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Leader (1850-1860), 19th June 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 8, THE QUEEN'S "PROGRESS." Her Majbbtt has ...

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      Letters From China.. (From A Private Cor...

      pursued in this instance by-our Colonial Government , and not until the 17 th March was the opium ordinance passed in . Council , and the regulations connected with it were not issued till some time later ; yet the time for receiving tenders for the privilege during the year 1858-59 was closed on the 13 th of March ! This enabled the . Government to keep up the appearance of granting the monopoly to the highest bidder , and yet to keep back all bidders except those who , from their private intercourse with Government or with some of its

      members , could confidently rely on their knowledge of what was coming in 1 he shape of ordinance and regulations . I am far from believing that Sir John Bowring had any such design . When it became a matter of notoriety that the acting Colonial Secretary was legal adviser to the Chinamen whose tender for the monopoly was accepted , people ceased to wonder at the . haste with which the thing had been done , bwt were all the more indignant . So indecent was the haste made to dispose of this monopoly to Mr . Chunta-Kwong , that the Government actually gave it to him before legally

      empowered to do , so ; so Government had . to annul the grant and give it anew . Another grievance connected with , this ordinance is an attempt made by the monopolist to levy a tax upon opium , not only boiled and prepared , but actually shipped for Australia and California before lm rights came into force . It seems a little doubtful whether the general scheme itself is advisable ; for the preparation , and exportation o f opium forms no inconsiderable item in the manufacture aud trade of this colony ; and a heavy tax upon it may lead to its being sent directly from Calcutta ^ in a raw state , to both California arid Australia .

      The editor of the Daily Prest—a / very diminutive sheet published here—has been fined 100 / ., and condemned to six months' imprisonment , for a libel on Sir John Bowling . The libel consisted in accusing the Governor of having kept a steamer baclc for nearly twenty-four hours , in order to enable another steamer , belonging to the house of Jardine , Mattheson , and Co ., to reach . Calcutta first with important a-dvices for the opium market . One fact which gave a slight importance to the accusation was , that one of Sir John ' s sons was a partner in the mercantile house just mentioned ; but , otherwise , it had little to stand on , and

      received little credit . Had this been the only mistake committed by tie editor of the Daily JPress , his case might have excited some sympathy ; but , unfortunately , he seems to have been actuated by the intensest hatred , for he has kept up a constant fire of false accusations and insulting remarks directed against Sir John . His Excellency has shown great generosity in allowing the prisoner to be placed in the debtors' gaol , to have every comfort , and to be permitted to edit hi 3 paper . Colonial newspapers do not always keep within proper limits , and the lesson this trial lias given was required , and will not be thrown away here . You may judge to what freedom of speech tends in this place , wlien

      I mention that one of the papers lately attacked a lady , accusing her cf having forcibly cut off her maid-servant ' s hair .. But , as compared with that of other colonies , the character of the press stands lugh in general , and will be upheld by the result of the case just mentioned . - Of course you are aware that , for some time lately , Hongkong was not exactly a place of residence likely to be selected by nervous persons . The Europeans in ife were in some little danger of having their throats cut by their own servants , of being poisoned by tlteir bakers , and ( still worse ') of

      being kidnapped and earned off to perish miserably it a Chinese prison . Matters have now greatly improved in these respects , but still no one thinks of going alone , half a mile from the town , without having some weapon of defence . Not long ago noticed no less a functionary than tbe Colonial Secretary , pacing up and down the road which runs behind my dwelling ,-with a huge revolver buckled to his Bide . Police regulations still confine the Chinese to their Iiouscs after nine at nifflit . and

      persons very rarely venture singly round to the other side of the island . Not so many weeks liave elapsed sinco one young Englishman was attaoked in broad daylight within a quarter of a mile of the town , and on a most frequented road . He was cnit seriously , and only escaped through the accident of a large party , returning from a pio-nic , coming iip at the time . If wo arc still exposed to little incidents of that kind , you may fancy how it is with the Chinese inhabitants , who

      have , not our superior weapons , and are often unable , through ignorance , to avail themselves of the protection of our laws . Even from the harbour , uitd which . I can now look down and count every vessel ^ boats are often carried off to a pirate village , two milesopposite , on the mainland . Xast week , for instance , three men engaged a sampan , manned ( to make a bull ) by and old woman and two girls of fourteen aud sixteen years of age , to take them _ rp a ¦ t ¦ i _* li l . 1 : ¦ tin 1 l \ . _ offtoshil in the harbourWhenhowever the

