CHINA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 53, 11 March 1843, Page 211

CHINA.

[From the Sydney Herald, Feb. 17.] We were favoured yesterday with the perusal of a Hongkong Gazette, of November 3d and 10th. Lord Saltoun had arrived at Hongkong from* the northward, and assumed the command. Captain Balfour, of the Madras Army, had been appointed consul at Shanghai; the Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff at Fow-chow-foo ; and Mr. Thorn at Ningpo. 'tine police magistrate appeared to have a great deal of his time occupied in inquiring into a very extensive and original system of piracy, which was carried on by the Chinese resident on the banks of the Canton river. There was no additional news from the northward, and the only article we could find likely to be interesting was the following : — " We have received an imperial edict, dated eighth moon, second day (September 6, 1842), proclaiming to the empire and its dependencies the following important items : — " 1. The Emperor withdraws his edict against Fow-chow-foo, and gives his full consent to its being one of the five ports where British merchants may dwell with their families. The imperial commissioners begged to be punished for representing the wishes of the English on this subject, but his Majesty exonerates them from all guilt. " 2. The Hong merchants are alone held responsible for the debts they may have contracted, without aid from Government. * " 3. The Hong merchants no longer allowed to monopolize the commerce, but both foreigners and natives permitted to trade with whom they please, and their mutual account to be settled between them at such times as they may choose, both parties being alone responsible for their own debts. " 4. All English prisoners to be immediately benevolently and unconditionally released. " 5. All kinds of intercourse allowed between the natives of China and the people of England, without fear of official interference. " 6. Natives who violate the laws of the empire, whether in the employment of foreigners or not, are to be tried without foreign interference. 1 " 7. As the barbarians are unacquainted with the language of the middle kingdom, interpreters will be allowed. " 8. The natives of the empire everywhere} to pay the usual custom-house dues. " 9. Fixed duties are to be established at all the five ports. " 10. All the British ships to leave the Yang-tse-keang by the 10th day of the Bth moon (14th September). "11. Full assent is given for the occupation of Chusan and Koolangsu by the English until aU,the money be paid. His Majesty hopes for the final payment to be made with the least possible delay, that Chusan and Koolangsu may be relieved, no more fighting may be excited, peace for ever firmly established, and the throes which agitate the imperial bosom may be at once allayed. " All the provinces are to consider this as the high imperial fiat, establishing honourable intercourse between the two nations.*' — Friend of China, Nov. 3, 1642.

Extraordinary Declinx in thr Cowsuuftion op Wine.— A return has been made of the quantity of wines upon which duty has been paid for home consumption in the port of London, from the commencement of the present year until Thursday last. It exhibits a most extraordinary decrease as compared with the same period of last year, and furnishes strong evidence of the pressure upon their resources which the middle classes of the community have had to sustain. Of Cape wine the quantity cleared for home consumption this year is 106,030 gallons— a decrease of 13,875 gallons, or more than 11 per cent, upon last year. Maderia, for the present year, 36,859 gallons, being 18,872 gallons less than last year's consumption, a decrease of more than 33 per cent., or one gallon less in every three. I Sherry, up to Thursday last, 955,576 gallons, being 64,036 less than last year — a decrease of more than six per cent But the most astounding decline has been in the consumption of Port The quantity of Port upon which duty has been paid this year is 486,716 gallons, showing the portentous falling off of 824,660 gallons upon the consumption of last year, being 40 per cent, or a gallon less in every two and a half. Wines not classified and particularized exhibit a falling off of 12,778 gallons upon the quantity cleared last year (155,417 gallons), more than eight per cent The costly wines of France, on the other hand, consumed by the wealthiest classes, whose personal luxuries* the most depressed state of trade does not affect, as well as Hock and other Wi^nhh wines, have undergone a diminution of consumption, but exhibit an increase. The Claret, Champagne, and Burgundy cleared for home consumption this year — 188,896 gallons — is 8,254, or upwards of 44 per cent more than last year, and the Rhenish exhibits a slight increase of 150 gallons upon the 28,466 gallons cleared last year—Liverpool Ttmen, Sept. 7.