1842.
Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.
23
Observing the same prudence and caution which I have inculcated above, you will avail yourself every opportunity which may present itself, for ascertaining whether it may not be possible to establish commercial intercourse with Japan, and with any other of the neighboring countries; and you will report to this department, from time to time, the resultɛ of your observation and inquiries. It is understood that a survey of the Chinese coast is much required; and your attention should, therefore, be directed to this subject, with a view to ascertain the probable expense of such an undertaking; and you will have the goodness to transmit to me an carly and full report of your opinion. But you will not take any steps for commencing such a survey, till you receive an authority from hence to do so.
"Your attention should also be directed to the inquiry, whether there be any, and what, places at which ships might find requisite protection in the event of hostilitics in the China seas. Upon these points, I recommend to your attentive consideration the inclosed observations of capt. Horsburgh, the correctness of which your lordship will make it your duty to investigate. Peculiar will be necessary on the part of the superintendents, with regard to such ships as may attempt to explore the coast of China for purposes of traffic. It is not desirable that
It is not desirable that you should encourage such adventures; but you must never lose sight of the fact, you have no authority to interfere with, or to prevent, them. It is generally considered that the Bocca Tigris, which is marked by a fort immediately above Anson's Bay, forms the limit of the port of Canton :* and as this appears to be the understanding of the Chinese authorities themselves, a notification to that effect has been made to the mer. chants in this country. Your lordship will, accordingly, conform to that under- standing." Correspondence relating to China, (Blue Book) puge 4.
February 11th. About the middle of Oct., 1833, an affray occur- red at Kumsing moon, in consequence of which, and sometime sub- sequently, through the agency of one of the hong-merchants, a black man was conveyed from Macao to Canton and induced to declare himself to be the person who had accidentally killed a Chinese in the affray. This led to a spirited correspondence between the committee of the E. I. Co.'s factory and the local authorities. The correspon- dence closed this day; and the man, not very long afterwards, was released. Vol. II., p. 515.
26th.
His excellency Lí Táikáu, the literary chancellor of Can- ton, hung himself in his own house this morning.
March. Droughts, inundations, famine, and insurrections, are ca- lamities of very frequent occurrences in all parts of the empire. At this time the provinces of Yunnan, Húnán, Húpe, Kiángsí, Shántung, and Chili, were suffering from one or other of these evils.
4th. A fire broke out in the large temple in Hónán, nearly oppo- site to the foreign factories, and one of the principal pavilions was entirely destroyed with all its images.
By instruction to sir G. B. Robinson, dated May 28th, 1836, the limits of the jurisdiction of the superintendents were extended, so as to include Lintin and
Macao.