Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 142

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Review of Public Occurrences. During the MARCH,

the character of a report than a letter (and it will be remembered that the pretext for refusing lord Napier's first communication was, because it was a letter); at all events it was thought probable that the Chinese authorities might be disposed to avail themselves of any change in the form, as a reason for receiving the statement. The seals of the three superintendents were affixed to their signatures, but it was determined merely to attach a fly seal to the envelop, because it was hoped, that to afford the officer who might be deputed to communicate with us the facility of reading it, would remove every rational ground of objection. Upon the address was super- scribed a short sentence to the effect, that the report related to mat- ter concerning human life. These precautions being taken, it was arranged that the third superintendent (captain Elliot) should be the bearer of the paper, and with a view to prevent excitement, or any pretension that the communication was tumultuously presented, it was resolved that the intention should be kept perfectly secret, and that only two persons should accompany captain Elliot, viz., Mr. Gutzlaff and the captain of the Argyle. It was also decided

that these gentlemen should not go to the factories at all, but should repair direct to the water gate, (about a mile to the eastward of the factories,) at which point an officer in the navy, of captain Elliot's rauk (captain Freemantle in 1831) had recently delivered a letter from the governor-general to the viceroy. The result of this attempt it described in the following papers.

"February 4th, 1835.-The annexed minute is from the third superintendent.

Immediately upon the conclusion of our recent visit to the water-gate, i rc- quested Mr. Gutzlaff to take a note of the circumstances which had occurred there, because I rather preferred that the statement should be made by another hand than my own. I have read his paper which is annexed to this minute, with great attention, and I should say, that it contains a complete and exact account of the transaction. There can be little doubt that the person by whom I was principally beset, acted only in the performance of his duty in resisting the entrance of any foreigner into the city. It need hardly be observed, however, that he was unne cessarily earnest and violent, because there was not the least disposition on my part to force my way into the city, but simply to maintain a position within the first wicket, as is usual on these occasions, and to wait there for the arrival of any officers deputed by the governor, with whom I might confer. The two mandarins of rank who did eventually come, stayed only to declare that they could receive nothing but a petition, and therefore no opportunity was afforded to me formally to complain of the unbecoming treatment I had experienced. But I confess 1 cannot regret this circumstance, for it is very obvious that the truc responsibility of this, and all other conduct of the same nature, attaches entirely to the govern ment, and is by no means to be set aside by the imputation of blame to their sub