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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 1 This enabled the Government to keep up the appearance of granting the monopoly to the highest bidder , and yet to keep l ) ack 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 the shape of ordinance and regulations . lam far from believing ; that Sir John
Bo wring 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 tiling had been done , but were all the more indignant . So indecent was the haste made to dispose of this monopoly to Mr . Chunta-Kivong , that the Government actually gave it to him before legally empowered to do so ; so Government had to annul tlie grant and give it anew . Another grievauce connected with this ordinance is an attempt wade the to tax
by monopolist levy a upon opium , not only boiled and prepared , but actually shipped , for Australia and California before his rights came into force . It seems a little doubtful whether the general scheme itself is advisable ; for the preparation and exportation of opium forms no inconsiderable item in the manufacture and 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 and Australia . The editor of the Daily JPress—a . very diminutive sheet published here—has been Sued 1 O 0 / V , and condemned to six months' imprisonment , for a
libel on Sir John Bowring . The libel consisted in accusing the Governor of . " having kept a steamer back for nearly twenty-four hoars , in order to enable another steamer , belonging to the house of Jardine , Mattheson , and Co ., to- reach Calcutta first with important advices for the opium niarket . 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 the editor of the Daily Press
bis 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 his paper . Colonial newspapers do not always keep wrtkin proper limits , and the lesson this trial has given was required , and will not be thrown away here . You may judge to what freedom of speech tends in this place , when
± mention tha , t one ot the papers lately attacked a ^ kd y , accusing her of having forcibly cut off her ^^ naid-servant ' s hair . But , as compared with , that of Jother colonies , the character o £ the press stands high in general , and will be upheld by the result of •< £ htrcase 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 it were in sorne little danger of haying their throats cut by their own servants , of being poisoned by their bakers , and (" still worse ) of
being ; kidnapped and . carried oiF to perish miserably in a Chinese prison . Matters have now greatl y 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 I noticed no Ies 3 a functionary than the Colonial -Secretary , pacing up and down the road which runs behind my dwelling , with a huge revolver buckled to ) his side . Police regulations still confine the Chinese to their houses after nine at night , and
persons very rarely venture singly round to the other side of the island . Not so many weeks have elapsed since one young Englishman was attacked in broad daylight withm a quarter of a mile of the town , and on a most frequented rood * He was cut seriously , and only escaped through the accident of a large party , returning from a pid-riic , coming up at the time . If we are still exposed to little incidents of that kind , you may fancy how it ia witli 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 , into wbieh I can now look down and count every vessel , boats ate often carried off to a pirate village , two miles opposite , on the mainland . Last week , for instance , three men engaged . % sampati t manned ( to make a bull ) by and old wonaan and : two girls of fourteen and sixteen years of age , to take them off to a ship lying in the harbour . "ViThen , however the boat got from amon » the shippings the men rose and seized the two girls . Fortunately fhe old woman gave the alarm before iumpbaer overboard , which
she did next , and attracted the attention of two Englisk captains , who were passing near bym row-boats . These immediately gave ehase , after picking up the old female hero , and captured the harbour pirates . The inhabitants of the village opposite are all pirates and receivers of stolen goods . We cannot interfere -with them , because they are on Chinese ? round , and they set at nought tlie authority of the iowloong Mandarin , who has nominal jurisdiction over them . Some time ago they killed two persons in tlie employ of the P . & O . Company , and yet , though living under our noses / tliey are protected by water ot inter
a narrow strip or ana me aouse - national law . 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 ljing on tlie opposite beach . On applying to the police , he was told that nothing could be done to aid him , the boat being then ia China ; so he quietly armed a number of las friends and servants , went over , and brought it back . This state of things exists all along the coast of China , and it makes Honglong 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 feel convinced / fronT a number or little incidents , we shall have some rather exciting amusement .
Meanwhile , it has again become tolerably safe to visit the mainland . I have made t \ vo 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 especially useful- The s mail size does not do well in this climate , for the best caps are
apt to hang fire from dampness ; and when tliese are damp , the small dog-head does not descend with force sufficient to ensure certain discharge . Tranter ' s patent revolver , medium size , is unquestionabl y the best for ordinary use . It will hit fatally as far as many a musket can ; and th < c double trigger enables the hand to grasp it firmly , and hold it with steadiness . But it is a weapon which must T ) e carefully handled . When , cocking it , by dra-wing tlie lower trigger , one is very apt unconsciously to draw the other also ; and so , before aim has been taken , to discharge a shot to the detriment of a friend , or the loss of an opportunity .
