CHINA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 46, 21 January 1843, Page 184

CHINA.

The following detailed account of the cessation of hostilities with the Chinese is taken from the Port Phillip- Patriot-: — CIRCULAR. To her Britannic Majesty's subjects in China. Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary has extreme gratification in announcing to her Majesty's subjects in China that he has this day concluded and signed, with the Chinese high commissioners deputed to negociate with him, a treaty, of which the following are the most important provisions : — 1. Lasting peace and friendship between the two empires. 2. China to pay twenty-one millions of dollars in the course of the present and three succeeding years. 3. The ports of Canton, Amoy, Foochowfoa, Ningpo, and Shanghai, to be thrown open to British merchants ; consular officers to be appointed to reside at them ; and regular and just traffic of import and export (as well as inland transit) ; duties to be established and published. 4. The island of Hong Kong to be ceded in perpetuity to her Britannic Majesty, her heirs,' and successors. 5. All subjects of her Britannic Majesty natives of Europe or India) who may be confined in any part of the China empire to bs unconditionally released. 6. An act of full and entire amnesty to be published by the Emperor, under the imperial signature and seal, to all Chinese subjects, on account of their havjng service or intercourse with, or residing under, the British Government or its officers. 7. Correspondence to be conducted on terms of perfect equality amongst the officers of both Governments. i 8. On the Emperor's assent being received to this treaty, and the payment of the first six ; millions of dollars, her Britannic Majesty's ser- . vices to retire from Nanking and the Grand Canal, and the military posts at Chinhai to be also withdrawn : but the islands of Chusan and i Kulangsoo are to he held until the money payments and the arrangements for opening the. ports be completed. i In promulgating this highly satisfactory intelligence, her Majesty's plenipotentiary, &c, : purposely refrains from any detailed expression of his own sentiments, as to the surpassing' skill, energy, devotion, and valour which have distinguished the various grades, from the highest to the lowest, of all arms of her Majesty's combined forces, during the contest that has led to these momentous results. The claims which have thus been established will be, doubtless, acknowledged by the highest authorities. In the mean time, her Majesty's plenipotentiary congratulates her Majesty's subjects in China on the occasion of a peace which, he trust and believes, will, in due time, be equally beneficial to the subjects and interests of both England and China. God save the Queen. "* Dated on hoard the steam frigate Queen, in the Yangtze Teang River, off" Nankin, this 26th day of August, 1842. (Signed) Henry Pottinger^ Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.