1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
agreed upon. he Imperial Commissioners in their 
proclamation announce the anxiety of their Sovereign 
“to cherish tenderly men from afar,’” and declare that 
the ‘weapons of war shall be for ever laid aside, and 
joy and profit be the perpetual lot of all, and neither 
slight nor few will be the advantages reaped by the 
merchants alike of China and foreign countries.” Sir 
H. Pottinger, in announcing the conclusion of the negotia- 
tions, informs his fellow-countrymen, in plain terms, that 
he is determined to stand no trifling; and that upon any 
“ well-grounded representation that the provisions of the 
commercial treaty have been evaded, he will adopt the 
most stringent and decided measures against the offending 
parties, and where his present powers may not fully 
authorise and sanction such measures as may seem to him 
fitting, he will respectfully trust that the Legislature of 
Great Britain will hold him indemnified for adopting them 
in an emergency directly compromising the national 
honour, dignity, and good faith, in the estimation of the 
Government of China and all other nations.’ By the 
tariff a great and important reduction has been made in 
the duties levied on almost all the most important com- 
modities sent from this country to China, and a most 
beneficial effect is anticipated from the change. Both in 
China and in this country the tariff has been received with 
general approbation, and great dations are 
CHRONICLE. . 723 
disagreeable reflections towards their republic ; and as 
a member of the bench in a neighbouring province, they 
warn him that he must confine his opinions to his own juris- 
diction, or if he wanders within that of Judge ‘* Lynch,” 
he will do so at the risk of being arraigned at his bar. 
West Inpres.—The following are additional particu- 
lars of the calamitous fire at Kingston, announced briefly 
last week. It broke out shortly after mid-day on Saturday, 
Aug. 26, near the furnace-room of James’s foundry, close 
to the sea, and having traversed the whole of these exten- 
sive premises with amazing rapidity, the flames soon 
caught the adjoining saw-mills and lumber-yard of Messrs. 
Da Costa and Maxwell, which in less than half an hour 
were one mass of flames, with the solitary exception of 
the high chimney-stalk, which stood uninjured during the 
‘whole fire. At this time, and indeed up till 4 o’clock, the 
sea-breeze blew very high, thereby rendering it impossible 
for the city engines, even if they had been in serviceable 
order, to have had any effect in extinguishing the flames ; 
consequently, in a very short time they had crossed Har- 
bour-street, and ignited the range of houses on each side 
of Foster-lane, crossing Water-lane, and extending as high 
up as Thames-street in that direction ; from thence, the 
breeze blowing in a N.W. direction, the flames extended 
es 
estowed upon Sir H. Pottinger by the local press of 
India for the ability heghas shown in conducting the nego- 
tiations. The new system of trade was to commence at 
Canton on the 27th July, and from that day the Hong- 
Merchants’ monopoly and Consoo charges would cease. 
The other four ports, Amoy, Fuchow-foo, Ningpo, and 
Shanghai, which, according to the treaty, are to be 
resorted to by British vessels, could not be declared 
Open until an Imperial edict to that effect should be 
received from the Cabinet of Pekin. The edict was 
expected at Canton early in September, and in the mean 
time consular officers would be appointed and arrange- 
Ments made, so that there might be no unnecessary 
delay in the commencement of trade. Mr. G. Trades- 
cant Lay had been temporarily appointed Her Ma- 
jesty’s Consul at Canton; Mr. R. Thom, Interpreter ; 
and Messrs. Meadows and Meredith, as clerks in the 
Consular-office.—The intelligence from India, by way of 
Caleutta, does not entirely supply the long interval which 
has elapsed since our last advices. It was brought by the 
Peninsular and Oriental Company’s steamer Hindostan, 
which left Calcutta on 10th August, with 108 passengers, 
and arrived at Suez on the 11th ult. Nothing had been 
heard of the Bombay mail at Alexandria on the 27th ult. 
