It is intended that Hong-Kong shall be governed upon the same
principles by which other crown colonies are regulated--namely, that
there shall be a legislative and an executive council, to aid the
governor with their advice and assistance.
The importance of Hong-Kong, not only with regard to the commerce
of all nations with China, but more especially with reference to
our relations with the Chinese government, cannot be estimated
too highly. However scrupulous we may be in the first instance to
limit our intercourse, as much as possible, to the mere commercial
questions which may arise, it is impossible not to foresee that other
complications may result from it, the issue of which it would be
presumptuous to predict. A new era has at length opened upon China,
a sudden and almost incredible change in all her relations with
foreigners; and the ease and apparent readiness with which she has
acceded to all the proposed arrangements respecting trade, is perhaps
not less remarkable than the pertinacious obstinacy with which she had
so long and so haughtily refused to make any change whatever in the
established order of things.
Providence has at length ordained that a vast empire, which comprises
nearly a third of the human race, shall no longer remain totally
excluded from the great family society of nations; and we cannot but
believe that the period has at length arrived when that wonderful
nation is, by a slow but steady progress, to be brought under the
influence of Christianity. But, while we are impressed with this
feeling, let us not be too hasty in precipitating a crisis which
may convulse a mighty empire from one end to the other. This, then,
leads us to the momentous question of the ultimate disorganization or
breaking up of the Chinese empire. _This is the great event which we
have to dread_; for who can contemplate the fearful results of such a
crisis without alarm, and without a desire to prevent a catastrophe of
so vast a nature?
In this point of view, the possession of Hong-Kong, the state of our
relations with the Chinese government, and the difficult questions
which may possibly, at no distant period, require our most anxious
attention, (it must not be forgotten that the present Emperor of China
is already in the decline of life) involve a degree of responsibility
which cannot be too deeply felt, and can scarcely be approached
without misgivings. Every member of the government of Hong-Kong must,
therefore, be keenly alive to the responsibility of his position, and
must watch with profound anxiety every one of the widely spreading
circles into which the acts of our administration may ultimately extend
themselves. We must stand up before the Chinese government, not only in
the relation of a friend, but _of an ally_; and, instead of weakening
its authority, we ought rather to support its influence in the eyes of
its own people. Our intercourse with that remarkable nation ought to be
recorded in the pages of history as a blessing, and not, what it might
readily become, without great caution and prudence--a curse.
Impressed with the truth of these observations, the first great and
difficult question which awakens our anxiety, is that of the future
relations of the opium-trade, and the course which is to be pursued
with respect to it at Hong-Kong. Great anxiety has been felt as to the
regulations which may be applied to it, in our own settlement, which is
understood to be in all respects a free port. It would seem, therefore,
that the storage of opium at Hong-Kong could hardly be prohibited; and
yet it is difficult to discover how it would be possible, in that case,
to avoid the dilemma of appearing in the eyes of the Chinese government
to sanction, and even encourage, a description of trade especially
prohibited by the Emperor. The simplest and indeed the only effectual
mode by which all the difficulties of the question could be surmounted
would be, inducing the Chinese government to legalize the trade, and to
consent to the introduction of the drug, upon payment of a certain duty.
No stronger arguments could be advanced in favour of this step than
those already employed by Chinese writers themselves, in the various
memorials presented to government on the subject. Although the
opium-trade is not even alluded to in either of our recent treaties,
it is well known that Sir Henry Pottinger has used his best efforts to
induce the Chinese government to consent to the legalization of the
trade, and to introduce the article into the tariff. It is possible
that this object may be ultimately effected, but at present we have
no reason to believe that any material progress has been made towards
bringing this question to a satisfactory conclusion.
