Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 268

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Review of Public Occurrences During the

May,

foreign officer, and not a merchant, and he must take the liberty respectfully to declare, that it is impossible for him to subunit his addresses to the governor to thic knowledge or approbation of the hong-merchants, before they are forwarded.

"In the present posture of circumstances, therefore, the undersigned must cease to forward any further addresses to his excellency. And it is at the same time his duty to add, that in future he can only receive such official communica- tions, scaled with his excellency's scal, as his excellency shall be pleased to address directly to him.self, and not to the hong-merchants. To direct sealed communi. cations from that high quarter, it must always be the duty and the earnest effort of the undersigned, to give the most respectful and zealous attention. The terms of his excellency's last edict to the hong.merchants, and the instructions which the undersigned has now received from his own governinent, constrain him to say, that he cannot deviate from his present determination, without drawing down certain ruin upon his own head. The exalted public station of his excellency, and his experience in affairs, render it needless for the undersigned to press upon the rule, that an officer's obligations of duty to his own government are sacred, and must be fulfilled.

Charles Elliot.”

-Corresp. p. 204.

(Signed)

25th. Having received the above, the hong-merchants reported the same to the governor, and thereupon his excellency thus address- ed himself to the hong-merchants.

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Upon the receipt of this, I the governor have examined into the matter refer- red to. I find that the said superintendent, having newly come to Canton, and being in consequence unacquainted with the rules of dignity in the celestial empire, made use, in his former address, of expressions not altogether proper; which led me, the governor, to send to him commands of a special nature, making known to him the prohibitions and requirements, and thus preserving him from error.

“Now the above representation having been laid before me by the said nier. chants, I perceive that the said superintendent is able to understand the duties of faithfulness and attention, and that he will not indulge the slightest desire to acı contrary to the requirements of dignity; that he is indeed dutifully disposed. Hereafter, whenever he may have occasion to address me on any subject, the said superintendent is permitted to seal his address, and to deliver them to the senior merchants, Wú Sháuyung, Lú Kikwáng and Puan Sháukwáng (Howqua, Mowqua, and Ponkequa), to present for him. As regards the subject matter of his addresses, and the nature of the expressions adopted, it will not be difficult for me the governor, myself to distinguish them, and act in reference to them. But with respect to commands issued by me, the governor, to the foreigners from with. out the empire, requiring their obedience in any matter, the established rule of the celestial empire is, always to address them to the senior houg-merchants, to be enjoined by them; and this rule it is inexpedient to alter. On a review of the particulars contained in the above address, I forthwith issue this order. When it. reaches the said senior merchants, let them immediately enjoin it on the said superintendent, that he, having knowledge thereof, may act accordingly. Op pose not these commands." April 25th, 1837.—Corresp. pp. 204-205.

271h. The above was handed to captain Elliot late on the saine day, the 25th, and, under all the circumstances of the case,

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