 the violation of any one of its provisions. 
 
 But they were also sureties, and it is solely in that character that they are reached, 
 for their master's performance of his obligations. 
 
 Honestly ignorant, perhaps, that Mr. Hillier had no power to connive at his violations 
 of the Act, or perhaps that they were such, he did violate it merely in proceeding to sea 
 with a number of passengers in excess of the 81, for whom the emigration officer had 
 granted his certificate. Thereby he forfeited his bond, and caused the same forfeitiu-e 
 to fall upon his two sureties. 
 
 It is right to mention also that Mr. Lyall, in his evidence yesterday, in support of his 
 own case, stated that, on Mr. Hillier's saying, " You must act on your own responsibility, 
 I shall not order the rest to be re-landed here," he, Mr. Lyall, informed Mr. Hillier, and 
 afterwards the Colonial Secretary, that under these circumstances he must desire the 
 master to reland them at Macao (whence most of them had come), on his way to the 
 Havannah ; or, if they preferred that, to take them on from Macao, when he got there, to 
 the Havannah. He added that neither assent nor dissent being signified by those two 
 officers, he gave his orders accordingly to the master, and, as he presumed, the master 
 obeyed them under the same impression with himself 
 
 Mr. Weatherhead, I find, has quitted his office, it being after hours ; but on the re- 
 opening of the office to-morrow, I shall forward some proofs bearing on this part of 
 
 the case. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) T. Chisholm Anstkt. 
 
 End, 4 in No. 47. Enclosure 4 in No. 47. 
 
 Sib, Attorney-General's Office, March 27, 1858. 
 
 I HAVE the honour, with- reference to my letter of yesterday, to forward the 
 ^5j ... , . enclosed documents selected Irom among those produced, and read at the trial of the 
 bent in original.) Attorney-General v. Lyall and another on behalf of the Crown. They belong now to 
 the Supreme Court. 
 
 Also a copy of my own notes of Mr. Lyall's own examination and cross-examination is 
 herewith sent ; it includes the summing-up also. 
 
 I omitted to state yesterday, that not being able to reconcile it to my sense of justice 
 to mulct these defendants of the amount to which they are liable to me under a recent 
 
( 83) 
 
 ordinance for my fees, I have directed Mr. Hazeland (acting for his absent partner, 
 Mr. Cooper Turner, the Crown Solicitor,) to omit them from his bill of plaintiff's costs in 
 the action. 
 
 The Hon. W. T. Bridges, Esq., D.C.K, (signed) T. Chisholm Anstey. 
 
 Acting Colonial Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 47. End. 5 in No. 47. 
 
 In the Supreme Court. 
 
 Attorney-General ». Lyall and another. 
 
 Copy of the Attorney-General's Notes of Defendant Lyall's Examination and 
 
 Cross-Examination. 
 
 ■ 
 
 The Honourable George Lyall, examined by Mr. Day, states : — 
 
 "My partner and I were in 1856 owners of the ' John Calvin.' It was intended to send 
 to Havaunah 301 passengers. In the beginning of March they were all on board. The 
 late Mr. Hillier was then emigration officer. I had frequent communications with him on 
 the subject. I gave him notice of the intention to carry those passengers. He was aware 
 of the day of her sailing. He went on board several times to inspect her. On the first 
 occasion he found there were only 80 who wished to go. He spent about three days in 
 investigating the case on board. He then told me that he was so thoroughly convinced that 
 they were not ill used, that he would not re-land them. He read the contract to them in 
 my presence. He told me that he was perfectly convinced they knew where they were 
 going, and that they knew the nature of their contracts ; and he said, he believed they 
 were practising fraud on us ; which he would defeat, by not ordering them to land here. I 
 told Mr. Hillier that I should give instructions to the captain to t^e them to Macao, and 
 land them all there, if they would not go on to Havannah. I told Mr. Mercer (the Colonial 
 Secretary) the same ; he said he had been so informed by the emigration officer. They 
 both of them said, I must do it on my own responsibility. She sailed the next day. 
 There were 301 originally ; 297 sailed, four were landed ( I think by Mr. HiUier), one or 
 two of them for punishment ; I forget what the others were landed for. [Is shown the pas- 
 sengers' list.] There are some marked here as not on board. [Is shown his letter, dated 
 ' Tuesday evening,' beginning ' The other men '.] That letter refers to a proposal to substitute 
 some men in place of the recusants. It was not carried into effect. 
 
 •' The vessel was equipped with necessaries and medicines for 302 days." 
 
 Cross-examined by the Attorney-General ; states — 
 
 " By an arrangement with Mr. Hillier, she was to replenish her fuel and water at St. 
 Helena, not having stowage for the whole voyage ; with that exception, she was equipped 
 with necessaries for the whole way. [Is shown the Colonial Secretary's note, dated 
 * Tuesday morning,' beginning ' Dear Hillier — About Mr. Rozario.'] The conversation 
 there referred to by Mr. Mercer I believe to be the one I have already mentioned. [Is 
 shown the draft minutes of Mr. Hillier.] They are perfectly correct, I have no doubt; but 
 I have no doubt of the accuracy of the additional facts I have above stated. I need not 
 say that I do not for a moment believe that Mr. Hillier meant otherwise than most fairly. 
 I had nothing to do with the Coolie contracts ; I was only an owner of the vessel employed 
 to take them." 
 
 Copy of the Attorney-General's Notes of the Chief Justice's summing-up. 
 
