of men to defend the empire : it is an absurdity ; they could only muster a
few hundred wretched creatures last year at this city, to send against a rebel
lion ; and one half of them were utterly incapable of taking the field.
Governor Le and his troops were defeated ; and he was of course superseded
by the present man Loo, who paid an enormous bribe to the rebels, and thus
restored order. What can an army of bows, and arrows, and pikes, and shields
do against a handful of British veterans ? I am sure they would never for a
moment dare to show a front. The batteries at the Bogue are contemptible ;
and not a man to be seen within them. They have, no doubt, a long muster-
roll of military ; but the Governor draws the pay : and if he wants a force
within the batteries, the plan is to drive in the peasantry from the country
around. There is not the slightest fellowship between the Chinese and the
Tartars. The Hong merchants here in a body, a few days ago, on being
asked, said they were all Chinese and did not like the Tartars; but they
could not help themselves. I am sure the British merchants will submit to
a temporary inconvenience for a positive benefit ; and I will, in the mean
time, endeavour to carry on according to the principles already recommended
by your Lordship, which are certainly most fitting when one^hasja reasonable
people to deal with.
I have, &c,
(Signed) NAPIER.
29
No. 12.
Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston.—{Received February 24, 1835.)
My dear Lord, Canton, August 27, 1834.
NOTICE has been given this evening that the Spartan, for England,
will sail to-morrow morning early. I am, therefore, anxious to bring matters
up from the conclusion of my last, on the 21st instant, accompanied by an Edict,
to the date hereof ; which letter was sent in a second bag to the Mangles, and
which Mangles, we hear to-night, has not yet left the anchorage near Macao.
The Spartan touches at the Cape; therefore, I do not believe there will be
many days between their arrival.
By the last Edict, the 18th instant, your Lordship will see that the Viceroy,
or Governor, threatens to stop the trade, when it has already been done by the
Co-Hong. We now hear that they did it, contrary to the private wish of the
Governor, who had it forced upon him by the Kwang-Chow-Foo, who has been
since dismissed, as you will presently hear, and that the majority of the Hong
were against it ; but Howqua who rules, and who has no commercial dealings
with the British, has all the others under his controul, as his debtors, so carried
the point.
The younger members of the Hong are much dissatisfied ; they would all
like to recover their ground, but dignity and decorum would be thereby offended.
I believe I shall have a communication with the merchants in a day or two, in
order to adopt some method to bring their wishes to the point. In all other
respects, events have been decidedly in our favour. On the 18th, I had advised
Mowqua to petition the Viceroy to send a great military officer, to conduct me
to his Excellency, which might save the trouble and difficulty of the Letter. On
the 19th, he returned with the message, that the Viceroy could hold no com
munication with me ; notwithstanding which, in the evening of 22nd, in came
Howqua and Mowqua with a message from the Viceroy, requesting I would
receive a visit next morning from the Kwang-Chow-Foo, the Chaou-Chow-Foo,
and the Kwang-Chow-Hee,—the two former, civil mandarins of high rank, and
the third, a military one of the same sort. Of course, I expressed my willingness
to receive them in state in the great hall ; and the arrangements were formed
accordingly.
The occurrences of this day's meeting are detailed in the records ; and I
forward a copy which will explain everything distinctly. The consequences are,
however, what we have to look to, and which are not yet developed -y but the act
of sending three great men to confer with an outside barbarian, contrary to all
previous custom, is a strong instance of their vacillation, or want of steady pur
pose and determination ; and it is an occurrence which has astonished the shop
keepers beyond measure : they would be too happy to trade with us on any
terms.
I have now desired Mr. Morrison to translate and print a short statement
of our present circumstances in respect to the trade, which I will circulate
amongst the mercantile community in general ; because I have some reason to
believe that the government have been playing us false on that subject.
The Edict of 1831 is that which they never can get over, although they
appear to have forgotten it altogether. The day after the conference, the Kwang-
Chow-Foo was dismissed from office. His want of success on that occasion, had
filled up the measure of many iniquities ; and some say he is gone to Peking to
answer for all his administration. He has been succeeded by the Chaou-Chow-
Foo ; and the Hoppo, a revenue commissioner, is also about to be dismissed.
He is known by the name of " skinflint " in his own language, as being the
greatest extortioner ever sent from Peking.
At present the whole community, including mandarins and Hong merchants
are much taken up in feasts and oblations. The illuminations on board the
vessels on the river are magnificent every evening.
This Kwang, who has been■ dismissed, was the person who principally forced
30
the stoppage of trade. The Chaou was the orator for the occasion ; the
military Kwang, a fine-looking coarse- featured old man, was extremely
desirous of accommodating matters ; but it was quite impossible to send messages
on important business, and I had no security that my business would have been
properly reported.
I hope your Lordship will receive my other letters safe per Mangles.
I have, &c,
(Signed) NAPIER.
Inclosure in No. 12.
Statement of what passed in the interview between Lord Napier and certain
Chinese Officers, on the 23rd of August, 1834.
Saturday, August 23, 1834.
ACCORDING to yesterday's intimation, the Linguists and servants arrived
at the hall this morning, at nine o'clock, bringing with them chairs, &c, of
ceremony, for the use of the Mandarins, which they placed in the following
manner: —Three chairs for the Mandarins, fronting the South, towards the river;
a row on the right hand, with their backs turned towards the picture of his
late Majesty ; and another on the left, opposite, crossing the room at right
angles, intended for the Hong merchants; and thus leaving no space for the
accommodation of the Members of the Commission.
On the arrival of the Superintendents, at a little before eleven, it was
thought indispensably necessary to alter the arrangements, by introducing a
writing-table, which was placed longitudinally across the room; a chair at the
north end being placed for Lord Napier, one at the south end for Mr. Astell,
Secretary ; the chair of the Kwang-Chow-Foo, obliquely on Lord Napier's left ;
the chair of the Kwang-Chow-Hee, similarly, on Lord Napier's right ; the chair
of the Chaou-Chow-Foo, obliquely on Mr. Astell's right ; a chair for Sir George
Robinson, obliquely on Mr. Astell's left; a chair for Mr. Morrison, Interpreter,
a little in the rear, between Lord Napier and the Kwang-Chow-Foo ; a chair
for Mr. Johnston, Private Secretary, in the same position on the right ; a row of
chairs for the Hong merchants, across the room, behind the two Mandarins,
facing his Majesty's picture ; with chairs for the other gentlemen attached to
the Commission, longitudinally on the south side of the room, to the left of
Sir George Robinson: thus keeping his Majesty's picture open to all.
This new arrangement being effected, Howqua and Mowqua arrived, using
every endeavour and persuasion to restore the former order of things, as being
more compatible with the dignity of the Mandarins, and the usages of the
celestial Empire.
