352
Review of Puble Occurrences. During the
Juny,
nal, either placing the disputed sum in deposit, or at least giving security that it should be paid, if the decision were adverse to them.
'I offer these opinions, because I am sure the Chinese have great confidence in the good faith of the Europeans, and because too I believe they are, in many important respects, the most moderate and reasonable people on the face of the earth. Seeking nothing but justice (and no people are more capable of clear perceptions upon the reality of what they receive under that name), I am per- suaded that they will have the good sense, for the sake of inuitual convenience, to take it at our hands; regarding, indeed the form under which it it administered to them, with feelings of perfect indifference. I would, in conclusion, beg your fordship to remark that these views upon the extreme mischief of the actual mode of settling foreign claims are neither novel, nor peculiar to myself. In the year 1779, when captain Panton, of the Sea-Horse, came to China by the order of sir Edward Vernon, for the recovery of debts due to certain British creditors, I find the supracargoes clearly predicting the institution of this consoo tax, and all the evil consequences, both immediate and prospective, which must ensue.
By such a inode.' say they, and we think by such a mode only, an annual sum may be funded to discharge so much of the present debt as the officers shall decree to be just.' When captain Panton declined to correspond with them on the subject, they protested against sir Edward Vernon and himself for all losses, &c., &c., which his proceedings might occasion; and the result of his interference verified their worst apprehensions, for in the next year the consoo system was established to the great and lasting injury of this trade.
44
'Throughout the subsequent course of the Company's monopoly, their servants here on the several occasions of embarrassment amongst the hong-merchants, put forward the same just arguments, and her majesty's government will readily admit, that if the system were dangerous to the interests of the East India Com- pany, it must be intensely more so to those of the general and open trade. The agents upon the spot will always and naturally be anxious to have their immedi- ate difficulties solved; and the future consequences of our permanent com- mercial interests in this empire are little likely to bear down that consideration. I shall transmit your lordship an authentic statement of the new assessments as soon as it can be procured; and in the meantime, I once more take the liberty to recommend this subject to the earnest attention of her majesty's government.
I have, &c.
"CHARLES ELLIOT."
S
·Corresp. pp. 304-342.
(Signed)
10th. An edict was issued by the governor, against ships bring- ing opiuin to Whampoa, and declaring that if they did so they would be sent back to their own country. Another edict came out from the governor, commanding the hong-merchants to secure sundry ves- sels then at Whampoa.
14th. The co-hong paid the first dividend, of four per cent., on the debts of Kingqua, to the foreign creditors of that hong.
16th. A new form of bond was proposed by the hong-merchants to the Chamber of Commerce, to prevent the smuggling of opium and sycce.
Severd European passage-boats were licensed to run be-