 Q, j,_.' I do not think I need trouble you, Mr. Attorney-General, to reply. It is only 
 matter oflaw, and I am quite with you. 
 
 " Gentlemen, I do not agree with Mr. Day's law at all. If you believe the evidence ot 
 Captain Thornhill's letter, you must find a verdict for the Crown. , ,. , 
 
 •'Nevertheless, I did not wish to prevent the defendants from gomg mto the whole case, 
 
 " I do not consider that it was necessary to add an express enactment that the certificate 
 of the emigration officer must be an accurate one. That is implied. Otherwise these Acts 
 
 ^^" BuJTvou are'fully'at liberty to append to your vprdict a recommendation to the favour 
 of the Crown, if you think that there was, in fact, ample accommodation, and that the 
 frightful mortality on board was the act of God." 
 The jury after a minute's consultation, returned their verdict thus :— 
 « Our verdict is for the Crown; and we are fully satisfied that the vessel was in every 
 wav fitted and provisioned for the voyage ; that the mortality was the act of God ; and that 
 re^emSration Officer, bjj not ordering the re-landmg of the Coolies m excess of 81, might 
 have misled the owners." ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 Hong Kong, March 27, 1858. (signed) T. Chisholm Anstby, A.G. 
 
 481. M 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 No. 48. 
 
 Governor Sir J. 
 Bowring to the 
 Right Hon. H. 
 Labouchere, m.p. 
 
 • Page 79. 
 
 No. 48. 
 
 Copy of DESPATCH from Governor Sir John Bowring to the Right 
 Honourable H. Labouchere, M. P. 
 
 (No. 48.) Government Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong. 
 
 April 12, 1858. 
 jglf (Received June 3, 1858.) 
 
 With reference to my despatch. No. 38* of 27th March lastj I have the 
 honour to forward to you the enclosed letter to your address from Messrs. 
 Jardine, Matheson & Co., Dent & Co., and other firms, praying a remission of 
 the penalty inflicted on Messrs. Lyall, Still & Co. as sureties in the case of the 
 •' John Calvin." 
 
 I have &c. 
 The Right Hon. (signed) JOHN BOWRING. 
 
 Henry Labouchere, M. P. 
 &c. &c. 
 
 End. in No. 48. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 48. 
 
 Sir, Hong Kong, April 10, 1868. 
 
 We venture to address you, not only unsolicited, but without the cognizance of the 
 parties interested, with reference to the proceedings recently instituted in the Supreme 
 Court of this colony by Her Majesty's Attorney-General against Messrs. Lyall, Still & Co., 
 as sureties to a bond for the due fulfilment by the master of the British ship " John Calvin," 
 of the provisions of the Chinese Passengers' Act, in the hope that you will be pleased to 
 give the case your liberal consideration, for we feel that in the event of the penalty to which 
 they have subjected themselves being enforced, it would, under peculiar circumstances, press 
 with great hardship upon those gentlemen. 
 
 We do not wish. Sir, to deny that the defendants may have rendered themselves liable to 
 the fine decreed, according to the strict letter of the law ; but a careful review of the wtole 
 case abundantly ^hows that there was no attempt at concealment in any one of their acts ; 
 and the evidence on the trial is equally conclusive as to the fact of the vessel being lade- 
 quately fitted and provisioned for the voyage, as well as fully competent, under the certificate 
 of the emigration officer himself, to convey the ^number of passengers that were on board ; 
 while it is recorded as the unanimous opinion of the jury, concurred in by his Honour the 
 Chief Justice, that the frightful mortality that took place during the voyage was the act of 
 God alone, and in no way attributable to negligence or want of proper care or precautions 
 on the part of Messrs. Lyall, Still & Co. It was, moreover, expressly stated by the 
 Attorney-General on the trial, that it was not as owners of the vessel that he charged 
 the defendants, but solely as sureties to the bond. We would fiirther respectfully submit, 
 Sir, that had the emigration officer strictly done his duty, by ordering the Chinese passen- 
 gers on shore when they demurred to going on the voyage, no ground for the recent 
 proceedings would, in all ;probabiiity, iave arisen ; whereas the course adopted by that 
 functionary was doubtless calculated to mislead, if it was not the sole cause of the whole 
 irregularity. 
 
 We trust therefore. Sir, after a careful perusal of the evidence elicited on the trial, and on 
 consideration of all the circumstances connected with the transaction, you may be pleased 
 to take a favourable view of the position of the defendants, and to sanction the remission 
 of the penalty. 
 
 We have, &c. 
 (signed) Jarbine, Matheson & Co. 
 Dent & Co. 
 
 TUBNEB & Co. 
 LiNDSEY & Co. 
 BiBLEY & Co. 
 
 To the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P., 
 Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, 
 &c. &c. .&c. 
 
 GiLMAN & Go. 
 Blenkin, Rawsom & Co. 
 Fletcheb & Co. 
 W. H Wabdlet & Co. 
 GxsB, Livingston & Co. 
 
HONG KONG. 
 
 COPIES or Extracts of CoRSESPONDEifCE be- 
 tween the Colonial Department and the Goverfior 
 of Hong Kong, and between the Colonial Depart- 
 ment and the Foreign Office, on the subject of 
 Emigration from Hong Kong and from the 
 Chinese Empire to the British West Indies 
 and to Foreign Countries and their Posses- 
 sions, since the 1st of January 1853. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 (^Mr. Hamilton.) 
 
 Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printedf 
 •i.T July 1858. 
 
 \Price \s.'\ 
 
 481. 
 
 Under 12 oz> 
 
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