face, which nearly suffocates him, and makes him stagger for breath. As soon as he recovers a little from this first salute, the Nereids having surrounded him, keep up a continual drenching with their water buckets, and thus terrify him into the idea that he is actually overboard, and he may be seen striking out in the act of swimming: the buckets of water being exhausted, he is conducted up to Neptune, and seated on the capstan-bar placed there for his particular use, and then all is again silent.

Neptune then remarks that, although his eyes are dimmed with age, he can see his young friend wants shaving, as well as washing. This hint is sufficient for the barbers, who immediately begin lathering. The size of the brushes, (for they are both used,) and the rapidity of their movements renders this operation quicker than sight; mouth, nose, ears, and the whole head is covered with lather, and in an instant the contour of the visage is changed, (the eyes are protected by the bandage.) This is ten times worse than the watery ordeal he has just passed through, all attempts at breathing being checked by the constant working of the brushes about the mouth and nose.

A moment of breathing time is now given the aspiring hero of the deep, and Neptune endeavours to draw him into conversation, in order to let him recover himself. The barbers, however, do not seem to appreciate the kind intentions of Father Neptune, they are now seen waiting with their brushes all ready to lather the inside of his mouth, for it would seem they had some idea of shaving the inside of his head, as well as the outside. Every means are employed in this part of the operation to make him open his mouth, for, if they do not succeed during the conversation with Neptune, they try themselves by asking questions; whether he would prefer being shaved with a sharp razor or a blunt one? If this will not do he is made to feel the edge of the razors. His hand being passed down the edge of the jagged one, he is told, that is the blunt one, and that the notches are made on purpose to accommodate any moles, &c., on his chin, and that would give him a twopenny shave; on feeling the other he is told, that is the sharp one, and gives a sixpenny shave. By thus worrying they at last succeed in lathering the inside of his mouth. He is then shaved with the razor they think will best suit his face, and when finished he is turned round to Neptune, who pronounces whether he is cleanly shaved or not, and according to his standing on Neptune's books, it has some influence whether the operation of shaving is repeated or not.

About this time he begins to find his seat uneasy and he is suddenly lost sight of, being made to perform a feat even greater than a double somerset; he is turned backwards head-over-heels into the font below, placed on purpose to receive him. Here he finds again his ablutions are not at an end. "The bears" seize hold of him and seem endeavouring to make him an amphibious animal, by keeping him under the water; he ultimately makes his escape out of the fore end of the sail, where there is an aperture left for that purpose; he may then, if his good nature will permit him, go on the upper deck again, and placing himself under the order of his adopted father, assist in passing others through the same trial.

The introductions last until late in the afternoon, and thus ends this

old antiquated custom, when Neptune feeling satisfied that all have been introduced, resigns his authority, takes his farewell of the Captain and Officers and then his departure. Before "quarters" the decks are dried up, and everything in its place again, and thus with good humoured jokes, merriment, and fun, is concluded the evening of this eventful day.

We thus crossed the equator on the 30th of January, and two days afterwards when in lat. 1° 0' S., found we were approaching the limits of the south-east trades, which at this season appeared to blow home, nearly to the equator, commencing at south and gradually veering to S.E.b.E., the average strength of the wind was 4.5.

Our course was directed towards the Abrolhos, and on approaching these dangers, a very complete series of soundings from deep sea to a few fathoms on them, which doubtless afforded much interest to Geologists, &c.

We arrived at Rio Janeiro about two months after leaving Spithead, here we remained four days, and then sailed for St. Catherines, where the surveying duties commenced.

(To be continued.)

CHINESE INTELLIGENCE.

THE following account of the winding up of the Chinese treaty has been handed to us. Extract-" At 5 P.M. the captains, in full dress, (therm. 100°,) met at the government-house, all the troops, officials, and public being present to witness the ratification of the Treaty of Peace, which was done in great form under salutes from the forts and ships. The Chinese did not seem to care about it; but it was some comfort to us to find they felt the heat as much as we did.

"But, when dinner came the scene was different. We sat down in white jackets, about fifty. The commissioners appeared quite at their ease; they drank an enormous quantity of wine, chatted, laughed, and finished every glass, turning it over to show that it was empty, and helping themselves from the decanters. Old Keying (the chief commissioner,) must have taken fifty large glasses of wine at least. When dinner was removed the Queen and the Empe ror of China were drank in one toast, with three times three. We then drank to Keying's health, who would not be done out of his glass, but drank too. He then gave us a Chinese song-such noises! (what do you think of the Emperor's uncle singing a song?) After this he called upon the governor, Sir H. Pottinger, who gave us an English song, when Whang, (the second commissioner,) gave us a Chinese one, and called on another Englishman; and then the old Tartar general, whose performance surpasses all description; such a collection of noises I never heard before. We then called on Lord Saltoun, who gave us a jolly song; when old Keying commenced again, and so passed the evening till near 11 o'clock, the old fellows taking wine enough for six at least, and walking off pretty steady."

