Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 373

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Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841

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16th. A coroner's inquest was held, by the magistrate of Nánhái, at the Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton, respecting the death of a

Chinese.

26th. A Chinese, accused of trafficking in opium, was strangled in front of the foreign factories. All the foreign flags thereupon ceased to be hoisted.

28th. A request was made by the British merchants to their superintendents of trade, to detain H. M. sloop Larue, in the Chinese

waters.

March 2d. Captain Elliot intimated to Mr. Bell and others, II. B. M.'s subjects, that it was not his intention to hoist the British flag at Canton, and that he had already moved captain Blake, of H. B. M. sloop Larne to remain in China.

4th. Captain Elliot addressed to her Britannic majesty's subjects the following

CIRCULAR.

"The execution of a criminal in this square, on the 26th ultimo, renders it the duty of the undersigned to submit a few remarks to her majesty's subjects. In his own judgment, the purpose of this most humiliating event was not only to intimidate, but to degrade, and render hateful, the whole foreign community in the sight of the native population. Neither can he doubt that its tacit admission would lead to still graver passages. Her majesty's subjects may be assured that he will not fail to lay these convictions before the right honorable the secretary of state for foreign affairs. Impressed by the persuasion, however, that the recur- rence of such an outrage would lead to soine sudden and deplorable catastrophe, he finds it necessary to make an immediate cominunication to the governor. But he has been careful to leave the treatment of the late event to the unembarrassed disposal of his own and the other western governinents, whose flags have been subsequently lowered. He considers it due to his countrymen to promulgate a copy of his address to the governor on this occasion.

·Corresp. p. 360.

(Signed)

"CHARLES Elliot."

For the address from captain Elliot to his excellency the governor, see Chi. Rep., vol VII., p. 607.

7th. The British chief superintendent requests all British owned passage boats, not having licenses, immediately to proceed outside of the Bogue, and not return within the same.

9th. Under this date, captain Elliot addressed another circular to the British residents in Canton. Vol. VII., p. 607.

10th. Lin Tsihsü, the imperial commissioner, made his entrance into Canton, and took up his residence in one of the collegiate halls. 11th. A European boat, belonging to the British ship St. Vincent at Whampoa, on her way from Canton to the ship, was run down by a Chinese lighter, and nine of the crew lost.