1-12
Last Ten Years, from 18932 to 1841
317
For; lus excellency's reply, ( See Chi. Rep., vol. VII, p. 456,) and the next in- closure is my renewed request that this mode of direct official intercourse on affairs of importance should be declared to be general, and not for the occasion. Inolo. sure No. 12, is the governor's assent to this principle, signified, indeed, through the senior hong merchant, but he was desired to place the original documen., bearing his excellency's scal, in my hands, in order that I might duly authenticate the fact to my government. I was contented with this acknowledgment, and the flag was rehoisted on the 30th ultimo at 11 o'clock. On the 31st, I was enabled to desire the senior merchant to report the departure of all the boats from Wham- poa; and he has this day announced to me the official commands of the govern. ment to open the trade, which I have just signified to the community. The inclosure No. 14, (Ser Chi. Rep., vol. VII, p. 454,) is a general notice to her majesty's subjects, which I have also issued to day, announcing the renewal of the public intercourse, and publishing those portions of my correspondence with the governor, which it concerned them to know. But I have not felt myself at liberty to publish those parts which relate to the manner of my intercourse; upon the ground that it is the special attribute of her majesty'e government to dispose of that object, and that it may be highly inconvenient they should be generally pro. mulgated without your lordship's sanction.
Having now drawn the statement of these proceedings to a close, I may turn to a more particular explanation of the motives and the manner of my interposi- tion. It had been clear to me, my lord, froin the origin of this peculiar branch of the opium traffic, that it must grow to be more and more mischievous to every branch of the trade, and certainly to none more than to that of opium itself. As the danger and the shame of its pursuit increased, it was obvious that it would fall by rapid degrees into the hands of more and more desperate men; that it remainder of it seeins necessary in order to explain captain Elliot's views regarding the word pin, and we take it from the Correspondence.
He can assure your excellency that he has not requested that the communi. cations should be forwarded through the honorable officers from any vain or idle pretensious on his own part, but only that he may be able to impress on his own countryinen, in cases of emergency, that he is acting at your excellency's requist. tion, that his representations may be more effectual, and that his own governinent may see he has had proper authority, as well as urgent occasion, for his proceed. mgs. Neither does the undersigned desire to trouble your excellency upon trifling affairs. So soon as the intercourse is renewed, all such matters can be conducted between the official hong-merchants and himself, agreeably to your excellency's further arrangements. Influenced by motives of solicitude for the character of his countrymen, and the general protection of the interests of a good trade, the under- signed feels it right to subunit his own views to your excellency of this mo. ment; and he has therefore, used the character pin in the address; but he requests your excellency to signify, through the honorable officers, that it is a mode of address used by native officers, even of the second rank, so that it may be secu by the government of his own country that he has acted upon admissable princi ples. He can assure your excellency that there is no disposition to press incon - venient changes on the government of the empire, but only such modifications. as are needful for the conduct of authentic intercourse, so that peace and honora. ble trade may always subsist. The undersigned, in conclusion, respectfully, but very carnestly, entreats your excellency to pardon the two coolies who were lately apprehended in the act of landing opium belonging to Mr. Innes. Clear as it is from the declaration of that gentleman, that these poor men were ignorant of the contents of the boxes, their present unhappy condition is a distressing reflection. Your excellency's clemency on this occasion would be grateful to the government of the British nation, and to the whole foreign community in China."--page 331.