The steamer which was expected to convey it is the Vic- 
toria, which is described as being very small, and of little 
Power; and as the passengers by the Hindostan report 
that the monsoon had not at all subsided in violence, 
some apprehensions for her safety are expressed. Up to 
the 9th August nothing of consequence had taken place 
in Scinde—the most important fact being, that the troops 
were suffering extremely from the heat and ill-health, with 
the prospect of an aggravation of their sufferings when 
the present inundations shall have subsided. The enemy 
appeared to be still unsubdued, and to hover about in a 
threatening way, but to be little anxious to come to a col- 
lision for the present. The party that moved out against 
Shere Mahommed suffered severely from the extreme 
heat of the sun, as did also those that remained in Hyder- 
abad, and Capt. Blood’s battery in moving up from Sehwan 
lost nine European gunners in that short march. Sir C. 
Napier’s report exhibits a total loss from this cause, in 
two days, of one officer and fifty European soldiers. The 
Nature of these attacks appears to have been most sudden, 
those men who had led intemperate lives being the most 
predisposed to them; they were in more cases struck 
lown unexpectedly, and seldom survived above a few 
hours. The last death recorded among the officers is that 
of Lieut. Pottinger of the 15th Bombay Native Infantry. 
—The Cabool Relief Fund Committee met on the 5th 
June, at Kurnaul, and propositions for the final distribu- 
tion of the fund were considered. It is proposed that 
Permanent annuities be granted to the widows of Euro- 
pean officers, warrant and non-commissioned officers, and 
Privates, with an additional allowance to those who have 
children, and to married persons according to the degree 
of their physical disablement. The amount at the dis- 
Posal of the fund is about 300,000 rupees, or, inclusive of 
© amount at the disposal of the Bombay Committee, 
350,000 rupees. 
Unirep Srares.—The New York packet-ship Hibernia, 
Which sailed on the 19th ult., has arrived at Liverpool, 
aftera fine run of 18 days. She brings intelligence three 
days later than that by the Queen of the West and the 
tephen Whitney, which had previously arrived. The 
first meeting of the delegates from every part of the 
Union to the Great National Repeal Convention took 
Place on the 20th, when Mr. Robert Tyler was appointed 
President, and various other Officers were elected. The 
Boston papers state that the British steamer North 
America, from St. John’s, had grounded on the north 
Side of Governess Island. She had not sustained material 
Inj ury, and was expected to be got off next tide. By an 
arrival from Mexico on the 18th ult., intelligence was 
received of a contemplated renewal of hostilities between 
*“eXico and Yucatan. The Yucatan Commissioners had 
Teturned with the news that no treaty had been concluded, 
th '€ commission was dissolved, and the Mexican Commis- 
Sloners had returned to Vera Cruz. It appears that the 
anger excited by Mr. Dickens’s “ American Notes’ is far 
earned by that since produced by his “ Martin Chuzzle- 
fall, and the popular indignation seems to have equally 
ieee Judge Haliburton for his ‘‘ Attaché, or Sam 
ck in England.” ‘The papers argue that the position of 
into Golden-street, p ig up that street nearly as far 
as Lombard-street, missing in their course only two 
edifices of any moment, the one the extensive Methodist 
Chapel in Thames-street, the other the new Baths, which 
were only preserved by the extraordinary efforts made to 
preserve them from taking fire, by means of keeping the 
roof constantly wet. From this the fire extended up 
Maiden and Rosemary lanes, crossing Lombard-street ; 
about which time (nearly 3 o'clock) the sparks and pieces 
of flaming shingle which had been carried aloft, and driven 
by the force of the breeze over a number of streets, fell 
first upon the old Athenseum in Law’s-street, which was 
soon reduced to ashes; and thus commenced a new and 
separate conflagration, if possible the more disastrous, 
from the greater value of the residences in that quarter. 
