The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-05 00:00:00

existence at Singapore,' It is difficult, we oonceive, to find two
places whose situation is more dissimilar in every respect.
" Singapore is a place where rent of land is remarkably mode.
rate; it is the emporium of an important and valuable trade, with a
large and comparatively wealthy population. Hong-Koug, on the
other hand, is already taxed in ground.rents alone higher than any
colony in the world ; it has no trade at all, and is the mere place
of residence of Government and its officers, with a few British •
merchants, and a very scanty and poor Chinese population.
" When Hong-Kong is as able to bear taxation as Singapore, it
may, in our humble Judgment, be still a question, whether the
heavy ground.rents ought not to exempt the inhabitants from
further payments; but whatever may eventually be considered ex-
pedient, we would wish to impress upon the Government our belief
that oppressive burdens laid on an infant trade, and on a new
colony, situated as Hong. Kong now is, must inevitably be not only
unjust to the early settlers, but ultimately fatal to the settlement
itself.

" We are bound, as merchants, to speak with diffidence on
points of law where we find our views at variance with those of
the colonial law officers but we must still adhere to our opinion.
and re-assert our conviction, that Ordinance No. 2 is alike uncon-
stitutional and illegal.

" We quite concur with his Excellency in the wisdom of his
having refused to levy a small tonnage duty in Hong-Kong, far as
most of the business transaeted in this harbour consists in the mere
transhipment of goods fram one vessel to another, we are satisfied
that any attempt to enforce such a charge would merely have had
the effect of driving the ships to one of the adjacent anchorages
without the limits of the port.

" We also fully concur in the sound policy which has exempted
wine, beer. and spirits from duty, inasmuch as any revenue which
could have been derived from the limited consumption in so small
a community could not have been expected to pay the expense of
collection.

" That the civil, naval, and military servants of Governnient are
subject to the payment of 8 per cent. as an income-tax in Hong.
Kong, from which the merchants are exempt, we submit does not
apply to this as a colonial question, for they are equally liable to
that tax at other places, and even on the high seas.
" It remains for us to notice the remarks of his Excellency in
Council on what is termed the trade of Hong. Kong.
" The reported increase in tonnage we cannot consider any
proof of extended trade, for it shows nothing more than the number
of ships that have anchored in` Hong-Kong Bay en their way to
other ports.

" All, or nearly all, the cotton ships from India have stopped a
few hours at Hong-Kong before proceeding to Canton, but not a
single bale of their cargoes has been landed or sold here; and the
same remark may generally apply to the ships from England, but it
would be as erroueous to infer from the number of inward vessels,
that there is an increase of trade, or indeed that there is any trade
at all, as to suppose, because all the English tea.laden ships from
Canton call here flit their dispatches, that Hong-Kong is the centre
of the tea trade.

" With regard to the report of Mr. Gutzlaff, that 120,000
pieces of cotton goods have been taken away by 13 junks this
year,' we are not prepared to deny that this officer may have
access to sources of information of which we are deprived; but
we submit that some doubt may be entertained of the authenticity
of mercantile statements, which appear to have eluded the ob-
servation of the whole mercantile community. We are quite
satisfied Mr. Gutzlaff must have been convinced that such a trade
really existed, but as we cannot find that his information has been
derived from any of the British merchants, we are apprehensive
that he has relied on the reports of the Chinese junk people—a
class by no means remarkable for strict adherence to correctness in
questions of statistical detail.
" Supposing, however, the reports to be correct, it by no means
follows that such deliveries of cotton cloths can be deemed part
of the trade of Hong-Kong, for nothing is of more common occur-
rence than for the junk.owners to purchase goods in Canton,
deliverable outside the port, at Macao, Hong-Kong, or elsewhere;
and if this place did not exist, the business would be carried on at
any other convenient anchorage.
" Giving, however, the fullest measure of credit, both to Mr.
Gutzlaff's informants, and the inference that his Excellency in
Council appears to deduce from the report, we venture to remark,
that if, after four years' occupation of the colony, the only trade
which can be found to exist, after apparently the most diligent in-
quiry, is an export of 120,000 pieces of cloths, in a place pos-
sessing all the advantages of a free port, so pointedly enumerated
in your letter now under reply, there is yet scarcely sufficient
business transacted, or likely soon to be transacted, in the colony,
as to justify heavy taxation.

