CHINA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 45, 3 January 1843, Page 4

CHINA.

>r . s ORIGIN OF THE "WAN. *3-' r ; (Vontimed from. No. 44. J l-£th.—The first Session of the Court of Criminal and Admiralty Jurisdiction held at Hbngkong. 15.—A1l supplies for British subjects in (China, interdicted by the Commissioner andGovernor. V 17th. —A meeting of British subjects conby Captain Elliot to concert measures for T’rfceir personal safety. »18th. —The orders for interdicting food were repeated : and all the servants and compradors, in the English houses and families, left their employers. 21st. —Captain Elliot gave notice that, unwilling to compromise the safety of the Portuguese, the Commission would embark that evening. 22.—Mr. Snow, the American Consul, embarked this afternoon in a chop boat to Canton. 24th. —An attack was made on the British schooner, the Black Joke, and several of the people killed and others wounded. 25th. —At a Committee meeting of British subjects held this day, it was resolved that all should leave Macao next day. 26th. —The embarkation took place in. the afternoon, and all British subjects left Macao —excepting two or three invalids, and one o-entleman known and recognised as Prussian Consul. Chinese troops were quartered at Tseenshan, and large numbers, probably more than onethird of the native population, left Macao. 30th..—H:B.M. ship of war Volage, 'II. Smith, Esq., Captain, arrived, and anchored off Macao, and soon after proceeded to Hongkong. The Hyacinth arrived some days subsequently. 31st. —A proclamation was issued by the Chinese, calling on the people to arm themselves, and to resist parties of English landing on their coasts. . September 3d.—The Commissioner and Governor of Canton visited Macao, and were escorted from the Barrier by Portuguese

troops. * 4th —An encounter took place at Kowlung between English armed boats on one side, and Chinese junks and'a fort on the other. Gth.—An published by the Commissioner animadverting on the affair of the 4th, and the non-compliance in the surrender of the murderer, &c., and authorising the Chinese to seize and kill any English on shore. Bth.- —The Boppo ©f Canton entered Macao this morning, and left again on the morning of the 9th, public honours. Trade between Canton and Macao was resumed soon after his •visit. , 10th. —Mr.. Bridgman, at the request of the * Commissioner, went to Chunhow, and returned on the 12th. 11 tTb.—Notice was given by Captain Smith, of the Volage, of his intention to blockade the river and port of Canton, after, six day?. l^th —Early this morning a Spanish ship, the Bilbaino, from Manilla, was burnt by Chinese officers in the Typa. The mate was seized and carried prisoner to Canton, and subjected to the punishment of wearing the Cangue. 14th. —An edict-was published by the Portuguese senate, ordering an armed vessel to cruize in the Roads and Typa, and prohibiting all vessels from entering the Typa with cargoes of opium after the Ist of October. 16th. —The blockade was not carried into effect—a boat supposed to have been cut off having returned, and negociations having been opened. 24th. —An interview took place between , Captain Elliot and the Sub-Prefect of Macao, having reference to an amicable arrangement for trade. October 9th.—The Commissioner, by proclamation, declared that' so long as opium continued to come, he would continue to act against it. i 2th. —The British vessel Snnda, Captain Alexander Greig, was wrecked on Hainan, the cargo, all the passengers, and several of .the crew, were lost. 15. —Public ' notice was given by Captain Elliot that he had, the preceding day, accepted conditions from the Commissioner and Governor, involving the opening of the British trade outside the port of Canton. The English ship, Thomas Coutts,, Captain Warner, entered the port, after having signed a new bond,- henceforth to be required instead of the old one. 20th.—Captain Elliot promulgated the conditions agreed on bv himself and the high officers, for conducting the trade outside the Bogue,,, * 22d.—Minutes and memoranda of meeting of British and Hong merchants respecting the outside trade, promulgatecUn Macao. • 26th.—Capt. Elliot gav.ll notice of the Commissioner and Governor having violated their engagement for the trade outside the port of ’Canton. " r ? ' 27th.; —An/edict was published complaining of the renewed of the . opium trade on the east and west coast, and--threatening to take the

