CO129-034 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [9-12] — Page 330

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

334

all difficulties and risks and distance, was, under the Treaty of Nanking, to be offered him at his own door, without any difficulty or risks whatever. Come had he not borrowed his enthusiasm from parties on the spot who ought to have known better — We must presume that and that then the spot he spoke forth all inducement to carry his more precious stuffs out of China was cut off.

I have observed throughout upon the bold promises stated upon Colony by previous Superintendants; but I pray Your Excellency not to suppose for a moment that I utter one word in disparagement of these functionaries — I am not sure that they were at all to blame for the gigantic views which they propounded. They must have found those views upon the representations of the local merchants, and relied upon their great experience for their validity — an instance. Sir Henry Pottinger dropping into the busy world of China from the quiet retirement of Scinde, could never have ventured upon such a stupendous promise as that of clothing these hills "with a population equal to that of Ancient Rome".

And wrote from the mouths of experienced men, who manifested their faith in the prospects of the settlement by the price they paid for its soil, and the profuseness of their outlay in improving it. The event has proved that both parties were mistaken; and the simple process was this — that the Merchants were carried away by their enthusiasm and they carried the plenipotentiaries with them. Neither is it difficult to be accounted for. Cooped up in Canton for so many years, witnessing daily instances of local oppression and extortion on the part of the Mandarins, they (the Merchants) took it for granted that a British Colony, with its noble institutions of unpurchaseable and irrespective laws, had only to be founded at the mouth of Canton river, to draw down to it, as if by magic, the plundered and oppressed of every class, not merely from Canton but from all parts of this wide Empire. Hence

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334 all difficulties and risks and distance, was, under the Treaty of Nanking, to be offered him at his own door, without any difficulty or risks whatever. Come had he not borrowed his enthusiasm from parties on the spot who ought to have known better We must presume that and that then the spot he spoke forth all inducement to carry his more precious stuffs out of China was cut off. I have observed throughout upon the bold promises stated upon Colony by previous Superintendants; but I pray Your Excellency not to suppose for a moment that I utter one word in disparagement of these functionaries I am not sure that they were at all to blame for the gigantic views which they propounded. They must have found those views upon the representations of the local merchants, and relied upon their great experience for their validity an instance. Sir Henry Pottinger dropping into the busy world of China from the quiet retirement of Scinde, could never have ventured upon such a stupendous promise as that of clothing these hills "with a population equal to that of Ancient Rome". And wrote from the mouths of experienced men, who manifested their faith in the prospects of the settlement by the price they paid for its soil, and the profuseness of their outlay in improving it. The event has proved that both parties were mistaken; and the simple process was this that the Merchants were carried away by their enthusiasm and they carried the plenipotentiaries with them. Neither is it difficult to be accounted for. Cooped up in Canton for so many years, witnessing daily instances of local oppression and extortion on the part of the Mandarins, they (the Merchants) took it for granted that a British Colony, with its noble institutions of unpurchaseable and irrespective laws, had only to be founded at the mouth of Canton river, to draw down to it, as if by magic, the plundered and oppressed of every class, not merely from Canton but from all parts of this wide Empire. Hence Page 330 Page 331
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334 all difficulties and risks and distance, was, under the Treaty of Nanking, to be offered him at his own Song door, without any difficulty or pisks whatever__ Come had he not borrowed his enthusiasm from parties. on the shot who ought to have known better We must presume that and that then eer he spotle - forth all inducement to cany his more precious stuffs out of China was cut off. the I have observed throughout "pon the bold promises stated upon Colony by previous Superintendants; but I pray Your Excellency not to suppose for a moment that I utter one word in disparagement ement of these functionaries- am not sure that they were at all to blame gigantic views which they propounded __ they must have foun for the giganter As Alw-corners ded those piews upon the representations of the local merchants, and relied upon then great experience for their valin validity an instance __ Sir Henry Sollinger dropping into the busy world of China from the quiet retirement of Seinde, could never have ventured upon such a Stupendous promise As that of clothing these hills " with a population equal to that of Ancient Home and wrote from the mouths of experienced mew, who man ifested their by by faith in the prospects of the settlement the price they paid for its soil, and the profuseness of their outlay in improving it _ The event has proved that both i a دیده بگیره parties were mistaken; and the simple. process cess was this _ that the Merchants were Carried: ar away by their enthusiasm and they canied the plenipotentiaries with them. Neither is it difficult to be accounted for Cooped up in Canton for so on and instan اید در قم any years, witnessing daily. of local oppression and extortion on the part of the Mandarins, they (the Merchants / book it for granted that British Colony), کھے کیسے 2 with it's noble institutions of unpur haseable and irrespective laws, had only justine to be founded at the mouth of Canton ad river, to draw down to it by magie, che plundered; and oppressed of every class, not Page 330Page 331 - cerely from Canton but from all not m parts of this wide Empire; An a hence
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334

all difficulties and risks and distance, was,

under

the Treaty of Nanking, to be offered

him at his

own

Song

door, without any

difficulty or pisks whatever__

Come had he not borrowed his enthusiasm

from parties. on the shot who ought to have known better — We must presume that

and that then eer

he spotle

- forth all inducement to cany his more precious

stuffs out of China was cut off.

the

I have observed throughout "pon the bold promises stated upon Colony by previous Superintendants; but I pray Your Excellency not to suppose for a moment that I utter one word in disparagement

ement of these functionaries- am not sure that they were at all to blame

gigantic views which they propounded __

they must have foun

for the giganter

As Alw-corners

ded

those piews upon the representations of the local merchants, and relied upon then great experience for their valin

validity an instance __ Sir Henry Sollinger dropping into the busy world of China from the quiet retirement of Seinde, could never have ventured upon such a Stupendous

promise

As

that of clothing these hills

" with a population equal to that of Ancient

Home

and wrote from the mouths of experienced mew,

who man

ifested their

by

by

faith in the prospects of the settlement the price they paid for

its soil, and

the profuseness of their outlay in improving it _ The event has proved that both i

a

دیده بگیره

parties were mistaken; and the simple. process

cess was this _ that the Merchants were

Carried: ar

away by their enthusiasm and

they canied the plenipotentiaries with them. Neither

is it difficult to be accounted for Cooped up in Canton for so on

and

instan

اید در قم

any years,

witnessing daily.

of local oppression and extortion on the part of the Mandarins, they (the Merchants / book it for granted that

British Colony),

کھے کیسے

2

with it's noble institutions of unpur haseable

and irrespective laws, had only

justine

to be founded at the mouth of Canton

ad

river, to draw down to it by

magie, che plundered; and oppressed of every class,

not

Page 330Page 331

- cerely from Canton but from all

not m

parts of this wide

Empire;

An a

hence

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