" The following tabular statement, taken from official returns,
will show the position of the question more accurately, assuming
(what as above stated, we do not think it would be correct to
admit) that the 120,000 pieces of cotton cloths belong to the
trade of this place.

" IMPORT-TRADE

" Canton, for the year 1894—tonnage, 83,87 g tons; value,
3,883,8281.

" Shanghai, for the half-year ending June 30, 1845—tonnage,
6,578 toes; value, 442,7571.
" Hong-Kong, half-year ending June 30, 1844—tonnage,
62,264.

" YEAR'S TRADE.

" 120,000 pieces of elotb, say at 10s., 60,000/.
" In conclusion, while expressing our sense of the courtesy of
his Excellency in Council, in furnishing us with the remarks In
question on our memorial, we cannot but again lament that the
existing Government appears resolved to disregard the deliberate
opinions of the whole mercantile community, and sacrifice to a
fallacious appearance of present prosperity the just claims of the
colonists and the real interests of the settlement —We have the
honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servants, _

" A. MATHESON,
" GEORGE T. BRAINE, Committee.
a GILBERT SMITH,
" CRAFORD KEER,

" Victoria, Aug. 29, 1845."

Sir George Murray is so far recovered from his
late severe rheumatic attack, that he was able to attend to official
duties yesterday, in the Ordnance department.

LEICESTER, MELTON MOWBRAY, and
BOSTON DIRECT UNION RAILWAY.
(Provisionally Registered.)
Capital 410,0001., in 20,000 Shares of 211. fads.
Deposit 21. 2s. per share.
PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE.
John Blyth, Esq. Alderegate-street, London, tiroetor of the Lime-
rick cud Belfast Union Railway
Samuel Buxton, Esq. Bangley-house, near Tamwerth, director of the
Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Direct Norwich Railway
Richard Carpenter, Esq. Landau, Deputy-Lieatenaat far the smutty
of Mlddleeox, Vice-Chairman of the London and Birmingham Ex-
tension, director of the Leicester and Bedford Railway, ice.
Sir James Duke, M.P. director of the Ambergato, Nettinghant, and
Boston, and Easter* Junction Railway
Peter Henry Edlin, Esq. London, director ef the lcottiatkans and
Peterborough Railway
Thomas Ekin, Esq. Grantham
Robert Forman, Esq. Abbott's-hill, Derby, !traitor g the Teal aid
Dove Talley Railway, Lec. &c.
Warren Stormes Hale, Esq. Greshant•street, direotor of the Oxlbrd
and Worcester Extension Railway
S. Harwood, Esq. Bradley-hall, Derbyshire
ntepheo James Hobson, Esq. Leicester, director of the Walsall, Wel-
Terhampton, and Direct Norwich Railway
Captain Hulme, Exeter, director of the Taw "Vale Extension Rail-
way, &c.
Jahn Inglis Jerdeln, Esq. Piccadilly, London, director of the Groat
Manchester, Rugby, and Southampton Railway
Charles Millar, Esq. Grantham
E. Monk, Esq. the Park, Nottingham, director of the liettlighant,
Mansfield, and Midlands Railway, Sce.
Peter Morrison, Esq. London, director of the Birmingham Axtelasiel
Railway, &c.
Thomas North, Esq. the mayor of Nottingham
Major-General Pariby, C.B. 11, Rutland-gate, Hyde-park
Alfred Pickwoad, Esq. Bridport, Dorset, director of the Leads aid
Carlisle Railway
William Pritchard, Esq. Doctors'-commons, director of the Direct
London and llastings Railway
James Reeves, Esq. Layton, Essex, director of the Oxford and Wor-
cester Extension Railway
Itenjamin William Spurgeon, Esq. Derby
William Walkington, Esq. Alderman, Grantham
David Wheatcroft, Esq. Buckland Hollow, near Ilfreton, director
of the Rugby, Derby, and Manchester Railway
James Whiskin, Esq. London, director of the Croydon Railway
Thomas Wise, Esq. Boston
John Rawson, Esq. mayor of Boston, director of the Arnborgate
Nottingham, and Boston Railway
John Oldrid, Esq, magistrate, Boston, director of the Ambergate,
Nottingham, and Boston Railway
(With power to acid to their number).
RANKER'S.
Londen—Messrs. Masterman and Co.
Leicester and Melton Mowbray—Pares' Leleesterehire Banking
Company
Boston—Messrs. Galin and Co., and Messrs. Gee and Co.
Nottingham—Moere and Robinson's Nottiaghamshire Banking Cent-
pany
Grantham—Messrs. Hardy, Walkinghara, and /lardy.
SOLICITORS.
Messrs. Patter and Collingridge, 5, Basingliall-street, Loudon.
John Edward Law teu, Esq. Leicester
PARLIAMENTARY AGENTS—Messrs. Cameron and Italia la, Par-
liament-street.
LOCAL AS ENTS.
Nottingham-1. Cann, Esq.
Grantham—Robert Menry Johnsen, ; aid lenry Thompson, Boq
Bostea—B. S. Simpson, Esq.
ENOINSIRR.

