ports, shall be entitled to make application, through their consul, to the superintendent of customs, who, in order to prevent fraud on the revenue, shall cause examination to be made, by suitable officers to see that the duties paid on such goods as are entered on the custom-house books correspond with the representation made, and that the goods remain with their original marks unchanged, and shall then make a memorandum in the port clearance of the goods and the amount of duties paid on the same, and deliver the same to the merchant, and shall also certify the facts to the officers of customs of the other ports; all of which being done, on the arrival in port of the vessel in which the goods are laden, and everything being found on examination there, to correspond, she shall be permitted to break bulk and land the said goods without being subject to the payment of any additional duty thereon. But if on such examination the superintendent of customs shall detect any fraud on the revenue in the case, then the goods shall be subject to forfeiture and confiscation to the Chinese Government. Foreign grain or rice brought into any port of China in a ship of the United States, and not landed, may be reëxported without hindrance.
ARTICLE XXII.
Payment of duties. The tonnage duty on vessels of the United States shall be paid on their being admitted to entry. Duties of import shall be paid on the discharge of the goods, and duties of export on the landing of the same. When all such duties shall have been paid, and not before, the collector of customs shall give a port clearance, and the consul shall return the ship’s papers. The duties shall be paid to the shroffs authorised by the Chinese Government to receive the same. Duties shall be paid and received, either in sycee silver or in foreign money, at the rate of the day. If the Consul permits a ship to leave the port before the duties and tonnage dues are paid, he shall be held responsible therefor.
ARTICLE XXIII.
Transhipment of goods. When goods on board any merchant vessel of the United States in port require to be transhipped to another vessel, application shall be made to the consul, who shall certify what is the occasion therefor to the superintendent of customs, who may appoint officers to examine into the facts and permit the transshipment. And if any goods be transhipped without written permits they shall be subject to be forfeited to the Chinese Government.
ARTICLE XXIV.
Collection of debts. Where there are debts due by subjects of China to citizens of the United States, the latter may seek redress in law; and, on suitable representations being made to the local authorities, through the Consul, they will cause due examination in the premises, and take proper steps to compel satisfaction. And if citizens of the United States be indebted to subjects of China, the latter may seek redress by representation through the Consul, or by suit in the consular court; but neither Government will hold itself responsible for such debts.
ARTICLE XXV.
Teachers, &c.. It shall be lawful for the officers or citizens of the United States to employ scholars and people of any part of China, without distinction of persons, to teach any of the languages of the empire, and to assist in literary labors; and the persons so employed shall not for that cause be subject to any injury on the part either of the Government or of individuals; and it shall in like manner be lawful for citizens of the United States to purchase all manner of books in China.