A delay of above two hours thus ensued, before they could be induced to
yield this point of etiquette ; and at a quarter past one (the Superintendents
being in full dress, seated in their places) the Mandarins arrived, when the
Superintendents rose and requested them to take ther seats, which they did
accordingly.
Howqna and Mowqua being called in, were desired by Lord Napier to take
their seats. The business of the day commenced by Lord Napier putting the
question to Howqua, through Mr. Morrison, the Interpreter,—If the Mandarins
had not desired him to state their intention of waiting on the Superintendents
at eleven o'clock 1 Having received an answer in the affirmative, Lord Napier
expressed his extreme dissatisfaction to the Mandarins, for having thus delayed
their attendance for about two hours ; considering it as an insult to His Britannic
Majesty, which could not be overlooked a second time ; desiring them to remem
ber, that whereas on former occasions they had only to deal with the servants
of a private company of merchants, they must understand henceforth that their
communications would be held with the officers appointed by His Britannic
Majesty, by no means inclined to submit to such indignities.
Lord Napier then requested the Kwang-Chow-Foo to relate the object
of his visit. The Chaou-Chow-Foo then explained, at considerable length,
31
that they were ordered by the Viceroy to demand of Lord Napier the cause of
of his arrival at Canton ; the nature of the business he was instructed to performi;
and when it was his intention to return to Macao ? To the first of these questions
Lord Napier replied, by reading from the records the Edict of the Viceroy,
(Taoukwang, 10th year, 12 moon, 3rd day (16th January, 1831.) " in
structing the Chief of the Factory to send an early letter home, stating, that
in case of the dissolution of the Company, it was incumbent to deliberate, and
appoint a chief who understood the business, to come to Canton for the general
management of commercial dealings; by which means affairs might be prevented
from going to confusion, and benefits remain to commerce. "
Hereupon, Lord Napier produced His Majesty's Commission ; acquainting
the Mandarins that His Majesty had been pleased, in furtherance of the wishes
expressed in the said Edict, to appoint him, one of His Majesty's household and
a Captain in his Royal Navy, to perform the duties so required; assisted by the
other gentlemen then present, whose names were also mentioned in the Com
mission. Lord Napier also remarked, that the Viceroy, as well as they, the
Mandarins, appeared entirely to have forgotten the existence of such a docu
ment ; and begged to refer them to their own records, wherein, undoubtedly,
the original would be found.
In reply to the second question, as to the nature of the duties to be per
formed, information on that point was contained in the letter to the Viceroy, ■„.
which he recommended that they should deliver to his Excellency; or, if they
preferred, they were at liberty to open and peruse it themselves, on the condi
tion that it should be deposited, as an official document, among the archives of
the Government.
As to the third point, of his Lordship's return to Macao, he stated, that that
was a point to be regulated entirely according to his own convenience.
A great deal of desultory conversation then took place, when the Manda
rins observed, that the King of Great Britain ought to have written a letter to the
Viceroy, stating his wishes and intentions, that he might have been able to report
the same to the Emperor. Lord Napier replied, that it was quite incompatible
with the dignity of his Sovereign to correspond with the Viceroy, considering
that he himself, an hereditary nobleman in his own country, and of much higher
rank than any of the Mandarins present, was on a perfect equality with the
Viceroy or Governor ; and, consequently, the proper channel for such
communications.
The Mandarins then argued the necessity of their being made acquainted
with the nature of the business on which they had come to seek information,
that they might report the same to the Viceroy.
Lord Napier replied, that it was quite impossible, as well as irregular, to
cnmmunicate important official business through the medium of common
conversation ; and therefore recommended them again to consult on the subject
with the Viceroy.
The Mandarins appeared desirous of considering Lord Napier's letter to
the Viceroy, in the light of a private communication, which might be opened by
the Hong merchants,—a point which of course was firmly resisted.
The business of the day being thus brought to a conclusion, the Mandarins
partook of a refreshment and departed upon the best possible terms, hinting they
might probably return in a little time. The Kwang-Chow-Hee, being the chief
military officer of the department, remarked, that it would be very unpleasant
were the two nations to come to a rupture. To which Lord Napier replied, not
at all on our parts, as we were perfectly prepared ; but that he might be perfectly
assured of His Majesty's most gracious desire of maintaining the most friendly
intercourse with the Emperor of China.
Considering that a few days have only elapsed since it had been suggested
to the Hong merchants that the Viceroy might send a military officer for the
purpose of conducting the Superintendents to the presence of his Excellency,
and that a verbal message had been received from his Excellency, stating, " that
he could hold no communication with outside barbarians," it is evident that
the present visit of the mandarins, the first of the sort that had ever occurred,
proposed entirely on the part of their own Government, must have arisen from
a conviction in the mind of the Viceroy, of the necessity of opening a commu
nication with the Superintendents, in accordance with the advantages which
must accrue to the interests of both nations, by conducting their affairs on
principles of mutual and friendly intercourse.
The discussion which took place previous to the meeting, relative to the
disposition of the chairs, although of itself in any other country a matter of
trivial importance, yet among people like the Chinese, whose actions are
entirely governed by etiquette, it is considered by the Superintendents, that the
Mandarins, having yielded up the point, afforded to them the strongest proofs of
the propriety and necessity of conducting their business with firmness and
determination ; being satisfied that a steady perseverance will be attended with
success, but the slightest concession, on their parts, is sure to be followed by
subsequent embarrassment and defeat.
(Signed) NAPIER
No. 13.
Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston. —(Received February 24, 1835.)
My dear Lord, Canton, August 28, 1834.
ACCORDING to intimation from the Spartan that she was to sail early
this morning, I closed the bag last night, but now, at noon, I find there is a
moment left ; and I take the opportunity of stating that Howqua and Mowqua
have just been here to request that I would receive four Mandarins on Saturday
next, the day after to-morrow. This I have consented to do ; which will soon
lead, I hope, to an amicable adjustment of our differences.
I have, &c,
(Signed) NAPIER.
No. 14.
[MEMORANDUM—Foreign Office, February , 1840.] No despatches
or letters were received at the Foreign Office from Lord Napier, of a date later
than his Lordship's preceding letter to Lord Palmerston. In order, however,
to supply the interruption which would otherwise exist in the narrative of
occurrences between the date of that letter, August 28, and September 28,
(when Mr. Astell, the Secretary, announced Lord Napier's return to Macao from
Canton, and his Lordship's illness at that place,) the following brief statement
has been prepared. This statement may be considered as an abstract from the
"Records of Proceedings" kept by the Commission; a copy of which was
received at the Foreign Office on the 12th of March, 1835.
