Star. — London, England, 1801-12-29 00:00:00

MIFF .- * ~' ti ~ .. .. s • EAST INDIES. , PUBLIC EDICT, ••" ADDILtSSID IT THE HOPPO, OR RECEIVER GENE RAL OF THE CUSTOMS AT CANTON, TOR TME IN FORMATION-OP THE MERCHANTS APPOINTED TO TILDE WIT* FOREIGN NATIONS. 46 Whereas I have received advices from his . . Excellency the Fooyuen. feting forth, that The !hips of Foreign nations have long fence been per mitted to import at Whampou and Macao, in the province of Qantong, for the prirpote bi carry : mg on a trade by the free interchange of thole Commodities which were in demand on the one hand, and fuperfluous on the other. From this general .rule, the article of opium was excepted, a fubflance of whole compolition we• are unac quainted, but which is of a violent and powerful nature, and polfeffes a (add and odious flavour ; being, however, remarkable at the fame time for a quality of exciting and railing the fpii its, it has been fought after, and purchafed by perfons with out fixed lonics or profeflions, who, having pre pared an extra& from it, opened (hops for this branch rif• traffic. The tife of opium originally prevailed only among vagrants and difreputable perfons, who affociated together for the purpofe of partaking of thil fubflance ; but it has fence extended itielf among the members and defeen- dants of reputable families, Rodents as well as of. hems of government, who, infatuated in their at tachment to this drug, make an habitual ufe of it. Their inducement on this occafion appears to be, the power which this fubflance communicates to thofe who partake of it, of not chafing their eyes for entire nights, and fpending them in the gratifica tion of impure and retsina] defires, whereby their refpettive duties and occupations are neglected ; when this habit becomes eftablifhed by frequent re petition, it gains an entire afeendancy, and the eonfumer of opium is not only unable to forbear the daily tip t of it, but, on palling the accuflomed hour, he is immediately (creed with pains in the head, and a feverifh heat, cannot refrain from tears, or command himfelf in any degree. For relief, therefore, from thefe painful fymptoms, and to regain his wonted health, be has necellaiilY recoorfe to the fame pernicious fubflance. When pet length the gradual and progreffive efferas of this pedbn have pervaded the lungs, and the whole bodily frame, the fufferers, with the pale and fickly hue of doves, or (mall fluttering birds, are no longer within the reach of medical affiftance ; defimus, though in vain, of quitting fci dreadful a make, they would willingly end it with their lives, by tearing out their entrails in defpair. The extraordinary expence of this article is further to be noticed, each mace weight of which in the ex tra& is exchanged for eight or nine maces in money, and the conflant ufe of it raifes at the fame time an extraordinary appetite for other kinds of food, which the fortunes of the bulk of the community are unable to. fatisfy, and ;re therefore in the courfe of a few years wholly dilapidated and walled away ; of thefe, the infirm and weak peed gradually from want and hunger, while the ftrongand vigorous become thieves and robbers ; the ruin of either being equally certain and inevitable. Others again, among the de luded and mix judging people, from trifling caufes. or abfurd conceits, take the premature refolution of (wallowing a decoftion of opium in wine, thus ending their es iftence by means of readier acepfs, than are the, generality of vegetable fubflances efieenied poifonous and deftruEtive to the human frame. V. • pernicioui areas arifing from the ate of this fuhftance, were formerly confined to Fo. I lien and Qiiantong, but have fpreld in the courfe of time through the other provinces of the empire, where the eagernefs after the traffic and confump tion of this article have even exceeded that of the fief introducers. Thus it is that foreigners, by the means of a vile excrementitious fubftance, derive from this empire the molt folid profits and advan tages ; but that our countrymen thould blindly pur fne this deltrutlive and enfnaring vice,even till death is the confequence, without being undeceived, is in deed a fa fl odious and deplorable in the higheft de gree. Being now defirous of oppofing the growing evil, for which it appeared neceffary to revert to ta g fources from which it fprung, we ditcover, by ettrcful invefligation, that the article of Opium is imported by foreigners, and gains admittance into the Empire through the BOCCA Tigris, whence, either by the pilot veriels, and armed guard-boats, that are flatumed there, it is conveyed up the river to Shen-thin (Dane's Nand), or by the means of (mall craft, it is landed by degrees at Macao, and thence conveyed privately to the capital, while the Cnflom-houle Officers and Guards, at the dif ferent nations, though well acquainted with the tranfa6ion, Idler it to pats without examination or inquiry, being doubtlefsly bribed to a large amount