Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 45

1842.

Last Ten Years, from 1832 to 1841.

27

“On the arrival of the party at the city gates, the soldier on guard was dispatch. ed to report the circumstance to his superior. In less than a quarter of an hour, an officer of inferior rank appeared ; whereupon Mr. Astell offered my letter for transmission to the viceroy, which duty this officer declined; adding, that his su- perior was on his way to the spot. In the course of an hour several officers of nearly equal rank, arrived in succession; each refusing to deliver the letter, on the plea that “higher officers would shortly attend." After an hour's delny, during which time the party were treated with much indignity, not unusual on such occa. sions, the linguists and hong-merchants arrived, who intreated to become the hearers of the letter to the viceroy. About this time, an officer of rank higher than any of those who had preceded him, joined the party, to whom the letter was in due form offered, and as formally refused.

"The officers having seen the superscription on the letter, argued, 'that as it came from the superintendent of trade, the hong-merchants were the proper channel of communication;' but this obstacle appeared of minor importance in their eyes, upon ascertaining that the document was styled a letter and not a peti- tion. The linguists requested to be allowed a copy of the address, which was of course refused.

“About this time the kwáng-hie, a military officer of considerable rank, ac- companied by an officer a little inferior to himself, arrived on the spot, to whom the letter was offered three several times, and as often refused. The senior hong- merchant, Howqua, after a private conversation with the kwáng-hie, requested to be allowed to carry the letter in company with the kwáng-hie, and ascertain whether it would be received. This being considered as an insidious attempt to circumvent the directions of the superintendents, a negative was made to this and other overtures of a similar tendency.

“Suddenly, all the officers took their departure, for the purpose, as it was after. wards ascertained, of consulting with the viceroy. Nearly three hours having been thus lost within the city, Mr. Astell determined to wait a reasonable time for the return of the officers, who shortly afterwards re-assembled; whereupon Mr. As- tell respectfully offered the letter in question three separate times to the kwáng. bie, and afterwards to the other officers, all of whom distinctly refused even to touch it; upon which Mr. Astell and his party returned to the factory."

27th. The hong-merchants in a body waited on the superinten- dents; and after a long conversation, marked on their part by cnn- ing and duplicity, Howqua proposed that a new address should be affixed to the letter-substituting the word petition for letter, altering somewhat the designation of the governor: the first was refused, the second, being a mere matter of courtesy, was complied with. How- qua having taken a copy of the same for the approval of the governor, took his departure, promising to bring a reply next day.

28th. This morning a ticket was addressed to his lordship by Howqua, announcing his intention to call with the other hong-mer- chants at one o'clock. On this ticket, instead of using the words which Dr. Morrison had selected for "lord Napier," Howqua wrote Laboriously Vile;" and on being asked the reason, avoided expla-

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