1812.
Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.
305
"The merchants declared that the governor could have no such purpose, and that the whole matter was of course a mistake of the inferior officers, but they did not hand me any formal declaration to that effect, and I therefore proceeded at once to the rear-admiral at 'fungkú bay, where I arrived on the 1st instant. I represented to him that in my judgment this was the first of what would be found to be a series of experiments on the extent of his forbearance, and that I had a conviction the provincial government would tone their future proceedings in this respect, either for civility or increased aggression, by his treatment of the actual emergency.
“The rear-adıniral remarked to me that he had come to China with a deliberate determination most studiously to avoid the least violation of the customs or prejudices either of the government or people; but that he was not less resolved to bear no insult on the honor of the flag intrusted to his protection, and that he should therefore proceed forthwith to the Bocca Tigris with her majesty's ships under his command, and demand a formal disavowal of these unprovoked attacks upon him. Her majesty's ships Wellesley, Larne, and Algerine, were accordingly moved to the anchorage of Chucnpí, where they arrived on the morning of the 4th instant, and I accompanied them in the cutter Louisa, with the hope to ren der myself useful to the rear-admiral. On the morning of our arrival there, the captain of the flag-ship was sent to the men-of-war junks off the batteries, accom- panied by Mr. Morrison, and conveying a dispatch from the rear-admiral to the governor of Canton. The Chinese officers manifested considerable disinclination to this course of proceeding, (without, however, positively declining it,) and began by proposing some alteration in the form of the address, which involved no aban. donment of the rear-admiral's right to communicate upon a footing of equality, and was therefore adopted.
“But whilst these communications were passing upon the subject of the mode of address, the accompanying paper from the Chinese admiral was received, and upon this, it was determined to apply at once to that functionary for redress, which was accordingly done next morning (the 5th). The result was the mission of an officer of equal rank with captain Maitland, to wait upon the rear-admiral, accompanied by one of less rank; and the expressions of disavowal of any inten. tion to insult were written at the dictation of the higher officer, by the hand of the other, on board the Wellesley in the presence of the rear-admiral, captains Mait. land, Blake, Kingcome, Mr. Morrison, and myself. Sir Frederick signified his satisfaction with this declaration, and took occasion through Mr. Morrison to make some further observations, the purport of which I have now the honor to submit. An exchange of civilities then took place, and on the morning of the next day (the 6th) the ships returned to their former anchorage at Tungkú bay, where they still remain. I have already presumed to offer my respectful testimony to the great judgment and temper which the rear-admiral displayed in the dis- charge of this duty: and I believe it will appear to your lordship that the whole transaction is calculated to leave lasting and favorable impressions both of the firmness and moderation of the higher officers of her majesty's governmont. The events have passed without interruption to the trade or any other description of
I have, &c., (Signed)
inconvenience.
-Corresp. pp. 399-311.
"CHARLES Elliot."
29th. Under this date the following correspondence occurred regarding the departure of the English admiral
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