for that purpnfe. If the ntmnft endea •onrs are not TIC.' made to cut away the soot and branches of this evil, to what extent may they wit proceed ? We therefore r (twit!, thefe general orders for the incormation of all the Mandarines Civil and Military, at the different lb,tions and difiriCts if this province, that they mar vigor-ndly examine into and punith the corm-Millen of this offence whenever it occurs ; and at the fame time we defire of his Excellency the Hoppo, to ifFue pofitive orders and injuneions to the officers, at tendants, and guards, of the feveral camel-honks in his department, that fhould henceforth any pilot•velTels, gliardtioats, or filhermen, privately take on board thole pieces of mould or earth, de nominated Opium, a firi& fearch and inveftiga. thin shall he made, and the offenders apprehended and conveyed to the pretence of the Magiftrate, to undergo the punilliment that may he thought adequate to their guilt. lf, notwithflandiug thefe our orders, bribes are again accepted, and the is-id - age of this article connived at, it (hail be tra ced ssith th. ntrnoft exaCtncts and rigour, in the shdrißs and nations through which it had been tianfported, that no pains may have been fpared to prod.icc a thn•ratO reformation and amend ment in thefe rapeels. Should any further mode •, gol.r;ion appear, that might tend to enforce or render more eq - c.Ctual thefe prohihnior.s and re ttrictiohs, vet to pica of his Excellency the Hoppo 'to give us dde information thereof, -is his reply to this our communication to him." _ ,On receiving We foregoing letter, we made due inquiries refpe&ing the introdu&ion of thefubßance denominated Opium, and find that it is indeed im ported into this Country by foreign rails; where fore we have ifibed orders to the Superintendant of the Cullom-houfe at the port of Macao, to be communicated to the chief foreign refidents, and the commanders of veffels belonging to that city, notifying our determination toprohibit the entrance of the article of Opium into that port, as well as our general orders to make every exertion to difcover and inform us of it, whenever it takes place. _ _ Having replied to his Excellency the Fooynen's communication, I 'proceed to extend the above Orders to the Hong Merchants, to which it behoves them to pay arid and unrefervcd obedience, and communicate them to the Chief Supercargo of fo reign nations, that they may enforce the obfer vance of our prohibition of the importation of Opium on board the (hips of their rcfpe.live na tions. But fhould nevcrthelefs any (hip hereafter I import the article, none of the Hong Merchants will be fo imprudent or abfurd as to become fecu rity for the (hip, or undertake the difpofal of her cargo, as I fhould, in Each evest, immediately re port their conduel to the Viceroy and Fooyuen, by whom the merchants will be rigoroufly examined, and punned for the offence, without any mitiga tion or excufe being admitted. The Hong Mer chants (hall, according to citflom, reply hereto, and make known tons their obedience to our com mands. Given at Canton, the 1 6th day of the itth Moon, of the 4 11 ' fear of felA KING. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY, DEC. al. Days were filed for hearing the various appeal before their Lordthips after the reeds. The Lift of Names* returned by Peers for Members of the Court under the India Judicature Bill, not being equal to the nt,mber diredted by the Aet of Parliament (ten), the Lifts were ordered to Ile on the Table till the number be completed. A Petition was prefented from Charles Bridges Woodcock, Efq. of Berner's-fireet, praying that his marriage with Ann Crofbie may be diffolved, on account of unlawful familiarity having been contrasled by her with the Hon. Chriltopher Hely Hutchinfon, now in Egypt, by whom fhe became pregnant, and afterwards cohabited .with as his wifi. The proceedings of the Ecclefialtical Court in the cafe being handed in at the Bar, the Peti tion was ordered to lie on the Table, and leave given to bring in a Bill conformable to the prayer of it. Adjcurned till Monday nest. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Houk having met purfuant to adjournment from Mon. day lail, Mr. Ear AIC ea took the Chair at four o'clock. A new Writ war ordered to be ilcued for the Eiedion of a Member for•Haverford Well, in the room of Lord Keating too.deceafed. . _ Mr. W. DVIIDAS profaned feveral Petitions from various places in Sceslaod againft the opening of the Corn Diftilleries. Ordered to lie on the Table. SAILING OF THE FRENCH ARMAMENT. The CM•MCCLLOR of the EXCliakyalt moved, that the Houle fhould, at its riling, adjourn to Monday next.