This continued till dusk, comprising both sides of East- 
street, with the lanes adjoining between Law’s-street 
and East Queen-street, extending along the latter street 
as far as Mark-lane, during which the sugar-house very 
narrowly escaped. If it had ignited, it must inevitably 
have led to the destruction not only of the Roman 
Catholic Chapel, and the Commissariat Office, but of the 
Surrey Gaol, immediately behind, which was several 
times on fire from the sparks, rendering it necessary that 
the prisoners should be removed. From East Queen- 
Street, the fire still moving in a N. W. direction travelled 
up nearly another division on the west side of East-street, 
and one division of Duke-street on both sides, extending 
as high as Sutton-street, adjoining the Parade, where the 
land-breeze by that time beginning to come down, the 
conflagration in that direction was checked, though 
unhappily not before reducing to bare walls the French 
Roman Catholic Chapel in that street, as wellas the whole 
range of valuable buildings adjoining and opposite. At 
this stage, however, the change in the direction of the 
wind, which saved the upper part of the town, began to 
threaten destruction to the commercial part; and the 
original branch of the fire, which had latterly somewhat 
abated above Lombard- street, now began to travel down- 
wards, taking the east side of Hanover-street, and both 
sides of Rum-lane, which had formerly escaped, and for 
several hours after nightfall the whole of the lower part of 
the town was in the most imminent danger. Provi- 
dentially, however, the land-wind gradually subsided 
towards midnight, or nothing could have prevented the 
conflagration extending to Harbour and Port Royal- 
streets, Where the destruction must have been appalling, 
and by the aid of the military, both from New Castle and 
the barracks in town, and several naval detachments 
from Port Royal, whose services are much extolled, 
the ravages were prevented extending downwards, the 
flames, however, continuing to issue from these parts 
with great brilliancy up to nearly day-break on Sunday 
morning. Several serious accidents, and some deaths 
ensued, and the value of property consumed is estimated 
at from 200,0007. to 300,0002. It is said that the black 
population rendered little or no assistance, observing, 
«« Get those who ordered our pigs to be killed to put out 
your fire,’’ and they were obstinately ignorant as to salt- 
water extinguishing fire. There was no proof of its ori- 
ginating wilfully, but the Mayor had offered 1,000/. for 
discovery-—The Bishop of Newfoundland has been trans- 
lated to the Bishopric of Jamaica and the Bahama islands, 
so that the diocese of Newfoundland becomes vacant, 
From Bermuda we learn that the fatal epidemic stil] con- 
tinues to prevail in that group of islands. Captain Sir 
H. Chamberlain, Bart., of the Artillery, who succeeded 
Lieut.-Colonel Arabin in Angust last, Lieutenant and 
Adjutant Jenkin, of the Engineers, nine gunners and 
drivers of the Artillery, and 37 privates, out of a 
company of only about 70 Sappers and Miners, have died, 
and about 120 of the reserve battalion of the 20th Reg. 
of the line at present serving on the station. It has been 
equally fatal in private families, and labour is suspended. 
Carr or Goon Hopr.—Cape papers to the 26th July 
are chiefly occupied with the results of the mission of 
Colonel Cloete to the Boer settlers in the vicinity of Port 
Natal. He was instructed to announce to them the deter- 
mination of the British Government to adopt Natal as a 
British colony, and to place it under British laws and 
rule. The commissioner was received with every demon- 
stration of aversion and hostility. But the most singular 
feature of the affair was, that the Boer women were thrust 
into the foreground upon the occasion, and proceeded at 
once to repudiate British connection and dominion, as 
the latter ought to have prevented him from indulging in | well as to exhibit a long roll of grievances before the com- 
missioner, which they compelled him to listen to, until at 
length, losing all patience, he escaped by force of arms 
and limbs, for so it is described, and returned to Cape 
Town. A body of troops and artillery, 200 strong, were 
i diately ordered for ion to Port Natal, whilst 
by land a corps of cavalry was despatched to the borders 
to observe the movements of the Boers on the other side 
of the Orange river. These precautions, it was thought, 
might probably prevent any outbreak, and induce the 
Boers to submit peaceably at last. 
Money Market, Friday.—Consols for account closed 
at 951; Reduced Three per Cents., 942 to 3; New Three- 
and-Half per Cents., 1023; Exchequer Bills, 63s. to G4s., 
and 62s. to 63s. prem. 
Metropolis and tts H tcinttn. 
