Star.
London, England, 1830-04-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

There have for some time existed serious difficulties in the Chi.
nese trade, owing, am it would appear, to the oppressive and griping
conduct of the funtionaries at Canton. The number of Hong
merchants has been reduced from twelve to seven, and of these only
two do the business of the country ships. hands of all kinds
abound. The petition of the British merchants contains the follow-
ing statements :
`• Eighteen months ago Ranhop Hong failed, and owed foreigners
about 1,008,000. At the same time there were of this Hong's
goods worth more than 1,000,000. Every body said that Ranhop
took the goods and passed them over to pay Chinese debts (old),
and, beside, appropriated money for his own use, whilst the foreign
debts were laid on the other merchants to pay them in six years,
without interest being allowed. Now Chimqua, seeing that Ran-
hop committed a fraud so easily, has also imitated it. He has
also transferred upwards of five millions of dollars of foreigners'
money, and has tranferred his property to pay Chinese debts
If your Excellency allows Chimqua fraudulently to take away
money, and does not strenuously urge his return, and decide
for foreigners, but also lay this on the other merchants to pay for
him, it will involve them so much that they will all fail. IVe must
earnestly entreat your Excellency to urge Chimqua to bring back
this money, and order him to pay foreigners immediately. Foreign-
ers really will not consent to let Chimqua imitate Ranhop, and have
the other merchants ordered to pay for him in six years, which would
really be neither just nor reasonable. All we foreigners, by peti-
tion, inform your Excellency, that in the duties there are great ex-
tortions, exceedingly ruinous to foreign trade."
The answer to this petition was contemptuous enough, and only
stated in substance, that the Treasurer and Judge of Canton had
orders to inquire into the business, and that there was no use of
dunning with whining petitions. But the reply to the petition of
the Spaniards was still more haughty :--
" Le, member of the Military Board, Governor of Canton, &c.
hereby issues a proclamation in reply to a petition from Koleena, a
foreign merchant of the Lew-Sung (Spanish nation.)
" The celestial empire acts kindly and tenderly towards men from
remote parts, and suffers you outside foreigners of every nation to
cross the ocean, and to come to an open market for the benefit :of
merchants and traders.

You foreigners, doubtless, ought to be very grateful for the
gracious treatment you receive, and yield implicit obedience to the
excellent commands of Government.

"All dial is established concerning Hong merchants, the pay-
ment of measurement, the payment of duties which revert to the public
use, the allowance for waste in turning dollats into pure silver, the
carriage, &c. are old and fixed regulations which have descended hs all
the records, and been acted on fur many years. It must not be
allowed to entertain wild expectations of an alteration, nor futile
disturbance by fallacious deliberations. During the first decade
of this moon the English Chief, Plowden, and the others,
presented a petition, stating in order the several topics. Whilst I
read them, I already perceived that there were a great many impe-
dimenta and hindrances, sod that it was difficult to grant that which
was requested should be done. Originally they might all have been
rejected with a reprimand. But 1 would listen to business with
impartiality, and stooped to accommodate the feelings of foreigners,

and was still desirous to act on the evidence of general opinion, and
maintain tat equitable decision. Therefore I condescend to direct
the Treasurer and Judge to deliberate and report to ire, after which
I would decide. It was by no nteaus intended that I would neces.
sal* sanction the results they cane to, and forthwith comply with
the wild and selfish views slily proposed.

" But lo! other foreigners, hearing the rumour, were led to join the
party, and follow the example in a worse degree. The other day
the two nations of Indians and Hollanders, Dorabjee Magnlac and
Van Ceneghent, also dragged in and picked up several topics, which
they presented in a petition. Already I have given a severe repri-
mand in reply. Now again (the Spanish) forcignets dun me with a
petition in three topics, joining in harmony, and thundering the
same, and thrust forward their mad, incoherent nonsense. It is
worthy of detestation in the deepest degree.
" Try to contemplate the celestial empire, het abundant liar-
vests. and her mountains of wealth; her national treasury, full of
overflowing ! What dependence can she have on the petty meT.
chandise.of all your barbarian nations to suarly her with revenue ?
" If at this time, because duties arc to be forwarded to Court,
therefore to obtain your wishes by compulsory• means; but the con.
sequence will be, that you will exclude yourselves from the life that
is given you (or front what, in the natural course of things, you
would desire from the celestial empire), for hereafter it will assu-
redly give that degree of offence which will cause your expulsion.

" Still I suppose these foreigners would not presume to cherish
such lying expectations. Manifestly there are native traitorous mer-
chants, who have secret intercourse, and excite these things craftily,
securing their own advantage, and these foreigners fall into the snare.
Just as in that topic, that affluent Hong merchants shall rut be al-
lowed to retire. This subject was formerly reported to the Emperor,
and obtained his sanction, as is on record. But this was out of com-
passion for the foreign merchants, to prevent their foreign debts not
being paid.
" If the hoppo were to permit affluent merchants to retire, these
foreigners ought to petition and beg for an order to retain them.
How is it that the first hope set forth in their petition is to allow
affluent merchants to retire ? They do not desire any persons on
whom themselves can rely, but turn round and ask for others, that
they may escape. These foreigners, after all, should have been be-
fooled to this degree. It is now manifestly divulged by the appear-
ances of circumstances that they have been tossed and played with
as in a sieve, by some traitorous merchant. Ido at this time
proclaim to you, foreign merchants, and tell you that you ought all
to rouse yourselves, and examine with solicitude and awe. Don't
permit yourselves to be betooled by others. lf, however, you will
nut repent and awaken, but while you produce some different tale,
I (the Governor) am resolved instantly to report to his Imperial
%lajesty the exact fact., and take both the traitorous Chinese and
foreign merchants, and prosecute then, together to the root of the
matter with strictness, and punish them with severity. Take care
you do not bring yourselves into crime and trouble. Tremble at this.
" Nov. 9, 9th Moon, 30th day (Oct. 27, 1829.)"