—The reafon, he fah', fcr adjourn ing the Houfe for fo (host a period at this time of the year, arofc from prudential confiderations, which he hoped it never would become neceffary to explain ; and certainly to explain at the pretent moment would be extremely improper. He had no doubt the Houft would give him credit for the motives which aauated him, and would acquiefce in the motion. Mr. T. GaemviLia laid, on a Motion for ad journing the Houle even to fo near a day, he could not fit Silent under exilling eircumftances, nor con. fiftently with his fenfe of duty forbear calling the attention of the Houfe to a fubjett of the moll &- dons importance, if not of alarm. He had been one of thofe who did not approve the grounds upon which the late preliminary treaty of race with France was concluded, becaufe he did not conceive thofe grounds either fo honourable, fo advantageous, or Co confillent with fecurity to this country, as exifting circumflances warranted his MAjefty's Minifters to demand. He had, on th e night when thole"preliminaries were fubmitted for the opinion of the Houle, delivered his fentiments fully on the fubjeft. A majority of the Houfe had, however, decided by theirvote againft his opinion; he therefore felt it his duty, as he always Should, in fuch circumflances, to fubmit with profound deference to whatever appeared to be the. declared fenfe of Parliament ; and he role not now for the pii. pole of flailing any new objeftions, or giving any embarrament whatever to his Majefty's Mt nifiers on the fubjea of the pending treaty. There was, however, a circumflance which reached his knowledge this day, fo Itrongly fupported by the voice of general rumour, and accredited by ge net Al belief, as could not Cul to interell the fcrious confide: adult of every man who heard him ;'and filch an one as he could not, confcientioufly as a Member of Parliament, gr confiftently with his duty to his country, pals over in filence at fuch a moment and on fucb a motion as the prefent.— The circumflance to which he alluded was the ctirrent, generally received, and uncontradieted rep. . t, that during the very negotiation now pend ing of a definitive treaty of peace with France, founded on thole preliminaries to which this Houfe had In recentlygiven its approbation, a French force of not leis than Sixteen fail of the line, with tranf ports, conveying ten thnufand troops , aCtually failed from I3rell harbour on an expedition to the Weft Indies, avowedly, as was laid, for the ifland of Saint Domingo, without any molellation or hindrance whatever on the part of Great Britain. Whether the f.tet was as is generally rumoured' and believed, it was for his Majefty's miniflers to acknossledge or contradia. But if true, the de cided superiority fuch a force would give to France in that quarter of the world, and the menace of danger it carried to Tome of our moll valuable and important fctticments in the Weft, Should the enemy have it in defign to break off the negocia lion and recommence hollilities, were confidera. dons nt.: to be ccntemplat Al without the molt led- • oss Adam. He W 01214 1. sot same to fay that the Government of France entertained filch a defign as that of rejecting the many fuptrior advantages ceded to them in the preliminary treaty, and of breaking up the negociation for the purport of recommencing hankies, which this proceeding would in fuch cafe enable them to do, upon grounds and probabilities of tired fo totally diffident and ruperior to what they could have done, bad their fleets 1-en kept blocked up in their ports, as they were immediately previous to the fignature of the preliminary treaty.. He would not undertakelo decide with what ultimate views the French Go vernment, during the negociation of a ticaty, formed upon a truce concluded by both countries, upon a fupporcd union of fentiments upon the ge ncral grounds on which this truce was to he cx tended to a permanent treaty of peace, had thratght fit to fend out fuch a force without the :akin of the Britifh Government. But convinced he was, that if any Itipulation for affect to filch a menfurc, pending the negociation of a definitive treaty, had been found amongtt the preliminary articles, a very great number of thole who had warmly and im plicitly approved chore articles, would never have been prevailed on to afrent to Lich a proceeding, without the moR ftrong and unequivocal Ain arkcs indeed that no impediment whatever cacti to the final conclufion of the treaty. He bad already profefred his difinclination to embarrafs his Ma jetty's Minißers by any new oppofition on this (A te& He meant not to found any motion upon this &Ned to which he now called the attention of the Houle ; but he thought himfelf in fame fort entitled to the thanks of his Majeßy's Minifict s for calling the attention of the Houfe to this lubjed, which he did with two objeds—Firft, that he might give them an opportunity of contradiding the rumour, if unfininded, for the fatisfadion of the public mind and the relief of general anxiety ; and, fecondly, if the fad really was as .;cnerally Rated and believed, that they might have an op. portunity of eonyincing the country at large of their vigilance and adivity m.obtaining the necef- Cary communications with the French Govern rent upon the fubjed, and of their being prcpaicd in the neceirary Iteps for our fecu , ity, whatever might be the deigns of this expedition. But in all events he hoped that Minillet s, by being fully afcertained of the defies of the French Government in this bufinefs, might be enabled to retain in their hands the means of counterading the efreds of any haile difpofition'until the terms of peace fhould be finally concluded. The Cgamcsccoa of the Excneosita.