298
Review of Pubhi Gecurrences. During the
Junt.
factories, by some official runners, and there they discovered three cases of opium. This is the first instance, for many years, of a searching visit on board European boats, and it is to be apprehended the practice may be inconveniently extended: the more so, as several of these boats are armed. It seems that this affair might have been settled on the night it happened, by a bribe of 2,000 dollars to the seizing officer, but Mr. Just would not go beyond the half of that sum. On the next day, the matter necessarily fell within the knowledge of a wider circle of officers, who would all require bribery to keep the business out of the viceroy's public sight. In due course, therefore, the demand for bribes amounted to 6.000 dollars; and at the date of the last advices from Canton (the 16th), the affair was still unfinished, and the terms for accommodation were rising rapidly. If the seizure be publicly reported to the viceroy, it will lead to some serious mischief; and at all events, the hong-merchant, who is the landlord of Mr. Just's house (and who has no more to do with the business than I have) will be a severe sufferer."—Corresp, p. 253.
19th. Regarding the Horsburgh memorial, a letter of this date was addressed to the committee in London by its corresponding com- mittee in China, the object of the letter was to recommend the erec- tion of a lighthouse, for the benefit of those who navigate the eastern
Chi. Rep., vol. VI., p. 545.
seas.
February 25th. An imperial order was issued for the immediate strangulation of Kwo Siping, for his having been engaged in the opium trade with foreigners. This sentence of the law was executed on the unhappy victim at Macao early in April following. Vol. VI., p. 608.
April 21st
Sir Frederic Maitland addressed to captain Elliot, under this date from Madras, the following dispatch.
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· Sir,—This letter will be delivered to you by captain Blake of her majesty's sloop Larne, whom I have ordered into the China seas to afford protection to the British interests, and to give weight to any representations you may be under the necessity of making, in case her majesty's subjects should have just cause of complaint against the Chinese authorities, and to assist you in maintaining order among the crews of the British merchantmen who frequent the port of Canton. I have now the honor to inform you that I relieved vice-admiral sir T. B. Ca. pel, in coinmand of her majesty's ships in the Indian seas, on the 5th of February last, and have only delayed sending a ship to China in consequence of the state of the relations of the Indian government with that of Ava: for the present, everything bears a pacific aspect, though it is by no means certain that the differ- ences between the two governments may not ultimately produce hostilities. shall, however, take advantage of the present position of affairs, to send the Larne to Macao, and after communicating with you cordially and confidentially. with instructions to go on to Manila, and obtain a supply of cordage for the dock- vard at Trincomalee, and then return to Macao.
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In the early part of July it is my intention to leave the Straits of Malacca, for The purpose of paying Macao a visit in the Wellesley, in compliance with in structions from the lords of the admiralty to enable me to have a personal com
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