300
Review of Public Occurrences. During the
JUNE
to pay our personal respects to him, upon the clear understanding that you are to be .eceived on a perfectly equal footing
"And I st.ali take care to explain, as you have desired, that you would never forward or receive written communications to or from the governor, except they bore the superscription significant of complete evenness of dignity. It is proba- ble that the provincial government will make some approach towards me as soon as your arrival is reported, and with that impression I have deferred my visit to Canton till the period I have mentioned. In conclusion, I permit myself to remark that it is a source of great satisfaction and support to me to have your concurrence, that every proper effort should be made upon my part, (and failing my success, upon your own) to explain the amicable objects of her majesty's government in commanding you to visit this empire. The rejection of all means of friendly communication with her majesty's government submitted upon the part of an officer of your high station, and in an imposing attitude, is a course not to be expected; or at all events, there can be little doubt that such rash im- practicability would expose the governor to the grave displeasure of his own court if it were persisted in, and be made the subject of future complaint at the mouth
I have. &c., (Signed)
of the Pei bo.
-Corresp. p. 313.
"Charles Elliot."
諭
Under the same date captain Elliot, having received an edict yu, from the subprefect of Macao, returned the same for correction
29th. Captain Elliot, having proceeded to Canton, addressed the following note to the governor.
"An English officer, of the first rank, Maitland, commanding the ships of his sovereign in the Indian seas, has arrived off these coasts, by the command of his government. The superintendent Elliot has now received Maitland's instruc tions to signify to his excellency the governor, that he desires to explain the peaceful purposes of this visit. It would be convenient, therefore, that the man. ver of intercourse should be clearly understood beforehand, so that all difficulties and misunderstandings may be prevented. For this reason Elliot requests that the governor will be pleased to send officers to communicate with him. And if they should come, his excellency may be assured that they will be received in a manner consistent with their dignity.
-Corresp. p. 314.
(Signed)
CHARLES ELLIOT."
On the day preceding, i. e. on the 28th, an affair took place at the Bogue, which served to hasten direct intercourse between the English and Chinese authorities; and is thus set forth in a captain Middlemist
"declaration of
Mr. William Campbell Middlemist, a master in her majesty's royal navy, and commander of the British ship Falcon, of London, now lying at Hongkong, states, that he was proceeding from Hongkong to Canton, on the twenty-eighth day of July, 1839, in the schooner Bombay (passage-boat), when, nearing the Bogue, he was chased by two mandarin boats, which made signs, by waving a dag, which he understood to be a signal to heave-to; which signs were disregard- ed, it not being usual for the mandarin boats to make such sign. One mandarin boats then fired a musket, apparently to call the ttention of the batte. ties which media
pon die Bombay which at first Gameared frome thei
1