, In the interview between the Hong merchants and Lord Napier, to which his
Lordship adverts in his letter of the 28th of August, the merchants proposed that
the position of the chairs (as mentioned in Inclosure in No. 12 of this collection
of documents') for the intended meeting between Lord Napier and the Mandarins,
should be altered ; and that the Mandarins should bring a Linguist with them to
interpret and to write,-—evidently, as supposed, for the purpose of substituting him
for Mr. Morrison, the Interpreter to the Superintendents. To the latter proposal
Lord Napier assented, upon the same principle that he would himself take
Mr. Morrison with him to the Viceroy, in the event of his having a meeting with
his Excellency ; but his Lordship insisted that Mr. Morrison should be the
medium of interpretation on the occasion proposed, as he had confidence in his
communicating what he was told, and could have no reliance on a Linguist who
knew nothing of the English language. As to the chairs, Lord Napier required
that they should remain in the same positions in which they had been placed in
his first conference with the Mandarins. On this the merchants retired, with a
promise to return the following day.
On the 29th the merchants returned, as they had promised ; when they
33
repeated the arguments of the day before : these arguments having been resisted
by Lord Napier on the grounds already stated, the merchants went away, pro
mising to report what had passed to the Mandarins, and call again the next day.
It does not appear that the merchants kept their promise on this occasion,
or that they had again any personal intercourse with Lord Napier.
In the mean while, information having been received by his Lordship,
through private channels, that the Chinese authorities had circulated reports
among the people, highly prejudicial to the honour of the King's Commission,
and giving a false colour to the events that had passed, Lord Napier caused
a statement to be lithographed and affixed to the corners of the streets of
Canton, and to be generally circulated for the information of the Chinese
people, of which the following is a copy :— •
Present state of relations between China and Great Britain.—Interesting' to .
the Chinese merchants.—A true and official Document.
"On the 16th January, 1831, the Viceroy, Le, in consequence of advice
from the Hong merchants, issued an Edict requiring the Chief of the Factory to
write home, stating, that, " in case of the dissolution of the East India Com
pany, it was incumbent on the British Government to appoint a Chief to come
to Canton, for the general management of commercial dealings, and to prevent
affairs from going to confusion." Whereupon, at the dissolution of the Com
pany, the King of Great Britain, in accordance with the wishes of the Viceroy,
appointed Lord Napier, a member of his own household, an hereditary nobleman,
and a captain in his royal navy, to come to Canton for the above most laudable
purpose ; and to report himself to the Viceroy accordingly. Lord Napier arrived
at Canton, on the 25th July ; and next day forwarded his letter addressed to
the Viceroy to the City Gates ; which was offered to the Mandarins for the
purpose of being delivered, and refused by the whole of them. It is false to
say, that the British officer who carried the letter desired to force his way
within the precints of the palace. The Hong merchants, it is true, desired to
take it ; but it was quite derogatory to the dignity of the Representative of the
King to communicate through the merchants. The Viceroy now complains, that
he does not know for what reason Lord Napier has come ; at the same time
forgetting the Edict of his predecessor, which brought him here, as well as his
own obstinacy in refusing to receive the letter of a man of equal rank with
himself. His Excellency then publishes Edicts, requiring Lord Napier to return
to Macao ; and on the 18th August publishes another Edict, in which he states,
" that the Hong merchants have requested the trade to be stopped, but that,
in commiseration," says he, " I again give temporary indulgence and delay,"—
knowing, at the same time, that the trade had been actually stopped by the Hong
merchants two days before.
" The Viceroy then sends the Kwang-chow-foo, the Kwang-chow-hee, and
the Chaou-chow-foo, to enquire of Lord Napier the object of his visit,—the nature
of his duties,—and the time of his return to Macao. Lord Napier replies to the
first, by a reference to the Edict of January, 1831 ; to the second, by a reference
to his letter to the Viceroy which contains all the intelligence, and which they
refuse to open or convey ; and to the third, that his return to Macao depends
entirely on his private convenience. The ignorance and obstinacy of the Viceroy
has thus allowed the Hong merchants actually to put a stop to the trade, when
he himself only threatens to do so. He sends the Mandarins, and they return
as empty as they went, when the official document was offered for their convey
ance ; and the consequence is, that thousands of industrious Chinese who live by
the European trade, must suffer ruin and discomfort through the perversity of
their Government. The merchants of Great Britain wish to trade with all China,
on principles of mutual benefit. They will never relax in their exertions till
they gain a point of equal importance to both countries ; and the Viceroy will
find it as easy to stop the current of the Canton river, as to carry into effect the
insane determination of the Hong.
" I have, &c,
« (Signed) NAPIER."
Canton, August 26, 1834.
F *
34
.; The great anxiety of the people to become acquainted with the foregoing
document, as manifested by their taking copies of it from morning till night, and
even by candle-light after dark, afforded a strong proof of the interest which
they took in a matter so nearly connected with their own welfare.
By way of a reply to this document the Chinese authorities issued a notice
to the following effect, and which was likewise affixed to the corners of the
streets :—
" A lawless foreign slave, Napier, has issued a notice. We know not how
such a dog barbarian of an outside nation as you, can have the audacious pre
sumption to call yourself Superintendent.
" Being an outside savage Superintendent, and a person in an official situa
tion, you should have some little knowledge of propriety and law.
" You have passed over ten thousand miles in order to seek a livelihood; you
have come to our celestial Empire to trade and controul affairs; —how can you
not obey well the regulations of the Empire ? You audaciously presume to break
through the barrier passes, going out and in at your pleasure !—a great infringe
ment of the rules and prohibitions! According to the laws of the nation, the
Royal Warrant should be respectfully requested to behead you ; and openly
expose [your head] to the multitude, as a terror to perverse dispositions."
It does not appear that this notice had any effect whatever on the people.
It is stated in the " Records," under date of the 2nd of September, that
information had been communicated to Lord Napier, that the Viceroy had ordered
the Hong merchants to devise some plan by which the trade might be opened ;
and thus relieve himself from the difficulty in which he found himself,
in consequence of his never having reported to the Emperor the arrival of
Lord Napier in Canton :* proposals were therefore under consideration that the
trade should be opened; that Lord Napier should retire in a few days after
the opening of the trade to Macao, with an understanding that he might
pass and repass between Macao and Canton, if necessary, quietly and without
the authorities taking notice of it ; and that a representation should be
forwarded to the Emperor recommending an acknowledgment of the new
system of trade. [For a summary of this private negotiation, see No. 28 of this
collection of documents.]
