Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 40

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Review of Public Occurrences. During the

payment of taxes.

JAN.

An abstract of the document was given by Dr. Morrison. Vol. III, p. 144.

January 1st, 1834. Soon after the departure of Messrs. Plowden and Davis from Canton to Macao, just before new-year holidays, the hoppo or commissioner of customs issued an edict, censuring them for not asking his excellency's permission.

8th. A report was current in Canton concerning an insurrection in Cochinchina, a person with the title of Kiálung having set himself up against the authority of Mingming, the reigning king. The par- ticulars are detailed in the Canton Register of the 14th.

26th. Under this date, viscount Palmerston addressed a letter to lord Napier, from which the following is an extract:

"Your lordship's instructions, under the royal Sign Manual, contain all that is essentially necessary for your guidance, in the general conduct of the super- intendence intrusted to your charge. But there still remain some particular points, upon which I am commanded by his majesty to convey to you, for your information and guidance, the further instructions which you will find in this dispatch, and in my others of the same date.

"Your lordship will announce your arrival at Canton by letter to the viceroy. In addition to the duty of protecting and fostering the trade of his majesty's subjects with the port of Canton, it will be one of your principal objects to ascertain, whether it may not be practicable to extend that trade to other parts of the Chinese dorainions. And for this end you will omit no favorable opportunity of encouraging any disposition which you may discover in the Chinese authorities, to enter into commercial relations with his majesty's government. It is obvious that, with a view to the attainment of this object, the establishment of direct communications with the imperial court at Peking would be desirable; and you will accordingly direct your attention to discover the best means of preparing the way for such communications; bearing constantly in mind, however, that peculiar caution and circumspection will be in- dispensable on this point, lest you should awaken the fears, or offend the preju. dices, of the Chinese government; and thus put to hazard even the existing opportunities of intercourse, by a precipitate attempt to extend them. In conformity with this caution, you will abstain from entering into any new relations or negotiations with the Chinese authorities, except under very urgent and unforeseen circumstances. But if any opportunity for such negotiations should appear to you to present itself, you will lose no time in reporting the circumstance to his majesty's government, and in asking for instructions; but, previously to the receipt of such instructions, you will adopt no proceedings but such as may have a general tendency to convince the Chinese authorities of the sincere desire of the king to cultivate the most friendly relations with the emperor of China, and to join with him in any measures likely to promote the happiness and prosperity of their respective subjects. I have to add, that I do not at present foresee any case in which it could be advisable that you should leave Canton to visit Peking, or any other parts of China, without having previously obtained the approbation of his majesty's goverminent.

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