In the meantime, the opium-trade has never been more thriving than
during the past year, and bitter complaints have appeared in the Pekin
gazettes, of the introduction of the drug even into the imperial
palace. The emperor appears to be as hostile to the opium-mania as
ever, and yet all his measures against it are quite as ineffectual
as they have ever been. In fact, the people are determined to enjoy
the forbidden luxury at all hazards, and no means hitherto attempted
have deterred even the public officers of government from conniving at
the clandestine trade, nor is it likely that they will ever be proof
against the temptation of heavy bribes, which the large profits derived
from the traffic enable those concerned in it to offer.
Should the trade in opium become ultimately legalized, it cannot be
doubted that it would greatly tend to the advantage of Hong-Kong, and
would induce many Chinese merchants to come over and seek it there,
who would at the same time be tempted to make other purchases as well.
The drug would then in some measure be paid for in the produce of the
country, and not, as it is at present, in silver exclusively, and, in
fact, all the commercial relations of the country would at once be
placed upon a much more satisfactory footing.
There is, however, another point out of which difficulties may arise,
besides the one above mentioned--namely, the attempts of foreigners to
enter China at other places besides the five ports, or even, at these
latter, to push themselves beyond the limits indicated by the Chinese
authorities. According to our present understanding, certain boundaries
are to be laid down, beyond which no foreigners are to pass. But there
will be many difficulties in the way of preventing the violation
of these regulations. Already something of this kind has occurred,
and the interference of Sir Henry Pottinger had been called for. A
little pamphlet has even been published at Macao, called a "Narrative
of a recent visit to the Chief City of the department of Changchow,
in the Province of Fokien." In this case the aggressors were not
Englishmen, but Americans, and they forced their way into the country,
in opposition to the wishes and orders of the local authorities, who
pointed out to them that their doing so was contrary to the provisions
of the treaty. It is evident that they passed themselves off for
Englishmen, and were thought to be so by the authorities.
Sir Henry Pottinger thought it incumbent on him to advise the viceroy
and lieutenant-governor of Canton, that these individuals were not
Englishmen, and to express his hope that in future the local mandarins
would seize and confine all those who might commit the smallest
infraction of the treaty, (if British subjects) and send them to the
nearest English consular officer, to be dealt with as might be found
necessary, in order to enforce implicit obedience.
The last point to which I think it necessary to allude is the mutual
surrender of criminals, so that English offenders who may take refuge
in China may be given up to our consular officers by the Chinese
authorities, and Chinese offenders who may take refuge at Hong-Kong,
or on board our ships, may be given up to the Chinese officers. This
stipulation has already been acted upon at Hong-Kong, where a party of
pirates who were chased ashore by the Chinese government cruisers were
instantly seized by the police, and handed over to the proper Chinese
officers.
In fact, the more we reflect upon the position in which we now stand
in presence of the Chinese government, and in the actual possession
of an island upon its frontiers, the more we must become impressed
with the vast responsibility which attaches to all our proceedings,
and the great necessity which exists for the utmost caution, prudence,
judgment, and firmness on the part of every public officer employed in
our service in that country.
I have reserved all mention of the terrific storms to which Hong-Kong
is occasionally exposed during the summer season. Our squadron,
after its return from Canton, was exposed to the full fury of one
of these hurricanes, while it lay in the harbour previously to our
advance upon Amoy. The Chinese, although ignorant of the use of the
barometer, acquire from experience a tolerably accurate knowledge of
the indications which determine the approach of these dreaded typhoons.
Unfortunately, Victoria Bay, although completely land-locked, lies
fully exposed to the whole fury of the tempest from its beginning to
its end; there is no shelter whatever on that side of the island.
It is a curious and novel sight to watch the preparations which the
Chinese make for the approaching storm; the mixture of superstitious
observance and prudent precaution which they adopt, either in the
hope of averting the threatening tempest, or of securing themselves
against its immediate effects. The sultry, oppressive feeling of the
atmosphere, the deep black clouds, and other indications, warn them to
be prepared; and, from the noise and excitement which soon take place
among the Chinese, one would rather imagine they were celebrating some
festival of rejoicing than deprecating the fury of the gods. Many of
their houses, on these occasions, are decorated with lanterns stuck
upon long poles twenty or thirty feet high, huge grotesque-looking
figures, and various devices. The beating of gongs, the firing of
crackers, and explosion of little bamboo petards, from one end of the
town to the other, and in all the boats along the shore, create such a
din and confusion, that a stranger cannot help feeling that there must
be danger at hand, of some kind or other, besides that of a storm.