English ihtb editody if they continued obstinate. ' * 28th. —Another edict was published, declaring that six hunefoifr troops had been stationed at - the Barrier,, and that the English should be driven from* Macao, and not allowed to return so long as'the ships refused to enter tne port, and the murderer was not given up. ' ' Nov. 3d.—An action took place off Chuenpe, H. B. M. ships Volage . and Hyacinth engaged with the Admiral and twenty-nine sail of junks. On subsequent and successive days there were cannonadings and random shots at Hong Kong and its vicinity. The fleet of merchant vessels removed to Tungkoo. On the expediency of this removal there was /i correspondence between the British authorities and the merchants and shipmasters, the fitter -being unwilling to remove. 20th. —Captain Elliot gave Information that he had requested the' seiiior officer of her Majesty’s the further entrance of under the pre2§tK— published by the ComProvincial Officers, declaring l&at ‘trade with British vessels, the Thomas *Coutts and Royal afterthe 6th of December, would .cease/ JLiarge shipments of cargo from the British vessels by.American and other foreign vessels. Dec. 3.-rM. J. Senn Van Basel, Esq., the Consul of his Netherlands’ Majesty, left Macao for Batavia.* 6th. —The Hon. E. Company’s Finance Committee and their last official servant left China. Btli —A part of the crew of the Portuguese vessel, the Casador, recently wrecked on Hainan, returned to Macao, vid Canton, The remainder of the crew were soon to follow. 16th.—An edict was issued by the Commissioner- and Governor forbidding the introduction of British goods in otjier foreign vessels. 18th. —An address * from Captain Elliot forwarded to the Commissioner asking an undisturbed residence in Macao for British subjects: 26th. —Mr. Gribble, a British subject, was captured off Tungkoo, on returning from the Royal Saxon ■ —which vessel entered the Bogue. 29th.—The Volage and Hyacinth left Tungkoo for the Bogue to inquire respecting Mr. Gribble.. On this brief recapitulation of the events of 1839, we have no space for comment. To the foreign community in China it has been a year of singular interest, marked by extraordinary changes and reverses, and ’ends with the prospect of open hostilities. That such ah issue may be • averted, peace and prosperity restored, is our ardent prayer to the God of nations, the ruler of all princes.—For our readers and friends we wish a happy new year. Geography. —Our English name China is derived from the ancient Chinese nameChing-kwo, or Middle Nation. This country was known to the Romans as Sinse, and traces of this name are still to be found amongst the Persians and other nations of Central Asia, who call this country Tchin and Chane Hai. A grandson of Zengis Khan conquered the north of China, and during his dominion and that of his successor it was called Cathay, by which name it was made known to Europe during the middle ages by Marco Polo, Nicolo Conti, Rubriquis, and Sir John Mandeville, who visited China in the year 1340. The Chinese Empire . extends*££om the Russian dominions upon the mountains of Liberia, to the territory of Cochin-China, and from the valleys of Thibet to the shores, of the pacific, embracing an extent of more than 4,000,000 square geographical miles, and in this vast region, from the policy of its Tartar conquerers, only four outlets of communication are allowed with the rest of the world—Maitmatchin on the north; Cha-po, a small town upon the coast, exclusively for the Japan commerce; Amoy, to which the Spaniards possess thp exclusive right to trade ; and Canton, on the south/. China Proper, or the country of the Chinese race, includes about one-third of this extent. The remaining territory is inhabited by Mon* gols,. .Mantchoo Tartars, and Coreans. It is situated between the 20th and 41st degrees of north latitude, and 95th and 123 d degrees j?f east longitude. On the east and south it is bounded by the Pacific Qcean, and by those great branches of it called the Yellow Sea and the Sea of China, on the west by the extepsive tracts of country denominated Thibet, Sifan, and Kokonor, and on the north by Mongolia and Mafitehoria. Its superficial JektCnt is I, 000 square miles, or about twelve times the ditpensibnSiof England. Of this vast sufc face the is a large Jand, inclining from’the summit level sea, with here 'and there terraces, - the regular inclination. There is some very high ground in' Kansuh Chan>si and Chantung; and on th'J 'sdpth the mountains of Nan-ling-and Melling runVthrough the provinces of Yun-nan, Kwahg-se; Kwan-si, and Fuh-keen, and upon the 'hollows of the table lan ds # large lakes are formed, and very slightly elevated Highlands divide the great streams that traverse the heart of the empire. ' *

The grei\t wall separates Mongolia from China. This walfis abauyysoQ in length, 30 feetlijgh in** the vaHsmi, MMLjgtbout 20 feet on the high lands gnd canal extends in a jme fflroHmiles, from Nankin to the intesjpr of the cmmtry. It is said to . have been the reign of the grandson of Genghis Khan. The climate of China varies much. In the southern provinces the temperature is higher than that of Bengal, while at Pekin the cold is greater than under the same latitude in Europe. Here snow generally prevails for three months every winter. On the coast the trade winds prevail, but *are intercepted and rendered irregular by the large islands and peninsulas that surround it.

