the recapture of the Bland & the blockade of the river, Entertain a hope that the Government
will take care to avoid these Consequences; it is of high importance that I believe your Lordship will think I have exercised a sound discretion in promoting it by all the most prudent inducements we could hold out without danger to our main objects.
In a practical point of view it is no exaggeration to say that peaceful Commercial relations with the Government and people of Canton are more important to us, than a Treaty of peace with the Emperor.
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Your Lordship's observations upon the difficulty or rather the impossibility of detaining, guarding or holding in port any large number of the trading junks of the Country relieve me from the necessity of saying more upon that, or the kindred subject of Satisfying our heavy & growing claims, than to point to the late results in Canton as the most conclusive means of meeting that exigency. I have given my best attention to your Lordship's valuable suggestions with respect to the further operations of this season, & I will now beg to submit my own opinions on the same subject.
Our first movement should, I think, be upon Amoy. Arrived off the coast of Fukien I would advise that a proclamation be extensively circulated amongst the people acquainting them that it was ardently desired...