TREATY WITH CHINA.

A Cory of some of the most important parts of the Chinese Treaty, the ratification of which has been brought to Malta by Colonel Malcolm, in the Oriental, we hasten to lay before our readers.

This important document is thus announced by our Plenipotentiary in a proclamation, from which the following is an extract:

PROCLAMATION.

"Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.c.B., her British Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., in China, has the gratification to announce for the general information and guidance of all subjects of her said Majesty, that he has concluded and sealed with the High Commissioners appointed by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China to treat with him, a commercial treaty, stipulated for in the definitive treaty of peace signed at Nankin on the 29th of August, 1842, and the ratifications of which definitive Treaties of Peace have been lately exchanged under the sign manual and seals of her Britannic Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the Emperor of China.

"Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., now publishes the export and import tariff, and the regulations of the trade which have been, after the most searching scrutiny and examinations, fixed and finally agreed upon, and which tariff and regulations of trade are to be promulgated in Chinese simultaneously with this proclamation, accompanied by a proclamation on the part of the imperial commissioners, &c."

Of the ports to which the foreging Proclamation refers the following information has been published :

:

AMOY-Plan of port published by the Admiralty, from the survey of Captain Collinson; Sailing Directions for the port by Captain Collinson in Nautical Magazine, 1842, p. 217; also those of Captain Blake in Nautical Magazine, 1841, p. 248.

FUCHOW.-Plan of Entrance of the River Min, published by the Admiralty. NING-PO.-Course of River in sheet, China coast, published by the Admiralty; Directions for, by Captain Collinson, in Nautical Magazine, 1843, p. 641, number for October.

CANTON.-Plans of the River in three sheets, published by the Admiralty; also that of Macao and Hong-Kong. For Directions for the former see Horsburgh.

General Regulations under which the British trade is to be conducted at the five ports of Canton, Amoy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai.

1. Pilots. Whenever a British merchantman shall arrive off any of the five ports opened to trade-viz., Canton, Amoy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai, pilots shall be allowed to take her immediately into port; and in like manner when such British ships shall have settled all legal rates and charges, and are about to return home, pilots shall be immediately granted to take her to sea without any stoppages or delay; regarding the remuneration to be given those pilots, that will be equitably settled by the British consul appointed to each particular port, who will determine it with due reference to the distance gone over, the risks run, &c.

2. Custom-house Guards.-The Chinese superintendent of customs, at each port will adopt the means that he may judge most proper to prevent the revenue suffering by fraud or smuggling. Whenever the pilots shall have brought any British merchantman into port, the superintendent of customs will depute one or two trusty custom-house officers, whose duty it will be to watch against frauds on the revenue; those will either live in a boat or stay on board the English ship, as may best suit their convenience. Their food and expenses will be supplied them from day to day from the Custom-house, and they may not have any fee of their own whatever given to them by the commanders or consignees; should they break this regulation they shall be punished proportionately to the amount exacted.

3. Masters of Ships Reporting themselves on Arrival.-Whenever a British vessel shall have cast anchor at any one of the above mentioned ports, the captain will, within 24 hours after arrival, proceed to the British consulate and leave his ship's papers, bills of lading, manifests, &c., in the hands, of the consul; failing to do which he would subject himself to a penalty of 200

dollars.

For presenting a false manifest the penalty will be 500 dollars.

For breaking bulk and commencing to discharge before due permission shall be obtained, the penalty will be 500 dollars, and confiscation of the goods so discharged.

The Consul having taken possession of the ship's papers, will immediately send a written communication to the superintendents of customs, specifying the register tonnage of the ship, and the particulars of the cargo she has on board, all of which being done in due form, permission will then be given to discharge, the duties levied as provided for in the tariff.

4. Commercial dealings between English and Chinese Merchants.—It having been stipulated that English merchants may trade with whatever native merchants they please, should any Chinese merchants fraudulently abscond, or incur debts which they are unable to discharge, the Chinese authorities, on complaint being made thereof, will of course do their utmost to bring the offenders to justice; it must, however, be distinctly understood that, if the defaulter really cannot be found, or be dead, or bankrupt, and there be not wherewith to pay, the English merchant may not appeal to the former custom of the Hong merchants, paying for one another, and can no longer expect their losses made good to them.

5. Tonnage Dues.-Every English merchantman on entering any one of the abovementioned five ports shall pay tonnage dues at the rate of five mace per register ton in full of all charges. The fees formerly levied on entry and departure of every description are henceforth abolished.

