142
Last Ten Years, from 1832 f6 1841.
363
yet he has been unable to expel them, or by prohibitions to stay then proceed. ings. I would ask what it is then that Elliot superintends!
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Of my special mission by the great emperor, as his commissioner in this province, for inquiring and acting in regard to opium, how can the said superin- tendent be ignorant? And when, after my arrival here, in place of taking the foreigners who dealt in opium, and subjecting them to the punishment due by the laws, I turned to issne to them, an edict, giving them the option to deliver up their opium, and put a full stop to its future ingress, how could he remain un- aware of this act of kindness beyond the bounds of laws? Yet in this address, not one word has he said in reference hereto; assuming the false garb of stupid ignorance. But has he not failed indeed to consider, that he, the said superin- tendent, having come from Macao to Canton, cannot keep himself aloof from this matter? The unintelligibleness of the style of his address, it is not worth while minutely to discuss. Nor is it necessary that I should reiterate the com mands which I have already given.
*** I have now merely to lay on Elliot the responsibility of speedily and secure- ly arranging these matters, the delivery of the opium, and the giving of bonds in obedience to my former commands. If he can take the opium on board the store-ships, and at once deliver it up entirely, it will of course be the duty of me, the commissioner, to give him encouragement and stimulus to exertion.
***Or if he have aught that he would say in the way of intreaty, he is permitted to make a clear statement thereof. If there be really nothing therein inconsis- tent with the principles of reason, in my equal maintenance of perfect justice, how can I, the commissioner, be willing in the least to oppress? But if he speak not according to reason, and imagine, amid the darkness of night, to abscond with his men, it will show the conviction within him that he can have no face to encounter his fellow-men, and can he be able to escape the meshes of the vast and wide net of heaven? Having received your excellency's communication as above, it befits me to communicate with you in reply, that you may, upon due examination, direct the territorial and financial commissioner, and the judicial commissioner, with the prefect of Kwangchau fú, to join commands upon the said superintendent, for bis implicit obedience.'
“1, the governor, having received the above communication, proceed to give this injunction, enjoining the prefect that he instantly take with him the two magistrates of Nánnái and Pwányü; and in obedience to the matter contained in the communication from the high imperial commissioner, proceed to impress on the said superintendent Elliot the commands. that they may be without fail obeyed."
He (the Kwangchau fú) having received this, forthwith issues commands When they reach the said superintendent Elliot, let him pay immediate obe- dience. Be there no opposition to these special commands. March 26th, 1839
No. 2.
Chú, by special appointment, prefect of Kwangchan, taking with him Liu, the magistrate of Nánhải, and Cháng, the magistrate of Pwänyű, issues com mands to the English superintendent Elliot, for his full information.
"On the 26th March, 1839, he received the within official injunction from his excellency Tang, governor of the two Kwáng:
** Upon the 26th March, 1839, I received from Lin, the high imperial commis sione) and governor of Húkwáng a communication of the following tenor