370
Review of Public Occurrences During the
JULY,
inake them go. I would ask, sceing that you have taken on you the responsi- bility in this matter, how, if the store-ships should dare to sail away, you will be able to sustain the heavy criminality attaching to you?
"The address talks too of close restraint, as if it were imprisonment, which is still more laughable. I find that from the 18th March, when the commands were given to all the foreigners to deliver up their opium, everything remained as usual until the 24th, when you came in a boat to Canton, and that night wished to take Dent and abscond with him. It was after this that cruizers were stationed to examine and observe all that went in and out. It was because you were void of truth and good faith, that it became unavoidably necessary to take preventive steps. As to the compradors and others, they are in fact Chinese traitors, who would also suggest absconding and escape. How then could the withdrawal of them be omitted? Yesterday, too, when you had made a statement of the amount of opium, I at once conferred on you a reward consisting of sundry articles of food. Is this the manner in which prisoners are ever treated? I, the high impe- rial commissioner, in conjunction with the governor and lieutenant-governor, look. ing up to the great emperor, embody his all-comprehending kindness, and in our treatment of you foreigners of every nation, never go beyond these two words,—- favor and justice. Such as display contumacy and contempt, how can they have aught but justice dealt out to them? But such as show a respectful sense of duty, shall assuredly be tenderly intreated with favor.
Do you now simply command plainly all the foreigners with instant speed to prepare letters, and hand them in to government, to enable it to give commands to all the store-ships to deliver up in orderly succession the opium. And as soon as this shall be delivered up, everything shall without fail be restored to its ordinary condition. This requisition is indeed conformable to reason; what difficulty is there in complying with it? If, in place of speedily making delivery, you make pretexts for diverting attention, in the hope that after the strict preventive mea. Mures shall be withdrawn you may form some other scheme, who cannot see through such artful devices? And will you be enabled to make a repetition of such attempts?
"Besides deputing officers to proceed to the hong-merchants' consoo house, there to give verbal commands, and so prevent delay, you are also hereby required to act speedily in obedience to this my reply. Do not again be working at excuses and delay, thereby drawing on yourself causes for future repentance. I proceed to give this injunction requiring obedience: and to this end I enjoin the prefect of Kwangchau fú, instantly to command the hong-inerchants to give it in command to the said superintendent Elliot, that he without fail pay obedience.'
"He (the prefect) having received this, proceeds to issue the commands. On these reaching the said superintendent Elliot, let him speedily act in conformity with this reply. Let him not again set to work at making excuses and delaying. lest he draw on himself causes for future repentance. Hasten! Hasten! A special command.” March 29th, 1839.—Corresp. pp. 378–380.
30th. The following notes were sent to the imperial commissioner, and the next day returned, though the proposition was finally agreed
to.
Elhot, being anxious to discharge his obligations to your excellency with all practicable dispatch, has the honor to acquaint your excellency that he has now