Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 267

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1842.

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to his own puffed-up imaginations. Not only is this offensive to the dignity to be maintained, but also the ideas therein expressed are absurd and ridiculous. At the time, I, the governor, on account of the dutiful nature of the thing reported, and because the said superintendent, having but newly come to Canton, is per- haps uninformed on many matters, viewed his address indulgently, and in a par- tial light, and manifested vastness of liberality. Therefore I refrained from plainly correcting him, and from casting back to him his address. But the said superintendent having come to Canton for the purpose of controlling the mer- chants and seamen, he cannot avoid having from time to time addresses to make. And if not forewarned, it will be impossible to insure that he will not, by cou- tinued ignorance and blindness, fall into some grave errors. This then would not be the way to preserve uninjured the concerns of the foreigners.

"I therefore issue this order to the senior hong-merchants, requiring them im- mediately to enjoin it on the said superintendent Elliot, that he may act in obedi- ence to it. In whatever address he may have to present, he is absolutely required toc onform implicitly to all that is called for by the dignity of the celestial empire. He must be careful to render his expressions thoroughly respectful, in order that appropriate commands may be given in reply. Let him not again step into any path opposed to the dignity of the empire, and so tread in a course of still greater error.

"The senior hong-merchants, whenever the said superintendent, or a foreign merchant of any nation, present an address on any subject, are required to give it a previous close and careful perusal, and if there be in it anything, as in this instance, inconsistent with the perfect dignity to be maintained, or any similar loose and crude phraseology, they are immediately to send back the address;— they must not have the audacity to present it for the party, by doing which they will involve themselves with such party in a severe investigation. I, the governor, having spoken, the law shall follow up what I say. Let all then listen with trem- bling attention. Oppose not these commands." April 19th.—Corresp. pp. 202–203.

Regarding this edict captain Elliot wrote a long letter to his go- verninent, dated the 27th of this month, setting forth his views and action thereon. He perceived, he said, with great satisfaction, that the governor's manner of repelling his advances had not been care- fully measured, and that his excellency had hastily placed himself in an unsound position. He therefore sent for Howqua, and on the-

22d. Having signed in his presence the following document, dis- patched him with the same to the governor.

“On the 20th instant, the undersigned, &c., &c., received a communication froin the hong-merchants, concerning an edict from the governor, addressed to them, dated on the 19th instant.

"In his excellency's cdict to the hong-merchants, he is pleased to command the senior of their body to give all the addresses, which it may be the duty of the undersigned to submit, a close and careful perusal, before they present them to his cxcellency. And if they shall not approve of the language, not to dare to present them, but immediately to send them back. The undersigned cannot presume to question the perfect authority of his excellency to issue any orders, couched in any terms which he may think fit, to the hong merchants

But the undersigned r

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