Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 262

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Review of Public Occurrences During the

MAY,

“It is my duty to lay this before your majesty, that the correctness or incorrect- ness of my views may be determined; and for this purpose I subjoin to my me- morial these remarks. Prostrate imploring yon sacred majesty to grant me instructions. A respectful memorial."-Corresp. p. 151–152.

21st. A meeting was held in Canton, convened by a circular from captain Elliot, for the purpose of choosing a committee of Brit- ish residents in Canton to correspond with H. B. M. superintendents of trade. Canton Register, 24th Jan. This proposed arrangement was not however actually carried into execution so as to effect any of the objects proposed by captain Elliot.

February 7th. Under this date captain Elliot wrote to viscount Palmerston, respecting the situation of certain British subjects who had been ordered, by the Chinese government, to leave this country on account of their being traders in opium; and he assures his lord- ship that, if this measure, of expelling the merchants is attempted, his interposition will become 'indispensable,' on account of the great injuries both they and their constituents would suffer by their being obliged to leave this country. Corresp. p. 181.

11th. His excellency Adrião A. da Silveira Pinto, governor of Macao, disembarked with his lady and family, on the Praya Grande, with the usual honors. Canton Reg., 21st Feb.

12th. Six Japanese arrived in Canton from Háinán, where they had been wrecked near the close of last year. Several instances of this kind have been known to occur.

21st. Captain Elliot wrote to viscount Palmerston, saying he could not but think "the legalization of the trade in opium would afford his majesty's government great satisfaction." Yet he added, "it cannot be good that the conduct of a great trade should be so dependent upon the steady continuance of a vast prohibited traffic in an article of vicious luxury, high in price, and liable to frequent and prodigious fluctuation.” And he believed it susceptible of proof, "that the gradual diversion of British capital into other channels of employment than this (in opium), would be attended with advanta- geous consequences." This letter to the foreign secretary was oc- casioned by the appearance in Canton of the two following papers.

No. 1.

“On the 20th day of the 12th month (Jan. 26th) the grand Council of State received the following verbal commands from his majesty:

"A report has this day arrived from Tang and his colleagues, presenting the re- sult of their mutual deliberations, directed to remove the baneful effects that arise trom opinn having pervaded the country. By the prevalence of opium through- out the empire there has been occasioned a daily decrease of our fine silver;