It is also a curious sight to watch the hundreds of boats and junks
getting under weigh at the same moment, all eager to get across to the
opposite shore, under shelter of the mainland, as fast as possible,
knowing full well that they would be certainly stranded if they
remained on the Hong-Kong side. In the high stern of every junk stands
a man, who perseveringly beats a large suspended gong with his utmost
strength, while the rest of the crew appear quite as intent upon firing
off crackers as upon the management of their boat. By this means they
hope to awaken their tutelary god, and to induce him to listen to their
prayers for succour. The greater part of them take refuge in a bay
directly opposite Victoria, from which it is about four miles distant,
under the lee of the mountains on that side.
Frequently all the threatening appearances which call forth these
preparations pass off without producing a typhoon. The flashes of
lightning are fearfully quick and brilliant; the peals of thunder
are almost deafening; the huge black clouds hang gloomily over the
mountains, or are banded across from one side to the other, pouring
their waters in torrents upon the basin between them. In this way the
storm at length subsides, and the horrors of a typhoon are averted.
The actual typhoon is of a very different description; in fact, it
differs in no respect from the worst hurricanes which visit the
Mauritius or the West Indies. Hong-Kong was visited in this way on the
21st and 26th of July, 1841, and a more severe typhoon than that which
took place on the first of those days is, perhaps, never experienced.
The theory of these circular storms has been well laid down by Colonel
Reid and others; so that in the present day a vessel caught in them at
sea would be much less exposed to danger than formerly, provided her
captain had made himself master of the well-confirmed theories which
have been propounded upon the subject. The sphere of their operation is
very limited, neither do they occur every year, but seldom oftener than
every three or four years.
At Hong-Kong, various ominous appearances were the forerunner of the
storm on the occasion alluded to. For some days previously, large
black masses of clouds appeared to settle upon the hills on either
side: the atmosphere was extremely sultry and oppressive; the most
vivid lightning shot incessantly along the dense, threatening clouds,
and looked the more brilliant because the phenomena were always most
remarkable at night, while during the day the threatening appearances
were moderated considerably, and sometimes almost entirely disappeared.
The vibrations of the mercury in the barometer were constant and
rapid; and, although it occasionally rose, still the improvement was
only temporary, and upon the average it continued to fall. A typhoon
was, therefore, confidently predicted, and the more so because none had
occurred for several years.
The Chinese, on this occasion, made every preparation in their power;
but that comprised very little except the everlasting firing of
crackers and beating of gongs, although they endeavoured also to get
shelter for their boats in the best way they could. Our own ships
prepared for the coming danger as well as circumstances permitted,
everything being made as snug as possible. But the whole harbour was
at this time crowded with transports, store-ships, and merchant-ships,
in addition to our men-of-war and steamers; indeed, so close were they
anchored together, that in many cases there was not even room to veer
cable. It was evident to all, that if the expected typhoon should burst
upon them, the most serious disasters would inevitably take place.
It was not without many misgivings and forebodings that, in the midst
of all the preparations for the storm, and when there was every
indication of its immediate outbreak, a small schooner was observed to
get under weigh, and stand out of the harbour towards Macao; she had
treasure on board, and one or two passengers. She was never afterwards
heard of; not a vestige of her was ever discovered; she must have
foundered at sea at the very commencement of the storm.
