Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 384

366

Review of

Public Occurrences During the

Jens

On the same day the following communication was made in reply. “Chú, by special appointment, prefect of Kwángchau fút, issues commands to the English superintendent. Elliot. for his full information. He has now receiv- ed the within commands from Lin the high imperial commissioner, and governor of Húkwáng,

"This day it appears the following prepared address has been presented by the English superintendent, Elliot:-( The preceding address is here inserted.) Upon this coming before me, the cominissioner, I forthwith reply:

***The representation that, in obedience to the commands, he will deliver up the opium, manifests a respectful sense of duty and understanding of matters. I find that the store-ships at present in these seas, are, in all, twenty-two; and the general amount of the opium they have on board, I am already informed of by my inquiries. The superintendent can have no difficulty in instantly ascertaining from all the foreigners in the factories the precise amounts, and immediately writing out and presenting a clear statement thereof, to enable me, the coinmis- sioner, in conjunction with the governor, at once to declare a certain period, when we will ourselves go to receive what is delivered up. He must not make an untrue report, lest he bring on himself the offense of concealing, deceiving, and passing over. Beware of this!

"I proceed to direct that commands be enjoined, and to this end address my commands to the prefect of Kwangchau fú, requiring that he pay immediate obedience, and make known to the hong-merchants my reply, for them to trans- mit the commands to the said superintendent Elliot, in order that he may obey the same. A special order.'

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**Upon the receipt bereof, he the prefect procceds to issue commands. When these reach the said superintendent Elliot, let him immediately act in obedience thereto, and instantly ascertain from all the foreigners in the factories, what is the precise amount of opium ou board the store-ships now in these seas, and at once let him write out and present a clear statement thereof. Let there be no opposi- tion to these commands." March 27th, 1839.—Corresp. pp. 373–374.

For a most momentous circular' of this date, the reader is refer- red to vol. VII., p. 633.

28th. Captain Elliot, the opium having been made over to him, thus made the surrender of the same to the commissioner.

Elliot, respectfully referring to your excellency's commands, has now the honor to signify that he holds himself strictly responsible to your excellency, as the high commissioner of the great emperor, faithfully, and with all practicable dispatch, to deliver up as may be appointed, 20,283 (twenty thousand two hundred and eighty-three) chests of British owned opium, which he yesterday required of the people of his country in the naine of his sovereign. But as it appears upon inquiry that considerable quantities of the said 20,283 chests are not at places within the immediate reach of this port, Elliot must request that your excellency will be pleased to accept his solemn public pledge, that every chest shall be deli. vered up as it falls into his possession, until the whole amount of 20,283 chests shall be within the hands of your excellency. And if Elliot dares to break that solemn public pledge in the least degree, he would most assuredly draw upon his pwn head the severest displeasure of his own sovereign, Ellot, however, is the