74
FRENCH PROCEEDINGS IN CHINA.
tion M. Lagréné evinced an anxiety for our evacuation of Chusan, far greater than my anxiety for its retention. In June next M. Lagréné purports visiting Chusan and the northern districts of China; it is not his intention to leave this coast until after we have evacuated Chusan.
We have committed several errors in our colonial system, as illus- trated by the evacuation of Java and of Manila; these, however, were commercial and territorial, rather than political, mistakes; but the abandonment of Chusan in December, 1845, will, I have no doubt, cause us much trouble and disaster, and at no distant day another war with China, which it is our duty, as well as our policy, by every just and reasonable means, to avert.
I have, &c.,
R. M. MARTIN.
illumining the horizon; incessant salvos of artillery from the numerous forts rever- berated from hill to hill; and the whole scene had a most dazzling and surprising effect.
Keying, who sat on the deck of the French steamer, between M. Lagréné and his beautiful and accomplished wife, surrounded by a brilliant and numerous suite of French diplomatic and naval officers, preserved, for a long time, a thoughtful silence, and appeared much depressed. When the signing of the documents was concluded he at length said "see! the heavens and the earth rejoice at the compact." Key. ing then relapsed into taciturnity, and remained so for half an hour, as if pondering in his mind the part he had been playing, or the step about to be taken, as one of a very serious nature, and totally different from a mere commercial treaty. Then turning to M. Lagréné, as if in continuation of some mental thought, he said with considerable emphasis, "the people may be dissatisfied, but the two Governments must do their duty at any hazard or sacrifice."
An idea has been adroitly instilled into the mind of Keying and the Tartar Govern- ment, that France is an intellectual power, animated by the purest and noblest ideas; and that England is a trading country, whose chief object is gain-a character that stands very low in the estimation of the Chinese Government and people. M. Lagréné, in addition to a large naval force of some of the finest frigates and steamers in the service of France, had an able, numerous, and brilliant corps diplo- matique in his suite, and was most efficiently supported by Admiral Cécille, an officer of high repute, most engaging manners, and who accompanied our fleet to Nankin (as a neutral) in his own frigate. The French mission to China is also accompanied by shrewd, intelligent, representatives of the cotton, linen, wool, silk, and other trades. The Chinese mandarins were surprised at the beautiful and choice specimens of glass, tapestry, house-paper, bijouterie, and Parisian manufactures of every descrip- tion. Artists with the daguerrotype, electrotype, &c., astonished the mandarins; and every effort has been made, with great tact, to induce the Chinese to view France with admiration. On the other hand, Keying, the Chinese plenipotentiary, and Wang, the Governor of Cauton, have endeavoured to magnify China in the eyes of the French; and a negotiation was commenced for the introduction of French engineers into the service of the Emperor of China, to work the mines under a contract. It was also proposed to have a French ambassador stationed perman- ently at Pekin, to which M. Lagréné offered to proceed in 1844, if Mr. Cushing, the American minister, would accompany him.
Sir,
EXAMINATION OF POLICY NECESSARY.
No. VII.-To his Excellency J. F. Davis, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.
75 532
H. M. Treasury, Hong Kong,
April 19, 1845.
ANXIOUSLY Solicitous for the welfare and perpetuity of the British empire, and accustomed for several years to examine the policy of England with foreign States, I have been induced to prepare a minute on the "British Position and Prospects in China."
This minute I have now the honour to lay before your Excellency, with my respectful request that you will be pleased to transmit it along with this letter to the Secretary of State.
In this minute, as well as in my reports on Hong Kong and Chusan, I have ventured to impugn the policy pursued in China by the predecessor of your Excellency. Whatever effect this free com- ment and exposition of public acts may have on my personal interests is of little moment compared with the evil which, in my opinion, a non- rectification of those acts is capable of inflicting on England.
Neither as a servant of the crown, nor as a private individual, can I surrender my right of judgment on the public conduct of any public man; nor do I think that any personage, however exalted, or however infallible he may be deemed, can claim an exemption from that fair and open criticism which is the privilege and advantage of a free State. I do not think that the high character for manliness and integrity which Sir H. Pottinger is reputed to possess, would make him wish to stifle an examination of his policy, if the object of that examination be, as mine has been, the advantage of the common weal *.
The impartial examination and discussion of a line of public policy, operating at a distance of 15,000 miles from the seat of Government, is essentially necessary to enable Her Majesty's Ministers to form a
* These observations were made in consequence of Governor Davis having cen- sured me for venturing to impugn, in my Report on Hong Kong, the policy pursued by Sir Henry Pottinger,-as "Her Majesty's Government had expressed their high approbation of the several details and representations with which they had been furnished by Sir II. Pottinger, connected with the colony, and some of the expressions in my report might be construed into reflections on that dis- tinguished officer." I believe there is not an English merchant in China who dis- sents from the opinions I have expressed in my reports, and I know there are many in England who now entertain very different ideas respecting our position in Chiua, from those with which they were imbued a year ago.