During the night of the 20th, the weather was tolerably calm, but
ominously sultry; towards daylight on the 21st, it became squally,
with heavy rain, and a good deal of swell was now getting up in the
harbour. The barometer continued gradually to fall, and the squalls
became heavier. The typhoon could no longer be doubted; and, as it was
desirable to move the Nemesis as much to windward of the other ships as
possible, steam was got up quickly, and with some difficulty she was
moved to a good berth on the opposite side, under shelter of the high
land above Cowloon. Topmasts were lowered, and everything made snug,
and she was brought up with both bowers, open hawse, to the N.E., and
veered to a whole cable on each.
Between seven and eight o'clock in the morning, the wind was blowing
very hard from the northward, or directly upon the shore of Hong-Kong,
and continued to increase in heavy squalls hour after hour. Ships were
already beginning to drive, and the work of destruction had commenced
on every side; the Chinese junks and boats were blown about in all
directions, and one of them was seen to founder with all hands on
board. The fine basin of Hong-Kong was gradually covered with scattered
wrecks of the war of elements; planks, spars, broken boats, and human
beings, clinging hopelessly for succour to every treacherous log, were
tossed about on every side; the wind howled and tore everything away
before it, literally sweeping the face of the waters.
On shore, the hospital was one of the first buildings blown down upon
the heads of the unfortunate inmates, wounding many, and aggravating
the sufferings of all; yet only one man, a helpless idiot, was killed.
The buildings being merely of temporary construction, most of them
partly built of bamboo, barracks and all came tumbling down like
children's card-houses.
From half-past ten until two the hurricane was at its highest, the
barometer at this time having descended to nearly 28.50 according to
some, but on board the Nemesis it was never lower than 28.89. The
air was filled with spray and salt, so that it was impossible to see
anything that was not almost close at hand. Ships were now drifting
foul of each other in all directions; masts were being cut away; and,
from the strength of the wind forcing the sea high upon the shore,
several ships were driven high and dry.
The native Chinese were all distracted, imploring their gods in vain
for help. Such an awful scene of destruction and ruin is rarely
witnessed; hundreds of Chinese were drowned, and occasionally a whole
family, children and all, floated past the ships, clinging, in apparent
apathy, (perhaps under the influence of opium,) to the last remnants of
their shattered boats, which soon tumbled to pieces, and left them to
their fate.
During the height of the typhoon, the engines of the Nemesis were
kept going at half speed, and she rode through it very easy, without
suffering any damage. But even those few vessels which did not drive
were in constant danger of being run foul of by others which did; in
fact, crowded as the bay was with shipping, it was a matter of wonder
that even more serious damage was not done than actually did occur.
The heaviest part of the typhoon appears certainly to have passed
directly over Hong-Kong, for even at Macao, which is only thirty-five
miles distant, it was much less severely felt, and, moreover, there
was a difference of nearly four hours in the time of its occurrence;
nevertheless, beyond Hong-Kong the typhoon was also very severely felt,
and several ships were in the greatest danger.
It is a remarkable fact, that both our plenipotentiaries, Captain
Elliot and Sir Gordon Bremer, (who has recently returned,) were
wrecked on this occasion, and were only saved, as it were, by a
miracle. They were on their way to Hong-Kong, in Captain Elliot's
cutter, the Louisa, when the typhoon, already commencing, compelled
them to anchor in not a very favourable berth, under one of the
numerous islands at the mouth of the Canton river. Every measure was
resorted to which good seamanship could suggest, to give any chance of
safety to the little vessel, but all in vain. She soon drove--her spars
and masts were carried away--a heavy, tumbling sea broke over her,
washing everything overboard--the destruction of the vessel, and the
loss of every one on board, seemed to be inevitable. Fragments of the
numerous wrecks along the coast were floating past them every moment.
