Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 477

1812

Latst Few Years From 1832 16 (84)

459

I have incurred on tins occasion; and, indeed, " you do not feel warranted in inaking the payment on account of the Eugh he chips, I must sustain the loss. It should be added, that the relatives of the deceased bave forwarded in a paner. declaring that they ascribe his death to accident, and not willfulness. But 1 ... afraid that this representation is made wholly with the purpose to protect them from punishment, for receiving money from foreigners; and I certainly do not intend to relinquish the pursuit of the strictest further investigation on such a ground as that.

I have, &c., -Corresp. p. 432.

18th. Captain

(Signed)

“Charles Eilior."

Captain Elliot, under this date addressed a cominunication to viscount Palmerston, from which the following is an extract.

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My lord,--The high commissioner still remains at Canton, and I learn through a highly respectable native channel, that he dares not venture to leave the pro. vinces till he can report to the throne the peaceful resumption of the regular Brit. ish trade. His excellency's perplexity too, is said to be intensely increased by the impulse, which it was natural to expect his late rash measures would give to this traffic, at other points of the coast than this. In several parts of Fukien they have already produced a formidable organization of the native smugglers, and the officers of the government do not venture to disturb them. The high prices in China will soon bring on the immense stocks in India; and, indeed, whilst I am writing to your lordship, a most vigorous trade is carried on at places about 200 miles to the eastward of Canton.

"I am more and more convinced, my lord, that the late crisis, and the just ground of interference afforded to her majesty's government, will enable it to interpose, under the most favorable circumstances, for the establishment of regular and honorable trade on a firm basis, and, let me take the liberty to add, for the effectual check or regulation of a traffic, which by the prescut manner of its pur. suit must every day become inore dangerous to the peace of this ancient empire, and more discreditable to the character of the Christian nations, under whose flags it is carried on. But, my lord, the difficulties in China are not confined to this matter of opium. The truc and far more important question to be solved, is whether there shall be honorable and extending trade with this empire; or whether the coasts shall be delivered over to a state of things which will pass rapidly from the worst character of forced trade to plain bucaneering. If the high commis. sioner had accepted the sincere offers I made to him on the 24th of March last, I am well assured that far more would have been done to diminish the imminent danger of such a state of things, than has resulted from his own impetuous and ill. considered proceedings.

I have, &c.. -Corresp. p. 431.

(Signed

**CHARLES Ellior.”

13th. The following note was addressed to Chinese officers, deputed by the imperial commissioner to inquire of captain Elliot regarding the affair of the 7th.

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Elliot, learning that the honorable officers have arrived here to make inquiries concerning the death of a native at Hongkong, on the 7th instant, writes these particulars. As soon as it was reported to Elliot, that disorder had taken place at Hongkong, and that a native of the land had lost his life, either by accident or deliberate intention, he proceeded immediately to Hongkong, where he arrived on