Notwithstanding the Viceroy's disposition to open the trade, he was
obliged to abandon his intentions in this respect, in consequence of the numerous
representations addressed to him by certain Chinese functionaries; one of whom,
the Foo-yuen, offered to share the responsibility with his Excellency, and urged
him on to an adverse course of proceeding, by comparing his conduct with that
of the late Governor Le while in a similar position; consequently, on the
4th of September, an Edict was published by the Viceroy, dated the 2nd, con
firming the stoppage of the trade from the 16th of August, up to which period
*• all commercial dealings were to be confirmed ; all goods paid for to that date
were to be shipped, after which the trade was altogether to be stopped." As
by this Edict all workmen, boatmen, and others, were no longer allowed to
(• Memorandum.— Received at the Foreign Office, April 14, 1835.)
The following may be taken as a proof of the Chinese authorities in Canton" sparing no
expense or trouble to deceive the Emperor, when deception is deemed necessary, which is the case
nine times out of ten, when we have any misunderstanding with them.
When the official Report to the Emperor was drawn up, after the affair between. Lord Napier and
the Viceroy, it became necessary for all the departments to be unanimous.
A Censor of high rank was in Canton ; he had been sent down from Pekin to investigate the
conduct of officers also high in rank ; and it became necessary to bring him over. The arguments
used may be inferred from the following circumstance : he brought no money with him ; had none to
receive there; but when he left Canton, he carried away so much money with him in gold that, his
emissaries in purchasing it raised the price of gold of 100 touch, $ of a dollar per tael weight, or from
23 \ dollars per oz. to 24^, before they had procured all thev required,—a rise of 3^ per cent.
This is from the best authority. (Signed) W. JARDINE.
December 8, 1834.
[Memorandum : Foreign Office.—It has been calculated, that the purchase of gold necessary
to affect the money market at Canton, in the manner stated by Mr. Jardine, must have been to the
extent at least of One hundred thousand pounds sterling.]
35
receive hire from the foreign community, these persons deserted their service and
left the factories.
Under these circumstances, Lord Napier on the 5th addressed a letter to
Captain Blackwood, of Her Majesty's ship Imogene, at Chuen-pee, requesting him
to pass the Bogue with the two frigates under his command (the Imogene and
Andromache) and take up a station at Whampoa, for the more efficient pro
tection of British subjects and their property; and also to send up to Canton
a guard of marines for the security of the premises occupied by the Super
intendents, and in which was deposited the treasury of the East India Company:
accordingly, Lieutenant Reed of the Andromache, with two midshipmen, a
serjeant, and twelve marines, landed at Canton at 8 o'clock on the morning of
the 6th of September.
In consequence of the Edict of the 2nd of September, and of a notice from
the Viceroy, promulgated by the Hong merchants on the 5th, stating that orders
had been given to the forts and guard-houses, to allow English boats and ships
to go out of port only, and not to allow them to enter it, Lord Napier
addressed to Mr. Boyd, Secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, the following
letter, for the purpose of its being communicated to the Hong merchants and
the Chinese authorities.
"Sir, Canton, September, 8, 1834*
"Whereas Mr. Morrison has laid before me the translation of an Edict of the
2nd September, issued by Loo, Governor of Canton and Kwangse, and Ke, Foo-
yuen [Lieutenant Governor] of the province of Canton, wherein, among other
things, it is stated, that, on examination of the rules of the celestial Empire,
they find, that * Ministers have no outward intercourse with outside barbarians,
and that it cannot be known whether Lord Napier is a merchant or an officer.'
I beg to acquaint you, for the information of the said Hong merchants, and Loo
and Ke, that, during the last 200 years, a constant personal intercourse has
been maintained between the Viceroy of Canton and the British subjects resorting
hither: for example, in the year 1637, on the part of Captain Weddel, after
destroying the fort at the Bogue; in 1731, on the part of the Supracargoes
of the East India Company; in 1742, on the part of Commodore Anson ; in
1754, on the part of the Supracargoes; in 1792, on the part of a Committee
from England ; in 1795, on the part of the Supracargoes ; in 1805, on the part
of Mr. Roberts and Sir George Staunton ; in 1806, on the part of Mr. Roberts,
and again on the part of Mr. Drummond and Mr. Elphinston ; 1814, on the
part of Sir George Staunton; in 1816, on the part of Sir Charles Metcalfe
and Captain Clavell ; and on many other occasions by the Chiefs of the Factory,
on their annual return from Macao to Canton. So far, therefore, the allegation
of the said Loo and Ke is not founded in fact.
"Again, that they know not whether Lord Napier is an officer or a merchant,
is equally false ; for the Kwang-chow-foo and the Chaou-chow-foo and the Kwang-
chow-hee waited on Lord Napier, when they saw him in the uniform of Captain
in the British Navy ; and when they might have assured themselves of this fact,
as well as of all others connected with his Mission to China, had they carried his
letter to the Viceroy, or had his Excellency given him the same reception as had
been usually accorded to others.
" And whereas, it is further stated in the said Edict, that the trade was
stopped by request of the Hong merchants on the 16th of last month, but, that
he, the Viceroy, replied to them, 'commanding to give temporary indulgence and
delay;' which command was issued on the 18th day of last month, and was
never obeyed by the Hong merchants : and whereas, in the present Edict of the
2nd instant, it is now declared by Loo and Ke, that from the 16th day of August
all buying and selling on the part of the English nation is wholly put a stop to,
with the exception of all goods the sale or purchase of which was settled pre
viously to the stoppage : and whereas, in full reliance on the honour of the
Viceroy, and the authority of the Edict ' commanding temporary indulgence
and delay,' British merchants have transacted considerable business with the mer
chants of China between the 1 8th of last month and the 2nd of the present, and
in the face of that Edict, and in forgetfulness of ' his command to grant indul
gence and delay,' the Viceroy now joins with the Foo-yuen in the very unjust
measure of stopping the trade altogether from the 16th of last month, to the great
prejudice not only of the British merchants, but of that also of the subjects of His
36
Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China :—I do hereby, in the name of Hit
Britannic Majesty, protest against this act of unprecedented tyranny and injus
tice thus decreed by the Viceroy and Foo-yuen. And whereas, notice has been
taken in the said Edict of the 2nd instant, of the expected arrival of the ships
from England with cargoes, to be given in exchange for teas and other mercan-
dize ; and whereas, all merchandize is allowed to be embarked up to the 16th
ultimo, and ought in justice to be extended to the 2nd instant ; and as the per
mission to embark sucli merchandize implies the delivering of inward cargoes for
such purpose ; and still the trade is wholly put a stop to which prevents the
pelivery of such cargoes, and the embarkation of the merchandize already so
permitted to be shipped :—I hereby again protest, in the name of His Britannic
Majesty, against this absurd and tyrannical assumption of power on the part of
the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor.