Towns. — Pekin, the capital, stands in a corner of this vast empire, about 40 miles only from the Great Wall. It consists of two distinct parts, the Chinese and Tartar cities, in the latter of which is the Imperial Palace. It is about T2 miles in circumference, and completely surrounded,by lofty walls.. According to the most credible accounts, the population is about 2,000,000. Jt is divided into regular street, the principal of which crosses the whole city, and is about 120 feet wide, unpaved, but carefully watered, and nearly three miles long. The streets are much crowded, as the Chinese spend much time in the open air. ■ Its position renders the-climate comparatively cold, and frost and snow prevail generally for three dr four months every yea,, The palace, also, is Surrounded by a wall, wi-*i a few sentinels at the gates. It, in fact, forms a small town, inhabited by the great officers of state, and numerous mechanics in the service of the Emperor. The Russians have a college here established in 1728.- It consists of six priests and four lay students, who remain fob ten years to acquire the language. The Chinese Government have built a cliapel for their use. Nankin, the ancient capital, is a very superityr city, but has greatly declined since the seat*of Government and the Courts of justice were transferred to Pekin. It is the first town in the empire for manufactures and learning 1 . Its silks, p#per, and cotton goods, bearing its name, are preferred to those made elsewhere. It is called the seat of Chinese learning ; its libraries are numerous, and here is the principal medical school, of .the empire. It is situated on the Yang-tse Kiang, near the mouth. Nankin is remarkable for its pagoda, or porcelian tower. It consists of nine stories, ascended by 884 steps. The galleries are filled with images, and set round with bells, which jingle when agitated, by the wind. To the south of Nankin, along the Great Canal, stands the beautiful city of Sou-chou-fou, which the Chinese extol as their earthly paradise. Branches from the great canal traverse it throughout and render it, like Venice, a city of waters. Here all the classes, whose functions are to minister to pleasure,‘are trained to their respective vocations —comedians, dancers, jugglers, and females destined to fill the harems of the great. The females here are reckoned to be fairer and, more gracefully attired than those of the northern cities. The adjoining province, Tche-Kiang, is the finest in China. It produces vast quantities of mulberry trees, and is distinguished by containing the great city of Hang-tchou-fod, situated at the point where the great canal joins the river Tcheentang, which here spreads out into an ample salt-water lake. This is the city described byMarco Eolo; as the capital of southern China, and as the most splendid he ever saw.. Even in its present decline, it still rivals Pekin.. The. varied beauties of its lake, the numerous ,plea-., isijre parties which coyer its surface, the gilded v bha : ges with floating streamers, and the aeriel mansions with which the margin of the lake is 'studded, form a magic scene fully bears out the glowing description of that celebrated traveller. In the adjoining province pf Kiangsi is the Pdvang Lake, surrounded with numerous and populous cities: one of’ most remarkable is Kan-tchang-fou, said to cs&tmni 1,000,000 of inhabitants. It is in the cenwe: of the porcelain manufactures, and like seme cf our best inl’ahft manufacturing towns, itirsite is marked by the clouds of flame and smoke which which rise from it, and make it appear at night like a great city on fire. No foreigner has been admitted into its precincts, lest he should discover the secret of the processes carried on. The southern frontier of Kiang-si is bounded by a lofty aud naked barrier of mountains, which the water communication between Pekin and Canton. • Macao, (bailed by the Chinese U-Moon, the mouth of *he river,) is a Portuguese settlement situated on a peninsula in the district of Canton. The population is between 16,000 and '2o*ooo, of whom not more ‘than 5,000 Portuguese, the'rest consisting of Canton fOreig*!&s^o require to be nominally associated to be allowed to trade from the port. Vessels destined for Canton are generally detained twenty-four hours in the Macao Roads till the Chinese Government send down a pilot. The voyage from Macao to Calcutta generally lasts about a month. A ship arriving from Calcutta generally makes the land to'the' outward of Macao, near the Pedra Branca rock, -t • fTo be continued.J