in
with
my only) to their's
own
views
the subject of Opium, and having
heard what they have to
urge
apart
the subject, proceed to adopt the best
Course.
Courteous
limits
of my power. The more
the
can be made to partake of
the semblance, at
least of a conventional character, the less grounds
of complaint can
they
have against
the Chinese
government.
the results, should
these results prove otherwise than
agreeable to it; besides that such
a
mode
must add
to the probabilities of success in the all-important Subject of persuading the Emperor, if possible, to legalize the
trade with
a view to July.
In relation to the subject
of Colonial Revenue, I shall of course
be mainly influenced, in the choice of
its sources
/
by the well known acknowledged tendencies of the various modes
of taxation as
affecting Commercial
Social prosperity; deriving the largest
amount obtainable from Land-rent,
meeting strictly local charges
as much as possible by local rates;
in such department of
the civil adminis-
tration as admit of it having
their expenses met by
the amount
of their
own
and, after
taxes
of fees; and, receivable by
duties on consumption, resorting
last of all
to the most objectionable course
& duties on Commerce; of which
however it may
be said, with tolerable
certainty,
that
...
duties on
particular articles of trade; as
entering less directly & obviously into
the calculations of
Profit, and being
by far the most compendious and
easy of Collection.
I cannot conclude without
Expressing my deep sense of the confidence
reposed
in
my
judgement or discretion
by