SUPPLEMENT.
zen
at this moment would ex- populace, and that the very thereby, that it is so neces- much to be feared that any uld be landed would be effectus resistance to the
Canton
tremions therefore than already-- opposición to my own judgement, Instructions from Her Majesty's pon myself to direct the nearer ap proach of the Wolverine, I have the honor to ba
and the Govern
Your most obedient humble Berrant, FRANCIS C, MACGREGOR,
(Signed) A. CANFBALL, Esq.
the tim
auhere
盟
Your
y of an uncon opface lam also informed that The present communications still objectionable policy as that to berty of directing your attention rut and fix upon the English 1 concerned in the late affray-- care you took as mentioned in
tome of 16th Inst. to point out to the An- thorities that the Foreign Community on the late occasion acted together for mutual protection.
Canton, August 4th 1846.
FC Micanseon Esq. HBM Consul, &c. . c. Sir-1 have the honor of acknowledging your letter of 31st Ulto in reply to mine, in which as Chairman of a Commitee appointed by the British Community, I took the liberty of enquiring what steps had been taken for the protection of the lives, the property, and the important tra- de which we feel to be știi in jeopanty. It is with much regret I learn from the exposition of your views with which this letter favor me, that the assistance which the Lieutenant Governor of Hongkong placed at your disposal, and which the Senior Naval Officer of that station agrees with all the rest of his Countrymen in thinking necessary, le not to be afforded there.
afforded,
It is evident, that the continuance of similar policy on the part of the Chinese towards as that I You deform us that Her Majesty's Government in- have jest alluded to, mast, if allowed, be injurious to peratively require that the Chinese Authorities shail not British interests and I am grieved to say that not.
be interfered with in repressing the violence of the mob, unless they themselves should require our assistance." withstanding our Treaties our proximity of Hong- It is not let me to question, your instructions, and in core- Long and to a British military and saval Force, meating upon them, and on your interpretation of chetn, are now treated with greater disrespect and con-
I most anxiously desire to speak with all becoming re- spect, but Sir, the Committee appointed by the British tempt than perhaps at any former period when trade
Commnuity, of which i am but the Organ feel, my Coun existed and that that system of encroachment so readi-
trymen feel that they have the right and that it is their ly practiced by the Chinese, has also rapidly been duty to make known to you, and through you to Her Ma- gaining ground. A Chairman of the Commateejesty's Government their mantered conviction of the neces- I have considered it right to endeavour to im
sity of the measure of which they have before prayed the adoption and of the utter futility of looking to the Chinese press upon you that there exists even more necessGovernment for TINGLY aid, alway, promised, nover ty now than before for affording H. M. Subjects and British Property adequate protection; and it is not only the opinion of the whole community here but I understand also of H. E the Lieut-Governor and of the Senior Naval Officer at Hongkong and if Iam not greatly mistaken of you Sir, likewise that, that pro- tection can only be properly afforded to us by a vessel of War lying either off the Factories or at Macao Passage, able at all times to render immediate sid The Wolverine now at Whampoa and I understand placed at y
your disposal, cannot send us as you are well aware, any assistance in a shorter time than 10 or 12 hours, and I therefore hope that you will see the necessity of placing her in a position more Jikely to be of service to H. M. Subjects.
Whatever measures may be adopted, the British Community will feel that they have not been want ing in representing to M. Government in China the state of feeling among the Chinese Popula tion; the precarious and unsatisfactory nature of their position as British Merchants; and the serious in- conveniences of losses likely to arise both to them. selves and those at home from the want of adequate protection to British Commerce.
May I request the favor of your communicating the contents of this letter to H. M. Government at Home-I have the honor to remain, Sir, your most obedient humble serrani.
[Signed) A. CAMPBELL,
Chairman of the Committes.
British Consulate, Canton,
31st July 1846- Sir,-1 received your letter of yesterday's date, in which after stating that you have reason to believe that an opportunity is only wanting to induce the Chinese to vent their hostility and to take a more for- midable attack on the lives and property of the Fo reign Community than bas yet occurred, you enquire, as Chairman of a Committee of British Merchants, whether my measures have been adopted by Her Ma jesty's Government in this Country for the due pro... tection of British subjects.
In cireular I addressed to British Merchants on 9th Instant I stated that Her Majesty's Government. imperatively require that the Chinese Authorities "should not be interfered with in repressing the vid- "lence of the mob, unless they themselves should re *quire our assistance." This restriction applies to any force from British wessels of War. Though on the evening on the 8th the Authorities were somewhat tardy in despatching assistance to the Factories, it is not therefore to be inferred that they have not the will or the power to protect us."