Having been driven from the island under which they first took shelter,
they were carried before the wind for the distance of from two to
three miles, expecting every moment to be swallowed up; the commander
had been already washed overboard. At length they caught sight of
land right ahead, with a heavy surf breaking on it, apparently almost
close to them. The suspense at this moment was intense and awful. If
the vessel touched the surf, they would be launched into eternity in a
moment. But, providentially, the little cutter cleared the breakers,
almost within reach of their spray. The anchor was now let go, but
could not hold the little craft, so heavily did the sea break over her;
and at length she was driven full upon the shore, where she instantly
bilged and filled. Some people now jumped overboard, others crawled on
to the nearest rocks, but at length all hands got safely on shore, with
the assistance of a rope, which one of the boys who had succeeded in
swimming ashore made fast to one of the rocks.
Besides the plenipotentiaries, Lord Amelius Beauclerk and one or two
other gentlemen were partakers of these disasters. There is little
doubt that they all owed their preservation, under Providence, to
the admirable seamanship and cool presence of mind of Captain Elliot
himself, who took command of the little vessel during the most trying
period, and whose accurate knowledge of the coast was of essential
service.
Their troubles, however, were not yet at an end. They managed to save
very little provisions or clothing from the wreck; and the only place
they could discover, in which they could shelter themselves for the
night, was a large fissure in the side of a precipice, open at the
top, with a small mountain-stream running through the centre of it.
There they anxiously awaited the dawn of morning, in a sitting posture,
(for they could not lie down,) and drenched to the skin. Soon after
daylight they discovered two Chinamen, who came down to pillage the
wreck; and several dead bodies of Chinamen were found cast up upon the
shore. After some hesitation and difficulty, a bargain was at length
made to convey Captain Elliot, for one thousand dollars, to Macao,
in a fishing-boat; but, shortly afterwards, another party of Chinese
fishermen, coming up from a neighbouring village, commenced robbing all
the shipwrecked people, stripping them of their clothes, and, among
other things, getting possession of a star of the Hanoverian Guelphic
Order. In a short time, the demand for conveying Captain Elliot to
Macao, as soon as the weather would permit, was raised to two thousand
dollars, which was agreed to.
Yet difficulties seemed to multiply hourly; for, at this juncture, some
of the Chinese, having found two or three bodies of their countrymen
lashed to spars, and dreadfully lacerated by being dashed against the
rocks until they were lifeless, took it for granted that this had been
done purposely by Captain Elliot and his party, and for some time their
threatening gestures and angry looks of retaliation seemed to portend
bloodshed. This was, however, at length averted; and, ultimately,
after agreeing to pay upwards of three thousand dollars, Captain
Elliot, Sir Gordon Bremer, and two other persons, were laid upon their
backs, in the bottom of a boat, and carefully covered over with mats.
Scarcely, however, had they fairly got away from the island, when
another misfortune threatened to consign them to the most bitter fate.
An armed mandarin-boat passed close by them, and hailed the Chinese
boatmen, asking for news about the wrecks. What a prize was at this
moment within their grasp! No less than twenty thousand dollars had
been already offered as a reward for the capture either of Captain
Elliot or Sir Gordon Bremer. Had the boatmen been treacherous enough to
betray their charge, (and Captain Elliot was personally known to them,)
what a grand display her Majesty's two plenipotentiaries would have
made in Pekin, carried about in bamboo cages, like wild beasts! What
proclamations and boastings! What promotions and rewards! But, happily,
this was not to be; and, in a few hours, the party landed safely in the
inner harbour of Macao; Captain Elliot having for his costume a jacket,
without any shirt; the commodore, a blue worsted frock; and each of
them a pair of striped trousers. To crown all, in this unhappy plight,
the moment the two high functionaries were recognised by the Portuguese
officer of the guard, the latter were ordered to "turn out," as a mark
of _respect_; but were soon induced to defer it until a more fitting
opportunity.
Boats were now sent off, without delay, together with an interpreter,
in order to rescue the other sufferers; and at last they all arrived
safely in Macao, on the 25th of July.
