Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 516

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusar.

499

their lithographed commission, but naught did they care about it. The silent influence of the Chinese authorities was everywhere felt, but their agents were never seized and brought to account. In the fort near Siukeä mun, the very cooking utensils were found, when it was captured, and their owners must have abandoned the place only a few hours before our troops arrived to seize them.

Chinhae was still blockaded, and several vessels were detained. · But as there was no intention of closing the harbor, they were soon set at liberty. On a certain day, the rumor spread, that a junk from Japan, richly laden with copper and other valuable articles, had been stopped. This attracted great attention, and the matter was imme- diately investigated. But the rich prize, to the great astonishment of every body, proved to be a Siamese junk, laden with sapan wood, black sugar, and other cheap articles. At another time; more than thirty vessels were brought into the Chusan harbor. Most of them were from Chaougan in Fuhkeën, and had brought sugar. The truce having been at last agreed upon, they were all set at liberty', with the hope of thus recovering the English prisoners at Ningpo. The Chinese officers, however, taking good care not to pay any atten tion to this act of clemency, continued to retain our unfortunate countrymen.

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The announcement of the friendly intentions of the authorities at Chinhae was made by a large present of bullocks. Commissioner Elepoo did this, in imitation of similar grants made in the gulf of Cheihle. But he was not aware that the great emperor would visit, with severe displeasure, this act of giving away sacrificial animals to clamorous barbarians. The edict to this effect did not arrive, until after the admiral had left for Canton; it was, however, ‘as some rightly thought, an indication that a different line of policy had been adopted towards foreigners. And it must be remarked, that the threats towards the English were hurled with greater force, in the same ratio as our concessions and kindness were increased towards the Chinese authorities. This ought to be remembered as a matter of fact, and as a beacon in all future negotiations.

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The steps in the transition were wonderful. Elepoo, who had been all politeness, gradually relaxed in his kind regards, and began to listen to those martial men, who constituted his cotery. These were a galaxy of heroes, such as the world has seldom seen, ready to swallow down the Britons, that daringly kept possession of Chusan. A strange order now came from Peking, ordering the commissioner to build some line-of-battle ships forthwith. The old man had heard

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