6. Import and Export Duties.-Goods, whether imported to or exported from any one of the abovementioned five ports, are henceforward to be taxed according to the tariffs as now fixed and agreed upon, and no further sums are to be levied beyond those which are specified in the tariff. All duties incurred by an English merchant vessel, whether on goods imported or exported, or in the shape of tonnage dues, must first be paid up in full, which done the superintendent of customs will grant a port clearance, and this being shown to the British consul, he will thereupon return the ship's papers, and permit the vessel to depart.

7. Examination of Goods at the Custom-House.-Every English merchant having cargo to load or discharge, must give due intimation thereof, and hand particulars of the same to the consul, who will immediately dispatch a recognised linguist of his own establishment to communicate the particulars to the superintendent of customs, that the goods may be examined, and neither party subjected to loss. The English merchants must have a properly qualified person on the spot, to attend to his interest when his goods are being examined for duty otherwise, should there be complaints, these cannot be attended to. Regarding such goods as are subject by the tariff to an ad valorem duty, if the English merchant cannot agree with the Chinese officer, in fixing a value, then each party shall call two or three merchants to look at the goods, and the highest prices, at which any of these merchants would be willing to purchase, shall be assumed as the value of the goods. To fix the tare on any article, such as tea; if the English merchant cannot agree with the custom-house officer, then each party shall choose so many chests, out of every 100, which being first weighed in gross shall afterwards be tared, and the average tare upon these shall be assumed as the tare upon the whole, and upon this principal shall the tariff be fixed upon all other goods in packages. If there should be any disputed points which cannot be settled, the English merchant may appeal to the consul, who will communicate the particulars of the case to the superinten

dent of customs, that it may be equitably arranged. But the appeal must be made on the same day, or it will not be regarded. While such points are still open the superintendent of customs will delay to insert the same in the books, thus affording an opportunity that the merits of the case may be tried and sifted.

8. Manner of paying the Duties.-It is hereinbefore provided, that every English vessel that enters any one of the five ports, shall pay all duties and tonnage dues before she be permitted to depart. The superintendent of customs will select certain schroffs, or banking establishments, of known stability, to whom he will give licenses authorising them to receive duties from the English merchants on behalf of government, and the receipts of these shroffs for any money paid them shall be considered as a government voucher. In the paying of these duties different kinds of foreign money may be made use of, but as foreign money is not of equal purity with Sycee silver, the English consuls appointed to the different ports will, according to time, place, and circumstances, arrange with the superintendent of customs at each port, what coins may be taken in payment, and what per centage may be necessary to make them equal to standard or pure silver.

9. Weights and Measures.—Sets of balance-yards for the weighing of goods, of money weights, and of measures, prepared in exact conformity to those hitherto in use at the Custom-house of Canton, and duly stamped and sealed in proof thereof, will be kept in possession of the superintendent of customs, and also of the British consulate, at each of the five ports, and these shall be the standard by which all duties shall be charged, and all sums paid to government. In case of any dispute arising between British merchants and the Chinese officers of custems regarding the weights or measures of goods, references shall be made to these standards, and disputes decided accordingly.

10. Lighters or Cargo boats.-Whenever an English merchant shall have to load or discharge cargo, he may hire whatever kind of lighter or cargo boat he pleases, and the sum to be paid for such boat can be settled between the parties themselves without the interference of government. The number of these boats shall not be limited, nor shall a monopoly of them be granted to any parties. If any smuggling take place in them the offenders will of course be punished according to law. Should any of these boat people, while engaged in conveying goods for English merchants, fraudulently abscond with the property, the Chinese authorities will do their best to apprehend them; but, at the same time, the English merchants must take every due precaution for the safety of their goods.

11. Transhipment of Goods.-No English merchant ships may tranship goods without special permission; should any urgent case happen where transhipment is necessary, the circumstances must first be submitted to the consul, who will give a certificate to that effect, and the superintendent of customs will then send a special officer to be present at the transhipment. If any one presumes to tranship without such permission being asked for and obtained, the whole of the goods so illicitly transhipped will be confiscated.

12. Subordinate Consular Officers.—At any place selected for the anchorage of the English merchant ships, there may be appointed a subordinate consular officer of approved good conduct to exercise due control over the seamen and others. He must exert himself to prevent quarrels between the English seamen and natives, this being of the utmost importance. Should anything of the kind unfortunately take place, he will in like manner do his best to arrange it amicably. When sailors go on shore to walk, officers shall be required to accompany them; and should disturbances take place, such officers will be held responsible. The Chinese officers may not impede natives from coming alongside the ships to sell clothes or other necessaries to the sailors living on board.

13. Disputes between British subjects and Chinese.—Whenever a British subject has reason to complain of a Chinese, he must first proceed to the consulate and