—l know by experience how difficult it is, where the feelings are interefted, to limit the difcuaion to the queltion beFore the Houfe. Yet, making the largelt allow ance foi curiofity and cal, I am afraid it would be no eafy matter to reconcile to order this long i ditTertation upon a rumour. The Hon. Gent! ma t is anxious to afcertain the lira ; he willies to ki ow, whether a itatement. which has reached him, of an armament having failed from Breit to the Welt Indies, is or is nut well founded Of this event ' Government has received no regular information, but that it has taken place there cannot be a doubt. The degree of alarm and apprehenfion to which it ought to give rife, I allow to be a fair fubjeiß for enquiry and (peculation. Whether there has been any communication upon the lubje& between the two Governments, this is nit the time for me to Rate. Whether meafures of p;ecaution have bcen adopted to ward off,dangers which are not hut which may afrail us, the Houle will not at pre fent call upon me to declare (a loud cry of hear I bear!). But this lam ready to fay, that nothing has happened to invalidate the reafouings of the noble Lord alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman (Lord Hawkelbury) ; and that the illuftrious per. lon now at Amiens his experienced no tinforefeen obliacle in the execution of the truit committed to him. IRISH LAW COURTS. Ma. &molts, (Member for - Donegal) begged leave to thimble the Houle with a few words, and which he intended pi incipally for the car of the Right Hon. Gentleman, Mr. Addington. In the courfe of the lall Seflion, a Bill had been intro duced into the Houle by a Learned Friend of his (Mr. G. Ponfonby), for the purpole of aftimilat iug the proceedings of the Law Courts of Dublin with thole of Wellminfter, a mcafure growing, as it were, out of the Union, and anxioufly defined by the people of Ireland. the 13i11 was received with general approbation ; but as it was a mcafure of too great moment to be baldly adopted, it was very properly referred by the Secretary of the Lord Lieutenant to the hint Judges. Thefe Learred Pcrfonagei, after having given the fob jeet the fulleft confideratina, framed a Bill, in which they unar.imoully concurred, and tranf miited it to the Right Hnn..Sccrctary, Mr. Ab bot. The Setlion being fai advanced, there was no time fuflicient for thc Bill to pafs thrinigh the various flages, and therefore it was net proceeded upon. He faid, that had any of the Learned Gen. tlemen, to whim the country were fo much in debted for the introduction of the 841, been in the kingdom, he ttiould not have thought himfelf war ranted in laying a word upon the fuhjeet ; but he could not refrain from expreifing a with that the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (to whole attention to the concerns and interefts of Ireland he with pleafure bore tef timony) would gratify the people of that part of the Ututed"Kingdom by a declaration that this favourite objed of theirs had not been overlooked, but that it would be brought forward (portly after . . the reeds. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQSEIL afrillred the • Hon. Gentleman that the Bill had not been overlooked, and that it was in the contemplation of the Gentlemen concerned to bring it forward with' all due a - patch ; and here he t( ok occalion to rtmark, that in the circtindtance of his moving the queftion of adjournment, it had no relation whatever to the fubjot which had kilt occupied the attention of the Houle, namely, the failing of the Breft fleet, no more than the fairing of the Breft fleet had to do with the a dj ournme n t . Mr. Gat/MLLE, in explanation, Paid, that he, confidered himfelf perfefily in order, and as afting confilletuly with his duty: a Tuition of adjourn. ment had been put whillt a matter of infinite nitude and alarm, but for his interference, would have patted in filence and unnoticed by Minitle:„ The CHANCELLOR or THI EXCHFIVIt then, plied, that he gave the anfwers which he was w.fr. ranted in doing, fot the very purpofe of allayint thofe alarms. The-queflion was then put and carried. The SECRETARY AT WAR prefented feveral ac counts, which were ordored to lie on the table. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR OF THE Ex cmiciyra, the Committees of Supply and WAV and Means wcre pinioned to Monday next ; which day the Houfc adjourned. LONDON. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29. PRICE OF S POCKS Tim DAV AT ONE O'CLOCL C,r4ols, fur opg. 68 : ? —Reduced 67;-- 4 per Cdlst. 