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we did not dream of acquiring. He abused the Cantonese very heartily, as treacherous and quarrelsome, and quite agreed with me, at our parting, that without a very severe lesson they will not be induced to alter their demeanour towards us.
Inclosure 2 in No. 21.
Mr. Stewart to Sir J. Bowring.
Macao, February 24, 1857.
(Extract.)
I REGRET to inform you that yesterday afternoon, after 3 o'clock, while the steamer "Queen" was on her way from Hong Kong to this place, with 120 chests of opium on board, and when off Lan-tow, the captain and officers, with the only passenger, Captain Cleverly, had gone to dinner, the Chinese passengers (twenty) broke down the barrier, rushed armed upon the captain and others. Captain Cleverly received a musket-shot which broke his leg a little above the knee; he then jumped overboard, and, after being upwards of an hour in the water, was picked up by a lorcha coming to Macao, and landed here about 9 o'clock. Captain Cleverly thinks the captain of the "Queen" also jumped overboard, but cannot say whether or not he was picked up by another lorcha then passing; but as I have not heard of his being landed here, fear he has been lost. After Captain Cleverly was on board the lorcha, he observed that the "Queen" was standing towards Cap-suy-moon. The Spanish Consul has dispatched the Spanish war-steamer this morning towards Cap-suy-moon, to look out for the "Queen," but I fear she will only find the wreck. The opium would be plundered, and the steamer most probably set on fire. In future the steamers bringing opium here must not take Chinese passengers.
No. 22.
Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon.—(Received April 28.)
Hong Kong, March 10, 1857.
My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship translation of two documents which I have received from the Governor of Macao.
The district of Heang-shan, from whence these proclamations emanate, is the locality which furnishes us with the greater part of our domestic servants, especially those who occupy the more confidential places in our households. Macao is at the southern extremity of the Heang-shan department. These proclamations have been operative to a considerable extent, and have led to the abandonment of many shops in the Colony, and to the flight of many of our servants. We know that the families of those who remain here have been subjected to heavy extortions; while those who returned have been compelled to bear their share of these forced contributions.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING.
Inclosure 1 in No. 22.
Proclamation.
(Translation.)
KEW, Acting Chief Magistrate of the district of Heang-shan, issues the following proclamation:—
The Chief Magistrate had some time since the honour to receive the instructions recited below from his Excellency the Governor-General:
"The English barbarians having assaulted the provincial city, a large body of troops has been assembled for purposes of defence and seizure; and as it is of course expedient that all trade with them should be prohibited, and all commercial dealings put an end to, every Chinese of any district (of the province) who may be in business at Hong Kong, or in barbarian service in houses or on board vessels there, is to be desired to return thence to his native