1st Because the tumult in quelled by their inter- ference and Authority, the place being perfectly quiet at this moment, and
Sadly, Because from 200 to 300 soldiers are atation- ed in places around the factories to preserve the peace, and these at night are joined by runners attached to the District Magistrate
Neither should it be interred from the circumstance you relate of an attack upon some American Gentle men in creek on the opposite side of the River that Any feelings of animosity snore than common, actuates the populace at large, for the attack in question is by no means an isolated case of the kind, bar one of se veral to which
parties bave hed to submit t times: places but little frequented by Foreigners, of the rabble la apt to magnify has obtained against no ince them during the war
where th
the evil report
the dienst:
In order to fest
isposition of the people, and to
rrent reapedADR kion in aldk hour and a
Having understood from you that it had been made a subject of serious complains, the Community will see with some surprise the faint expression made use of in your let- ler as to the Chinese Authorities having been somewhat larly in dispatching assistance." Surely such terms byr no means characterise the shameful apathy which left us for more than three hours at the mercy of a mob nor cen it be said that the riot was finally quelled by the Chinese Au- thorities. was finally quelled by the spirit and determi nation evinced by the Foreign Community, led on by those to whom they naturally took in Seasons of danger and dif ficulty, and who were found faithful at their posts. The Chinese Authorities were they always on the alert, which they never are, might check disturbance at its outbreak, but are helpless when danger is great and imminent.
Further Sir, British Subjects do not feel that the mea sures since taken by the Chinese Authorities are at all suflicient to prevent recurrence of outrage. The elements. of mischief exist unchecked, the obstructions and an- noyances of which the Community have complained are licuered, and the few debauched and aged creatiues Soldiers, would be utterly unable to repress any distur loitering about our houses, dignified here by the name of bance which might suddenly arise.
Her Majesty's Government desires that the Chinese Au- thorities should not be interfered with. It can surely be Surely Sir experience has amply shewn the efficacy of a no interference that in their assNCE our Force should act. disciplined body of men timely called in and firmly di rected, and how lamentable have been the consequences of neglecting the SARLY Suppression of the most trifling dis turbances, and yet it is thought prudent to rely on Chinese aid, which i must again remind you on the evening of the 8th was more than 3 hours in reaching us, and which the -long and bitter experience so many of our members have
bad of similar scenes informs them has never been affor ed except in the same culpably dilatory manner. 1 cau- not think your inference of the good disposition of the peo- ple wards Foreigner borne our by the fact of yourself andr Jackson having walked out in the back streets oomlested. You might doubtless have done the same half an hour bafore Mr Church's house was croken into on the 8th Joly, or the Factories fired in December 1842." 11 ha hever been alleged however that we could not with safety leave our Houses has an attack was inevitable, all that has been asserted is, that an attack may at any mo ment be made, that a fatal disturbance many thence arise, and that the Chinese Government will not, or cannot, or do not check such disturbances in proper time, and that they are of frequent occurrence can hardly be used as an atgh-, ment against the adopting of measures to prevent their end- ing in the fatal consequences to be apprehended from the violence of a furious mob whose passions you admit to be exasporaled against us. Yon seem to have misunderstood. roy allusion to the Chinese Authorities having entirely. cleared over the participation of all Foreigners in the affair of the 8th, I believe these is no British Subject here who at all desires to evade his share of the responsibility of the severe but necessary measures then resorted to; but Bri tish interests require that our countrymen should not be sludiously slagled out from the mass on all occasions, and I must be pardoned for informing you that there is a very general feeling in the British Community that greater favor is in many ways shewn the American than to British residenta. Et is possible this state of thingsfifit exist) tay arise from the recollection of the recent war, or it is pos sible that the recollection of that war has been too easily. effaced, and that the desire to conciliate and the habit of deference have led an arrogant people to encroachment.
Bardon me, these general refections. There remains to notice the paragraph in your letter in which it is at Lempted to be proved, that Canton is not win the Port of Canton, and that that cannot by Treaty bs demanded which may yet by circumstances be necessary constantly ap to the Factores, load, and discharge there, Iventars to remark, that Lorchas and small vessels come that vessels of more considerable size have been up here. Physical difficulties, the inconvenience of many ships, the inpossibility of any of considerable size or deeply laden going out or coming in-these circumstances have made Whampoa the paual Anchorage for merchant vessels; but
may farther remind you that noth uncertain that the limits
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