" And whereas by a letter of the Hong merchants of September 6th, giving
notice ' that the Governor has ordered all forts and guard-houses, that the
English boats and ships are only allowed to go out of port and are not allowed to
enter ;' and that such a prohibition is altogether at variance with the other Edict
permitting a certain part of the trade to be embarked. I have to request that
you will hereby give notice to the Hong merchants, that it is a very serious
offence to fire upon or otherwise insult the British flag : and whereas they
are already aware that there are two frigates now in the river, bearing very
heavy guns, for the express purpose of protecting the British trade, I would
warn the Hong merchants again and again, that if any disagreeable conse
quences shall ensue from the said Edicts, they themselves, with the Go
vernor and Lieutenant Governor, are responsible for the whole. I recommend
them to take warning in time:—they have opened the preliminaries of war;—
they destroy trade, and they incur loss of life on the part of the unoffending
people, rather than grant to me the same courtesy which has been granted to
others before me. They are all aware that the King my master sent me here in
consequence of Howqua's advice to Governor Le ; and, therefore, why do they
vainly contend against their own actions, to the destruction of trade and the
misery of thousands ?
" But let the Governor or Lieutenant Governor know this, that I will lose no
time in sending this true statement to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor at
Pekin ; and that I will also report to his justice and indignation the false and
treacherous conduct of Loo, Governor, and of the present Kwang Chow Foo,
who have tortured the Linguists, and cruelly imprisoned a respectable individual,
Sun-ching, a security merchant, for not having acquiesced in a base lie, purport
ing that I arrived in Canton river in a merchant ship; whereas they are both
aware that I made my passage, and arrived in one of the ships of war now at
anchor in the river. His Imperial Majesty will not permit such folly, wicked
ness, and cruelty as they have been guilty of, since my arrival here, to go
unpunished ; therefore tremble Governor Loo, intensely tremble !
" And again, Governor Loo has the assurance to state in the Edict of the
2nd., as well as on former occasions, that the ' King my master has hitherto
been reverently obedient.' I must now request you to declare to him, that His
Majesty the King of Great Britain is a great and a powerful monarch,—that he
rules over an extent of territory in the four quarters of the world, more com
prehensive in space, and infinitely more so in wealth, than the whole Empire of
China,—that he commands armies of bold and fierce soildiers, who have conquered
wherever they went,—and that he is possessed of great ships of war, carrying
even as many as 120 guns, which pass quietly along the seas, where no native of
China has ever yet dared to show his face. Let the Governor then judge if
such a monarch ' will be reverently obedient to any one.'
" And now, I beg you to inform the Hong merchants, knowing their duplicity,
I suspect that they will not communicate the foregoing to the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor; I would therefore give them warning, that if I do not
receive an answer from his Excellency, touching the points narrated in this
letter, by this day week, Monday the 15th, I will publish it through the streets
and circulate copies among the people, one of which may peradventure find its
way into his Excellency's presence.
" I beg to remain, &c,
(Signed) NAPIER."
37
This letter having been brought to the knowledge of the Viceroy by the
Hong merchants, drew forth from his Excellency the following Edict:
" Loo, Governor of the provinces Kwangtung and Kwangse, &c
" To the Hong merchants, requiring their full acquaintance with the
contents hereof.
" In everything relating to the trade of the English barbarians at Canton,
there have long been established rules. There has never been such a thing as a
residence here of a barbarian officer or Superintendent. The great ministers of
the Celestial Empire, unless with regard to affairs of going to Court, and carry
ing tribute, or in consequence of Imperial commands, are not permitted to have
interviews with outside barbarians. The affairs of the former Ming dynasty,
(Captain WeddelPs affair) need not be brought into discussion. How have any
officers of the great Tsing dynasty had intercourse to and fro with barbarians ?
As to the intercourse between barbarian officers and those who have formerly
held the office of Governor, in the years of Keenlung and Keaking [from 1736 to
1820], referred to in the paper copied by the said merchants, perhaps when the
said nation has sent tribute there may have been interviews given to the tribute-
bearers ; otherwise there certainly has not been this ceremony. This even the
said nation's private merchants must all be aware of. I the Governor have been
obedient, maintaining the national dignity : from the first I have not been
commencing what is strange or sounding forth my loftiness.
" In the tenth year of Taoukwang, the said [Hong] merchants having
reported, that the English Company would, after the thirteenth year of Taou
kwang, be dissolved and ended ; that the merchants of the said nation would
trade for themselves; and that they feared affairs would be under no general
controul, the then Governor, Le, commanded them to enjoin orders on the said
nation's merchants to send a letter home ; that if the Company ended and
dispersed, a chief [Taepan] should still be appointed to come to Canton to
manage affairs. The books of records are still existing. There is no word of a
Superintendent. The said barbarian Eye, Lord Napier, styles himself a Super
intendent come to Canton. Whether a Superintendent should be appointed over
the said nation's barbarian merchants, or not, it is in itself needless to inquire
about minutely. But we Chinese will still manage through the medium of
merchants. There can be no alteration made for officers to manage. Besides,
the business is one newly commencing. It is incumbent to present a memorial
requesting the mandate of the Great Empire to be obeyed and acted on. The
said barbarian Eye, Lord Napier, brought not any written communication from
the said Nation's King. Suddenly he came,—I, the Governor, knew not what
man he was,—knew not what business he was to transact. I sent the said
merchants to inquire and to investigate, and to require him to inform them of
the causes of his coming, and what was the nature of the business he was to
perform, in order to afford grounds for a full memorial. In what was this not
accordant with reason ? Even though the said barbarian Eye were indeed an
officer, why should he communicate to the merchants of the Central flowery
[nation] not a word ! If unwilling to converse with the said merchants, still,
what should prevent him from commanding the said nation's private merchants,
to revolve the matter with them and inform them fully ? But on four successive
occasions, when they inquired and investigated, he remained, as though he heard
not, determined in the wish to have official correspondence, and letters to and
fro with all the public officers of the inner land. The said nation and this
inner land, have heretofore had no interchange of official communications and
letters. Nor in the Celestial Empire is there this rule. How could I, the
Governor, in opposition to rules, permit it ?
" The said Hong merchants had before solicited that a stop should be put
to the said nation's buying and selling. I, the Governor, because the said
nation had had an open market here for upwards of a hundred years, and
because the said Nation's King had several times sent tribute,—so that I could not
but call him reverently obedient ; but still more, because the said nation's sepa
rate merchants had, many of them, crossed the seas and come from a distance,—
so that I would not for the fault of one man involve the mercantile multitude ;
therefore, replied, commanding an indulgent delay. Again, apprehending that
the said merchants, in enjoining the orders, had not attained perfect clearness,
38
I also sent officers to proceed to the barbarian factories, and personally make
enquiry. On the part of me, the Governor, it was the utmost, the extreme, of
careful regard and perfect kindness. But the said barbarian Eye, even in the
presence of deputed officers, did not speak plainly of the object of his
mission. Still, apprehending that their words might not be truly delivered, I
commanded them to take with them Linguists and proceed thither. When the
flowery [Chinese] and barbarians have oral intercourse, Linguists interpret what is
said. Throughout the empire it is in all cases thus. Yet, neither would the
said barbarian Eye have the Linguists to interpret for him, so that the deputed
officers could not say every thing.