The Grand Duke Michaet.—On Saturday his Impe- 
rial Highness visited Buckingham Palace and the Royal 
mews, afier which he proceeded to the Bank of England, 
the Tower, and the Thames Tunnel. In the evening 
Baron Brunnow gave an entertainment to the Grand 
Duke, at which a large party of the nobility, Foreign 
ministers, &c. were present. On Sunday morning his 
Imperial Highness attended divine service at the Russian 
Chapel in Welbeck Street, after which he paid a visit to 
Sir Robert Peel, and inspected the collection of paintings 
in his gallery at Whitehall. In the evening the Grand 
Duke dined with Baron Brunnow. On Monday his 
Imperial Highness went to Woolwich, for the purpose of 
inspecting the Royal Arsenal in all its departments. After 
visiting the storehouses and laboratory, he visited the 
convict-ship and the saw-mills, and then proceeded to 
inspect the Royal Military Academy and the exercises of 
the Horse Artillery. His Imperial Highness dined and 
slept at Lord Bloomfield’s ; and on Tuesday inspected a 
portion of the barracks and stables, the riding-school, 
the hospital, the grand depét, and finally proceeded to the 
Marshes, where a display of artillery and rocket practice 
took place. His Imperial Highness quitted Woolwich 
about five o’clock, and visited Greenwich Hospital on his 
route to town. The Grand Duke’s visit to Newmarket, 
to see the Cesarewitch Stakes run for, was postponed in 
q of other eng ts On Wednesday 
evening his Imperial Highness left town by the Birming~ 
ham Railway for Lancaster, from whence he will proceed 
by Carlisle to Glasgow. It is understood that after visit- 
ing the principal objects of interest in that city, his Impe- 
rial Highness will go to Buchanan Castle, on a visit to the 
Duke of Montrose, and afterwards return by Edinburgh 
to Newcastle and Durham, and will most probably visit 
en route the Duke of Northumberland at Alnwick, and 
the Marquess of Londonderry at Wynyard Park. His Im- 
perial Highness, on arriving at Darlington, will proceed 
by railway to York to see the Minster, and afterwards go 
to Leeds and Hull. He will then proceed to Chatsworth 
on a visit to the Duke of Devonshire, and from thence to 
Drayton Manor, on a visit to Sir R. Peel. It is expected 
that he will then honour the Dowager Countess of Pem- 
broke with his company at Wilton House, near Salisbury ; 
and make a brief visit to the Marquess of Ailesbury, at 
Tottenham Park. His Imperial Highness is expected to 
return to Mivart’s on the 27th or 28th inst. H. R. H. 
Prince Alexander of the Netherlands will most probably 
join his uncle in Scotland. 
The Stoddart and Conolly Mission.—A meeting was 
held on Wednesday for the purpose of taking leave of the 
Rev. Dr. Woolf, before setting out on his intended expe- 
dition to Bokhara to ascertain the fate, or obtain the 
release of, Col. Stoddart and Capt. Conolly. Gen. Sir J. 
Bryant presided. Capt. Grover addressed the meeting at 
great length, after which Dr. Woolf expressed his belief 
that not only both the officers, but many other English- 
men, were now alive and prisoners at Bokhara, since he 
had received a letter from Mr. Steele, saying that his son 
was there in slavery, and another from Mr, Balfour, of 
Aberdeen, to the effect that his brother, a surgeon, was 
also there. It was his intention to set out next Saturday, 
first to Malta, then to Constantinople, and then onwards 
to Bokhara, having been provided by the Foreign Office 
with despatches for the Amb dors and Col. Shiel. On 
the motion of Mr. Buckingham, the thanks of the meet- 
ing were then given to Dr. Woolf for his statement, 
accompanied by their wishes for the success of his mission. 
Dr. Burnes, brother of the late Sir Alex. Burnes, in sup- 
porting this resolution, said he believed that the total 
amount required for the expedition was 500/., of which 
about 300/. had already been subscribed. A vote of 
thanks was also passed to Capt. Grover, who stated that 
several British officers had volunteered to accompany Dr. 
Woolf had it been found needful, and amongst others Col. 
Edward Napier. Capt. Moorsom then proposed the 
thanks of the meeting to the gallant Chairman, who 
briefly acknowledged the courtesy with an expression of 
regret that Government had not aided them in the pro- 
motion of the mission. 
Mexican Bonds.—A meeting of the holders of Mexi- 
can stock, convened by the committee of the South Ame- 
rican bondholders, was held on Friday to consider the 
best means of protecting their interests. The chair was 
taken by Mr. G. R. Robinson, who for fourteen years 
has acted as chairman of the committee. It appeared 
from the statements of the different speakers, that an 
issue of bonds in excess to the amount of nearly a million 
sterling had been made by Messrs. Linardi, the agents of 
Mexico in this country, in direct violation of an agree~ 
ment with the Mexican Government, and in contravention 
of the decree of the 29th of July, 1839, in which it was 
