24
20
78
than $900,000 was formerly paid on Opium carried in native bottoms, Considerations of that Kind are, however, exclusively for the Chinese Government, and in no manner concern us.
Still less ought they to be dragged into the argument to induce Your Majesty's Government to sacrifice this Colony with a view to rectifying Chinese fiscal mismanagement.
23. It is scarcely necessary to complete this statement by any reference to the limited importation detailed here of Persian and British Opium, as the market for it is in the North, and it is openly sent there in Steamers, as stated in the within Memorial, and only an insignificant portion of it (about 250 Chests) is consumed in the South of China.
24. It is more important to consider how far the Revenue of China would benefit by the most complete sacrifice of this Port to the jealousy of the Canton Authorities. As the enclosed Memorial states, whatever smuggling formerly went on, would then be simply transferred to Singapore and Saigon, without the chance offered to the Chinese Officers here of meeting native craft inside this harbour at either entrance, and at the very commencement of their journey.