Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 25

1842.

Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841

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investigate, consult, and exterminate, by cutting off the source of the evil. I, the cabinet minister and governor, have met and consulted with the lieut.-governor, and we have, with veneration, reported our sentiments to the emperor. We have, besides, written to the governments of Chili and the other provinces, that they may search and prosecute,—as is on record.

Uniting the above, au order is hereby issued to the hong-merchants, that they may forthwith obey accordingly. They are commanded to expostulate with earnestness, and persuade the barbarians of the several nations, telling them that, hereafter, when coming to Canton to trade, they must not, on any account, bring opium conccaled in the ships' holds, nor appoint vessels to be opium depóts at Lintin, in the outside ocean, hoping thereby to sell it by stealth. If they dare intentionally to disobey, the moment it is discovered, positively shall the said barbarian ships have their hatches sealed,—their selling and buying put a stop to, and an expulsion inflicted, driving them away to their own country ; and, for ever after, shall they be disallowed to come to trade; that thereby punishment may be manifested. On this affair, a strict interdict has been respectfully received from imperial authority: and the hong-merchants must honestly exert their ut- most efforts, to persuade to a total cutting off of the clandestine introduction of opium dirt. Let there not be the least trifling or carelessness, for, if opium be again allowed to enter the interior, it will involve them in serious criminality. Oppose not! These are the commands." Can. Reg. 17th March.

11th. A dispatch reached the governor of Canton, asking for assistance against the rebellions mountaineers.

15th. The Indian cruiser Clive left China for Bombay, II. B. M. ship Challenger having returned to Macao from a short cruise among the neighboring islands.

27th. The British bark lord Amherst, captain Rees, sailed for the east coast of China, II. II. Lindsay and Rev. C. Gutzlaff pas-

sengers.

March 8th. The Canton Register of this date says, the sun has not shone on the provincial city for about thirty days.

9th. II. B. M. ship Cruizer, captain Parker, sailed from China for Calcutta.

18th. The following memorial, addressed to the emperor by the provincial authorities at Canton, was received at Macao this day.

“The governor of Canton and Kwángsí, Lí; the lieut.-governor of Canton, Chú; and the commissioner of daties for the port of Canton, Chung; memori- alize, in obedience to the imperiat will, requiring them to examine and deliberate, For this, they respectfully present this memorial in reply, and, looking upwards. pray the sacred inspection thereof. We have received from the ministers of the Privy Council, a letter stating that an imperial edict has been received; as follows:

“A person has made a prepared memorial, concerning the accumulating ille- gality of opium smoking; and requesting the total eradication of the root of it. He states: The foreign ships which clandestinely bring opium-dirt to Canton, rave dared to station in the offing of Tayn shan (great fish hill), near the Bogue,