The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-06 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED EXACTIONS.

We learn (From the Canton Press.)
:f A, by advices from Canton that ever since the 25th
ern gust the foreign trade, so far as new arrivals are mo-
tel:4' has been stopped, and no vessel can get permission to
egrernence discharging without the consignees of all vessels
the lei,illg t° submit to the following " squeeze" to be paid to
lesstl4.iBtB:--A. fee of 223} dollars on each and every British
4Schp:i a fee of 12 dollars per 70 bales of Bombay, or 80 of
Vr eintell, and in proportion for other cargo.
the,i-r several days various attempts were made to escape
selsit beau y charges (amounting to prohibition of small yes-
lib 'Without avail, as it was ascertained that no one but the
c4tuists were allowed to approach the Hoppo on business
kareteci with the foreign trade. An application was then
edr 6. to " her Majesty's officiating Consul" to the following
*---b
0,
.. e. eg to represent to you that we are unable to get any
l'er' the linguists to attend to the Custom-house business of
vessels lately arrived unless we agree to pay them as fol-
ows (naming the above fees).
" We beg to inquire if the difficulty in our proceeding with
the business of our vessels can be removed without our subs
matting to the exactions of the linguists ?
tail= They 'are the only persons we can find to carry on the de-
st4j of. the business of a ship with the collector's offices ; they
she that the collector refuses paying thorn for their services,
A, thezefore they make an increased demand on foreigners.
cos _.•
hie ging to the new regulations we supposed they would be
- • by him."
The Consul, Mr. G. T. Lay, replies :
ao" I have to say, that by the new regulations the linguists are
vath,t° be considered the collector's servants, but as the ser-
le„-t4 uf the consignees, who must pay them for their services,
i la a bribe or tee, but as their hire ; and if these men refuse
0; work for a reasonable sum, others who will consent to accept
hot to
tsm.sller compensation must he sought for; but if such are
Dower ebe found, whatever the charge, must be paid. I have no
Ato compel them to act for any specified sum."
h, ", e so far agree with Mr. Lay that the linguists must be paid
I.' ;:reigo merchants, if their services are absolutely required, le,'' these services are not such as are usually paid by the re.
tiasinelisinof the duty. Of what nature are the services required
guists? and for what is the fee of 223 dollars per ship
411 a. 12 dlllars per 70 or 80 bales to be paid ? We imagine
the
one thing for which the import 7 n:lay jastly.be
pay, or which may be required of him, is to furnish 0. Chinese Custom house officers with a paper stating in
bentnese the nature of the cargo his ship br.ngs ; it then
I eumes the duty of the Chinese to see that such statementd
ttateording to trash; but surely it can never be contemplate
at, besides the duty, he is to pay those that are appointed
byelhe Chinese to watch after its being properly paid.. .The
or service which, therefore, in our opinion, the linguists,
frro...,a,snytbnenefoerelsie in their stead, ought to expect payment.
.for
eet of ~ PI merchant, is, for the translation or writing
Chinese"we necessary documents ; in fact, a translation into
b
tilled
of the ship's manifest; any other duties they may
.e
tie,e.d uPow to perform must be paid by their own author.i-
that' and we suppose that even Mr. Lay will not maintain
vet. the linguists should he allowed to charge for such
ef '. easy duty, for filling, perhaps, a reasonably-sized sheet
tumj,Per with writing, the exorbitant suns they now de-
Ntou which in the case of a ship carrying 4,000 bales of
lk.s, ; would amount to the enormous sum of 823,50 dol-
t, I. ! translation of a small document. We would engage
were it written out at one hundredth part of that charge,
Would on
not aware that none but the linguists' documents
Vire are
such occasions be received at the Hoppo's office.
tti_ e told that previous to the present exorbitant demands
%ell Made the linguists demanded much less, but even then
a,
tereigriers would not comply, and they then declared that
ser_ntatnerchants had not agreed to what the linguists deemed
able merchants
they would now insist upon these charges as
sear„ stated. All business is consequently at a stand, and we
qe,aisTat unless the British authorities make a vigorous stand
trtlue: these exactions, the trade will revert to exactly its
t% b_,fta?e--namely, that the Chinee authorities will be able
7raeb it with any charges they please. j