Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 149

1842.

Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.

BI

23d. An edict was issued by the governor, complaining of the distribution of foreign books on the coasts of Fukien and Chekiáng. Can. Reg., Oct. 6th.

25th. The death of governor Lú was announced in the evening. He died after an illness of only a few hours, aged sixty-six years. He was a native of Chilf.

October 1st was the 54th anniversary of the emperor's birthday : it was then said that during his reign, there had not been one pros- perous and happy year.

Vol. IV., p. 295.

12th. Halley's comet was observed by residents in Canton, form- ing with the last two stars of Ursa major, the points of a right-angled triangle, nearly. Vol. IV., p. 296.

19th. The first annual meeting of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in China was held in Canton. Vol. IV., p. 354.

31st. The American brig Huron, captain Thomas Winsor, and the Rev. Messrs. Medhurst and Stevens passengers, returned from a voyage northward of two months and five days, during which time several places in Shantung, Keángsú, Chekiáng, and Fukien were visited, and about 20,000 volumes of Christian books distribut- ed. Vol. IV., pp. 303–335.

November 5th. In obedience to orders from Peking, the acting governor of the province issued an edict relative to the voyage of the Huron and other foreign vessels on the coasts, "for the distribution of books and opiuni." Vol. IV., p. 343.

10th. Died at his residence in Macao, sir Andrew Ljungstedt, knight of the Swedish royal order of Waza, and author of "An his torical sketch of the Portuguese settlements in China; and of the Roman Catholic church and mission in China." An enlarged edition. of this was published in Boston, by James Munroe & Co. in 1836.

22d. A fire broke out in the city of Canton and continued to rage till the next day, when more than three hundred families were left houseless. Vol. IV. ., թ. 390.

25th. In pursuance of public notice given on the 21st, sir G. B. Robinson, chief superintendent of British trade in China, removed from Macao to Lintin, accompanied by Mr. Elmslie, secretary.

December 10th. The "quiescent policy" maintained by H. B. M. superintendent, and the "extreme delicacy and difficulty," of his po- sition, are best indicated in his own words, on which it is unneces- sary to comment. The following is an extract from a dispatch, dated His majesty's cutter Louisa, Lintin, December 10th, 1835," ad- dressed to viscount Palmerston