ACTIN. INGlNlEB—itickarl C. Carpottcr, Msg.
iECRETART—R. J.nee, Esq.
_ .

The port of Boston affords the readiest outlet fir exports from the
manufacturing districts to the north of Europe, aad the importance
of direct communication from the midland counties to a place so ad-
vantageonsly situate cannot be over-estimated.
Leicester has, or shortly will kave, direct ceramanleatlou with
Birmingham, and all the other Important towns in the usidland
district.
The Midland Railway Company is extending the coniraunicatial
to Melton Mowbray, by means of its branch from dyston to Peter-
borough, which passes throagh that place. There is also a complete
line of railway about to be established from Nottingham, through
Grantham and Falkingham, to Boston' as well as to Spalding, Wis-
beach, Lynn Yarmouth, and other important towns is the eastern
counties.
The Leicester, Melton Mowbray, and Boston Direct Union Rail-
way, by forming a line from Melton Mowbray to Folkinghani, will
supply the only lick wanting to complete a direct through communi-
cation from Birmingham, Warwick, Worcester, Coventry, and the
manufacturing districts generally, to Boston, as well as by means of
existing and projected railways from Wales and the Bristol Channel,
to that seaport.
The leng,h of the proposed line will mot exceed twenty-six miles ;
and as it will pass through a country very favourable for engineer-
ing purposes, the expense or construction will, it is expected, be lets
than the usual average. The admirable position of this railway can-
not fail, it is confidently expected, to command a large return, both
in passengers and in goods traffic.
The Company will be in a sitaatlea to deposit the Parliamentary
plans and sections in ample time for complying with the standing
orders, and enabling them to apply for their Act is the ensuing
session.
Applications for charm to be addressed to the solicitors, Messrs.
Potter and Colllngridge, Na. 5, Basinghall-street London; to the
Local Agents ; and the following sharebrokers :
Leicester—Messrs. Williams and Sunderland
London—Messrs. Taunton and Bnsh, Austin-friars
Derby—Messrs. Forman, jam. and Williams
Nottiagham—Messrs. Peet, Sox, and Patter
Birmiagham—Mr. J. R. Lana
Liverpool—Messrs. Samuel Woods and Co.
Manchester—Messrs Bradley, Johnson, and Walker
Leeds—Messrs. R. B. Watson, Metal, and Barff ; and Mr. J. ling*
S 7, Albion-street
Bull—Messrs. Wilkinson and Earl.
Bristol—Messrs. Sahmes and Tripp
Learningtoiti Messrs. White and Sen
Warwick
Hanley—Mr. William Albert
Huddersfield—Messrs. Dyson and Jones
Bradford—Messrs imith and Minton
Blackburn—Mr. Thos. Boardman
Worcester—Mr. Wm. Miles
Colchester—Mr. John Wright Carr
Cheltenham—Messrs. Hall, Brothers, and CO.
Gloucester—Mr. J. N. Balms
Macclesfield—Mr. It. E. Hine
Bath—Mr. It. P. Leman
Norwich—Mr. C. S. Gill.naa
Edinburgh—Messrs. Robertson and Co.
Glasgow—Messrs. Taste and Co.
Exeter—Mr. T. Sanford
Plymouth—Messrs. Hopwood and Palmer.