1842.
Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.
9
according to the real circumstances or not, let Lí and his colleagues examine truly and fully. Also let them, with their whole minds consider and deliberate how to prevent the opium dirt from being clandestinely imported, or clandestinely sold on the seas, and how to prevent the foreigners having any other ships beside merchant ships. The source whence it comes must be decidedly cut off, in order to eradicate the evil. It must not be permitted to prevail in the country, that future calamities may be prevented. Take this edict, and enjoin it on Lí and Chú, that they may enjoin it on Chung, and all may make themselves acquaint- ed with it. Respect this."
"There was also received this addition in vermilion (i. e. by the imperial band). If the said governor and his colleagues can exert their whole mind and strength to remove from the centre of civilization (i. e. China) this great evil, their merit will not be small. To strenuousness let them still add strenuousness Respect this!" Can. Reg., August 2d.
15th. H. B. M. ship Challenger, captain Freemantle, sailed from China for Calcutta.
20th. H. B. M. ship Cruizer sailed from China for Madras. She arrived on the 9th from Calcutta, (but did not sail for that port, as erroneously stated above on page 7.)
April 7th. In the Canton Register, of this date, it is remarked that the rebellious mountaineers were becoming more and more for- midable. The leader styles himself the Golden Dragon.
11th. Chung, the hoppo of Canton, issued an edict forbidding fo- reign ships to remain at Lintin, and requiring those there to depart.
May. The first number of the Chinese Repository was published on the 31st, the last day of this month. It gave a detailed account of the rise and progress of the rebellion on the borders of the pro- vinces of Kwangtung, Kwangsí, and Húnán. Large numbers of the troops
that had been called into the field were found unfit for service, having been enfeebled by the use of opium.
The provinces of Chekiảng, Kiángsí, A ́nhwui, and Húpe were at that time suffering from « famine caused by inundations. See vol. 1.*
pp. 30, 31. Also Can. Reg., June 15th, p. 58.
18th. The U. S. A. frigate Potomac, commodore Downes, arrived in China, having visited Qualla Batu on her way hither.
29th. The Peking Gazette contains an account of a great victory gained over the rebels on the frontiers of Húnán. Vol. 1. p. 111.
31st. The H. C. sloop Coote arrived in China bringing a private dispatch for the select committee. "From the tone of indifference, with which the late rupture with the Chinese has been regarded in England, nothing can be hoped for that might rescue British subjects
* Note. Where only the volume and page are specified the references are under- stood to be made to the Chinese Repository.
VOL. XI. NO I
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