Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 215

1842.

Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.

197

mits to proceed to Macao and reside there. Then in the 7th and 8th months, when the merchant ships of the said nation again reached Canton, the chief supra- cargo and the others, requested permits to repair again to the provincial city, to transact the affairs of trade. This, the former mode of practice, continued for a long period to be the unvarying rule.

“Not long since, in consequence of the dissolution of the Company, and the non-arrival of the chief supracargo, owing to which a man was wanting to take the general direction of these affairs, my predecessor in this government addressed a memorial to the throne, and received the following imperial edict, That he should immediately command the hong-merchants to direct the private merchants to send home a letter, calling for the re-appointment of a chief supracargo, to re. pair hither to superintend the affairs of commerce, in order that the old ordi. nances might be complied with. Respect this! In respectful obedience hereto, my predecessor issued directions, and also commanded that a barbarian eye for headman] should not be again sent. This is on record.

"Now, the said foreigner, Elliot, having addressed to me the above-cited informa- tion, it is doubtless my duty t report the same to the throne, for instructions how to act. But in the petition, I observe, that the said foreigner designates himself an officer from afar,' which appears like the designation of a foreign eye, and is not at all that of a chief supracargo. This being wholly inconsistent with the mode in which things were heretofore conducted, and the following points not having been at all distinctly stated by him, it becomes highly important to inquire, before acting, whether, in consequence of the dissolution of the said Company; the said nation has made a change in her regulations? What office the said fo- reigner actually holds at present from the said nation? Whether his object in coming to Canton is in truth merely to control the several unconnected mer. chants: and if he is not at all to transact commercial business? And lastly, whether the dispatches which he states that he has received from home, are sent by the said nation's king or not?

“To make these inquiries, I send, as my deputy, Cháng Sing, magistrate of the district Yángshán; I send also the sub-prefect stationed at Macao, and the ma. gistrate of the district Hiángshán. I, furthermore, issue this order to the senior inerchants, requiring them on receipt hereof, as soon as possible to take their de- parture; and, in instant obedience hereto, to proceed speedily to Macao, that in the suite of my deputy, and of the local territorial officers abovenamed, they may investigate these particulars, viz.:-What office the said foreigner, Elliot, now holds from the said nation? In what respects he would come to Canton to super. intend the foreign merchants? Why a chief supracargo does not come from the said nation, in place of a foreign eye being sent? Whether he has really received written credentials from the said nation's king? Whether he has any ulterior aim? And what is the number of individuals in his suite? On all these points the real facts must be speedily made [known] to me, that I may examine and decide accordingly.

"If, on examination, no covert purpose appear, then let orders be immediately enjoined on the said foreigner to reside for a time at Macao, and wait there till I, the governor, shall have sent in a memorial to the great emperor.

And as soon

as I shall learn his majesty's gracious pleasure, I will then address a communica. tion to the superintendent of maritime customs, calling on him to grant a pass-