1842
Last Ten Years, from 1832 in 1×41.
16%7
venerate the emperor, and know that these troubles have arisen because his gra. cious commands have been violated, and because the truth is concealed from him. The men have armis in their hands, and is it reasonable to suppose they will suffer themselves to be starved to death and poisoned? These are vain and foolish thoughts.
"Elliot has strictly commanded all the men of his nation to treat the natives of the land with justice and kindness, and to pay faithfully for all that is supplied. So long as the provisions and water are furnished without difficulty, Elliot will be responsible for the preservation of the peace. If they are stopped, Elliot knows that there will be conflict, and the blame will fall upon the heads of those by whom these troubles have been incited. If any injury be done to the unoffending natives by the men of the English nation let them prefer their complaints, and they shall be redressed. Whilst the people are commanded to poison the water for the cruel destruction of the English nation, these English foreigners are risking their own lives, and freely using their own means, to save and succor the people of the land. On the 30th day of last month, thirty Chinese belonging to Cháu. chau, in this province, were landed from the English vessel Manly, having been saved froin shipwreck, near the coast of Manila, about one month since. The men of the English nation consider it an act of sacred duty to assist the natives of the land in distress; and, since Elliot has been in the country, scveral hundreds have been saved from shipwreck, and restored to their fathers, and the care of their families, by the kindness of the English people. Is it a suitable return to deprive them of supplics of food, and to poison the water which they are accus. tomed to drink? For the sake of peace, Elliot writes these words.
-Corresp. p. 448.
(Signed)
"CHARLES ELLIOT."
Under the same date captain Elliot addressed the following commu. nication to the high commissioner.
"Is it consistent with peace, or with the dignity of the empire, to drive forth from their houses, and to deprive of supplies of food, and of attendance, women in the pains of child-birth, sick persons, and young children, upon the pretext that Elliot does not deliver up a man to be killed, although he has solemnly and repeatedly declared that he has strictly investigated according to the laws of his country, and that he is unable to discover who the guilty man is; and although it is most certain that the seamen of American ships were on shore, and engaged in the riot which led to this disaster? Is it desired that Elliot should deliver up any man indiscriminately, and involve the higher officers, as well as himself, in the guilt of murdering an innocent man? Again Elliot asks,-Is it consistent with peace, or with the dignity of the empire, for the high commissioner to encou- rage the natives of the land to acts of the worst description of violence against the men of his nation? On the 16th day of the moon, native boats, which there is every reason to believe had officers on board, (for Elliot is in possession of a cap left there, such as is usually worn by native soldiers,) suddenly attacked a small English passage.boat, off the southwest end of Lantao, plundered her of much valuable property, caused six of the crew to lose their lives by drowning, at- tempted to blow up the vessel, and cruelly wounded and disfigured an English gentleman, by cutting off one of his ears, and stabbing him in thirty places.
"At Hongkong, Elliot finds that the water has been poisoned; and though he knows the commissioner never could have given an order so sure to draw down
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