"Since the said barbarian Eye, having come for the purpose of examining
and directing trade, did not tell clearly the object of his mission; whether, after
the Company was dissolved affairs should be conducted as before or not; or how
they should be conducted ; by what means could trade be carried on ? I could
not but, according to law, close the ships' holds. That I, the Governor, did it
not willingly, but with extreme pain of mind, has been already clearly explained
in the Proclamation. The said Hong merchants having orally stated, that they
had taken full account of the goods, the purchase of which was settled before the
12th of last moon [i. e. the 16th August], and had wholly stopped, not having
since had any commercial dealings, I, therefore, ordered the stoppage from the
day of the said merchant's petition. It was in no way a former and a latter, —two
modes of acting. I, the Governor, six times successively issued Official replies,
all in conformity with the old established regulations ; I in no way forced into
difficulties, nor did I thrust forward my own notions ; neither did I by a single
word rudely reprehend the said barbarian Eye. The replies have all been printed
and publicly displayed. All eyes may see them. Even the said Nation's King,
if he see them, cannot say that I, the Governor, have not spoken what is
reasonable.
"The said barbarian Eye has not learned to arouse from his previous errors,
but has further called to him many persons, bringing in boats military weapons
which have been moved into the barbarian factory. —A great opposition to the
laws and prohibitions ! Into the important territory of the provincial city, how
can outside barbarians presume to bring military weapons causing alarm to the
inhabitants ! I , therefore, commanded the fort named Leetih, that should any
sampan boats proceed towards the city, they should be stopped ; and should be
authoritatively informed, that if the said barbarian vessels perversely opposed and
disobeyed, the military would of course fire off the guns, which would be but
what their own offences would bring on them. Yet several times when barba
rian merchants were stopped, they were at once sent back to the place whence
they came, without being brought to investigation and punishment. Thus it
may be seen that I, the Governor, have not tyrannically treated the outside
barbarians. Even with regard to the said barbarian Eye, when, instance upon
instance, he has presumed on force and power, what difficulty would there be in
my meeting him with military terrors ? But I cannot bear forcibly to drive him
out. The Celestial Empire cherishes those from a far virtuously. What it values
is the subjection of men by reason : it esteems not awing them by force. The
said barbarian Eye has now again opposed the laws, in commanding the ships of
war to push forward into the inner river ; and in allowing the barbarian forces to
fire guns, attacking and wounding our soldiers, and alarming our resident people.
This is still more out of the bounds of reason, and renders it still more unintel
ligible what it is he wishes to do.
"The soldiers and horses of the Celestial Empire, its thundering forces, with
guns and weapons, gather on the hills. If it were desired to make a great
display of conquering chastisement, how could the petty trifling war ships afford
protection? Besides, all the merchants trading here I, the Governor, treat
most liberally : what need is there of protection ? By such ignorant and
absurd conduct, entering far into the important territory he is already within
my grasp. Arrangements have been now made to assemble a large force, ranged
out both by sea and land. What difficulty will there be in immediately
destroying and eradicating? Therefore that I am slow, dilatory, and cannot bear
to do so is, because I consider that such movements are not according to the
wishes of the said Nation's King ; nor are they according to the wishes of the
several merchants. I, the Governor, looking up, embody the heaven-like
benevolence of the Great Emperor. Only by reforming his errors can he avoid
cutting himself off, and attain reformation. If the said barbarian Eye will
39
speedily repent of his errors, withdraw the ships of war, and remain obedient to
the old rules, I will yet give him some slight indulgence. If he still adhere to
stupidity, and do not arouse, maintain his wickedness, and do not change, he will
be sinning against the Great Emperor; and I, the Governor, will certainly find
it difficult again to display endurance and forbearance. I apprehend that when
the Celestial troops once come, even precious stones will burn up before them.
On no account defer repentance till afterwards.
" Uniting circumstances, I issue this order. When the order reaches the
said Hong merchants, let them immediately act in obedience to it, and enjoin it
on all the English merchants, with even temper discussing it. If, hereafter,
things come to a rupture, do not say that I, the Governor, caused it by my
errors. Let them also enjoin the orders on the said barbarian Eye ; and let
them write a letter back to the country, to cause it to be known. A Special
Order.
"Taoukwang, 14th year, 8th moon, 9th day. (September 11, 1834.)"
All negociations, with a view to the opening of the trade unaccompanied
by the condition that Lord Napier should quit Canton, having failed, his
Lordship felt convinced that any further attempts on his part to effect this
unconditional object would be vain ; and that a continuance of the stoppage of
the trade would cause great injury to the interests of the British merchants.
Under these circumstances, his Lordship considered it his duty to comply with
the Viceroy's stipulation that he should retire to Macao, and by so doing admit
of the trade being opened; and he therefore determined on the 14th of
September to remove the Commission temporarily to Macao.
Lord Napier having become greatly indisposed in health, Mr. Colledge, the
surgeon to the Establishment, decided that it was necessary that his Lordship
should at once quit Canton: the requisite arrangements were accordingly made,
through Mr. Colledge and the Hong merchants, for his Lordship and suite
repairing to Macao, by the inner passage, in Chinese passage-boats.
On the 21st of September, Lord Napier addressed a letter to Captain
Blackwood, stating that, in consequence of an understanding come to with the
Chinese authorities, His Majesty's ships Imogene and Andromache were no
longer required at Whampoa ; and requesting him immediately to proceed with
both ships to the anchorage at Lintin : adding, that the Chinese authorities had
provided for the conveyance of himself and suite to Macao. On the evening
of the same day, his Lordship and suite embarked for Macao, accompanied by
a numerous escort of Chinese boats and Mandarins. On the morning of the
26th, the party arrived at Macao, his Lordship's illness having been greatly
aggravated by the heat of the weather, and the annoyances and insults to which
he was exposed during the whole course of the passage. It would appear that
the voyage to Macao was protracted for the purpose of giving the Chinese
the opportunity of prolonging their insulting cruelties: his Lordship died at
Macao, about ten o'clock on the evening of the 11th of October, 1834.*]
No. 15.
J. H. Astell, Esq., Secretary, to John Backhouse, Esq.—(Received
February 8, 1835.)
Sir, Macao, September 28, 1834.
