460
Review of Public Ovenerences During the
SEP
the morning of the 10th instant. Upon inquiry, it appeared that several seamen of the ships, American as well as English, had been permitted to go ashore as it was said, for the purpose of bathing and taking exercise on the beach. Concerning any English people, who might have been engaged in the disorder, Elliot imme. diately took measures according to the customs of his country. He issued a notice among the English shipping, offering a reward of 2001. to any person who would discover the man by whom the native of the land might have been killed, whether accidentally or not, and a reward of 100%. to any person who would discover the leaders in the riot which had taken place.
“The investigations are still proceeding, neither shall they be lightly pursued ; and most assuredly, if it shall be brought to light that this unhappy man lost his life by an act of a British subject, and the offender be discovered, he shall he immediately placed on his trial, according to the laws of his country. The government of the English nation would hold Elliot deeply guilty, if he failed to prosecute this affair with the utmost severity. Elliot should further make known to the honorable officers, that the family of the deceased do not ascribe the death of this individual to willfulness, but to accident. Be it accident or willfulness, how. ever, he is no longer here to take care of them, and therefore Elliot has consider. ed that it became him to provide for their support. This is just. -Corresp. p. 440.
(Signed)
"CHARLES ELLIOT.”
21st A further communication, under this date, was addressed to officers sent by the commissioner to captain Elliot.
“For the ends of justice and in the performance of his duty to his own gra. cious sovereign, Elliot must assuredly continue to use his sincerest efforts to discover whether the perpetrators of any crime, declared to be committed within this jurisdiction, are British subjects; and if it shall appear upon faithful investiga. tion that such is the case, the offenders will be placed upon their trial according to the laws of their country. But the present conduct of the honorable officers is as inexplicable, as their past proceedings are unjust and dangerous. At one moment they issue a public notice, encouraging the mehants and scamen of the English nation to disregard the lawful orders of their officer. At the next they approach him with requisition to settle important affairs. When the ships of his nation went to Hongkong, Elliot strictly commanded the people of his nation always to treat the honorable officers of this empire with respect, and to prevent the sailors from occasioning disorder. Immediately afterwards. follows the proclamation of the honorable officers, inciting the people of the English nation to disregard Elliot's injunctions. But if they were to be disregarded in one sense, how was it to be expected they would be observed in another? Would it be possible to maintaiu order and tranquillity, if Elliot and the other foreign officers were to incite the natives of the land to give un heed to the commands of their own authorities, and assure the people of assistance, if they thought fit to break the laws of the empire? Truly these proceedings of the honorable officers have been highly inconsistent with the principles of peace and reason, and Elliot considers that these and all othe disorders are chiefly attributable to them. Elliot will receive no papers from the honorable officers till he is satisfied that there shall be no repetition of these inflammatory practices, and till the higher officers think fit to receive his own sealed addresses agreeably to custom.
Corresp. p. 411
Signed
"CHARLES ELLIOT."