83-} 84--New Onutium. a r: .qt, In Common with all the papers, we yzflerday laid the KING wo.lld hold a levee to-morrow.-- We were mifinftn med. No levee will be held further notice ; pr.bably not thcfe three weeks. The Pit IN CE of WALES returned to town theist. ter end of Lail week, for the purpofe of paffing part of the Chrillmas Holidays with the ROYAL Femur at Windtbr, where- a grand entertainment . .vas given yellerday. We are forty to lea rn , h owever, that his Royal Highnefs was foindifimfed on S un . day, that he WAS advifcd by Sir Wat.rrit FA R0...V. HAR not to leave his room. ):-:is diiorder is a vio. lent cold, attended with fever. The (holt adjournments of Parliament, perhaps, may be owing to the general (late of atf.tits, to the profpeas refpefling the negociation,th e date of the Bank as to its payments in cant after the definitive treaty, to the apprehenfion that in confequence of Tome unForefeeh bectrrence, either Li regard to the late mutiny, or the French operations, Its interpo. fition might he necelfary. The circuit - lance, how.. ever, is calculated to excite etinfiderable fpecula. tion, and therefore it is fuppofed that the caufes mull he firong, otherwifeMinifiers would not have expofed the public to the agitation and anxiety it pccafions. . We yefterclay received two Portfmouth Paperi; one Oates, in the moll pofitive terms, that the gunboats at the above port that went into harbour, and were partly difinantled, were ordered, on Wed. neirtay lafl, to be refitted and viaualled with all pollible difpatch; and that the Dedaigneufe had carried out orders to Sir JAMES SAUbtAIbEZ to recommence the blockade of Cadiz. Both theie Itatenv.nts are as pofitirely contradieed in the Portfmouth Telegraph, which obfer% es, that arl the gun brigs, except one, are pofitively gone irta harbour to be paid off, and the orders to SO JAMES were for him to difpatch Tome of his fqua. drop to the Weft Indies. • The following are the names of the Officers who command the fix Companies of the &ft Bourbon of the Coldare.rm Reg-n,:nt of Guards, whichar rived at 11ortimoutli on Wednefday !Alt, ur the . TRUSTY, Captain GuION, from Egypt: Major-co:Kra FINCH, Cont- Captain DA LINLI • minder of the Brigade of Captain CAMPILLL Guards Captain HA Mal 0 N The Fart of CORR, Colonel Enfign IieCKCIT Commandant of the Troops Entign BIOT /RTO Lieutenant-Colonel Pm:tor Mr. NscuoLLS. Payinafter Brii!ade-Maj.,r CARRY Mr. Nl•Kr malt, :;Lrgeon Captain Sir Joust GORDON Mr. Hot,atss, Q..liarter-Mart. Government have fince the arrival of the troops from the warm climate of Egypt, given to each private and nOn-commialoncd officer, a change ni warm flannels and other necefiltries, before they are marched to their refpetaive places of canton ments. The Firft Surry Militia are under orders to . march this day from Canterbury for Shornchffe. The South Gloucetter Militia, at prefent at Shornehlre, in Kent, have received a route for their own county The Hon. HENRY CAULFIELD, fon to the late, and brother to the prefent Earl of Cosattmosr, has announced himfelf a candidate for the county of Armagh. The late Mr. RUSH has divided a yery handfome fortune among his relatives, and left his worthy friend, Mr. LYNN, his nephew, Mr. 1311.00 R, and Mr. TACART, his Executors. On Friday lart died, in the 67th year of her age, Mrs. Rasmsroan, Sifter of the late Sir Wa. Jowls. Saturday (e'nnight HENRY BOWERMAN was , fe.-ved with an indictment to Rand trial before the High Court of Julliciary, at Edinburgh, on the 4th of January next, for fending a challenge to the Earl of LAUDERDALE. We have great fatisfaelion in flitting, that by an overland difpacb, received yeflerday at the India Houle, accounts have reached this country of the fafe arrival at Sydney Cove, in New South Wales, of the LADY NELSON, commanded by Lieut:Gß ANT, a vellel of 6o tons only, conlirulied under the immediate direetion of Capt. SCHANE. Her pelage from the Cape of Good Hope to New South Wales was only ten weeks, in which Ibe encountered a variety of weather, but arrived without the fmalleil damage, and with her crew in the moil perfeEl health.—)The letters from Go. vernor KING are dated in March lail.—The LADY NELSON h2d then faded to profecute thole ditcor ries on the coalls of that immenfe country, for wlsich the was fent from home.—Tlic utility velrel was ftrongly acknowledged by Contact Kim c, and there can be no doubt but we nisi loon hear of important additions to the confined knowledge as yet gained of that country. It was feared before (he failed from England. dla it was impofille for Inch a velrel to circumnasi gate the globe.—'The doubts upon this poin are happily removed by the (ale arrival of the Lad Nelfon, and the great utility is further proved the tiding keels, the invention of the Officer abo' named. big is. 1 24 a* Th Th( Nice t .1 Lti ire pr k pc fif ic inety miry( Ow pi itia I, rays! a 1p beat tadrd • tit i dride, Olcts 114 MT are mkt drei :: t vterf•