      ap ying . , boat got from among the shipping , the men . rose and seized the two girls , fortunately the old woman gave the alarm before jumping overboard , which she did next , and attracted the attention of two English captains , who were passing near by in row-boats . These immediately gave ehase , after picking up the old female hero , and captured the harbour pirates . The inhabitants of the village opposite ate all p irates and _ receivers of stolen goods . We cannot interfere with them , because they are on Chinese ground , and they set at nought the authority of the Cowloong Mandarin , who lias nominal jurisdiction

      over them . Some time ago they killed two persons in the employ of the P . & O . Company , and yet , though living under our noses , they are protected by a narrow strip of water and the abuse of internationallaw . A . few weeks ago , one party here had a valuable boat carried off by these villagers , and lie could ^ distinctly see it with his glass lying on the . opposite beach . On applying to the police ; lie was told that nothing coula be done to aid him , the boat being tlien in China ; so he quietly armed a number

      of his mends and servants , went over , and brought it back . This state of tilings exists all along the coast of China , and it makes Hongkong a rendezvous for all kinds of desperate characters . If , as I much fear , the China quarrel is far from being near a '' settlement , and war may really be declared ; Hong-Kong will again become unsafe ; especially , if very few troops be left in it . Then , I leel convinced , from a number of little incidents , vre shall have some rather exciting amusements

      Meanwhile , it has again become tolerably safe to visit tlie mainland . I have made two visits , in shooting parties of three , and met with no interference on the part , of the Chinese . The game was not abundant , consisting of partridges and pheasants lying very close , and difficult to rouse . Separating from my friends , I went alone into a Chinese village , and was well received . Of course , on such an excursion , it is expedient to be well armed ; and a revolver is especiall y useful . The small size does not do well in this climate , for the best caps are

      apt to hang fire from dampness ; and when these are damp , the small dog-head does not descend with force sufficient to ensure certain discharge- Tranter ' s patent revolver , medium size , is unquestionabl the best for ordinary use . It will hit fatally as far as many a musket can ; and the double trigger enables the hand to grasp it firmly , and hold it with steadiness . But it is a weapon which must be carefully handled . When cocking it , by drawing the lower trigger , one is very apt unconsciously to draw the other also ; and so , before aim has fieen taken , to discharge a shot to the detriment of a friend , orthe loss of an opportunity .

      584 The Leaded {No. 430, Juke 19, 1858

      584 THE LEADED { No . 430 , Juke 19 , 1858

      The Orient. China. It Has Been Reported ...

      THE ORIENT . CHINA . It has been reported at Hong-Kong—but net on any sufficing authority—that the city of Nankin has been taken from the rebels by the Imperial troops . On the other hand , the Imperialists are said to have suffered severely in an engagement with tho insurgents near the same city . Her Majesty ' s steamer Hesper and four gunboats have left Hong-Kong for tho North , and other vessels are under orders to proceed there . A circular has been issued by her Majesty ' s Acting Consul at Amoy , notifying the receipt of a communication from the Taoutae of that port that a tax of fortyeight dollars is now levied as a duty on each chest of opium , and that questions connected with that article will stand in the same category as those connected with any other imported article .

      The Queen's "Progress." Her Majbbtt Has ...

      THE QUEEN'S " PROGRESS . " Her Majbbtt has been making a " progress" during the week . Accompanied by the Prince Consort an < l a distinguished suite , Bhe left Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon for StoneleigH Abbey , Warwickshire , the sent of Lord Leigh . The party started from the palace at twenty minutes to three , nnd were escorted by a detachment of Light Dragoons to tlio Eu ' ston-fiquaro terminus of the London and North-Western Railway , where the Queen was met by Mr . Secretary "Walpole , who attended her Majesty on the

