18.12.
Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.
261
"Now these receiving-ships come from the southwestward, and must needs return in a southwest direction; how is it then that they have on the contrary removed eastward! And why do they not remain in one place? It is manifest herein that they wish to cruize about unchecked, and to linger in the neighbor. hood, to watch the progress of circumstances.
"The goodness of the celestial empire and its cherishing kindness are extreme. Since it first granted to all nations a general market, where the commodities of all might be bartered, a space of 200 years has elapsed as though it had been but a single day. Such profound benevolence,-favors so substantial, are well fitted to penetrate the entire body, even to the very marrow of the bones. Could it then be supposed, that depraved foreigners would twist awry the laws, and to serve merely their private ends, would assume the pretence of traffic! Most lucid and clear are the sacred commands. Can any yet dare to be, as the habitual looker. on, unobservant, and still continue to linger about? And are the seas of the cen- tral flowery land to be made a common sewer for the reception of this filthy [opium]! Or shall we, intrusted with the defense and government of the frontier, be thought unable to follow such conduct with the rigor of the laws? Consider, if within the territory of any of those countries, the vessels of another country were contumaciously to infringe the prohibitions, and remain for a long period there without leaving, whether the king of that nation would not regard it neccs- sary to punish such offenders with rigor, refusing the least indulgence. How much more then the celestial empire! How can it suffer barbarians to disobey the laws, and without restraint to throw contempt thereon!
"The king of the said nation has been heretofore, dutiful and respectful, and his prohibitions have been rigorously and clearly enacted. And being apprehensive lest merchants or seamen of vessels coming hither should infringe prohibitions, or transgress the laws, and so should bring shame upon their country, he specially sent the superintendent Elliot to Canton, to keep them under control and re- straint. But these receiving-ships have now remained for a very long time at an- chor;
and though two months have elapsed since the said superintendent has reccived our commands, he has not yet sent them away to their country. We fear he is unfit to bear the designation of superintendent. If he can willingly subject himself to reproach on account of these receiving-vessels, how will he be able to answer it to his king? Or how to Us, the governor and lieutenant-governor? Let him, in the stillness of night, reflect hercon; and if he do so, we think that he will be unable to find rest upon his bed.
"It now, however, appears, from an address presented by the said superinten. dent, that he objects to the copying and enjoining of these commands by the hong-merchants, on the ground of such copied document being unauthentic, with- out official seal or envelop, and so not giving him evidence fwhereon to pay obc- dience to it; and also that he is apprehensive of transgressing the laws of his country. According to the established laws of the celestial empire, it is required, that in all matters wherein commands are given to the outer foreigners, such com. mands be enjoined through the medium of hong-merchants. And in this instance, moreover, the imperial pleasure was declared, specially requiring that the hong- inerchants should be commanded to give directions and to act. Can any dare, then, not to pay respectful obedience thereto? The said nation of course has its own laws.
But is it imagined, that the laws of outer barbarians can be practiced