Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 197

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

183

board a small cutter, when a dark night and contrary winds compelled them to anchor. About 3 A. M. a Chinese boat ran foul of the cutter, when these three, from alarm of sinking, or some other cause, jumped on board the Chinese boat-described to be a fishing vessel. The boat made off immediately, and nothing has since been learned of the fate of the three persons, thus unfortunately made captives.

ART. VI. Journal of Occurrences: the British expedition; major- general Gough; Keshen's degradation and recall; new commis- sioners; foreign factories in Canton; return of the shipping to Whampoa and of the foreigners to the city; evacuation of Chusan, release of the prisoners; war between the Cochinchinese and Siamese; renewed declaration of war.

•

REFERRING the reader to the preceding article for an account of the progress of the war, we will here briefly describe the situation of the expedition as we now find it, nine months after its arrival. Though no one of its great objects has yet been gained, it does not follow of course that it has been badly conducted, or that no advantages have been secured. By pursuing a pacific line of action, and reducing the demands to the lowest point, an experiment of great value has been made before all nations the Chinese have now proved them- selves to be what long ago many believed they were-false, faith- less, impotent, merciless, hostile to all the world, in a degree far be- yond what has generally been supposed. It is now clear,-clear as the sun, that the Chinese government will yield nothing to, nor keep any faith with, foreign states, except by constraint. Happily this constraint they already begin to feel; and it is devoutly to be wished, that this may be continued on them until they are well esta- blished in their right position among the great nations of the earth. We admire the moderation and generosity that have been displayed by the commander-in-chief and those who are with him. Such qua- lities exhibited in the exercise of overwhelming power are most salu- tary. Negotiate, treat-with whom and where?... Dictation must now become the order of the day. If possible, let there be no more destruction of life, no taking possession of empire; but henceforth, as in other countries, let direct access be had to, and intercourse maintained with, the emperor and his court; and let the foreigner enjoy the same protection and the same immunities here, and be held responsible in the same manner, as is usual among the most favored nations. Such an achievement, good as it may be to the foreigner, will be as life from the dead to the Chinese-it will wake them from the long slumber of ages and put them at once, in a day, on the great march of modern improvement. Let the son of heaven know that he is not above the other potentates of the earth. By the course pursued, notwithstanding any errors that may have been com- mitted, the expedition has gained high vantage ground; and though