Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 546

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-OCTOBER, 1841.- No. 10.

ART. I.

Two papers relating to the present position of affairs between the English and Chinese. Written by Chinese, and tran- lated by J. L. S.

BEFORE introducing the translation of these two papers, a few words must be said explanatory of the state of affairs both when they were written and at present. The Chinese, like the people of other countries, are apt to boast of great things; and their boastings are usually proportionate to their ignorance. A few years ago the ships of the imperial navy were, by very respectable men, declared to be invincible; the Imogene and Andromache did something to correct this opinion; and by subsequent events, it has been quite exploded. "Meet the imperial troops on shore, and though there be ten barbarians against one son of Han, the celestial forces must conquer; nay (said old governor Loo) even the very rocks must melt before the terri- fic splendor of our arms, at the dreadful thunder of our artillery." Yet on trial, the land forces have proved themselves to be no better than the naval. They have both failed utterly, always, everywhere. Since the fall of Amoy, on the 26th of August, an opinion has become prevalent, among the best informed Chinese in Canton, that it is vain to expect the naval and military forces of the emperor can match the English either by sea or on land. The odds-not in strength nor in courage, but in implements and in discipline--- are too great to warrant any hope of success on the part of the Chinese. Prior to the fall of Amoy, the destruction of the forts at the Bogue, and the move on Canton, the Chinese to a man believed that their strongest fortifi- cations were impregnable. Such was the opinion current, when the following papers were written, which two are fair specimens of the many that have been circulated.

Another baseless opinion is becoming prevalent in this neighborhood: it is that the people armed will prove themselves invincible. In captain Elliot's policy, it was a principle, that the people should be left unmolested and un- harmed, and their good-will secured by every practicable means. They be- lieved, so far as we know, that both their persons and their homes (the homes of the living and the dead) were inviolable. In this belief they have found that they were deceived. All along it had been maintained, that the war was being waged, and was to be carried ou,-only against the government.

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