Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 421

1812

Last Ten Years, from 188R 16 [MAT

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inajesty's subjects and, if I could not ward them off, at least to share them. Thus rash man is hastening on in carcer of violence, which will reäet upon thus enipire in a terrible manner.

"I anı sensible, iny lord, that the whole body of reasoning governing my pro. ceedings throughout the momentous affairs cast upon me, will demand a separate and detailed exposition. But situated as I am, uncertain of the means of commu. nication, or opportunities of leisure which may be afforded to me, I feel assured your lordship will pardon me for noting any reflections that may occur to ine in this detached and occasional way. Before the arrival of the high commissioner, I had steadily considered the expediency of formally requiring all the Britialı ships engaged in the opium trade to sail away from the coasts of China. But the objections to that measure were very strong, and the result has proved that f took a sound view in refraining from it. In the first place, it was remembered that the late frequent changes of policy of the government in relation to this trade, left it a matter of perfect doubt to the very day before the commissioner's first edicts appeared, whether the avowed purposes were to be depended upon or not, or whether the object was merely the extensive check of the trade by sub. jecting it to heightened temporary inconvenience, and exacting some considerable fees for the price of its future relaxation.

"Although I had certainly come to the conclusion, for some months since, that the determination of the court to put down the trade was firmly adopted, I had neither then nor now formed such a judgment of its power effectually to accom. plish that object. And it behoved me to pause most gravely before I committed her majesty's government to any direct concernment with this delicate subject, and immense mass of property, upon my personal opinions; or, without the strongest public necessity, immediately affecting the safety of the lives and gene. ral interests of her majesty's subjects. It should be added, too, that my own opinions were contradicted, in a strong practical form, by the persons most deeply interested; for the increasing imports proved that there was no real and general apprelicnsion of the measures which have been taken. But an additional and pressing motive for caution in this respect arose from my conviction, that, be the traffic carried on how it might, the time had arrived when the merchanta engaged in the trade at Canton must resolve to forego their connection with it. And I was of opinion that the continuance of the shipping on the spot might enable them all frankly to meet any reasonable advances on the part of the high commissioner, with plain and respectful statements, setting forth their readinces to abandon the further pursuit of the trade entirely; but soliciting time and reasonable opportunities, upon the ground of the course of connivance it had en. joyed; and upon the great impulse it had so lately received by the public prepara. tions of the imperial government to legalize it.

Up to a very late date, my lord, no portion of the trade to China has so regularly paid its fees to the officers of this and the neighboring provinces, high and low, as that of opium; and, under all the circumstances of the case, I am warranted in describing the late measures to be those of public robbery, and of wanton violence on the queen's officers and subjects, and all the foreign communi. ty in China. In my dispatch of March 30th last, I have already acknowledged to your lordship that, looking to pressure of extreme urgency, I had made up my mind to incur very heavy personal responsibilities for the sake of peace and the general trade, concerning these ships. Once more referring your lordship to my