630
Journal of Occurrences
Nov
with the barbarians, giving closest attention to the minutest particulars, that the treaty may be drawn up in the most clear and intelligible terms, preventing all after difficulties, and confusion of affairs. As the barbarians cannot understand us, let the services of interpreters be employed that they may be satisfied. The whole of the barbarian vessels are to leave the Great river about Sept. 14th; and let the matter be adjusted with the speediest dispatch that quict may be restored to the imperial bosom, and let these our commands be sent by the most rapid express, that they may be made known. Respect this.
At Canton, no small excitement has been caused by certain gentry, who have made use of a rumor that the English were to have lands granted them for dwellings on Húnan, opposite the foreign factories, to irritate the people against thein. The following spirited manifesto was published by the gentry during the present month as the expression of their opinion.
We have been reverently consulting upon the empire-a vast and undivided whole! How can we permit it to be severed in order to give it to others! Yet we, the rustic people, can learn to practice a rude loyalty; we too know to destroy the banditti and thus requite his majesty. Our Great Puro dynasty las cared for this country for more than two hundred years, during which a succession of distinguished monarchs, sage succeeding sage, has reigned; and we who cat the herb of the field, and tread the soil, have for ages drank in the dew of imperial goodness, and been imbued with its benevolence. The people in wilds far remote beyond our influence, have also felt this goodness, comparable to the heavens for height, and been upheld by this bounty, like the earth for thickness. Where- fore peace being now settled in the country, ships of all lands come, distant though they be from this for many a myriad of miles; and of all the foreigners on the south and west there is not one but what enjoys the highest peace and contentment, and entertains the profoundest respect and submission.
But there is that English nation; whose ruler is now a woman and then a man, its people at one time like birds and then like beasts, with dispositions inore fierce and furious than the tiger or wolf, and hearts more greedy than the snake or hog,-this people has ever stealthily devoured all the southern barbarians, and like the demon of the night they now suddenly exalt themselves. During the reigns of Kienlung and Kiáking, these English" barbarians humbly besought entrance and permission to make a present; they also presumptuously requested to have Chusan, but those divine personages clearly perceiving their traitorous designs, gave them a peremptory refusal. From that time, linking themselves in with traitorous traders, they have privily dwelt at Macao, trading largely in opium, and poisoning our brave people. They have ruined lives,—how many millions none can tell; and wasted property-how many thousands of millions who can guess! They have dared again and again to murder Chinese, and have secreted the murderers, whom they refused to deliver up, at which the hearts of all men grieved and their heads ached. Thus it has been that for many years past, the English by their privily watching for opportunities in the country have gradually brought things to the present pass.
In 1838, our great emperor having fully learned all the crimes of the English and the poisonous effects of opium, quickly wished to restore the good condition of the country and compassionate the people. In consequence of the memorial of Hwáng Tsiólsz', and in accordance to his request, he specially deputed the public minded, upright, and clear headed minister Lin Tsesü, to act as his im perial commissioner with plenipotentiary powers, and go to Canton to examine and regulate. He came and took all the stored-up opium and stopped the trade, in order to cleanse the stream and cut off the fountain; kindness was mixed with his severity, and virtue was evident in his laws, yet still the English repent. ed not of their errors, and as the climax of their contumacy called troops to their aid. The censor Hwáng, by advising peace, threw down the barriers, and hands of audacious robbers, willingly did all kinds of disreputable and villainous deeds. During the past three years, these rebels, depending upon their stout ships and effective cannon, from Canton went to Fukien, and thence to Chekiáng and on to Krángsít, seizing our territory, destroying our civil and military authorities, ravishing our women, capturing our property, and bringing upon the inhabitants of these four provinces, mtolerable miseries Hie mperial majesty was troubled