But it is time to return from this digression to the harbour of
Hong-Kong, just at the time when the height of the typhoon had passed
over. Towards noon the wind veered round a little to the southward
of east; at two P.M., it began to moderate; and at three P.M., its
severity had past. Before sunset, the haze began to clear off a little,
and gradually the scene of devastation became more and more visible,
and presented such a frightful spectacle, that you could hardly believe
that it was the same harbour of Hong-Kong, which had been recently so
gay and tranquil, with crowds of shipping upon the smooth surface of
its waters. The shore was covered with wrecks and stranded boats, and
the temporary buildings on shore had disappeared altogether.
Many of our ships were now found to be missing, having been driven out
to sea during the fury of the gale. Among the latter was H.M. schooner,
Starling, about which great apprehensions were entertained. It was
feared that she might have foundered, with all hands on board.
On the following morning, at daylight, the Nemesis was ordered to go
out and render assistance to any vessels in distress, and to bring off
people from the wrecks; and particularly to look out for the Starling,
in case she should have gone on shore upon any of the neighbouring
islands. In every direction immediate assistance was required, and many
poor fellows were rescued by the Nemesis from a watery grave.
It was curious to remark how completely every vessel that had gone
on shore was torn to pieces, and in so short a space of time; every
part of them was broken up, and the fragments were floating about the
harbour and lining the shores on every side, above high-water mark.
A number of artillerymen and sappers were taken off the wreck of one
of our prize war-junks which had gone on shore; and the whole crew of
the Prince George merchant ship were likewise saved from one of the
neighbouring islands upon which they had been wrecked; but the captain
of the vessel refused to leave the island, where he vainly persisted
in seeking for the body of his unfortunate wife, who was drowned when
first the vessel struck.
Not being able to gain any tidings of the Starling, the Nemesis
proceeded on through the Capsingmoon passage, towards Lintin, in the
hope that she might have taken refuge under that island. Fortunately,
she was now descried beating up gallantly through the passage towards
Hong-Kong, and, as soon as the steamer ran alongside, there was a
general cheer of congratulation. The tale was very soon told. During
the height of the typhoon, the Starling had parted a cable, and, as she
was now drifting fast, Captain Kellett at once slipped the other, in
the hope of being able to run through the Capsingmoon passage, as his
only chance of safety. With very great exertion and good seamanship, he
fortunately succeeded in the attempt, even in the midst of the typhoon,
and had even managed to lie-to and pick up some unfortunate Chinamen,
who were floating past him upon the wreck of their shattered junk. At
length, he succeeded in getting under the lee of the island of Lintin,
where he brought up with a common boat's anchor, having a couple of
guns fastened to the cable. By the aid of this contrivance, he rode out
the gale, until it moderated sufficiently for him to get under weigh,
and attempt to return to Hong-Kong. The Nemesis, however, now took
the Starling in tow, and great was the surprise and joy of every one
at Hong-Kong, when the two vessels were seen standing in together in
safety.
In this typhoon, H.M.S. Sulphur, Algerine, Royalist, and the schooner
Hebe, were dismasted; and at least twenty merchant vessels and
transports were either driven ashore or were dismasted, and suffered
other injuries.
Five days afterwards, on the 26th, there was a recurrence of the
typhoon, which the Nemesis rode out very easily in the Typa anchorage
at Macao; but it was not so severe as the first one, and comparatively
little injury was caused by it. There is reason to believe also, that,
had all the ships at Hong-Kong been moored in proper berths, and early
precautions taken, before the commencement of the first typhoon, the
danger and the damage inflicted would have been much less severe.
No time was lost in refitting the ships, and preparations were now
hastened for the advance of our forces upon Amoy, and for pushing on
our operations further northward, while the favourable season lasted.
Sir Gordon Bremer had returned from Calcutta, in the Queen steamer,
on the 18th of June, having been invested with the functions of
joint-plenipotentiary, in conjunction with Captain Elliot. This high
honour was, however, of short duration; for, on the 9th of August,
Sir Henry Pottinger arrived from England, _via_ Bombay, having been
appointed sole plenipotentiary and chief-superintendent of trade in
China: he was accompanied by Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, by whom
all the subsequent naval operations were conducted.