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THE QUEEN'S •' PROGRESS . " Her Majesty has been making a " progress" during the week . Accompanied by the Prsnce Consort an < i a distinguished suite , she left Buckingham Palaco on Monday afternoon for Ston ojeigh AT ) l > ey , "Warwickshire , the seat of Lord Leigh . The party started from the palace at twenty minutes to three , and were escorted by a detachment of Light Dragoons to the Euston-aiqmare terminus of the London and North-Western ' Railway , where the Quceni was met by Mr . Secretary Walpole , -who attended her Majesty on the
journey- At three o ' clock , the Royal train left f Ko terminus , and , stopping only at Rletchley for a . t * 2 minutes , arrived at Coventry precisely at hal £ n »* five , thehout Indicated in the time-table Ala ?? crowd had of course been waiting there for hoursiw the burning sun , and the station looked gay wifcji evergreens , banners , and crimson cloth . ARovLl salute was fired from a battery sent expressly from Weedon for the purpose ; the city bells were runoand Lord Leigh and Lieutenant-Oeneral Sir Harrv Smith received iier Majesty as she alighted from her carriage . A guard of honour was posted alone tha platform , and a squadron of the 15 th Hussars fined
the road leading : from tlie station to the Stoneleieh road . The Mayor and Town Council of Coventry dressed in their ancient civic costume , which is verv rich and picturesque , presented an address ; and tliP Royal party then proceeded to the abbey , escort ** by the Stoneleigh troop of the WarWieSire Yeomanry Cavalry , under the command of the Hon Captain E . C . lieigh . As her Majesty was leavinc 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 feminine visits connected with Royalty The Princess M ary was there in 152 j ; Queen Elizabeth in 1565 ; and the Princess Anne of Denmark ia 1688 . The drive to Stoneleigh was between six and seven miles ; and the abbey , as it is still called , owing to an abbey having once stood there , is a noble mansion of the time of Elizabeth , about three miles from Keuilworth . It is situated on the sloping bank of
the Avon , in tlie 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 tlie park , and played at intervals during the evening .
Birmingham was visited on Tuesday . Thetojm was in a state of glad excitement and holiday-making , and triumphal arches , banners , and floral decorations , made the dull streets lively with unwonted ornament . The beautiful Town 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 Stoneleigh ehortly after eleven . Her Majesty and the Prince were accompanied by Mr . Secretary Walpole , Lord Leigh , the Marchioness of Westminster , Major-General Bouverie , Colonel Seymour , C . B . ; Colonel Sir C . B . Fbipps ; General the Hon . C . Grey , and other noblemen . The Royal carriages , which bad 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 then drove up Worcester-street , Highstreet , Bull-street , and Ann-street to tbe 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 , magistrates , council , and leading burgesses . Hor Majesty and the Prince advanced to the raised dais , and the company ,-which of course rose when the Queen entered , sang the National Anthem . "
The addresses to the Queen and lVince Albert were then read and replied to ; after which , her Majesty knighted the Mayor , Mr . liatcliff , who was thereby transformed into Sir John Uatelitf " . The whole of the Council were next presented , and the Aldermen liad the honour of kissing hands . The National Anthem was again eung , and soon after the procession to Aston Mall was formed . " On leaving the Town Hall , the Queon pnssed nlong the route already described , being everywhere received with the moat enthusiastic cheering . Her Majesty stated to Lord F . Scott that she had never seen such
masses of people of all ages among whom such admirable order was preserved . After admiring the gunmakers' trophy , and passing the arch at the borough boundary , the Queen found herself between the two platforms on which the Sunday-school children wore assembled . The effect of 47 , 000 voices of children hdby twenty cornets , and admirably conducted by Mr . Dflbbs , was very touching . The Queen ordered the procesBion 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 tho schools of cig htoen di' -
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THE ORIENT . CHINA .. Ir has been reported at Hong-Kong—but not 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 the insurgents near the same city . Her Majesty ' s steamer Hesper and four gunboats have left Hong-Kong for the 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 ns 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 .
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584 THE LEAP EjL [ No . 430 , June 19 , 1868 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 19, 1858, page 584, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2247/page/8/
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