THE serious and continued indisposition of the Right Honourable the
Chief Superintendent rendering it impossible for his Lordship to address His
Majesty's Government by the present opportunity, I have briefly to state the
causes which have led to the Commission being, for the present, withdrawn
from Canton; though not until every endeavour had been exhausted to
[* One reason subsequently assigned for this detention, which was principally at a place called
Heang-Shan, was, in order that the Chinese escort should have time for ascertaining that the frigates
had passed the Bocca Tigris on their passage outwards.}
40
overcome the continued obstinacy of the Viceroy, in insisting on his retirement
to this place, and refusing to open his letter of announcement.
The Local Government were duly reminded of the Edict of 1831 ; by
which the late Governor, Le, required that a properly constituted authority
should be appointed on the expiration of the Company's Charter ; but the
Viceroy persisted in declaring (to use his own language) " that the said
barbarian Eye, Lord Napier, brought not any written announcement from the
said nation's King—suddenly he came. I, the Governor, knew not what man
he was, or what business he was to transact." He accordingly persisted in the
requisition with which he had at first set out, the withdrawal of the Commission,
to Macao.
Not contented with their earlier acts of annoyance and indignity
whether of a personal nature, as the unnecessary breaking open of Lord
Napier's baggage, and the seizure of the compradores, or purveyors of provisions;
or the more serious and public injury inflicted by the stoppage of the trade,
the Local Government were emboldened, on the 4th instant, to proceed so far
as to beset the residence of the Chief Superintendent with a large number of
soldiers, to drive away his Lordship's native servants, and to cut off all
supplies of provisions. Under these circumstances, accompanied by the denial
to sanction or make good any commercial transactions, involving British
property, subsequent to the 1 6th of August, the Right Honourable the Chief
Superintendent deemed it necessary, on the 5th instant, to apply to Captain
Blackwood, by letter, for a guard of marines, for the protection of the factory ;
and to request that officer, at the same time, to proceed with His Majesty's
ships Imogene and Andromache, to the anchorage of the trade at Whampoa,
for the greater security of British property and persons.
The frigates found no difficulty in effecting their passage through the
Bogue, though not without silencing the fire of the Chinese forts by their own,
after having received several rounds of shot without returning one, as in the
case of the Alceste in 1816.
On the arrival of His Majesty's ships at Whampoa, the communication
between that place and Canton was entirely closed by the Chinese, for all
purposes of commerce or otherwise ; and a negotiation commenced, in which
the local Government required the withdrawal of the frigates from the
anchorage of the merchant ships, and the retirement of Lord Napier from
Canton, previous to the resumption of commercial dealings. His Lordship
was, therefore, induced on the 1 5th instant, to address a letter to the British
merchants, in which he informed them, that having thus far, without effect,
used every effort to establish His Majesty's Commission at Canton, he did not
feel authorized at present, by a continued maintenance of his claims, to occasion
the further interruption of the trade of the port. Captain Blackwood was
accordingly requested to proceed with His Majesty's ships to Lintin ; and Lord
Napier and suite embarked in two chop-boats, for Macao, on the 21st instant.
The trade of Whampoa, which was closed at the instigation of the
Hong merchants, is expected to resume its usual course in a few days, after the
official forms attendant on the arrival of a new Hoppo at Canton have been
passed.
I have, &c,
(Signed) J. H. ASTELL,
Secretary.
41
No. 16.
The Agents of the East India Company in China, to the Honourable the
Court of Directors in London.—(Communicated to the Foreign Office,
March 3, 1835.)
Honourable Sirs, Macao, September 29, 1834.
WE avail ourselves of the departure of the brig Belhaven to acquaint
your Honourable Court with the present termination of the differences between
His Majesty's Superintendents and the Chinese Government, by which the
trade has been suspended from the 16th of August to the present date.
2. It is out of our power to present your Honourable Court with a detail
of the occurrences, correspondence, &c, which has led to the event in question,
owing to our documents being at Canton, from whence we are unable to
transact any business, all communication with the shipping at Whampoa, or
elsewhere, being cut off by the strict surveillance of the Chinese Government;
and our servants, as well as Chinese of every profession, being forbidden
access to our factory on pain of death : we will, however, give a brief nar
rative of events. ;
•3. Shortly after the arrival of the Chief Superintendent at Canton, he
endeavoured to open communication with the Chinese Government by letter ;
and in order to avoid the intervention of the Hong merchants, the letter in
question was presented at the gates by parties deputed for that purpose : the
letter was refused to be accepted by the Chinese for the twofold reasons,
that it was not termed a Petition, and for an alleged informality in the
external address to the Viceroy.
4. The Hong merchants almost immediately waited on Lord Napier, and
endeavoured to become the official channel of communication between him
and the Viceroy, as heretofore; and the Viceroy about the same time pub
lished an Edict, stating that there ought to be no change in this particular ; and
the Kwang Chow Foo, attended by the Chaou Chow Foo and Kwang Heep,
visited Lord Napier, with a request to know on what business he visited
China. This he declined to answer; referring those officers to his unopened
letter to the Viceroy, stating, that if that were received, his Excellency
would be therein informed of the purpose of his visit to China. The meeting
shortly broke up by a refusal on the part of Lord Napier to admit the Hong
merchants as official negociators between him and the Viceroy, and with
a promise on the part of these mandarins to visit his Lordship again.
5. The Viceroy shortly after this published an Edict, stating the inten
tion of the Government to adhere to its ancient customs with foreigners ; and
that as Lord Napier had not brought any credential letters from his own
Government to that of China, designating his office . and the purpose of
his visit, the Viceroy could not receive a letter from him, save through. the
Hong merchants, the usual channel of communication on matters appertaining
to trade, which alone he understood Lord Napier was come to superintend;
iurther, that as it was a thing hitherto unknown for an official foreign
mandarin to reside at Canton, he required Lord Napier to return to Macao,
until the will of the Emperor should be known from Peking, as to the
recognition or otherwise of his Lordship, in his office of Superintendent of
Trade.
6. The Chief Superintendent then published a manifesto in the Chinese
language, of the position of his negotiation with the officers of Government,
to be appended to the walls of the streets, and for general circulation. He
therein stated that he was come for the regulation of the British Trade to
China; and being of a rank similar to the Viceroy, that he desired to com
municate directly through him, but that this was refused, and his letter
returned. This manifesto was published pending the expected visit of the
three Chinese officers; and is understood to have indisposed those officers
to renew their communication : negotiation was, however, on foot, to conduct
their meeting through the Chinese Linguists, and to dispense as much as
possible with the officers of the Interpreter to the Superintendents; as well
as a claim on the part of the Kwang Chow Foo, to be seated on an equality
with Lord Napier: these points were refused by his Lordship, and the effect
of these combined circumstances prevented any further visit of the Chinese
officers to the British Factory.
