Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 383

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compradors, and making inquiry regarding the vessel he rame in ' At this time. the offense of contumacious resistance and opposition is turned away from Dent, and fixed on Elliot. Even should I, the commissioner, treat him with a partiality of leniency, yet, his country having long enjoyed the advantages of a commercial ¡ntercourse with Kwángtung, even for a period of two hundred years, if it shall find these advantages suddenly stopped and destroyed by the individual Elliot, will bis sovereign treat him with consideration and indulgence? When on former occasions, foreign officers that have been here have failed to keep the laws, the nation aforesaid has several times, gone to the full extent of the law in inflict- ing punishment upon them. Can Elliot not have heard of this?

Having received your communication as afore stated, it behoves me to request your excellency the governor, to be so indulgent as once more to enjoin it upon Elliot, that it is needful he should come to have a fear of crime, and a purpose to repent and amend that he should give clear commands to all the foreigners to obey the orders, requiring them to take the opium on board the store-ships, and speedily to deliver it up. Then not only the compradors of individuals and of ships will be all restored as usual; but I, the commissioner, with your excellency the governor, and the lieutenant-governor, will assuredly cease to go back into the past, and will lay our intreaties before the great em- peror, that favors may be shown beyond the bounds of law. And thenceforward all the foreigners will conduct a legitimate trade, rejoicing in the exhaustless gains thereof. If, assuming a false garb of ignorance, he voluntarily draw upon himself troubles, the evil consequences will be of his own working out, and where shall he find place for after repentance? Herewith is sent a proclamation, under four heads, which, while I send copies to the hong-merchants to be pasted up, I hope you will at the same time enjoin on Elliot, that he may have it tran- slated and given to all the foreigners, for their information. I wait your reply.'

· Upon the receipt of the above, I, the governor, proceed to issue this injunc- tion, requiring of the prefect instantly to take with him the two magistrates of Nánhái and Pwányű, and to act in obedience to what is contained in the com- munication from his excellency the imperial commissioner, enjoining the com- mands on the said superintendent Elliot, that he may without fail obey.”

Having received this, he the prefect proceeds at once to issue commands. When these reach the said superintendent Elliot, let him pay immediate obedi- ence. Let there be no opposition to these commands. March 26th, 1839. -Corresp. pp. 370–373.

27th. Captain Elliot signified to the imperial commissioner his determination to surrender all the opium.

“Elliot, &c., &c., has now had the honor to receive, for the first time, your excellency's commands, bearing date the 26th day of March, issued by the plea- sure of the great emperor, to deliver over into the hands of honorable officers to be appointed by your excellency, all the opium in the hands of British subjects. Elliot must faithfully and completely fulfill these commands; and he has now respectfully to request that your excellency will be pleased to indicate the point to which the ships of his nation, having opium on board, are to proceed, so that the whole may be delivered up. The faithful account of the same shall be trans- mitted as soon as it is ascertained

Signed

CHARLES Enion"