402
Review of Public Occurrences During the
AUG.
will see fit, as soon as these dispatches come to hand, to make such a declaration concerning its general intentions, as will have the effect of upholding confidence. I am writing this dispatch, my lord, in a moment of anxiety, and I close it abruptly, to save the opportunity of Mr. Johnston, who is leaving us in our con- finement, as your lordship will observe by the narrative dispatch, in a sudden man- ner. This is our first intercourse, of a sure kind, with our countrymen and families outside for twelve days."-Corresp. p. 384.
"rash_man,”
Commissioner Lin, "rash man," has brought on his country and on himself, the terrible reäction which the “stultified barbarian foresaw and foretold. For dates of some minor occurrences, we refer our readers to the Repository, vol. VIII., p. 437. The follow- ing series of dates are addressed to viscount Palmerston.
"Canton, April 6th, 1839.
My lord.-I resume my anxious task, taking up the narrative from the date of Mr. Johnston's departure to Macao on the 3d instant. The blockade has not relaxed,—indeed, judging from the increased rareness with which we receive in- forination front below, the reverse is the case. We are without further intelli. gence than I recorded in îny last dispatch. In other respects our situation is tho same. Yesterday forenoon, Howqua and Mowqua visited me, and brought me the draft of a bond, which they said had just been placed in their hands by an officer deputed by the high commissioner. I returned it to them; but in the course of the afternoon, they left a copy of the same paper with the General Chamber of Commerce.
"Last evening, I received an official paper on the subject, (Chi. Rep. vol. VII., p. 650) to which I made no reply ; and this afternoon a direct address from the high commissioner himself, enjoining the execution of this monstrous instrument. To- morrow being Sunday, no reply need be made; but on the next day I shall return the answer now transmitted, and if we are ever free, the more practical and fit reply will be the withdrawal of all the queen's subjects from the grasp of this government. It has sccmed to me, however, that the direct avowal of such a purpose at present would have the effect of increasing the great risks and discoLA. fort of our situation. Trade with China at any point remote from the station of our ships, as I have already observed to your lordship, is no longer a possible *tate of circumstances. On reconsidering the public correspondence already transmitted, I find that the high commissioner boldly fastens our actual condition of imprisonment on my intention to make my escape, taking with me Mr. Dent.
"The facts shall answer his excellency. On the 19th ultimo, all intercourse between Canton, Whampoa, and the outside anchorages was authoritatively stop- ped by the commands of this government, and not a single ship's boat has suc- ceeded in getting from Canton to Whampoa since the 21st ultimo, (excepting my own on the 24th at the risk of my life from Whainpoa to Canton) up to this date, 6th April. I did not leave Macao till the 23d March.
On the 24th I pass. ed through the Bogue, and there I fell in with the British ship Heroine, detained (notwithstanding the perfect formality of her pass) upon the express ground that "householders" might attempt to escape on board of her. So much for the implication that all was open till I came in, with the intention to run out. Your lordship will know that I came here to do my duty, which was to place myself, if possible, between the fearful proceedings of his excellency and her
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