7. On the 16th of August, an official announcement was made by the
Viceroy, that, owing to Lord Napier's determination not to abide by the Vice
roy's requisition for him to return to Macao, until the Emperor's reply to his
communication had been received, the Hong merchants had recommended
the suspension of British commerce ; but that he, the Viceroy, would not defi
nitively adopt such advice, in the hope that Lord Napier would cease to act
in opposition to the orders which had hitherto guided foreign commercial
intercourse with the Chinese ; and that he would quit Canton for the present,
as urged previously to do by the Viceroy.
8. No further change having occurred, the Viceroy on the 2nd of Sep
tember officially announced all trade to be at an end between the Chinese
and British Subjects; ordered away all Chinese from the factories; and com
menced placing a cordon of troops and boats to cut off every means of com
munication from Canton ; ordered the Chinese not to supply Lord Napier,
nor his factory, with provisions ; and adopted every means, short of acts of
violence, to induce and urge Lord Napier to obey his order to proceed to
Macao for the present. ■ . »
9. Lord Napier immediately requested from His Majesty's frigates,
Imogene and Andromache, then at Chumpee, a body of marines for his
protection ; and, although in his Circular on the subject his Lordship stated;
that one of the causes of the requisition was for the protection of the
Honourable Company's Treasury, we wish your Honourable Court to under
stand that we were quite ignorant of his Lordship's purpose ; and under
no apprehension whatever for I he safety of the Treasury ; and which, in fact,
did not contain as much money as many private treasuries in Canton.* «
10. Sir George Robinson was sent from Canton to require His Majesty's
frigates to pass the Bogue, which they did on the 8th instant ; and to proceed
to Whampoa, where they anchored on the 1 1th instant. The Bogue forts,
and that on Tiger Island, resisted the passage of the frigates, and the latter
fort is stated to have conducted the fire with great steadiness: one sailor
was killed on each of the frigates, but what the loss of life has been on the
part of the Chinese it is difficult to ascertain. The Chief Superintendent
stated the cause of the frigates being ordered to Whampoa, to be for the
protection of the trade, observing, that although the Viceroy had published
the intention of the Chinese Government to permit British subjects to
have the advantage of all the property bought or sold before the 16th of
August, when the Hong merchants first announced the trade to be suspended,
nevertheless, as it was not officially stopped before the 2nd of September,
that all engagements between those two dates should be ratified.
11. It does not appear that the passage of the frigates through the
Bogue, and their arrival at Whampoa, produced the expected effect on the
Chinese Government; they do not appear to have made any change in their
propositions ; and were only so far intimidated as to strengthen the defences
in every possible way to prevent the passage of the frigates' boats to
Canton : and a negotiation being on foot between the Hong merchants and a
British house of business in the confidence of Lord Napier, the Chinese officers
adhered to the terms of Lord Napier's departure for Macao, and the frigates
for Chumpee, being necessary preliminaries before the suspension of the
trade would be taken off: to which effect the Viceroy published a procla
mation on the evening of the 13th.
12. On the evening of the 14th, the Chief Superintendent published a
Circular to the British merchants, stating that, as the opening of the trade
depended on his returning to Macao, and as the difference between the
Viceroy and himself was of a personal nature, disconnected with the operation
[* Memorandum: Foreign Office, February, 1840.—It is well known that considerable alarm did
exist with regard to the private treasuries ; and that arrangements were actually made for the convey
ance of one of them to Macao, as a place of security. But it is very possible that the Agents of the
East India Company did not Feel the same degree of apprehension on this occasiou as the private
merchants did, whose mercantile interests were perhaps more intimately connected with a
i of Lord Napier's mission to Canton than those of the Company's
J
43
of commerce, he requested that the cutter Louisa should be sent to Canton
from Whampoa; to enable his Lordship to leave Canton immediately.
13. After some negotiation, with the particulars of which we are
unacquainted, the Chinese Government acceded to the request made to them
on account of the state of health of Lord Napier, that he should proceed to
Macao, by the inner passage in a chop boat, where he arrived on the 26th
September, and the trade is hourly expected to be resumed.
14. By an early opportunity we will forward to your Honourable Court
all the official and other correspondence which has occurred, pending the
dispute in question ; we are unable to do so by the present despatch, but as
ships, sailing from here in November, will offer a speedy conveyance, the
delay will not be of long continuation.
15. Under the circumstances occurring in Canton, we were unwilling,
indeed from the absence of the Chinese from the factory unable, to continue
to receive cash into our treasury, but we shall re-open it immediately on the
resumption of business ; at the present moment the amount in the treasury is
321,677,299 dollars.
16. Mr. Thomas Charles Smith arrived at Macao, on the 10th of Sep
tember, by the ship Hythe, and took his seat as Second Member of the
Honourable Company's Agency in China, according to the instructions of the
Honourable Court to that effect.
17. Since writing the former part of this letter, the suspension has been
withdrawn from the trade ; and it is understood that the commercial proceed
ings will be conducted as usual, without further obstacles on the part of the
Chinese Government arising from the recent misunderstandings.
We have, &c,
(Signed) J. DANIEL.
T. C. SMITH.
J. JACKSON.
No. 17.
J. H. Astell, Esq., Secretary, to John Backhouse, Esq.—(Received
March 14, 1835.)
Sir, Macao, October 3, 1834.
IN reference to my letter from this place, under date the 28th ultimo,
I am directed by His Majesty's Superintendents to acquaint you, for the
information of His Majesty's Government, that the anticipation therein
expressed, has been realized by the re-opening of the trade at Canton on the —
29th ultimo.
I have, &c,
(Signed) J. H. ASTELL,
Secretary.
No. 18.
J. F. Davis, Esq., Chief Superintendent, to Viscount Palmerston.—(Received
February 23, 1835.)
My Lord, Macao, October 12, 1834.
IT has become my painful task to announce to you the decease, on the
11th instant, of the Right Honourable Lord Napier, His Majesty's Chief
Superintendent. His Lordship's health had suffered some deterioration from
the change of climate on the passage out ; but the fever which terminated his
life, was brought on by the heat and confinement of Canton, in the discharge of
his duties ; aggravated, it is to be feared, by the harassing and distressing
annoyances which he experienced there from the Chinese, as well as by the
unnecessary delay interposed on his passage down to Macao.
G 2
44
Letters addressed, during Lord Napier's illness, to Mr. Under-Secretary
Backhouse, and bearing date the 28th ultimo, and 3rd instant, will already have
apprized your Lordship, that the trade at Whampoa had been re-opened by the
Chinese, on the retirement of the late Chief Superintendent to Macao. The