      journey . At three o ' clock , the Royal train leftYfcl terminus , and , stopping only at BletcMey for . 1 « minutes , arrived at Coventry precisely at half S firerthe hour indicated in the time-tible Tj £ * f crowd had of course been waiting there for hour * in the burning sun , and the station looked eav wits evergreens , banners , and crimson cloth A Rov i salute was fired from a battery sent expressl y from Weedon for the purpose ; the city bells were runcr . and LordXeigh and Lieutenant-General Sir Harro Smith received her Majesty as she alighted from her carriage . A guard cf honour was posted alone the platform , and a squadron of the 15 th Hussars Fined the road leading from the station to the Stoneleiah road . The Mayor and Town Council of Coventry dressed in their ancient civic costume , which is verv rich and picturesque , presented an address ; and the Royal party then proceeded to the abbey , escorted by the Stoneleigli troop of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry , -under the command of the Hon Captain E . C . Leigh . As her Majesty was leaving the station , a large choir , accompanied by about nine thousand school children , sang the National Anthem . It may be interesting to note that Coventry is celebrated for femini ne visits connected with Royalty . The Princess Mary was there in 1525 ; Q aeeii Elizabeth in 1565 ; and the Princess Anne of Denmark in 1688 . The drive to Stoneleigli was between , six and seven miles ; and the abbey , as it is still called , owing toan abbey having once stood there , is a noble mansion of the time of Elizabeth , about three miteB front Keuilworth . It is situated on the sloping bank of theAvon , in the midst of a magnificent park , full of ancient and embowering oak-trees , and well stocked with deer . A few relics of the old and veritable abbey remain , but not many . The apartments set aside for her Majesty were exquisitely decorated , and in the evening the mansion was illuminated . A grand banquet was given ^ at which a brilliant company was congregated round the Queen and her host . The band of the 2 nd Life Guards was stationed in the , park , and played at intervals during the evening .

      Birmingham was visited on Tuesday . The town was in a state of glad excitement and holidayrmaking , and triumphal arches , banners , and floral decorations , made the dull streets lively with unwonted ornament . The beautiful Tovrn Hall was newly cleaned and enriched for the occasion . The light , ornamental iron work running round the side and great galleries was gilded , and backed with coloured cloth ; and curtains of purple velvet , a white silk and gold canopy , and other adornments , produced an effect of great splendour . The arrival is thus sketched in the daily papers : —

      " The Royal train arrived at Birmingham at five minutes past twelve , having left Stoneleig-h shortly after eleven . Her Majesty and the Prince were accompanied by Mr . Secretary Walpole , Lord Leigh , the Marchionessof Westminster , Major-General Bouverie , Colonel Seymour , C . B . ; Colonel Sir C . B . Phipps ; General the Hon . C . Grey , and other noblemen . The Royal carriages , which had been in waiting some time , were entered immediately after the presentation of the Mayor and town clerk . General Sir Harry Smith , K . C . B ., and a numerous and brilliant staff followed , and the rear was

      brought up by two > companies of the 86 th Foot . The Royal party thea drove up "Worcester-street , Highstreet , Bull-street , and Ann-street to the Town Hall , where a Royal salute was fired by a detachment of the Royal Artillery . The Queen and Prince Albert entered the private apartments prepared for their reception at the Hall ; but in a few minutes they were received in the body of the Hall by the Mayor , magistrate ? , council , and leading burgesses . Her Majesty and tbe Prince advanced to the raised dais , and the company , which of course rose when the Queen entered , Bang the National Anthem . "

      The Addresses to the Queen nnd Prince Albert were then read and replied to ; after which , her Majesty knighted the Mayor , Mr . Ratcliff , who was thereby transformed into Sir John Ratcliff . The whole of the Council were next presented , and the Aldermen had the honour of kissing hands . The National Anthem was again 6 ung , and soon after the pxocession to ABton Hall was formed . " On leaving the Town Hall , the Queen pnssed along the route already described , being everywhoro received with the most enthusiastic cheering . Her Majesty stated to Lord F . Scott that she bad never seen auch

      masses of people of all agos among whom such admirable order was preserved . After admiring the gunmakers' trophy , and passing the arcb « at the boroug h boundary , the Queen found herself between the two platforms on which the Sunday-school children were assembled . The effect of 47 , 000 voices of children led by twenty cornets , and admirably conducted by Mr . Dobbs , was very touching . The Queen ordered tho procession to stop , and remained deeply affected till the juvenile choir had concluded singing God save the Queen . ' During tho morning , they sang other hymns . An address had been unanimously agreed to by the schools of eighteen dii-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 19, 1858, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19061858/page/8/