1.11 PER IAL PA RLIAM ENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-TUESDAY.

Witnesses were heard at their Lon!ships' bar in support of
D'Oyley's Divorce Bill. After which,
On the motion of the Earl of ItossLYN, the bill was read a sa-
cond time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow (this day).

Earl FITZWILLIAM presented two petitions from places in
the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying the Assizes might be held at
Wakefield, instead of York, for cases occurring in that riding.
The Duke of SOMERSET presented a petition from Totnemt,
in favour of the removal of disabilities wider which persons pro-
fessing the Jewish persuasion labour.

The-- Illarquie of SALISBURY rose to request Lord Ooderich
to r stpone the motion relative to the funded and unfunded debt,
which stood for that day, in order that the examination of the wit-
nesses on the East Retford Disfranchi►ement Bill might begone into.

Earl STANHOPE wished to know whether the Noble Marquis
intended to make a similar request of other Noble Lords who had
motions to submit to the house, if those motions happened to inter.
We with the East Retfurd case ?

The Marquis of SALISBURY thought it would be a matter of
great convenience if the other business, not of a pressing nature,
were suspended until the examination on the East ttetford Bill was
concluded. .

Viscount GODERICH had no objection to postpone the mo.
tion, and named Thursday, the 6th of May, for then bringing it
forward. _ _ _ _ - _

The Order of the Day was then discharged, and entered for
Thursday se'nnight. Lords ordered to be summoned.
The Marquis of SALISBURY suggested on Mondays and Fri.
days the East Retford cue should have precedence, and on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and:Thursdays, (as was understood) it should follow
the other business. _

No opposition being offered to this arrangement, it is understood
that their Lordships assented to it.
- -

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented a pet; tion from
a place in his diocese, against the punishment of death for forgery.
Lord DUit HA 3I presented similar petitions from Stockton-on.
Tees and Darlington. A similar petition was presented by Lord
VERNON.
Lord HOLLAND presented a petition signed by five magistrates''
of Anglesea, playing some alteration in Welch Judicature, without
altering the_general principles of the present mode.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition, the object of
which was not heard below the bar.
Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from the incorporated
trades of Stirling, against the renewal of the East India Company's
charter. _ . .

The noble EARL moved for a series of returns, showing the
quantity of cotton goods exported from 1814 to 1830.—Agreed to.
Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from a place in Glouces-
tershire, complaining of distress.
After a few observations from Earl BATHURST, the petition
was read and laid on the table.

The Haymarket Removal Bill, and Four per Cent. Annuities
Bill, pasha! through Committees.
On the motion of the Marquis of SALISBURY, Counsel were
called in on the East Retford Disfranchisement Bill.

The witness, Mr. Richard Hannan', was again called, and his ex-
amination resumed. lie stated the names of many burgesses to
whom he had given 20 guineas each for the election of 1812, when
Mr. Osbaldiston was elected. The money, he stated, was given him
by Mr. Osisaldiston's agent for the purpose to which it was applied.
The witness was cross-examined by several of their lordships as
to whether he did not conceive the disclosures which he was mating
here as a breach of confidence towards Mr. Osbaldiston ?—He de-
nied altogether that there had been any stipulation rs to secrecy.
He was then ordered to withdraw.

Mr. John Mee the Town-cicrk, was then called in, and pat in
the original roll Of the burgesses who had been admitted to their
freedom, with the view of showing that those who had received the
bribe were, in fact, freemen of the borough.
William Baker, a freeman, proved that he received moncy for
his vote.

Samuel Hinde, a shoemaker, living at East Retford, having been
examined to the same effect as his examination before the House of
Commons,
Air. STEPHENSON. the third Counsel engaged for the petitioners
against the bill, was proceeding to cross-examine the witness, when
The LORD CHANCELLOR interposed, observing that two
Counsel only could be permitted in one interest.
Counsel were then ordered to withdraw.

Lord DURHAM said, he should move the adjournment of tic
house, if the noble and learned lord persisted in his motion.
A desultory conversation then took place, in which the Marquis of
Clanricarde, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Falmouth, the
Earl of Carnarvon, the Duke of Cumberland, and Lord Durham,
took a part.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then moved ,that two Counsel
only be heard at the Bar against the Bill.
Lord DURHAM moved that the further consideration of the bill
be postponed to to.ruorrow.
Upon which their Lordships divided, whoa there appeared for the
original motion
Contents.... ..••
Non•content• •••• 00000
Majority . •••••:•••

The Howe dos (a QUartei past Mae) ailisamsi